EDITOR’S NOTE: This blog was originally published in December 2022 and then underwent updates and editing in October 2025 to remain current and relevant.
I do not know about you, but as soon as the Thanksgiving leftovers are put away, my family goes into full on holiday mode. We HAVE to do all the things — bake cookies, drive around and see lights, decorate every square inch of our house and, most importantly, go to all the major holiday events in town. And in Southern California, one of the best ways to be immersed in the holiday spirit is to enjoy the holiday festivities at Universal Studios Hollywood.
This year, you’ll find holiday fun at Universal from Monday, November 24, 2025 to Sunday, January 4, 2026. Already want in? Grab your tickets here. In the meantime, here’s everything you need to know about the most wonderful time of the year at Universal Studios Hollywood.
Things To Do
Take In the Sights
With all there is to experience at Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal CityWalk, the first thing you will notice is that the entire place is decked out for the holidays. The lights, the decorations and the holiday spirit simply take over this time of year. Make sure to have your camera ready to snap away.
Joyful Holidays at SUPER NINTENDO WORLD
Remember those holidays when visions of Super Mario games danced in your head? Whether that’s this year or 30 years ago, Nintendo games and characters have long been key elements of the most wonderful time of the year. So get in on the holiday fun at Universal Studios Hollywood during Joyful Holidays at SUPER NINTENDO WORLD!
Throughout the merriest season, The Mushroom Kingdom will be decked out in a delightful array of holiday decorations. Want to show off your Super Mario fandom in this year’s family holiday cards? Snuggle up with two snowmen — one donning a red Mario hat and scarf, and the other a green Luigi hat and scarf — who you’ll find right next to the warp pipe at the entrance to the land.
The festivities also include an exclusive merch line that would look great wrapped up under the tree, from holiday decorations to seasonal attire. My favorites include the festive sweaters featuring a Mario-themed snowman, as well as the four-piece ornament sets, which include a Super Mushroom, 1-Up Mushroom, Super Star, and a ? Block. You can find these items at select SUPER NINTENDO WORLD retail locations throughout the theme park and CityWalk.
While you’re here, check out Discover Universal’s guide to SUPER NINTENDO WORLD at Universal Studios Hollywood.
Grinchmas
While taking in the holiday sights, meander to the heart of Universal Studios Hollywood for Grinchmas, located in Universal Plaza. Multiple times every night, a tree-lighting ceremony featuring the Grinch himself, along with the Who-ville Whos, ends with snow around the topsy-turvy 65 foot-tall Grinchmas tree decorated with hundreds of ornaments and thousands of LED lights.
Make sure to check out a festive performance from the Who-Bee Doo-Wops! At each show, this quartet sings a handful of holiday classics from “This Christmas” to “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.” The Who-Bee Doo-Wops only perform during the day, and only during select days.
Throughout the day, the Grinch and his faithful dog Max are available for your personal holiday photo op. Plus. and everyone’s favorite Who, Cindy-Lou Who leads daily story time featuring a reading of Dr. Seuss’s “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” (She’ll have story times in both English and Spanish.) You can also send a note to the Grinch listing three good deeds you’ve done and send it via the Who-ville Post Office!
PRO TIPS
- Make sure to grab your spot early for the tree lighting. It is always one of the most popular events of the day throughout the holiday season.
- Keep an eye out for props from “How The Grinch Stole Christmas!” throughout the Grinchmas area.
- Do not miss the Grinch, Max, and Cindy-Lou photo ops — especially if your kiddos are in tow. My daughter’s Grinch photo from when she was a toddler adorns my holiday mantle every single year. Plan to get to the line early as this is a popular spot!
Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
It would not be the holiday season at Universal Studios Hollywood without enjoying the sights and sounds of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter against the background of snow-capped roofs, which take on an extra special holiday spirit this time of year.
Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter takes place throughout the land, where you can enjoy the sounds of the holidays with a special a cappella performance from the Hogwarts Frog Choir, or shop for the special wizards in your life and pick up personalized ornaments and notebooks, as well as plenty of other Wizarding World of Harry Potter merchandise you can only get at Universal.
The festivities continue into the evening as our favorite castle comes to life in a dazzling way with “The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle.” This truly impressive spectacle showcases stunning imagery and animation projected on the castle and features music and sounds from the “Harry Potter” film series.
PRO TIPS
- Make sure to stake out your spot in front of Hogwarts castle early. (The Triwizard stage is a great place to view the show!) Your best bet is to check times when arriving at the theme park and plan around the show. There are multiple viewings of the lights show, so you should be set!
- If you plan on holiday shopping for your favorite wizarding world fan, double-check that you know their Hogwarts house! I promise, if you get it right, your gift could make their holiday season. And if you’re looking to give an extra special gift, be sure to ask about personalizing merchandise!
Can’t-Miss Moments
- Every holiday season, Universal Studios Hollywood is the best place to get some awesome pictures in your holiday sweaters. When arriving, make your way down the Grinch-afied red carpet featuring bright Seussian decorations where you can capture the perfect holiday image for Instagram.
- Keep your eye out for special holiday decorations throughout the park — you may even spot characters like Illumination’s Minions dressed up in their holiday finest!
- This is a great time to work on some holiday shopping while having fun. Anything you purchase in the park can be picked up at the Universal Studio Store in the front of the park before you head home, making the day a whole lot easier.
- The characters are also in the spirit of the season! Keep an eye out for some of your favorites all dressed up for the holidays.
Universal CityWalk Hollywood
Don’t forget to stroll through Universal CityWalk and take in the sites while perusing the vast array of stores. The 40-foot Christmas tree decorated with 200,000 LED lights is the ideal photo spot, and you may even catch King Kong with his Santa hat on if you look up.
Restaurants all over CityWalk offer up special drinks and dishes just for the holiday season. Antojitos, NBC Sports Grill & Brew and Vivo all have special adult beverages with wintry flavors (think: apple, ginger, peppermint) throughout the holidays. If you have a holiday sweet tooth, make sure to stop at one of my favorites, Voodoo Doughnut, as they always offer up some pretty delicious (and Instagrammable) seasonal flavors. And definitely don’t skip the Toothsome Chocolate Emporium — they always have spectacularly over-the-top holiday treats in store. Check out our guide to the holidays at Universal CityWalk for everything you need to know about the holiday dishes and drinks available this season!
Plus, you can knock tons of holiday shopping off your to-do list at CityWalk. Don’t miss out on the Universal Studio Store and the SUPER NINTENDO WORLD STORE on CityWalk — you’ll find exclusive holiday merch from your favorite fandoms. Talk about a perfect stocking stuffer.
As you can see, there is a lot of awesome to take in at Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal CityWalk during the holiday season. This year the festivities kick-off Monday, November 24, 2025 and run daily through Sunday, January 4, 2026.
So, get in the holiday spirit and grab your tickets before you go dig out your favorite holiday sweater from the back of the closet.
What are you most excited to experience during the holidays at Universal Studios Hollywood? Let us know in the comments!
The post Guide to the Holidays at Universal Studios Hollywood appeared first on Discover Universal.
