SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration is back again this year in San Diego with new outdoor-focused seasonal activities inside a park decked with sparkling lights, decorations, and holiday festivities. Plus, as a mostly outdoor offering that means many prime offerings are available from sea lions, dolphins, penguins and sea otters.

One of the biggest highlights for this year is the ALL-NEW Santa Presents: Christmas Animals Around the World outdoor presentation which features live animals (including camels and reindeer), representing how the holidays are celebrated in different parts of the world.

New for 2020 Christmas Celebration

  • SeaWorld Decked out for Christmas CelebrationNEW! 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 like never before in this shortened  retelling of the ultimate holiday classic shown on SeaWorld’s outdoor 150-foot spectacular screen,  with physical distancing measures in place. The entire family is sure to get into the Christmas spirit,  including a live appearance by Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
  • 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.
  • NEW! Cookies and Photos with Santa: During this all-new premium upgrade experience,  participants can join their closest friends and family to enjoy Santa’s favorite snack at a single-party table in an outdoor setting, while Santa tells a Christmas story and kids enjoy activity sheets. A  physically-distanced photo with Santa will commemorate the fun.
  • 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: For explorers looking for adventure, the Christmas Treasure Hunt is  just the ticket! 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).

Returning Favorites

Sesame Street Christmas Village at SeaWorld

  • Fan-Favorite Live Animal Presentations and Outdoor Exhibits: Guests can enjoy SeaWorld’s world famous Dolphin, Sea Lion, and Orca Encounter live educational presentations with physical  distancing. They can also visit 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: Here, treetops glisten with twinkling lights! Families and friends  can enjoy physically-distanced photo opportunities with everyone’s favorite furry friends in their  festive holiday attire.
  • 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).
  • 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.

Food and Beverages

The park’s culinary team presents NEW holiday inspired entrée items such as…

  • Glazed ham sliders
  • Winter kale and pear salad
  • Delectable desserts including cinnamon rolls, peppermint cheesecake
  • 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.
  • New winter cocktail options, or an ice-cold craft beer including holiday limited releases.

As always, Pass Members can enjoy special deals and a discount of up to 20 percent on all food  and beverage offerings to save more for other fun holiday shopping in the park!

See it for Yourself

SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration event runs on select dates from November 13, 2020 – January 4, 2021.

But Wait, There’s more!

Christmas Celebration is included with park admission for single-day visitors, Pass Members and Fun Card holders. Tickets are on sale now and date-specific reservations are required for everyone.

  • Visitors can take advantage of up to $30 in savings on single-day tickets
  • SeaWorld Annual Pass also available 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.

Black Friday Deals

Value seekers can take advantage of these online-only offers November 16 – 30, 2020:

  • 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. 

Rudolph and friends at SeaWorld