Wondering what to expect during SeaWorld San Diego Christmas 2024? It’s never too early to start planning!
The holiday season transforms SeaWorld San Diego into a winter wonderland. This year, the SeaWorld Christmas celebration includes some great new shows and attractions, plus plenty of returning favorites. From sea lions to Santa Claus, there’s something for everyone at SeaWorld San Diego’s Christmas Celebration!
SeaWorld San Diego has upped its game in recent years with new thrill rides, shows, and animal encounters. The holiday season is no different! With more than one million holiday lights, festive food, live music, and beautiful décor around every corner, the SeaWorld San Diego Christmas Celebration is not to be missed! We visit every year for this annual Christmas celebration, and I am excited to share all the festive details with you to help your family plan an amazing visit.
This year, holiday celebrations, including Hanukkah and Kwanzaa festivities, will run from November 17 through January 7, 2024.
SeaWorld Christmas: What’s New for 2024
Christmas at SeaWorld San Diego brings many new shows and attractions! Here’s a look at what was new in 2023, to be updated as new details for SeaWorld San Diego Christmas 2024 are announced.
NEW! Coca-Cola Market and Coca-Cola Lane
Experience the holidays at Coke Market featuring a Christmas family photo op, festive holiday décor, Coca-Cola Christmas trees and ornaments, along with holiday treats. Coco-Cola Lane is a new lighted pathway full of candy cane red and white sparkling lights, festive music, and holiday treats with holiday Coca-Cola beverages.
To be very honest, the market is just their typical snack shack redecorated with Coco-Cola props, but it is pretty and there is a cool vintage Santa backdrop perfect for photos.
NEW! A Stocking Full of Soul
On Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings throughout the holiday season, head to the Nautilus Amphitheater for a great show featuring “America’s Got Talent” finalist Bryan Cheatham and a cast of singers and dancers performing holiday hits and classic Christmas songs.
We really enjoyed this one – it is a great production that will definitely fill you up with holiday cheer!
NEW! O.P. Otter’s Holiday Sing-A-Long
Located at Mission Bay Theater, the all-new o.p otter’s holiday sing-a-long is a fun holiday show. Kids especially will love singing along with O.P. Otter as he leads a Sing-A-Long show featuring some classic holiday songs.
Returning Holiday Favorites at SeaWorld
Returning holiday attractions include Rudolph’s Christmastown, Santa’s Cottage, the Tunnel of Lights, holiday fireworks, and more! Holiday food and drinks will also be available in all areas of the park during the SeaWorld San Diego Christmas Celebration.
Santa’s Village
Meet Santa in his village and tell him all your Christmas wishes this year! You’ll also find lots of food stands, shops, and Santa’s Reindeer (real live reindeer!) in this area of the park.
Holiday Lights
When it comes to illumination, the holiday shines at SeaWorld like nowhere else in San Diego. Explore the magic and wonder of SeaWorld’s beautifully decorated outdoor park grounds, including palm trees lit like candy canes and the iconic Skytower Tree of Lights. There is also a holiday music-activated tunnel of lights you can walk through and enjoy.
Christmas Parade
Join Mrs. Claus and her band of merry elves as they make their way throughout the park twice daily in Mrs. Claus’s christmas parade
If you are used to holiday parades at Disneyland, you may find this disappointing as it is much smaller and not nearly as grand, but still fun to see if you keep it all in context!
Donner and Blitzen’s Lazer Light Show
Experience a canopy of laser beams over the front of the park with the Skytower tree lit up as the backdrop. The festive soundtrack really transforms this area of SeaWorld San Diego into a holiday party atmosphere! We saw lots of kids dancing and it was really fun.
Snowfall Throughout the Park
Dreaming of a white Christmas? You don’t have to travel north to see a winter wonderland of snowfall and catch a few flakes in your hands. Snowfall throughout the park at SeaWorld San Diego happens nightly.
Rudolph’s Christmastown
SeaWorld San Diego is only place on the West Coast where kids can meet the most famous reindeer of all. Rudolph’s Christmastown has something for everyone, including photo opportunities with Rudolph and his friends Clarice, Bumble and Yukon Cornelius.
Holly Jolly Marketplace
If you can’t get enough of everyone’s favorite reindeer stop by the Holly Jolly™ Marketplace, a special seasonal boutique filled with Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer® gifts, apparel and keepsakes.
Snowflake Seeker’s: A Christmas Quest
Purchase a Scavenger Hunt Map at The Christmas Shoppe to get started on your merry quest! Explore the park to find all the colorful winter snowflakes. When you’ve found them all, bring your completed map back to The Christmas Shoppe – SeaWorld store – for a special prize.
In my honest opinion, there is enough to do at SeaWorld without spending the extra money, but it you need a little something extra to help have fun and keep kids occupied, give it a try!
► Looking for a great place to stay near SeaWorld? Check out these nearby Hotels on Mission Bay San Diego.
Special Holiday Dining at SeaWorld San Diego
Explore Christmas Celebration and indulge in delicious seasonal treats all around the park. We thought the treats were a little pricy ($10.99 for a plate of three beignets) but everything was pretty good and worth it for a fun holiday splurge. If it gets chilly at night, treat yourself to a delicious hot chocolate.
For SeaWorld San Diego Christmas 2023, some of the offerings included:
- Hot Chocolate and Churro Bar (located near Sky Tower Lawn)
- Grilled Cheese and Pretzels (located in Wild Arctic Holiday Square)
- Crepes and Beignets (located in Wild Arctic Holiday Square)
- Cinnamon Rolls and Donut Holes (located in Wild Arctic Holiday Square)
- Funnel Cakes and Waffles (Located outside of Rescue Jr.)
- Baja Grill (Located near Underwater Cantina)
- Arctic Bar, Beer Hut, and Mimosa Bar for special holiday adult drinks
Holiday Cocktails & Craft Beer
For those over 21, you can enjoy even more festive cheer with an ice-cold brew, a glass of wine or one of SeaWorld’s specialty holiday cocktails.
► For more fun things to do in San Diego during the holidays, be sure to check out Christmas in San Diego.
Save This SeaWorld San Diego Christmas Article for Later!
Planning a visit to San Diego during the Christmas season? Pin one of the images below for future reference!