Overview
Pixieland is a pint-sized amusement park tucked inside Willow Pass Park in Concord — seven rides scaled entirely for the under-7 crowd, including a genuine kiddie roller coaster, a carousel, and the Pixieland Express train that loops the entire park perimeter. The pay-per-ride model is the key feature: you buy a ticket book, hand them out as you go, and walk out without a surprise bill. It is exactly the right size for toddlers and preschoolers who would get lost or exhausted at a full amusement park.
How to Do It
The park is at 2740 E. Olivera Road inside Willow Pass Park. Free parking is available in the main lot directly in front of the entrance, but during softball season (spring and summer weekends) tournaments pack that lot fast. Overflow parking is in the Willow Pass Center lot next door — turn right out of the main lot onto Olivera Road, then take the first right. A paved walking path along the street connects it to the park entrance. From BART, the Concord station is walkable in about 17 minutes or a short rideshare ride.
Once inside, the layout is compact enough to see the whole thing in a single loop before committing tickets to any ride. The Pixieland Express train is the natural first stop — it circumnavigates the park and gives kids a preview of everything. Most families hit the train, carousel, and Dragon Roller Coaster first, then fill remaining time with the Tea Cups, Frog Hopper, Red Baron Airplanes, and Windy Grove Cars. The small footprint means you can let a child pull you wherever they want without losing track of anyone.
Tips & Tricks
The Dragon Roller Coaster requires an adult to sit next to any child under 48 inches — both riders pay tickets, so plan for that. At 3 tickets per person, it eats through a book faster than the 2-ticket rides, so buy the Junior Fun Pack (30 tickets) or larger if you have an enthusiastic kid; single tickets at $2.95 each add up quickly compared to the bulk-pack rate of roughly $2.17 per ticket.
The Willow Pass Park picnic area just outside the Pixieland fence is a better lunch spot than anything inside — there is no food service at Pixieland itself, so pack sandwiches and eat at the picnic tables after the rides. Kids can refuel without losing sight of the park, which helps with the transition out.
Sunscreen is non-negotiable. The park is fully exposed on hot East Bay days and there is no meaningful shade over the ride queue areas. Arrive at opening (10:30am) in summer to get a cooler hour before the concrete heats up.
Baby carriers of any type are not permitted on any ride — pack a lightweight stroller instead if you have a lap infant coming along. All riders including babies must have full head and body control and sit independently.
Planning
Admission is free; you pay only for rides. Ticket packs: single tickets are $2.95 each (credit) or $2.80 (cash). The Junior Fun Pack is 30 tickets for $65 (credit) or $62 (cash), and the Pixie Fun Pack is 50 tickets for $105 (credit) or $100 (cash). Individual rides cost 1–3 tickets: Windy Grove Cars are 1 ticket, most rides are 2 tickets, and the Dragon Roller Coaster is 3 tickets per person. A family of two adults and two kids doing each ride once will burn through roughly 25–35 tickets. Tickets never expire, so buying a larger book and saving leftovers makes sense.
Hours are Saturday and Sunday, 10:30am–4:30pm, plus some weekday hours during school breaks — check the schedule at pixieland.com before going since days and times shift seasonally. The park closes in winter (roughly November through February). Weekday visits during spring break and summer are significantly less crowded than weekends. Best ages for getting the most out of it are 2–6; kids 7 and up tend to want more than these rides offer. No reservations needed.