From the heartwarming to the heart-stopping, events at Universal Studios Hollywood jazz up various seasons throughout the year. Check the event calendar before your visit to see what might be happening at the Los Angeles park—like the after-hours Universal Fan Fest Nights that celebrates sci-fi, gaming, and anime—or to plan to take part in these annual traditions:
Halloween at Universal Studios Hollywood
The theme park—which is also a working movie studio—plays up its horror-film street cred during September and October with its famed Halloween Horror Nights. Each year features an array of haunted houses, each inspired by different horror movies, like The Texas Chainsaw Massacre or A Quiet Place. The event’s Terror Tram follows its own creepy maze of horror, stopping at set recreations where various monsters, zombies, or Chucky dolls might jump out at you. This scare fest is not for the squeamish, nor for little ones—the experience is not recommended for kids under 13.
Christmas at Universal Studios Hollywood
From late November until early January, the park celebrates the winter holidays with three different themes. For starters, you’ll find Cindy Lou and her Who friends reading the Dr. Seuss classic How the Grinch Stole Christmas during Grinchmas. The Grinch himself and his faithful dog Max will be there, too, and the Who-ville post office will be accepting postcards with holiday messages. There’s a nightly tree-lighting ceremony—with an appropriately whimsical, 65-foot topsy-turvy tree—and even a picturesque evening snowfall. Don’t miss the all-Who ensemble of doo-wop singers, too.
Meanwhile, the park’s Hogsmeade is all decked out for Christmas in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Enjoy holiday-themed foods, hear the Hogwarts Frog Choir, and watch the evening light show against Hogwarts Castle. SUPER NINTENDO WORLD throws its own holiday party, too, featuring snowmen dressed as Mario and Luigi, a holiday tree topped with a Super Star, and seasonal goodies at the area’s Toadstool Café.
To round things out, Universal CityWalk gets gussied up for the season—a transformation that typically includes a 40-foot-tall Christmas tree glittering with more than 200,000 LED lights as well as live entertainment and nightly snowfalls.
New Year’s Eve at Universal Studios
The holiday decor will still be up on Dec. 31 when the park throws its after-hours Eve party. Different areas within the park act as party hubs with DJs, live music, and a countdown at midnight, followed by fireworks. You can always toast the New Year with a Squishee near the Simpsons Ride, but New Year’s Eve at the park will also include the availability of bubby, beer, and wine for the 21-and-up crowd. Another New Year’s Eve nerve center will be outside the park entrance at Universal CityWalk, where some spots tend to stay open after midnight that night. Entry to Eve is included in the price of that day’s park admission.
Plan Your Trip
Learn more about visiting this Hollywood-loving park: Check out tips on The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, and Universal Studios Hollywood for Small Children.
