A few weeks ago we debuted a guide to the Disneyland special events, and today we wanted to take a look at all of the Southern California theme park special events. Unlike the Orlando theme parks, which offer special events year-round, the Southern California theme park annual special events largely take place in the fall and winter seasons. (Disneyland and SeaWorld San Diego are exceptions.)
Of course, you don't need a special occasion to visit the theme parks, but we like to think of a theme park special event as the cherry on top of an already incredible ice cream sundae! We put together this list of Southern California theme park special events to help you plan when to visit Los Angeles. Let's get started!
Southern California Theme Park Special Events by Park: SeaWorld San Diego | Universal Studios Hollywood | Knott's Berry Farm | Six Flags Magic Mountain | LEGOLAND California
SeaWorld San Diego Special Events
FALL
Halloween Spooktacular
Just like SeaWorld Orlando, SeaWorld San Diego hosts the Halloween Spooktacular each fall. Everyone is invited to dress up in their costumes and get ready to trick-or-treat! There are silly spooky shows, hands-on activities and character photo-ops. We especially love this event because it is so much fun for the little ones. This year, Halloween Spooktacular will be held weekends Sept. 27-Oct. 26. It is included with regular park admission.
WINTER
Christmas Celebration
Each December, SeaWorld transforms into a winter wonderland during its Christmas Celebration. At SeaWorld's Arctic Plaza, more than 6,500 square feet of fresh snow are brought in each day for your snowman-making merriment! Children between 37-61 inches in height can hit the hills for some sledding. Christmas Celebration is also home to Southern California's largest Christmas tree, the 320-foot Christmas Tree of Lights! You will also find two reindeer-in-training, Winter and Jingles, that welcome visitors with their cheery photo-ops. Don't forget to get your picture taken with Santa and help the elves with some Christmas cookie-making! Christmas Celebration is included with regular park admission.
SPRING
Spring Into Night
Each spring during spring break season, SeaWorld San Diego offers extended hours and special night-time shows on select dates. In the past, these have included Shamu Rocks and Sea Lions Tonite. Spring Into Night is included with regular park admission.
SUMMER
Summer Nights
Just like at SeaWorld Orlando, Summer Nights celebrates those long summer days and nights with extended park hours and special entertainment after the sun goes down! On select dates in June, July and August, guests can enjoy special nighttime shows and cap off the evening with the Into the Blue fireworks finale. Summer Nights are included with regular park admission.
Universal Studios Hollywood Special Events
FALL
Halloween Horror Nights
Universal Studios Hollywood brings some of the biggest names in terror with Halloween Horror Nights. Like its counterpart in Florida, the park creates seven movie-set quality mazes based on terrifyingly good movies, TV shows and music on select nights from September through November. Guests can experience the all new Terror Tram: Invaded by The Walking Dead, wherein the backlot has been invaded by Walkers! This year's theme is More Dead Than Ever and the seven new mazes are:
- The Walking Dead
- Alien vs. Predator
- From Dusk Till Dawn
- An American Werewolf in London
- SyFy's Face Off
- Dracula Untold
- Clowns 3D: Music By Slash
Halloween Horror Nights 2014 scare zones are:
- The Purge: Anarchy
- The Walking Dead
- Mask-A-Riad
- Dark Christmas
- Skullz
Rides open during Halloween Horror Nights:
- Transformers: The Ride-3D
- Revenge of the Mummy - The Ride
- Jurassic Park - In The Dark
- The Simpsons Ride
- Despicable Me Minion Mayhem
Halloween Horror Nights is a separately ticketed event. The 2014 dates are:
September: 19, 20, 26, 27
October: 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 16, 17, 18, 19, 23, 24, 25, 26, 30, 31
November: 1, 2
WINTER
Grinchmas
The park gets a Grinchmas makeover with decorations and a twisted Christmas tree for the holidays. Santa Claus is there to meet with all of the good boys and girls, and The Grinch and his dog Max are at the park for fun photo-ops. On the Studio Tour, the original sets from where Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas was filmed is the backdrop for Whoville, and guests can experience performances by Whoville's residents re-enacting favorite songs from the film. Grinchmas is held select days in November and December, and is included with regular park admission.
Knott's Berry Farm Special Events
FALL
Knott's Scary Farm
Similar to Universal's Halloween Horror Nights, Knott's Scary Farm is one of the oldest and largest theme park scare events. For 2014, the park will feature 10 mazes, four scare zones and two shows. New for 2014 is the Special Ops: Infected zombie apocalypse that is taking over Camp Snoopy. Armed with infrared laser simulated assault rifles, groups of 12 will set out into zones teaming with zombies.
Knott's Scary Farm 2014 Mazes
- Voodoo
- The Tooth Fairy
- Trapped: Lock & Key
- Black Magic
- Forevermore
- The Gunslinger's Grave
- Trick Or Treat
- Pinocchio Unstrung
- Dominion of the Damned
- The Witch's Keep
Knott's Scary Farm is a separately ticketed event. The 2014 dates are:
September 25, 26, 27
October 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12, 16, 17, 18, 19, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31
November 1
Camp Spooky
Every weekend in October and on Halloween, the whole family is invited to have some non-scary Halloween fun with shows and activities geared for children 3-11. Camp Spooky is included with regular park admission.
WINTER
Knott's Merry Farm
Starting Thanksgiving through the New Year, Knott's Berry Farm is transformed into Knott's Merry Farm, a warm holiday celebration with special shows, crafts, festive foods and holiday decorations. Santa is at the park and ready to hear what's on your list! Ice show "It's Christmas, Snoopy!" starring Santa Snoopy and live performances of "A Christmas Carol" or "A Gift of the Magi" should not be missed. Knott's Merry Farm is included with regular park admission.
Six Flags Magic Mountain Special Events
FALL
Fright Fest Presented by SNICKERS®
September through November, Six Flags Magic Mountain turns into a "scream park" on weekends with family-friendly fun by day and terrifying thrills by night. Kids 12 and under are allowed to wear costumes, and kids under 48 inches can trick or treat throughout Bugs Bunny World. Looney Tunes friends are greeting guests in their Halloween costumes, and their are crafts for the littlest ones. The dayside activities are included with regular park admission. Come nightfall, the park turns terrifying with haunted mazes, roaming zombies and clowns, and scary shows. To add a "twisted" element to the rides, some of the coasters have their lights turned off. Fright Fest is separately ticketed event is held Friday through Sunday Sept. 27 through Nov. 1.
Fright Fest 2014 Mazes
- Vault 666
- Red's Revenge
- The Willoughby's Garden
- Willoughby's Resurrected
- Toyz of Terror 3D
- The Aftermath
- Total Darkness
- Chupacabra
WINTER
Holiday in the Park
Each holiday season, the park becomes a winter wonderland with hundreds of thousands of lights strung throughout the park, singing carolers and meet-and-greets with Santa and his helpers. Their are crafts and holiday treats such as custom fudge and hot apple cider inside the "Winter Wonderland" Mining Town. Inside DC Universe a spectacle-of-lights show features contemporary holiday music set to millions of twinkling lights. This year's event runs from Nov. 28 through Jan. 4, and it is included with regular park admission.
LEGOLAND California Special Events
WINTER
Snow Days + Winter Nights
Build your own snowman with LEGO accessories, throw real snowballs and ride snow tubes down the hill during Snow Days + Winter Nights from Nov. 22-Jan. 4. In the evening, there are special shows, music and plenty of twinkling lights. Take your picture in front of the 30-foot-tall LEGO Christmas tree, and the life-sized LEGO Brick Santa and Reindeer display. New for 2014, guests can ice skate outside the LEGOLAND Hotel, plus sip on cocoa and enjoy other holiday treats. Snow Days + Winter Nights is included with regular park admission.
Kids New Year's Eve
Ring in the New Year a little earlier during this Dec. 31 countdown geared toward little ones with earlier bed times. LEGOLAND California re-creates the Times Square ball drop with a giant LEGO brick, Grammy-nominated artists and a surprise celebrity guest. The fun ends at 6 p.m. with the official countdown and fireworks! Kids New Year's Eve is included with regular park admission.
It's always a great time to visit the Southern California theme parks, but especially with so many terrific special events. Have you visited during any of these events? Share your memories in comments below. Or if you haven't, let us know which Southern California theme park special events you most want to experience! You can start your Southern California vacation planning with our Los Angeles and San Diego Planning Guides
Hoppy planning!