Holiday and seasonal events at Disney and Universal Studios theme parks have prompted a rival to launch a new festival to attract visitors.
Disney and Universal Studios theme parks are known for much more than just their rides and attractions. Both park operators host a variety of seasonal and holiday events and festivals to keep visitors coming through the gates all year long.
The most popular and crowded events at Disney World and Disneyland Resort are during the holiday season from early November until just before Christmas, as Disney World’s Magic Kingdom hosts Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at the Magic Kingdom, in conjunction with Mickey’s Once Upon to Christmas. Parade down the main street. Disneyland has its annual seasonal overlap for “it’s a small world” and the Haunted Mansion and also hosts its A Christmas Fantasy Parade around the same time.
At Halloween time, Disney’s (DIS) – Get a free reportMagic Kingdom in Orlando presents Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, while Disneyland in Anaheim, California offers Oogie Boogie Bash.
Both from Comcast (CMCSA) – Get a free reportUniversal Studios Hollywood and Universal Studios Florida present The Awesomest Celebration of the Season, while Universal Hollywood and Islands of Adventure present Grinchmas, during the holiday season. The holiday season is also celebrated at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter lands at Universal Hollywood, Universal Florida and Islands of Adventure.
Universal Studios in Hollywood and Orlando also celebrate Halloween in October with their Halloween Horror Nights.
Each year, Disney World’s Epcot presents the International Festival of the Arts which currently runs through February 20, 2023 and includes culinary arts, performing arts, visual arts and the popular annual Disney on Broadway concert series at the American Gardens Theater. .
The theme park also hosts the International Food and Wine Festival from mid-July to just before Thanksgiving, then hosts the International Holiday Festival from around Thanksgiving to the end of December. Disney has yet to reveal the specific dates for these festivals this year. It will also host the International Flower and Garden Festival from March 1 to July 5.
Six Flags
Six Flags Hosts Special Events
Disney and Universal Studios rival Six Flags Entertainment (SIX) – Get a free report he stays busy year-round trying to compete, offering his own lineup of annual special events. Each of the 15 Six Flags amusement parks, not including the company’s water parks, celebrates Spring Break, the 4th of July, the seasonal event of Halloween Fright Night, Oktoberfest and Holiday in the Park beginning in late November to January 1.
Some of the Six Flags amusement parks hold events that others do not. Six Flags St. Louis has its own Physics Day, and Six Flags Darien Lake takes it one step further with Math and Physics Day. Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Ill., has Physics Days and Math and Science Days. Magic Mountain in Valencia, California, and Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo, California, host middle and high school band students for Music in the Parks.
Many Six Flags parks have Grad Nite for high school seniors and events for Cinco de Mayo and St. Patrick’s Day.
Mardi Gras comes to Six Flags
Taking a page from Universal Studios Florida’s Mardi Gras, which runs through April 16, Six Flags Discovery Kingdom presents its first-ever Mardi Gras Festival February 11-26, featuring the music, flavors and culture of New Orleans, their website says.
Guests can listen to live music, watch the Six Flags Mardi Gras parade, and maybe catch some beads. The festival will include the French Quarter Cafe, featuring Gumbo over rice made with chicken and shrimp sausage included for an additional charge, plus cornbread. Diners can also enjoy a cinnamon roll disguised as King Cake. Bourbon Street Eats offers Shrimp Po Boys and fried okra, and Cajun Kitchen serves up shrimp, sausage, corn on the cob, and cornbread. You can even find jambalaya and fritters in the park.
Six Flags Fiesta Texas in San Antonio carnival festival It has been running since January 14 and will conclude on February 25. Six Flags Great America has booked its first Mardi Gras Festival a little later in warmer weather June 16-18.
