See You Next Year!

Peppermint Parkway will return in 2024 for more holiday magic! Experience a drive-thru holiday spectacular with a mile of holiday displays, millions of lights, dancing characters and a holiday plaza full of food, rides, activities and more.

Best Holiday Event!

Austin Monthly

Nov 24-Dec 30

  1. Drive Through the Parkway

    Experience 6 million lights, dancing characters, and so much more.

  2. Cruise on the F1 Track

    Feel like a speed racer with this once-in-a-lifetime moment. *Add-on experience

  3. 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.

Pepper & Mint

Calendar

Ho-ho-ho and away we go! Select your date to begin your adventure. Avoid the rush when you experience The Parkway after 8:30pm.

Parkway Hours
6pm-9pm
Peppermint Plaza Hours

5pm-10pm

Special Nights

E-Recycle Night

December 14 | Presented by Dell Technologies

Donate your gently-used electronics on-site to Goodwill and get a complimentary track lap courtesy of Dell Technologies!

Deaf & Hard-of-Hearing Community Night

December 16

Enjoy a positive interaction in ASL with Deaf Santa Claus in Peppermint Plaza all evening long!

Military Monday

December 18 | Presented by Valero

On Military Monday, all retired and active military members will get a special gift courtesy of Valero (while supplies last)!

New in 2023!

Pepper’s
Petting Zoo

Come visit Pepper’s Petting Zoo! We’ve got plenty of sweet and snuggly animals to keep you and your family warm this winter.

Pony Rides

Baby Goats

Chickens

Bunnies

Ducks

Activities

Fa-La-La in love with Peppermint Plaza! Visit before or after your trip down Peppermint Parkway, race at COTA Karting, 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

Mistletoe Kissing Booth

Make sure to visit this mistle-totally sweet stop on your tour of Peppermint Plaza.

Pepper's Petting Zoo

Meet some of Pepper's cuddly animal friends in the all-new Pepper's Petting Zoo!

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!

Kiddie Karting

The littlest racers will make incredible memories behind the wheel at our all-new Kiddie Karting track!

COTA Candy Cane

Take a trip to the top of COTA's Tower Observation Deck for an unforgettable view from 251 feet in the air!

Your Journey

Peppermint Parkway Map

Our Presenting Sponsor

Our Partners

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 $3 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 2023 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.

Where do I park for COTA Karting? +

Please park in Lots C or D and head into the plaza to catch a shuttle. The shuttle will drop you off at the karting track.

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.

All COTA Karting guests can park in Lots C or D and take the shuttle over to the karting track from Peppermint Plaza.

Book your race by clicking here.

What are the height requirements? +

Ride availability and prices are subject to change. Please review the height and ticket requirements below:

1 Ticket Rides:

  • Carousel – 36in
  • Mini Carousel - 36in
  • Train on Track - 36in
  • Jackhammer -36in
  • Helicopters – 36in
  • Swings -36in
  • Super Slide - 36in
  • Mini Pirate – 36in
  • Ferris Wheel -36in
  • Sky Flyer – 36in
  • Speedway - 36in
  • Wacky Worm – 42in
  • Wildcat - 48in
5 Tickets Rides
  • Skyscraper - 52in

Other Activities

  • Shooting Gallery (1 ticket)
  • Adventure Mining (pay per item)
  • Petting Zoo (2 tickets)
  • Pony Rides (3 tickets)
  • Friendship Bracelets (1 ticket)

Tickets are $5 each or 10 tickets for $40.

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.

Contact