No matter what time of year you visit Universal Orlando, you’ll find exciting events, awesome rides and great food to indulge in. With Universal’s Seasonal Events, there really is something for everyone when visiting Universal Orlando. While each season may not mean a major change in weather (since it’s sunny and warm most of the year in Florida- hello, 90 degrees today), there’s always something new between Universal’s three great theme parks, Universal’s Resorts, and City Walk.

New Year’s Eve at Universal Orlando:

EVE is a Universal City Walk New Year’s Eve Event takes place every NYE. Yes, it is just called EVE! It is Universal CityWalk’s super fun New Year’s celebration. With your ticket to EVE, you can get unlimited gourmet food and enjoy signature drinks. You can choose between five awesome CityWalk clubs with live bands and DJs. There is also a center stage, which is Orlando’s biggest outdoor dance floor featuring a live DJ. This NYE event is 21+ only with a valid photo ID. There is also a midnight champagne toast and a fireworks display at midnight!

There are a couple of different event tickets available for this event:

Advance EVE Event tickets cost $120 per person and if you have an annual or seasonal pass, you can receive 10% off your ticket price if you purchase in advance.

The Advance EVE VIP Ticket costs $195 per person and has a little more option than your standard Advance EVE ticket. These tickets are also limited availability and the price goes up to $235 after December 15th. Passholders also receive 10% off of this ticket type as well.

Advance EVE Pavilion Party Ticket gives you the exclusive center of the party access and seating within the Pavilion Party area (Seating is first come, first served.) Drink tickets, early entrance, a private restroom, and some other great perks are also included with this ticket. These tickets start at $300 per person and the price goes up to $350 after December 15th.

The actual theme parks at Universal Orlando do not host their own New Year’s Eve parties, but there are some celebrations inside Universal Studios Florida, such as “party zones” that include family-friendly music, character dance parties, confetti, and party favors for the countdown to midnight. There are 2 locations where these celebrations take place: Music Plaza and Central Park.

Universal Studios also stays open late on NYE, allowing you to enjoy your favorite attractions late into the night. Islands of Adventure and Volcano Bay will be closing at their standard closing hours.

All 7 of Universal Orlando’s hotels have their own New Year’s Eve celebrations as well as their own prices to participate in those events.

Rock the Universe:

After New Year’s Eve, the next major event is Rock the Universe. This event takes place on January 24th and January 25th, 2020. While no future dates past 2020 have been announced, you can almost always count on it taking place in January every year. Rock the Universe is an awesome weekend of faith and fun. You can experience two nights of music from Christian Music’s biggest artists at Universal Studios. Artists include TobyMac, Chris Tomlin, Newsboys United, Switchfoot and more! There are fan zones set up where you can enjoy autograph sessions with select artists, take part in a Saturday Ceremony and a Sunday morning worship service. This is a 2-day event packed with different events, entertainment, and more. Rock the Universe is a separately ticketed special event, so beware if you plan to visit Universal in January to make sure you plan your days around this event.

Mardi Gras:

Mardi Gras is an event at Universal Studios that runs every night from Feb. 1 – Apr. 2nd 2020 at Universal Studios. Mardi Gras is an annual event at Universal Studios that recreates the feel of the New Orleans street party with a fun parade, street performers, and authentic Cajun food (which is available for purchase), plus live concerts from popular artists.

There are a lot of similarities between Universal’s Mardi Gras and the real Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Universal’s parade floats are made by Kern Studios, the same company that has created Mardi Gras floats for the event in New Orleans since 1947. You can see musicians direct from Louisiana performing live within Universal Studios at the French Quarter Courtyard, taste Southern cuisine, experience the Mardi Gras-style parade, and catch-free beads.

On select nights of Universal Studios’ Mardi Gras, you can enjoy performances from popular recording artists at the Music Plaza stage. 2020 Mardi Gras event concert artists have not yet been announced yet. The parade is awesome- You can see stilt walkers, dancers and street performers on themed parade floats. Confetti will fly along with countless strands of beads that are tossed into the crowd during the parade.

Mardi Gras festivities and concerts are included with paid admission to Universal Studios or with a Universal Orlando Annual Pass or Seasonal Pass. Blockout dates apply. Seasonal Passholders are blocked out of Universal Studios Florida the entire day on Mardi Gras concert dates. The event occurs rain or shine, and is so much fun regardless of the weather!

Also kicking off the Universal Mardi Gras celebrations is something new for 2020!

The Epic Character 5K and 10K Race Weekend:

Coming February 1st and February 2nd, 2020, Universal’s Epic Inaugural Race Weekend! This is the first race weekend at Universal Orlando and is presented by Running Universal. You will be able to race through Universal Orlando Resort, meet your favorite characters, take home a medal and other fun goodies. The 5K Race will take place on February 1st and the 10K Race will take place on February 2nd.

5K and 10K standard registration includes:

  • Epic Character Race participation
  • A Themed medal
  • A Themed Dri-fit shirt
  • Race bib with timing tag
  • Drawstring bag
  • On-course and post-race refreshments
  • Downloadable finisher certificate
  • Complimentary self-parking

Halloween Horror Nights:

Halloween Horror Nights runs select nights from the beginning of September to the beginning of November. This past year, Halloween Horror Nights had 10 haunted houses, 5 scare zones, and awesome live entertainment. Each house is themed after movies or TV shows meant to scare you, which they always do for me. Other Halloween Horror Nights offerings include Express Pass options, RIP tours, private tours, multi-night visits, etc. This event is a separate ticket for admission into Halloween Horror Nights. Halloween Horror Nights is one of my favorite events at Universal Orlando!

Celebrating the Holidays at Universal:

Following Halloween Horror Nights, the holidays at Universal begin from November to early January. This is my favorite time to be in the parks because the parks are decorated for the holidays and it makes it even more special and fun to be in the parks! Both Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure will be decorated and participate in the holiday season.

Over at Universal Studios, Diagon Alley and London are transformed with festive decor and lighting. There are special holiday treats and drinks, the atmosphere is fun and Celestina Warbeck and the Banshees have a special show prepared just for the occasion. Universal’s Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s also takes place at Universal. Some of these floats are actually part of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade and feature the Minions, Madagascar, Shrek, and Santa Claus.

Mannheim Steamroller also performs live on select nights (Mostly Saturday and Sundays during November and early November), and this concert is included with your Universal Studios Florida admission.

At Universal’s Islands of Adventure, Hogsmeade also transforms with garland and lights. The Frog Choir sings seasonal songs and there are special treats and drinks to purchase. The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts displays on Hogwarts Castle right after sunset with a projection of holiday spirit.

The Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular takes place inside Seuss Landing, which is filled with Christmas cheer of Who-ville. Enjoy The Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular, which is a live retelling of the classic holiday tale starring The Grinch. You can also meet the Grinch for an autograph and photo.

You can also enjoy The Grinch & Friends Character Breakfast. The Grinch will make his rounds, stopping to pose for photos and to chat. The Grinch & Friends Character Breakfast ticket entitles one guest to one breakfast at Circus McGurkus Cafe Stoo-pendous located inside Universal’s Islands of Adventure and one digital photo taken with The Grinch (via My Universal Photos) during The Grinch & Friends Character Breakfast. The breakfast consists of a buffet and one non-alcoholic beverage. This is a separate event ticket purchase.

Universal Hotels also celebrate the holidays. From Thanksgiving to Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year’s, all the traditional feasts and festivities are available at many of the different Universal resorts.

Think you might want to visit Universal Orlando during one of the seasonal events? Contact me for details! I can help ensure you visit at the best time of year (Which is really any time hehe ;))

Love and Travel Dust,

Molly