Along with the marine life, rides, and educational opportunities found every day at SeaWorld San Diego, you’ll also encounter a party of some kind happening almost any time of year. When planning your trip to the San Diego theme park, be sure to check the calendar of events to see what holiday, food festival, or entertainment may be on the docket during your visit.
Winter Events at SeaWorld San Diego
In January, the park typically holds “Inside Look” days on select dates, when you can meet the professionals who work behind the scenes. It’s a fantastic opportunity to learn about the life-saving efforts of the SeaWorld Rescue Team and the marine animals they care for.
During January and February, the park also starts celebrating Lunar New Year with live entertainment and special cuisine, followed by Mardi Gras parties with themed food, drinks, and music.
Spring and Summer Events at SeaWorld
March brings the Seven Seas Food Festival, an annual tradition that shows how the park has elevated its theme-park cuisine over the years. Your ticket grants you small plates and beverages that reflect an array of international cuisines, craft beers, and wines—all paired with live music. In May, the Viva Música festival focuses exclusively on Latin cuisine and music.
The park’s “Summer Spectacular” season runs from about Memorial Day to Labor Day with concerts, food and drink specials, and fireworks. Certain weeks feature their own festivals, like the Bayside Bands, Brew & BBQ festival.
Fall Festivals
The park celebrates Halloween on select dates during September and October with two distinct events. The SeaWorld Spooktacular invites kids to dress in costume, mingle with strolling characters, and go trick-or-treating in the park. After dark, the park offers a more intense experience for teens and adults: Howl-O-Scream features haunted houses, lights-out rides on the park’s roller coasters, and zombie- and creepy-clown-lined scare zones, each one more blood-curdling than the last. Afterward, loosen up at a DJ dance party or have drinks at the park’s ghoul-infested bars.
The park observes Dia de los Muertos in early November, followed by the Red, White & Blue Salute for veterans, during which retired and active military enjoy special discounts.
The Holiday Season at Sea World San Diego
When the holiday season gets into full swing, the park takes on an ocean-meets-Santa’s-Workshop ambience. SeaWorld Christmas Celebration (typically running from mid-November to around New Year’s Day) includes a Santa’s Christmas Village, Rudolph’s Christmastown, and seasonally themed treats and adult beverages.
Stay through sundown to catch the nightly lighting of the 30-foot animated tree and to see how the park’s main landmark, the 320-foot Skytower, looks with its holiday lights aglow. Evenings also include bubble snowfalls, laser shows, and on select dates, fireworks.
Plan Your Trip
Given its central location in San Diego, SeaWorld is conveniently close to other must-see spots in town. Nearby you can explore Mission Beach and Mission Bay, as well as Balboa Park and downtown San Diego’s Little Italy. For more tips on visiting SeaWorld, check out special animal interactions at Sea World, Sea World for Small Children and rides at Sea World. Also, consider bundling your ticket, at a discount, with a visit to sister theme park Sesame Place San Diego.