SeaWorld San Diego’s Christmas Celebration

SeaWorld San Diego’s Christmas Celebration Offers Unlimited Holiday Cheer at Limited Capacity Earlier than Ever Before and its all going on now through January 4, 2021 on select days! The rides might not be open but there is a ton of fun and interactive things waiting for you to experience with your family this holiday season!

Stroll the over 100 acres this aquarium has to offer while sipping on a delicious hot chocolate with candy toppings. Visit Sea Otters, Flamingos, Sea Lions, Turtles, and Bat Rays and enjoy photo-perfect moments including a towering sea-themed Christmas Tree and a holiday music-activated tunnel of lights. 

WHAT’S NEW FOR CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION 2020:

New! Santa Presents: Christmas Animals Around the World: This outdoor presentation at Nautilus Amphitheater is a passport to holiday cheer and amazing animals. The jolliest elf of all, Santa, will share some of his favorite animals (including camels and reindeer) and holiday traditions from around the world.

New! Rudolph’s Movie Experience: See Rudolph and his friends in this shortened retelling of the ultimate holiday classic shown on SeaWorld’s outdoor 150-foot spectacular screen, with physical distancing measures in place it will include a live appearance by Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

NEW! Kwanzaa Festivities:  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.

New! Cookies and Photos with Santa: During this all-new premium upgrade experience, participants can join their closest friends and family to enjoy

New! Stocking Stuffer Christmas Trail: Younger guests (12 and younger) are invited to make their merry way around the park to collect sweet treats, small toys and other fun surprises that will drop magically through a chute into their holiday bag (bags will be available for purchase at all gift shops).

New! Christmas Treasure Hunt: Participants can search the park to find Santa’s gifts for all of his eight world-famous reindeer, marking each location on their map with the correct reindeer sticker. When all have been found, guests can bring their completed map back to the SeaWorld Store to collect a special gift (treasure maps will be available for purchase at the SeaWorld Store).

CHERISHED TRADITIONS RETURN:

Fan-Favorite Live Animal Presentations and Outdoor Exhibits: Enjoy SeaWorld’s world-famous Dolphin, Sea Lion, and Orca Encounter live educational presentations with physical distancing. Be sure to visit the other outdoor animal attractions to learn about Dolphins, Bat Rays, Magellanic Penguins, Bamboo Sharks, Flamingos, Sea Otters, Seals, Sea Lions, Turtles, and more.

Sesame Street Christmas Village:

Holly Jolly Marketplace: This seasonal boutique will be filled with Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer gifts, apparel, and keepsakes.

Hanukkah Celebration: Join us as we honor the festival of lights! 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.

Photo Backdrops: Insta-worthy moments throughout the park will make for perfect holiday greeting card backdrops, including the Tunnel of Lights, menorah display at Manta, Santa’s sleigh, a towering sea-themed Christmas tree, the 320-foot Skytower Tree of Lights and many other beautifully decorated displays and vignettes.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and his friends Bumble, Yukon, and Clarice will make spirits bright by providing physically-distanced photos for guests to take home and cherish (photo opportunity included with park admission; prints and digital photo files will be available for purchase).

Tis the Season to Eat, Drink and be Merry

Guests with a sweet tooth and a hearty holiday appetite will delight in the season as the park’s culinary team presents NEW holiday inspired delectable desserts including cinnamon rolls, peppermint cheesecake, and of course SeaWorld’s famous hot chocolate with a range of holiday-inspired candy toppings. Guests won’t want to miss this fan favorite with peppermint crumbles and whipped cream. Grown-ups can get even more festive with one of the park’s new winter cocktail options, or an ice-cold craft beer including holiday limited releases. Pass Members enjoy special deals and a discount of up to 20 percent on all food and beverage offerings.


In compliance with state safety guidelines for zoos, SeaWorld, a licensed, permitted and accredited zoo, is operating with enhanced health and safety protocols for cleaning and sanitizing, physical distancing, face covering requirements, and temperature screenings.

Black Friday Deals:

’Tis the season to shop, and with SeaWorld’s biggest sale of the year, the perfect holiday gift is only a click away. Value seekers can take advantage of these online-only offers Nov. 16–30:

• Buy one, get one 50 percent off SeaWorld Annual Pass (includes unlimited admission for the rest of 2020 and all of 2021 with no block-out dates, FREE parking, up to 50 percent off in-park purchases and more)

• Buy one, get one 50 percent off 2020 SeaWorld Fun Card (includes unlimited admission* for remainder of 2020, plus all of 2021)

• Buy one, get one free single-day tickets

• 50 percent off Annual and Daily PhotoKey (unlimited digital photos)

• Up to $200 off SeaWorld Education Camps*Some restrictions apply.

Due to updated state of California COVID-19 guidelines, starting Saturday, November 14, the park’s indoor exhibits will be temporarily closed. SeaWorld’s outdoor animal attractions, including dolphins, bat rays, Magellanic penguins, reef sharks, flamingos, sea otters, orcas, seals, sea lions, turtles, moray eels and more, will remain open in addition to SeaWorld’s world-famous Dolphin, Sea Lion and Orca Encounter live educational presentations with physically distanced seating.

Best Way to Play: Christmas Celebration is included with park admission and is free for Pass Members and Fun Card holders. Tickets are on sale now and advance reservations are required for all visitors to manage capacity. Visitors can take advantage of up to $30 in savings on single-day tickets, or, for an even bigger value, purchase a SeaWorld Annual Pass, which includes FREE parking, up to 50 percent off in-park purchases, access to special rewards and much more. Pass Members can enjoy all of SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration in 2020, plus the exciting lineup of seasonal events in 2021, AND the park’s all-new floorless dive coaster, Emperor, slated to debut next year. Every visit to a SeaWorld park helps support its animal rescue program, with more than 37,000 and counting.