The Sweetest Way to Spend Your Holidays
Peppermint Parkway is spreading even more holiday magic this year! Drive through over a mile of dazzling light displays, with millions of twinkling lights, animated characters, and a festive plaza full of food, rides, activities, and more. Celebrate the season with a longer, brighter, and more enchanting holiday experience than ever before!
Best Holiday Event!
Nov 22-Dec 29
Drive Through the Parkway
Experience 6 million lights, dancing characters, and so much more.
Cruise on the F1 Track
Feel like a speed racer with this once-in-a-lifetime moment. *Add-on experience
Explore Peppermint Plaza
Rides, sweet treats, a holiday market, and Pepper and Mint await your arrival.
Ticket
Packages
Customize your Peppermint Parkway experience with one of four ticket packages. Regardless of which package you choose, all guests are invited to explore the activities, games, and food at Peppermint Plaza before or after your drive!
Prices and availability subject to change. For standard admission, vehicles must be 27 feet or less in length. Vehicles larger than an SUV that hold more than 8 people must purchase two tickets.
Special Nights
Military Monday
November 25 | Presented by Valero
On Military Monday, all retired and active military members will get a special gift courtesy of Valero (while supplies last)!
Del Valle Independent School District Night
December 1
Celebrate the season with your DVISD friends and family! Show a valid DVISD student or staff ID when purchasing your ticket for a discounted rate.
Boy and Girl Scouts Night
December 6
Ring in the holiday cheer! Members of Central Texas Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts receive a special discount upon arrival, plus a booth will be available for guests to learn more about the organizations.
Santa-Paws Night
December 7
Bring your furry friends for a festive evening! Dogs who made the nice list are invited to join in on the holiday fun, with special treats provided at check-in, photo ops with Santa, and a dog-treat food truck.
College Student Night
December 8
All college students can show their student ID and purchase tickets on-site upon arrival for a discount.
Deaf & Hard-of-Hearing Community Night
December 14
Enjoy a positive interaction in ASL with Deaf Santa Claus in Peppermint Plaza all evening long!
Teacher Appreciation Night
December 17
All teachers, faculty and staff can show their ID and purchase tickets on-site upon arrival for a discount.
E-Recycle Night
December 19 | Presented by Dell Technologies
Donate your gently-used electronics on-site to Goodwill and get a complimentary track lap courtesy of Dell Technologies!
Healthcare Worker Night
December 22
All healthcare workers can show their work ID and purchase tickets on-site upon arrival for a discount.
Activities
Fa-La-La in love with Peppermint Plaza! Visit before or after your trip down Peppermint Parkway, race at COTA Karting, try out the brand-new mini golf course, enjoy amusement park rides, grab a bite, and sing holiday carols! After making unforgettable memories in Peppermint Plaza, spend the night at the COTA RV Park! Enjoy the beautiful Texas night sky at our overnight RV campground and reserve your spot today at cotacamping.com.
Peppermint Plaza
Pictures with Santa
Santa is BACK and will be in Peppermint Plaza through Dec. 23rd for photos and more!
Jingle Bar
Older elves can grab a holiday-themed drink in Jingle Bar and cheers to good tidings this season!
Letters to Santa
Make your wishlist, remind Santa that you’re on the nice list, and mail your letters to the big guy!
Cookie Decorating
Add some sugar to the holiday season by decorating your own cookie masterpieces!
Mistletoe Kissing Booth
Make sure to visit this mistle-totally sweet stop on your tour of Peppermint Plaza.
Mint's Market
Get your holiday shopping done with gifts galore in Mint's Market!
Pepper's Petting Zoo
Meet some of Pepper's cuddly animal friends at Pepper's Petting Zoo!
Peppermint Express
All aboard! Climb on for a festive ride on our very own holiday express train.
Amusement Rides
Looking for some holiday thrills? The Plaza’s amusement rides are a ho-ho-home-run.
Delectable Treats
Treat yo’ elf! Grab a bite and a warm mug of cheer from a variety of scrumptious food vendors. There’s s’more to enjoy than milk and cookies!
Dazzling Lights
Enjoy a winter wonderland of over six million twinkling lights, in displays specially designed to amp up your holiday cheer.
COTA Karting
Come and race it! Take on this mile long outdoor track in karts that reach incredible speeds!
Mini Golf
Take a break from the hustle and bustle and enjoy a festive round of mini golf on COTA's brand-new mini golf course!
Your Journey
Our Presenting Sponsor
FAQ
Where is Peppermint Parkway located?
Peppermint Parkway is located at Circuit of The Americas in Austin, TX. The address is 9201 Circuit of the Americas Blvd, Austin, TX 78617.
How long does it take to go through The Parkway?
Approximately 15 minutes.
What is the wait time?
During peak hours, wait times can last between 45-65 minutes. To avoid the rush, come early right at 6:00pm or between 8:30-9:00 pm.
Do you need to buy tickets in advance?
Online tickets are encouraged, but you can purchase tickets at the gate on days when we are not sold out.
If I am buying on-site, do you take cash and card?
We are a cashless facility. COTA accepts American Express®, Discover®, MasterCard®, and VISA®.
What if it rains?
If we have to close due to weather, we will notify attendees via social media. In addition, you will receive instructions via email on how you can redeem your admission for a future date.
Can we stop and take photos?
Yes, photos are allowed from inside your vehicle on The Parkway and from inside Peppermint Plaza.
Can we bring our dog?
Yes, dogs are allowed in your vehicle on The Parkway and in Peppermint Plaza.
Can I add a fast pass or track lap onsite?
Yes, you will be able to add these at the gate.
Do you have ADA Information available?
Peppermint Parkway is a drive-thru experience, allowing guests to stay in their cars for the duration of the event. If you need ADA assistance while in Peppermint Plaza, please email ADA@thecircuit.com prior to your arrival.
What are the event hours?
The Parkway is open from 6:00pm-9:00pm with Peppermint Plaza open from 5:00pm-10:00pm. All aspects of the event are weather permitting. Schedule is subject to change.
How does the Track Lap work?
You'll enter The Parkway with everyone and follow signs into the COTA Paddock where you will stage on the grid of the track. The track is a 3.41 mile purpose-built F1 track that has been used for Formula 1, NASCAR, MotoGP and many other racing series. You'll line up in groups and follow a lead car onto the track at 25 MPH to experience COTA's signature 20 turns just like many world champions have before you.
How much does it cost to get into Peppermint Plaza?
Peppermint Plaza entry costs $4 per person. As an added bonus, all Peppermint Parkway packages include four Peppermint Plaza tickets.
I need to switch dates. Can I exchange?
Yes! No problem. You may reschedule your ticket to a different date in advance by clicking the button in your confirmation email. If you miss your scheduled date, your ticket will be honored at any future 2024 Peppermint Parkway date – no action required!
Is it one ticket on the Parkway per person or per family?
Each Parkway ticket is PER VEHICLE (up to 8 people). If you have a large vehicle with more than 8 people, you are required to purchase TWO tickets.
Can we bring a bus or limo?
If vehicle capacity exceeds 8 seats and/or is 20'-27' in length, two vehicle admission passes are required (even if 9 or more people are not present). Buses larger than 27’ in length are not allowed on The Parkway.
When should I race at COTA Karting?
If you're driving through The Parkway first, allow a 1.5 hour cushion to ensure you on-time arrival for your COTA Karting booking. Consider racing first and then driving through The Parkway before it closes at 9:00pm.
Book your race by clicking here.
What are prohibited items at Peppermint Parkway?
Guests are prohibited from bringing the following items within the gates:
- Alcoholic beverages
- Bags larger than 12x12x20 inches
- Bicycles, scooters, skateboards, skates, Segways, golf carts, or other unauthorized means of transportation
- Coolers, thermoses, or ice chests
- Metal water bottles
- Drones
- Food and beverages
- Fireworks, explosives, flares, or other incendiary devices
- Glass containers of any kind
- Illegal substances
- E-liquid or vape juice
- Items that may be deemed a safety hazard or annoyance to participants or guests (i.e. balls, Frisbees, balloons, projectiles, horns, radios, bells, whistles, musical instruments, laser pointers, etc.)
- Non-collapsible chairs
- Tents or canopies
- Unauthorized promotional or commercial material
- Weapons of any kind, including but not limited to guns, knives, pepper spray, handcuffs, and nightsticks
Do I need to purchase a Plaza entry ticket for my child?
All Parkway tickets include four admission tickets to the Plaza. Children 3 and under receive free admission into the Plaza and do not require a separate ticket.