Last updated on May 27th, 2026
Planning a trip to San Diego, California this holiday season? You’ll want to make sure that the SeaWorld San Diego Christmas Celebration 2025 is on your itinerary!
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.
We are Annual Pass holders and visit SeaWorld every year at Christmastime. I am excited to share all the details to help you plan an amazing visit.
SeaWorld San Diego Christmas 2025
If you are just looking for a quick list of facts about SeaWorld San Diego Christmas Celebration for 2025, here’s a rundown.
► This year, holiday celebrations will run from November 14, 2025 through January 4, 2026.
► Santa’s Village will be back with holiday food stands, shops, and real live reindeer!
► Nightly Lazer Light Show and snowfall at SkyTower Lawn and Wild Arctic.
► New holiday treats, food, merchandise, and more throughout SeaWorld.
► Special holiday shows and parades happening every day throughout the season.
► All Christmas Celebration festivities – except for new Christmas Nights (a separate ticketed event) – are included with admission for all park tickets and Annual Passes. You can purchase discount tickets directly on SeaWorld San Diego’s website.
SeaWorld Christmas: What’s New for 2025
Here’s a look at what to expect in at SeaWorld during the holiday season.
A Stocking Full of Soul
Don’t miss this holiday show at the Nautilus Amphitheater, featuring soulful holiday classics in this newly reimagined production for the Christmas 2025 season.
We really enjoyed this show last year and I am looking forward to seeing the new version for 2025. It is a great production with a very talented cast!
Top Tip: A Stocking Full of Soul only plays in the evening, so make sure you plan your day to include staying for this festive concert.
Clyde & Seamore’s Christmas
The park’s prank-loving pinnipeds Clyde and Seamore, along with their trainers, have a hilarious holiday time in this Christmas-themed sea lion and otter special! I am so glad to see they are bringing this Christmas show back (after a few years of not having a holiday theme). The show is always fun, but it’s nice to see it with a holiday twist.
Storytime with Mrs. Claus – Toymaker Trouble
Gather around as Mrs. Claus and the elves bring holiday magic to life during a delightful story time experience for kids at SeaWorld San Diego! This year, the story goes that the head Toymaker Elf Sparky is severely lacking in Christmas Spirit, a key ingredient to Santa’s gift making process. With the help of Mrs. Claus and two of her most trusted elves, Sparky will be reminded what makes Christmas truly special.
Christmas Nights at SeaWorld San Diego
All-new for 2025, a separate ticketed event where you can experience the park after hours.
OK, I need to state the obvious. While I am sure this is going to be a very awesome event and opportunity to experience the park at night…this is a money grab. Much like Howl-O-Scream if you are visiting San Diego in the fall, Christmas Nights is a chance for SeaWorld to generate income by selling tickets to an event after the park closes to general ticket and annual passholders.
That said, it is nice to enjoy the park without the crowds! Your ticket to Christmas Nights also includes a complimentary hot cocoa from the Pretzel Shop, plus special discounts on holiday merchandise, and festive treats and cocktails.
Christmas Nights at SeaWorld San Diego will run on select nights from December 9 through December 22, 2025.
Returning Holiday Favorites at SeaWorld
Returning holiday attractions include SeaWorld’s dazzling 30-foot tall Christmas Tree, Rudolph’s Christmastown, the Tunnel of Lights, holiday fireworks, and much more! Here’s a rundown of what you can expect to see for SeaWorld San Diego Christmas 2025.
Holiday Lights & Magic
The park comes alive with beautiful holiday decorations all day long, and lights up at night even more. Enjoy the sights around SeaWorld’s beautifully decorated grounds, with palm trees lit like candy canes and the iconic 320-foot Skytower Tree of Lights.
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.
The best spots to catch the snow falling is on SkyTower Lawn and near Wild Arctic Holiday Square.
Happy Harbor Holiday
An all-new Happy Harbor Holiday show will play at the Mission Bay Theater this year, celebrating the joy of friendship and holiday traditions with Sir Winston the Walrus.
Mrs. Claus’ Christmas Parade
Join Mrs. Claus and her merry band of elves for an exciting new Christmas parade as they journey through SeaWorld San Diego.
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.
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, in years past 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.
Tunnel of Lights
When it comes to illumination, the holiday shines at SeaWorld like nowhere else in San Diego. Take a stroll through the Tunnel of Lights. It is activated by holiday music and an absolute delight to experience!
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.
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 is a cute spot to visit, with photo opportunities with Rudolph and his friends Clarice, Bumble and Yukon Cornelius.
A Christmas Wish Fireworks Show
Watch the sky above SeaWorld come alive with festive colors and brilliant pyrotechnics during our holiday fireworks display on Saturday, December 14 and again on New Year’s Eve, December 31. Don’t miss this thrilling spectacle!
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 & Treats 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.
We will update this article with 2025 holiday food and beverages as soon as they become available. To give you an idea of what to expect, tor SeaWorld San Diego Christmas 2024, 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.
► If you are not planning to fill up on festival treats, considering purchasing the SeaWorld San Diego All-Day Dining Deal to save time and money on food!
Final Thoughts: SeaWorld During the Holidays
If you are visiting San Diego during the holidays, make sure SeaWorld San Diego is on your itinerary! It’s a must-see San Diego attraction any time of year, but the holidays add just a touch more magic.
Your best bet is to visit on a weekday if possible, as December weekends tend to get quite busy. But the nice thing about SeaWorld is that there is plenty of seating if you get to the shows early. Only ride lines can get uncomfortably long.
From sea lions to Santa Claus, there’s something for everyone at SeaWorld San Diego’s Christmas Celebration.
► For more fun things to do in San Diego during the holidays, be sure to check these holiday events and activities at the Hotel del Coronado.
Save This SeaWorld San Diego Christmas Article for Later!
Planning a visit to San Diego during the holiday season? Pin the image below for future reference.
