Gather your family and meet your friends in a safe outdoor environment at SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration, the largest Christmas celebration in Texas! For 27 magical days, the park is transforming into a winter wonderland with millions of sparkling lights, decorations, and holiday festivities (select dates from November 20 through January 3, 2021).
SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration has been modified to allow guests to safely visit the park, roam its expansive 250-acre grounds, and enjoy holiday events. In addition to enhancing the park’s already strict health and safety measures, capacity will be significantly limited to create even more open space for a visit that provides plenty of opportunity to maintain physical distancing in a safe environment. Guests are encouraged to make reservations early as reservations are required and limited to manage capacity. Reservations can be made at www.SeaWorld.com/san-antonio/tickets/reservations/ .
Guests can experience yuletide cheer with seasonal shows like The Story of Christmas; they can shout out with glee as they meet Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer; marvel at the nostalgia of a traditional miniature train village; or head to the Christmas Market and visit Santa himself – all with safe physical distancing measures in place. Park-goers will also have the chance to dine with jolly ol’ Saint Nick over a sumptuous holiday meal with the help of Mrs. Claus and her kitchen elves, and with protective measures in place.
SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration
Event Days: Nov. 20 – 22, Nov. 25 – 29, Dec. 4 – 6, Dec. 11 – 13, Dec. 18 – 20, Dec.23 -27, Dec. 30 – Jan. 3
Event Hours: 1pm – 9pm.
New This Year
NEW! – Christmas Fireworks Finale – The night sky will be ablaze with a spectacular evening fireworks finale that will amaze, excite, and cap off the holiday celebration! Guests can physically distance around the park’s water ski lake, grab some hot cocoa, and snuggle up with loved ones while watching a dazzling holiday show in the sky set to all-time favorite Christmas tunes. Guest will be treated to this fireworks extravaganza on Saturdays, November 21 and 28.
NEW! Hanukkah Celebration – This year, SeaWorld will be celebrating more holidays than ever before. Join us as we honor the festival of lights! On select dates from December 10 through 18, guests can gather with friends and family in a socially distant experience to view the traditional lighting of the menorah throughout Hanukkah.
NEW! Kwanzaa Festivities – Another new experience for the holidays this year, SeaWorld will celebrate the festivities of Kwanzaa! Taking place on select dates from December 26 through January 1, guests can experience a joyous time of reflection and celebration of African heritage with the nightly lighting of the kinara.
Holiday Dining and Culinary Treats
Christmas Cove transports guests back in time to make them feel like they’ve stepped back a half-century in this 1950s-inspired area featuring themed prizes at the park’s game stations and plenty of photo opportunities. While there, Mrs. Claus invites guests into her expansive kitchen and dining room for Dinner with Santa as she serves up a Christmas meal fit for the whole family! Featuring protective food service barriers, widely spaced single-party tables, sanitation between meals and more, guests of all ages will delight in this safe holiday tradition. Guests will enter the dining room and be served by Santa’s elves traditional holiday favorites including all-you-care-to-eat rib-eye steak, turkey, ham, and all the fixings. The meal concludes with a physically distant visit and photo opportunity with Santa for the little ones! Reservations are required.
Nothing goes better with cooler evening temperatures than s’mores! Guests can safely gather their family around a cozy fire and revel in the scrumptious combination of chocolate, marshmallow, and graham crackers. They can enjoy a traditional s’mores kit or for a larger serving, try the new s’mores charcuterie board.
Guests can also satisfy their sweet tooth with even more food and drink choices from all new chef and mixologist created festive holiday menus with favorites including mini donuts with dips, holiday churro bites with festive toppings, piping hot chocolate and coffee with whipped cream, and seasonal candies. Last but not least, adults can kick it up a notch with traditional winter cocktails like hot toddies and spiked hot chocolate or coffee spiced up with favorites like Peppermint Schnapps, Bailey’s Irish Cream and more!
Holiday Shows and Entertainment
Merry Mariachis bring a bit of Fiesta flare to classic holiday tunes as they welcome guests to the park with the sounds of the Christmas season like only mariachis can.
Families can sing and dance with their Sesame Street friends in our fun holiday show, Elmo’s Christmas Wish, at the SeaStar Theater with limited capacity and physically distanced seating. Guests can also enjoy physically distant photo opportunities with everyone’s favorite furry friends in their festive holiday attire.
Guests can gather socially distanced around a live outdoor nativity scene complete with carolers in a spectacular Christmas favorite based on one of the greatest stories ever told. The Story of Christmas is a touching, light-hearted and glorious experience representing the true glory of Christmas.
Musical artists will fill the air with Christmas favorites as guests stroll the spacious 250 acre park and enjoy the dazzling decorations, festive sounds, and the familiar smells of the holidays.
Special Holiday Sites and Offerings
Returning for another year of festive fun, guests can immerse themselves in the story of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer at Rudolph’s Christmas Town. Stroll past life-size story book vignettes featuring the classic tale, and meet beloved characters including Rudolph and friends.
SeaWorld guests can wander through a candy cane inspired trail in this self-guided area of the park’s holiday wonderland. Guests will be in awe of the beauty of winding oak trees covered with over 100,000 striped red and white lights. Additionally, eight foot tall candy canes and red and white floral designs will leave guests craving peppermint!
Snowman Village is a whimsical area where guests can pose for photos with life-size snowmen, including The Rocker, The Punker, The King, The Matador, and other zany characters that have been frozen in time.
Christmas Market is the centerpiece of SeaWorld’s Christmas event! It’s truly Christmas in Texas with its country décor, unique Christmas tree made entirely of cowboy boots, playful elves, sparkling tunnel of lights, festive entertainment including a Christmas Blue Grass Trio, and exclusive SeaWorld Christmas merchandise. Park goers also have the opportunity to safely share their wishes and dreams with Santa Claus at Christmas Market.
To help guests enjoy all the fun of Christmas, SeaWorld welcomes back the Christmas Traditions Tour with one of Santa’s expert elves as guide. This reduced capacity tour is limited to two socially distanced parties and includes a family photo with Santa Claus, an exclusive meet-and-greet with an animal, reserved physically distanced seating at SeaWorld shows, a holiday mug with delicious hot chocolate, and a twinkling Christmas necklace.
And, no visit to SeaWorld is complete without spending time with our incredible marine animals. Guests have the opportunity to view, engage with, and learn about everything from orcas, dolphins, belugas, sharks and penguins, to other fish, sea turtles, birds and more.
Best Way to Enjoy the Holiday Cheer
Guests can also experience SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration by purchasing a 2021 Season Pass to enjoy the rest of the 2020 season for FREE and play through the end of 2021! The new 2021 Season Pass also includes FREE parking, pass member exclusive discounts on merchandise and photos, and all new special events. The fun and incredible value also doesn’t end there. The park’s Silver, Gold, and Platinum Annual Passes are packed with even more benefits (the best in SeaWorld’s history) to enjoy the parks year-round including up to six (6) free bring-a-friend tickets, VIP parking, up to 50% off in-park discounts, free access to animal interactions, and much more. Before the end of this year, pass members will be treated to several exclusive pass member-only perks including exclusive coasters in the dark ride times, and gift giveaways that include FREE Christmas ornaments, light up masks, and Christmas scarves (Pass members must be present to receive gifts. Available while supplies last).
Statement from SeaWorld San Antonio About Park Safety:
“SeaWorld San Antonio is committed to the health and safety of our guests, employees, and the animals in our care. The park has worked diligently with state and local health officials, outside consultants and attraction industry leaders to enhance our already strict health, safety and cleanliness standards. These protocols and guidelines will be modified based on evolving industry standards and methodologies, public health, and governmental directives, and advancing scientific knowledge on the transmissibility of COVID-19. SeaWorld San Antonio is excited to continue to provide our guests with fun, inspiring and memorable experiences, while addressing important health and safety needs during this time. For detailed information about the measures that guests can expect when visiting the resort, including key operational changes, visit Seaworld.com/san-antonio/park-info/park-safety.”
Photos and press release courtesy SeaWorld San Antonio
