SEAWORLD DECORATING THE SKY WITH SOME HOLIDAY SPARKLE
Theme park bringing back fireworks display for the season, with the show running through New Year’s Eve
Fireworks, which have long been a SeaWorld San Diego staple during the summer months, will be returning this week to commemorate the holiday season, with regular shows scheduled through New Year’s Eve.
A Christmas Wish Fireworks Show, as it is known, will mark its second year at SeaWorld, beginning Saturday at 5:30 p.m. when it will kick off the annual Mission Bay Parade of Lights. Except for Christmas week, when the fireworks will go off nightly, the show can be seen every Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening.
The five-minute show is themed to holiday music and begins with a recording of children sharing their holiday wishes over the loudspeaker as the fireworks display commences over the park. The voice of Santa will follow with a hopeful message about how wishes can come true, said park spokesperson Tracy Spahr.
In general, the pyrotechnics display will come on about 10 minutes before the closing of the park. During December, closing times will vary, but generally the park will close at 8 p.m., except for Christmas week, when it will be open until 10 p.m. between Dec. 26 and Dec. 31. On Christmas, the park will remain open until 8 p.m.
The holiday fireworks, which are included with the price of admission to the theme park, have been a tradition for the last several years, except when they were paused in 2020 during the pandemic.
While SeaWorld fireworks have inspired debate over the years — most notably from nearby residents as well as environmental advocates — they remain a fixture at the park during certain times of the year. SeaWorld’s own master plan approved by the city spells out how often they can occur — up to 150 fireworks shows a year are permitted, divided among six-minute shows (up to 129 per year), 12-minute shows (up to 15 annually) and 20minute shows (up to six per year).
The fireworks are just one element of the special holiday offerings at the park this December. Among the added attractions and displays are the SkyTower Tree of Lights decorated as a Christmas tree in all green with sprinkles of red lights, the All-New O.P. Otter’s Holiday Sing-A-Long, Mrs. Claus’ Christmas Parade, live reindeer, and a daily tree lighting of a 30-foot Christmas tree
The holiday celebrations, including Hanukkah festivities, are running on select dates through Jan. 7.