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How to Have Spooktacular Halloween Fun at SeaWorld San Diego

by Mommy Frog on October 1, 2024
5 San Diego

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The Frog Family is always frogcited to celebrate Halloween Spooktacular at SeaWorld San Diego. On Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from Sept. 6 through Nov. 3, you and your little goblins and ghouls can enjoy treats, wear costumes and attend special Halloween-themed dance parties and join other daytime fall fun activities at the SeaWorld San Diego Halloween Spooktacular! What's even better is that kids usually visit free with a promotional paid adult in October! Low crowds and free kids make SeaWorld Spooktacular a treat for parents and kids to visit this time of year.

How to Have Spooktacular Halloween Fun at SeaWorld San Diego Halloween Spooktacular - Spooktacular signage

Overview of SeaWorld San Diego Spooktacular

SeaWorld San Diego Halloween Spooktacular is a low-key family-friendly Halloween weekend event that takes place during normal park hours from mid-Sept through Halloween. The whole family can dress in costume and take part in special entertainment and dance parties. This is a separate event from the much scarier Howl-O-Scream separately ticketed event, which kicks off at 7 p.m. That frightening event with haunted houses is just for adults and big kids (as in teens). Hop over to our Sea World San Diego events post for details. We booked a babysitter for Howl-O-Scream! But the whole family can have Halloween fun at Spooktacular.

While the park does not get as decked out as Disneyland at Halloween Time normally is, you’ll find Halloween signs, cobwebs and festive fall decorations scattered around the park. The Halloween festivities are a nice bonus to a day in the park.

Mid-fall is a great time to visit SeaWorld. The weather is a tad bit cooler and more comfortable, and the summer crowds are gone. Soon there will be more celebrations and SeaWorld San Diego events to come. Right on the tailfins of Halloween comes SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration. The daily Christmas Celebration kicks off in November and lasts through early January.

SeaWorld San Diego Spooktacular Dates, Tickets and Hours

SeaWorld San Diego Spooktacular hoppens on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays Sept. 6 through Nov. 3, 2024.

Sea World’s light-hearted Halloween Spooktacular is the perfect speed for some wholesome Halloween family fun. Most of the festivities begin after 11 a.m., and they won't interfere with your schedule of shows and rides. Spooktacular usually ends at 6 p.m., so you'll be safely out of the park with your little ones well before the scary stuff emerges at 7 p.m.

Tickets

Most of the family fun is included with your SeaWorld San Diego park ticket. Others have a small fee, including trick-or-treating and the pumpkin scavenger hunt. Did you know you can save some green when you purchase discount SeaWorld San Diego tickets through Undercover Tourist? October is a particularly affordable time to visit with special FREE tickets for kids! We also sell tickets to the new Sesame Place San Diego, which has its own Spooktacular celebration hoppening this fall! You can save even more with a two-park ticket and hit both celebrations!

SeaWorld San Diego Spooktacular Special Entertainment

Seaworld San Diego Halloween Spooktacular - Pirate shark in cavalcade float

You can enjoy special shows, trick-or-treating and more during Spooktacular. Here are all the not-so-spooky details for 2024.

O.P. Otter's Spooktacular Surprise

Join O.P. Otter and pals as they gather for a Halloween costume party. You can celebrate fun fall traditions through song and dance. This tadpole-friendly show plays several times a day at Mission Bay Theater.

Waterfront Pumpkin Patch 

Enjoy photo ops, food and live music throughout the day at this festive pumpkin paradise with beautiful views of Mission Bay.

Pirate Sea Shanty Band

Sing along and dance with the "Scurvy Squad." The crew of singing pirates will serenade you with sea shanties.

Story Time With the Captain 

Brand new animatronics in the form of two pirate skeletons share a story time show! Join Captain Sweet Tooth and First Mate Peggy as they relive their adventures.

Captain Sweet Tooth's Pirate-y Cavalcade

Infamous candy pirate, Captain Sweet Tooth and his crew host a Spooktacular cavalcade with a themed floats. It's very short and sweet. It heads to the front of the park from the Orca direction, and turns around (halfway through the viewing section) to head back the way it came. That means it does not pass by all the marked viewing areas, so be careful where you stand.

Candy Quest 

Captain Sweet Tooth brings you sends you on your own pirate adventure with a treasure reward.

Trick-or-Treat Candy Trail for Kids

Reusable candy bags must be purchased in order to participate in the Trick-or-Treat trail. Each candy station features an assortment of candy after 4 p.m. on Fridays and from 2 p.m. to park close on Saturdays and Sundays. We found the candy stations to be very forgiving of different bags, bags from past years and bags from Sesame Place. So save those bags year after year.

Spooktacular Pumpkin Hunt

Purchase a Spooktacular Pumpkin Hunt Map to explore the park and track down SeaWorld and Halloween inspired painted pumpkins.

Dia de los Muertos Celebration Nov. 1 - 3, 2024

Seaworld San Diego Halloween Spooktacular - Dia de los Muertos ofrendas

Celebrate the Mexican holiday of Dia de los Muertos. Large Catrina statues welcome guests to discover ofrendas (offerings) of mementos and flowers to honor loved ones who have passed.

SeaWorld San Diego Spooktacular Character Greetings

Seaworld San Diego Halloween Spooktacular - Girl meets a mermaid

Keep an eye out for characters. You can also meet a mermaid.

SeaWorld San Diego Spooktacular Costume Information

The whole family is allowed to dress in costume for Spooktacular. You'll want to choose family-friendly costumes that won't frighten other tadpoles. Since it is a daytime event, you'll also want to consider the weather so you don't get overheated. Our tadpoles never miss an opportunity to get dressed up. Guests 13 and older may not wear costume masks or hoods. Guests of any age may not wear face paint unless it is done by the park artists.

One year, our favorite costume was a boy in a penguin suit with a bucket and sign that read, “Fish or Treat.” Toadally cute and displaying great SeaWorld spirit! You'll probably want to be sure to wear a costume that you won't ruin if it gets wet. Watch out for those Soak Zones!

Trick-or-Treating at SeaWorld San Diego Spooktacular

Seaworld San Diego Halloween Spooktacular - - Kid trick or treats

Tadpoles ages 12 and under can go in search of candy on the trick-or-treat trail. To participate, purchase a reusable, signature SeaWorld Candy Bag ($4.99 with discounts for pass holders) and follow the trail. The trails are open after 4 p.m. on Fridays and starting at 12 p.m. (until the park closes) on Saturdays and Sundays. SeaWorld's candy partners include Haribo, Nestle Butterfinger, Kinder Joy and Smarties. Put your bag under the shoot and receive candy.

Spooktacular Food and Merchandise

There are fun fall treats to enjoy during Spooktacular. You can sink your teeth into caramel apples, pumpkin cheesecake and other fall favorites. Parents can enjoy pumpkin ale and craft brews. The souvenir shops sell trick-or-treat bags, Halloween merchandise and scavenger hunt maps.

The two activities that cost an extra fee are trick-or-treating ($4.99 for a reusable bag to participate) and the Pumpkin Scavenger Hunt.

Purchase a Spooktacular Pumpkin Scavenger Hunt map with stickers. It costs $15 (subject to change). Then embark on a journey to locate SeaWorld- and Halloween-themed painted pumpkins. Mark each location on the map with the correct sticker. Once complete, bring your map to the SeaWorld store to collect a prize! You can do some Halloween souvenir shopping while there.

You can find many fun fall eats and drinks in the park. Don't skip the churro bar!

How to Have Spooktacular Halloween Fun at SeaWorld San Diego - Painted pumpkin from scavenger hunt

SeaWorld San Diego Spooktacular Tips

Here are a few tips for visiting Spooktacular:

  • Save money on Kids Visit Free tickets.
  • Check the weather and dress accordingly. Fall days can be hot and sunny or foggy and cool.
  • Bring costumes but dress in layers in case your tadpole wants to remove their costume.
  • Download the SeaWorld San Diego app.
  • Stay to trick-or-treat in the afternoon.
  • Check the calendar and schedule to find special entertainment and character meet and greets.
  • Focus on rides in the morning beforthe e lines get long.
  • Enjoy lower crowds on Fridays.
  • Bring swimsuits on hot days to play in the  Rescue Jr. area.

Have a question about Halloween Spooktacular at SeaWorld San Diego or any other question about the park? Let us know inthe  comments below! To save on SeaWorld San Diego and Sesame Place tickets, purchase in advance through Undercover Tourist!

Related: SeaWorld San Diego Reopening

Related: Our Fin-tastic Guide to SeaWorld San Diego Events

Hoppy planning!

Keep hopping, Mommy Frog!
View Comments

Comments

Oct 27, 2020 at 5:57 p.m.
Marc Says...

Is the Dine + drink add on a physical lanyard that gets punched when you redeem an item like previous seaworld food fairs?

Reply
Oct 28, 2020 at 1:39 p.m.
FrogBlog Says...

Hi Marc!

This year, you'll need to take your park ticket to a kiosk, scan it and you'll receive a voucher for food and drink.

Hoppy planning!

Mommy Frog

Reply
Oct 22, 2020 at 2:13 a.m.
Melissa Says...

What are the treats you are giving out ?

Reply
Oct 30, 2015 at 3:14 a.m.
Pat Says...

I follow undercover through a few social media sights. I am a Disney Fan and love your coverage, but would enjoy a few more on Sea World. I love Disney and I stand with Sea World. Thanks!

Reply
Oct 30, 2015 at 9:32 a.m.
FrogBlog Says...

Hi Pat,

Thanks for sharing!

Hoppy planning!

Mommy Frog

Reply

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