Universal Studios Hollywood at Christmas: Everything You Need to Know 2024
This holiday season, spend a day enjoying a Harry Potter or Grinch filled Universal Studios Christmas. The holidays at Universal Studios offer plenty to see and do in terms of entertainment, activities, and seasonal décor.
Universal Studios Hollywood focuses their Christmas time festivities on two main themes: the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Grinchmas. Along with these two main themes, you can also see holiday décor throughout the park from the festive decorations to characters wearing Santa hats! Seasonal food is also in abundance, especially in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
Need a refresher on everything Universal Studios Hollywood has to offer? Make sure to check out our full guide with tips on how to get discount tickets, what rides are offered, and a complete touring strategy. Our Universal Studios Hollywood Express Guide has the full overview of how to beat the lines!
Last year Christmas at Universal Studios Hollywood began Friday, November 24th for both the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Grinchmas and ran daily through January 1st, 2024.
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Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter takes place for Universal Studios Christmas Friday, November 24th through January 1st, 2024.
This area is decked out to its full holiday best and definitely should make the top of your list!
The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle
The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle includes lights, music, and projections on the castle of Hogwarts which makes for a stunning display. The show begins every night at dusk.
Check the entertainment schedule on the Universal Studios app for daily times or ask the nearest park employee. Typically, the Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle show will begin in the evening and run every 30 minutes until park close. But on nights that the park closes early, there may only be one show. Make sure you find out the time in advance so you don't miss it!
Holiday Frog Choir
Listen to some holiday songs from the choir of Hogwarts students and their croaking frogs! Check the entertainment schedule on the Universal Studios app for daily times or ask the nearest park employee.
You can also see the performances from Durmstrang and Beauxbatons!
Universal Studios Christmas Seasonal Food
In the Harry Potter books, Harry and his friends enjoy a grand holiday feast at Hogwarts with all the fixings,
“Harry had never in all his life had such a Christmas dinner. A hundred fat, roast turkeys; mountains of roast and boiled potatoes; platters of chipolatas; tureens of buttered peas, silver boats of thick, rich gravy and cranberry sauce — and stacks of wizard crackers every few feet along the table…“
The Three Broomsticks offers a full holiday feast as a nod towards the Christmas dinner feast held at Hogwarts in the Harry Potter series. The English Holiday Meal this year is roasted turkey, gravy, stuffing, honey glazed carrots, roasted brussels sprouts, pigs in a blanket and cranberry compote.
You can also find a variety of holiday sweets and seasonal drinks, such as warm butterbeer, around the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Christmas time.
Holiday Shopping at Universal Studios Christmas
Hogsmeade offers a variety of amazing shops straight out of the pages of the Harry Potter series. You can expect these stores to put out all the stops when it comes to serving your holiday shopping needs.
Grinchmas at Universal Studios Hollywood
Universal Studios also holds a celebration of Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas with popular characters from the movie ready to share their Wholiday with your family.
The Who-tacular festivities with The Grinch, Max, and all of Who-ville take place Friday, November 24th through January 1st, 2024.
NEW: DayTime Who-ville Performance
Last year's Universal Studios Hollywood season featured an all-new daytime performance featuring Who-Bee Doo-Wops group, Who-ville’s latest musical sensation rocking out to hip-swinging, bell-ringing holiday classics for the Whos and guests to enjoy.
Make sure to come back in the evening to see everything lit up!
The Grinchmas tree makes for a great photo op!
Meet the Grinch
Meet Grinch and Max in front of the Whoville Christmas tree and snap a picture with this dynamic duo. There are also ornaments and cookies to decorate while you wait to meet the Grinch! You can also enjoy a daily lighting of the 60 feet Seussian tree along with further photo opportunities.
We loved meeting Max!
The Grinch is one of my favorite characters to meet!
You can also get photo ops with all the Whos!
Send the Grinch a Post Card
One of the most heartwarming parts of Grinchmas at Universal Studios is the Send a Grinch a Post Card. If you send the Grinch a postcard promising three good deeds, a book will be donated to a child in need courtesy of the Seuss family. Now that's showing some real Whoville spirit!
Whoville Entertainment during Universal Studios Christmas
You can also listen to Cindy Lou Who read the story How the Grinch Stole Christmas and meet her afterwards during this Universal Studios Christmas celebration.
And wandering around the Whoville tree you can find other Whoville citizens singing, dancing, and greeting guests.
Check the Universal Studios app to see the current entertainment times for the day during your visit.
Grinchmas Treats
There will be a treat stand in the Grinchmas area full of themed cookies, cupcakes, and more. The line for this does get long so go earlier in the day!
So many cute treats!
The big donuts are similar to the ones in the Simpsons Land!
Christmas at Universal Studios Hollywood
Between Christmas in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Grinchmas, there will be plenty of holiday entertainment to keep you busy.
Throughout the park you will notice seasonal holiday decor, characters such as the beloved Minions in Christmas hats and festive outfits, and a variety of Christmas treats and souvenirs.
Universal Studios Hollywood Christmas Tips
When it comes to tips for navigating Universal Studios Hollywood during this busy time of year, we don't vary too much from our usual strategy.
But we do have some additional tips and tricks to keep in mind for this busy holiday season:
- Arrive early- at least 30 minutes before the park opens. Not as many people do this at Universal Studios as they do at Disneyland, you will be one of the first ones in if you come early!
- If you have the extra funds and want to cut ahead the crowds, consider purchasing a Front of the Line pass so you can get to the front of the lines quicker.
- Plan ahead– know the park hours, entertainment schedule, and want you want to do first.
- If meeting the Grinch is at the top of your list, go there in the morning before the lines get long in the afternoon.
- When there are more than one Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle show, see the later timed one for lower crowd levels.
- Stay until the park closes– especially if you only have one day to spend.
- If Santa is on your list, save him for after the park closes or another day since he's only found in City Walk.
- Consider staying at an Universal hotel to get early entry into the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
- Dress in layers– it can get chilly once the sun goes down!
- And don't miss out on trying some warm holiday Butterbeer!
Universal Studios Hollywood Christmas Treat List 2024
Here is the list so far of the holiday treat items you can find at Universal Studios Hollywood for the season!
This is a list from a past year for reference—when we get the 2024 treat list we will update it here!
Savory Food Items
Holiday Popcorn Chicken & Waffle
Roasted Chicken & Brie Croissant
Smoked Brisket Sandwich
Max 22” Hot Dog
Harvest Stew in a Bread Bowl (Vegan)
Clam Chowder in a Bread Bowl
English Holiday Meal at Three Broomsticks
Sweets
Butterscotch Pudding Jar
Black Forest Cake Jar
Gingerbread Who-Ville Tree Cookie
Holiday Minion Sugar Cookie
Snow Globe Cookie
Smores Cupcake
Pumpkin Spice Caramel Cupcake
Mini Donut Cup (Cinnamon Sugar & Pumpkin Spice)
Grinch Donut
Chocolate Wreath Donut
Grinch Funnel Cake
Pumpkin Spice Churro
Grinch Cotton Candy
Beverages (non-alcoholic)
Classic Hot Chocolate
Peppermint Hot Chocolate
Smores Hot Chocolate
Grinch’s Heart Lemonade
Alcoholic Beverages
Winter Mojito
Santa’s Secret Tonic
Mulligan’s Treat
Sleigh Bell Irish Sour
Grinch’s Heart
Fiesta Fizz
Hot Mixed Drinks (alcoholic)
Spiked Peppermint Hot Chocolate
Buttered Rum
Pear Cider
Universal Studios: The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle Video
Hands down my favorite part of Universal Studios Hollywood at Christmas was The Wizarding World of Harry Potter! But I did enjoy the Grinchmas celebration much more than I thought I would. The area is themed beautifully and the entire entertainment lineup is fun for everyone.
Plus, don't miss the Universal Studios Hollywood New Year's Eve celebration.
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