Most theme parks have special events and seasonal celebrations throughout the year. Some take place during regular park hours and are included in the cost of admission, while others are separately ticketed after-hours events — Universal Studios Hollywood has both types! Let's hop to it and break down the popular Universal Studios Hollywood events and (as well as what hoppens during peak seasons). Some events take place every year and other celebrations may occur just this year. We have all the Grinchmas and holiday dates and details for 2024, so you can start planning your holiday visits and get some time with the Grinch!
Overview of Universal Studios Hollywood Events
Whether you enjoy being chased by monsters, meeting the Grinch, sipping hot Butterbeer with a holiday meal or dancing under fireworks, there are a few Universal Studios Hollywood events for which you might want to time your visit while they occur. Keep hopping back as more events may be announced.
Summer
Summer is peak season at Universal Studios Hollywood. That means long hours, Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts Castle (or the Dark Arts at Hogwarts Castle) and finding ways to cool off. Summer crowds typically fill the park from mid-June through mid-August. You'll want to purchase tickets early and get Early Access tickets if Super Nintendo World is a priority. It's a great time to get Universal Express or take a VIP Tour to skip the lines. A perk of the VIP Experience is that it allows you to skip the line for the highly popular Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge. That ride is now included with Universal Express.
Bring swimsuits and water shoes for the tadpoles to splash in the water at Super Silly Fun Land. Keep an eye on Virtual Lines for Secret Life of Pets and Super Nintendo World. Sit in the soak zone for WaterWorld. We have hot tips to beat the heat and summer crowds at Universal Studios Hollywood.
Here are a few Universal Studios Hollywood events hoppening this summer.
LA Pride Night — June 15, 2024 (new date)
This separately ticketed event takes place after the park closes. Daytime guests will see Pride merchandise for sale and stages set up. Some attractions, such as Mario Kart, can cut the line early (about 30 minutes before the park closes). LA Pride Night attendees can enjoy bars, live DJs, musical guests and drag show performances as well as food and beverages. Pride Nite includes access to Super Nintendo World and Universal character meet-and-greets, and photo ops. New for 2024 is an inclusive PROM experience.
The ticket includes park entry as early as 4 p.m., followed by exclusive extended park hours from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.!
The VIP – Universal Express ticket option includes earlier access to the park at 2 p.m., plus Universal Express access to the park’s attractions, premium viewing areas at the main stage and exclusive access to the LA Pride VIP Lounge.
Fourth of July
If you hoppen to be visiting the park on Independence Day, catch a spectacular fireworks display (accompanied by Universal Studios-themed music and patriotic tunes) at 9 p.m. You can also enjoy live music and themed décor. It's all included in your theme park admission.
Back to Hogwarts
Celebrate students going back to Hogwarts (and muggles going to back to regular school) with special "Back to Hogwarts" school bundles available for purchase. (Bundles include items such as a backpack and journal themed to your Hogwarts house and a Hedwig plush.) Put on your house robes and raise your wand in pride for your Hogwarts house: Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw. You can also purchase a themed iced biscuit as of Aug. 12, 2024.
Studio Tour's 60th Anniversary
There's a big celebration running from spring into summer. From April 26 through Aug. 11, 2024, Universal Studios Hollywood is celebrating 60 years of the Studio Tour. To celebrate, the park sells special food and must-have merch (such as that Glamor Tram popcorn bucket), but the big deal is the tour itself.
The Studio Tour's 60th-anniversary celebration treats guests to the unique opportunity to step off the tram and onto a legendary movie set. Some of the trams are in the style of a 1964 vintage Glamor Tram. The stop provides photo opportunities, including a giant King Kong backdrop and the theme park’s original hanging "Jaws" shark. Iconic props are making their way to the tour such as a Tyrannosaurus rex dinosaur display used to promote "Jurassic World" and a scaled replica of the iconic Hollywood Sign (with which guests can take photos and selfies)! The “Earthquake—The Big One” attraction on the tour has been fully refurbished.
Halloween Horror Nights
On select nights from Sept. 5 through Nov. 3, 2024, Universal has a separately ticketed nighttime event that will terrify even the bravest visitors. We have separate posts on Halloween Horror Nights and survival tips. Enter the park to the unleashing of monsters, encounter themed mazes, scare zones and a Terror Tram that takes you down to encounter more than just monsters in the Backlot. Death Eaters patrol the Wizarding World and duel with guests. You can catch a breather by enjoying music, special drinks and themed food. You can even save on select tickets through Undercover Tourist!
Wicked
Another fall experience this year will transport you to the Land of Oz! Late October, 2024, some new magic will be conjured up with the opening of Wicked: The Experience. The Feature Presentation store will transform into an opportunity to be immersed in the fantastical world of Wicked with photo opportunities and props and costumes from the film. Gearing up for the release of the Wicked movie on Nov. 22, 2024, new merchandise for the movie will be purchasable at the core of this experience. You can find more themed Wicked experiences at Universal CityWalk.
Holiday Season at Universal Studios Hollywood
Between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day, a lot is hoppening at Universal Studios, and it's all included in your Universal Studios ticket. The park and CityWalk are decorated with a bunch of garland, lights and trees. Characters are in their holiday and winter best. You can enjoy special entertainment, seasonal characters and celebrations. You can get all the festive details in our guide to Christmas at Universal Studios Hollywood.
Here are four events that fall daily during the holidays at Universal Studios from Nov. 29, 2024, through Jan. 6, 2025:
Grinchmas
Meet the Grinch, Max and all the Whos, including Cindy Lou Who, during Grinchmas. You can eat special treats, watch special entertainment and experience a Seussian tree lighting with snowfall. It's one of our favorite Universal Studios Hollywood events, for sure!
Christmas in the Wizarding World
Step into Hogsmeade to the sights of festive holiday décor with glimmering lights, wreaths, trees, garland and the largest ball of mistletoe you’ve ever seen. Each shop is decorated with its own holiday-themed garland! Watch The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle and the Holiday Frog Choir. You can also do some holiday shopping for the wannabe wizards and witches in your family.
Warm up with hot Butterbeer and the English Holiday Meal with juicy turkey, gravy, sourdough stuffing, carrots, Brussels sprouts, bacon-wrapped sausage and cranberry sauce at the Three Broomsticks. It's quite tasty!
(New!) Christmas in Super Nintendo World
This year, the holiday season reaches the Mushroom Kingdom with themed décor. Look for a tree adorned with a Super Star topper, festive wreath and two mustached snowmen for a photo op. One wears a red Mario hat and scarf, and the other wears a green Luigi hat and scarf. Toadally cute! Shop for holiday merchandise at select Super Nintendo World retail locations and dig in to seasonal treats at Toadstool Cafe.
EVE
Ring in the new year on Dec. 31 at EVE, the New Year's Eve party. Enjoy multiple party areas with music, dancing, drinks and souvenirs. The midnight countdown is celebrated with fireworks. Winter snowfall and confetti bursts add excitement to designated areas. The festivities are included in your theme park ticket, and the park stays open until 2 a.m. The New Year's party festivities kick off at 9 p.m.
CityWalk is also festive with a tree, live music, DJ performances and street performers. No admission needed to enjoy CityWalk festivities.
Lunar New Year
Lunar New Year brings some special decor, food and beverage options to the park from late January through February. You can purchase Lunar New Year merchandise in the gift shops. Celebrate by taking a photo with characters — such as Hello Kitty — dressed in their Lunar New Year best.
Enjoy the cherry blossom decor during Lunar New Year.
Spring Break
Spring break is a popular time to visit Universal Studios. From March 15 to June 2, 2024, Universal Studios hosted its first-ever Butterbeer Season! Guests could try delectable new treats, including a Butterbeer-flavored ice lolly, in addition to the traditional items served at the park daily. Additionally, for a limited time only during this festive period, cold and frozen Butterbeer were available for purchase in a special collectible silver stein. We hope it returns — stay tuned for 2025 information!
On March 29, 2024, Universal Studios opened Florean Fortescue's Ice-Cream counter inside Honeydukes! Prepare to taste 10 decadent and savory soft serve ice cream flavors — Butterbeer, Banana, Chocolate, Mint, Orange, Vanilla, Toffee Nut, Granny Smith Apple, Pistachio and Toffee Apple — available in a cup or waffle cone.
It's important to know that the last two weeks of March through the first two weeks of April generally see larger crowds and often the return of longer hours and nighttime entertainment. Catch a showing of the Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts Castle show during select days of spring break.
Universal Fan Fest Nights
On select nights between April 25 and May 18, 2025, there's even more movie action to jump in on at Universal Studios Hollywood with the premier of Universal Fan Fest Nights! This interactive, separately ticketed event will invite you to enter some of your favorite worlds, including "Star Trek," "Back to the Future," "One Piece," "Jujutsu Kaisen," "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter" and "Dungeons & Dragons." From the creators of Halloween Horror Nights, this after-hours event will elevate the fan experience, featuring immersive experiences, in-park activations, specialty food and drink and more.
Experience new magic and creature encounters in the "Wizarding World of Harry Potter" and step aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise-D and the actual bridge set piece from "Stark Trek: Picard." Learn more at our Univeral Fan Fest Nights post. Get your cosplays ready!
Grad Bash
Grad Bash is a separately ticketed event that occurs on select Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights after regular park hours for graduating seniors. These events with DJ dance parties are organized through schools, and they take place on select nights in May and June. They should not affect your daytime visit as they hoppen after the park is closed. You may see stages, photo ops and decor set up for the events.
- 2025 Grad Bash Dates: May 14, 21, 22, 28, 29, 30 and June 6, 2025
The park closes by 8 p.m. on Grad Bash nights (check the calendar for actual operating hours). Attendees can enter the park at 8 p.m., and the party starts at 9 p.m.
Which Universal Studios Hollywood Events are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments below. Don't froget that you can save big on Universal Studios Hollywood tickets, Universal Express, VIP Experiences and Halloween Horror Nights when you purchase authorized discount tickets and book nearby hotels with Undercover Tourist!
Related: Best Times to Visit Universal Studios Hollywood
Related: Universal Studios Hollywood Tips to Maximize Your Time
Hoppy planning!
