As we love to say around here, “Christmas is starting now,” and it’s already in full swing at SeaWorld Orlando with their annual Christmas Celebration! This year’s event sees the return of a beloved classic show, along with plenty of other offerings for everyone to enjoy.
SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration is on now through January 5, 2026. With it, the park is completely transformed for the holiday season thanks to millions of holiday lights, Christmas trees, seasonal fare, and a ton of festive entertainment.
Of course, the classic returning show, “new” for this year after seven years away, is Clyde & Seamore’s Countdown to Christmas. Performed at the Sea Lion & Otter Stadium, this Christmas comedy show is a must-see for Florida residents — purely for all the inside jokes and references.
The cast of characters (and they truly are characters) include Clyde and Seamore the sea lions, plus a few adorably mischievous otters, a rhyme-speaking elf seeking the joys of retirement, and a giant white walrus. We had a great time watching the antics of this crew, and found ourselves laughing throughout the entire thing.
Tracker Tip: Be prepared for performances to have a few laughs, courtesy of the animal actors missing their beats! They were hilarious no matter what, and that’s the beauty of live theatre!
Of course, Clyde and Seamore aren’t the only sources of entertainment during the Christmas Celebration. Other shows include Elmo’s Christmas Wish Show, O Wondrous Night, and Mrs. Claus’ Magic Kitchen. We caught the latter, and while it definitely is aimed more at children, we had a great time and loved the short burst of “snow” at the end!
In the evenings, there is also Winter Wonderland On Ice, an ice skating show set against a background sea of trees and fountains at Bayside Stadium, as well as Holiday Reflections: Fireworks Finale, with fireworks choreographed to holiday tunes.
Tracker Tip: The Holiday Reflections: Fireworks Finale is presented at park close on Christmas Celebration nights through December 31 only, so keep that in mind if you’re planning a holiday visit!
For those looking to meet Santa Claus, hang tight! Old Saint Nick will arrive at SeaWorld Orlando starting November 21, and meet guests daily starting at 12 p.m. through Christmas Eve — December 24. Other characters, like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and friends, and Elmo & Friends from Sesame Street, are already meeting guests in the park throughout the day.
One unique entertainment offering we got a taste of during a recent media event is “An Elf Story,” an impressive display of acrobatics by an elf on a mission to decorate their holiday tree. The performer’s joy was so infectious, and they’ll often look to the crowd for encouragement during the show. Little ones might even get to help tell the story.
Another aspect of the Christmas Celebration not to be missed is the food! If you love a good theme park festival that includes food booths packed with light bites and themed beverages, there is plenty to try at SeaWorld Orlando this holiday season.
Among the offerings available, we tried a handful of items, including the Joyful Chicken and Waffles, Sweet Potato Pie with Cream, and the Apple Ginger Mule from Waffle Wonderland; as well as the Yuletide Pasta from Baking Spirits Bright.
The Chicken and Waffles came with a house-made waffle, deep fried chicken, and was topped with Mike’s Hot Honey and scallions. While we could’ve used a bit more hot honey (is there such a thing as too much hot honey on a dish? The limit does not exist), it was a super filling and delicious option that we had for dinner. The waffle had a nice crunch to it, and we love the homestyle flavor of chicken and waffles.
The Sweet Potato Pie with Cream tasted like a sweet potato casserole in pie form. It’s served cold, which we appreciated on a warm Florida evening. You can’t go wrong with dessert, especially one that’s so perfect for the season.
The Apple Ginger Mule was also tasty! It includes apple cider, bourbon, ginger beer, lime juice, and is garnished with a lime wedge. If you’re a fan of mules, you’ll definitely enjoy this fall-inspired take on the drink.
The other item we tried, the Yuletide Pasta, is baked ziti with ricotta cheese and marinara. If you’re on the pickier side and just want a nice and simple pasta dish with cheese, this might be up your alley. It had the tiniest kick of spice to it, which surprised us (in a good way!).
If you want to make the most of the 17 food booths, you can pick up a Tasting Lanyard. There are two options available this year, a 5-Sample lanyard for $45 and a 10-Sample lanyard for $75. These can be used to try any combo of food and beverage samples at the various booths throughout the park.
Last but not least, we can’t talk about holiday events without talking about the merch that could make its way onto your wish list. Among the media display that we were able to check out were plenty of apparel for the whole family, Rudolph & Friends-themed bubble wands, plush of all your favorite animals, blankets, trading pins, mugs, and even a SeaWorld-themed holiday Spirit Jersey. You can find all of these items at a variety of locations throughout the park, so there’s bound to be something to make every member of your family smile come Christmas Day.
Have you been to SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration? If so, tell us about your experience on social media. A big thank you to SeaWorld Orlando for having us out!
