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The holiday season has fully engulfed Universal Studios Hollywood and the adjacent Universal CityWalk shopping center in Universal City.
The theme park launched its annual holiday festivities on Friday, Nov. 24 and the fun continues daily through Monday, Jan. 1.
Inside the park, the palm trees are all lit up, lights are hanging on every shop and things are quite merry over in Super Silly Fun Land, which is home to the Minions from the “Despicable Me” franchise. Grinchmas has taken over the Universal Plaza on the upper lot and that includes performances by the Who-Bee Doo-Wops group and Storytime with Cindy Lou Who as she reads “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.”
ALSO SEE: Here are the holiday happenings at Southern California theme parks
Universal Studios Hollywood celebrates the season with the return of Christmas in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter which includes live performances by the Frog Choir, The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle light projection show and all the décor in Hogsmeade Village. The holiday celebration continues daily through Jan. 1. (Photo courtesy of Universal Studios Hollywood)
Grinchmas returns to Universal Studios Hollywood and runs through Jan. 1. Located inside the Universal Plaza on the upper lot, Grinchmas also serves up several new holiday food options. (Photo by Hamilton Pytluk, Universal Studios Hollywood)
Grinchmas returns to Universal Studios Hollywood and runs through Jan. 1. (Photo by Hamilton Pytluk, Universal Studios Hollywood)
Grinchmas returns to Universal Studios Hollywood and runs through Jan. 1. (Photo by Hamilton Pytluk, Universal Studios Hollywood)
Grinchmas returns to Universal Studios Hollywood and runs through Jan. 1. Located inside the Universal Plaza on the upper lot, Grinchmas also serves up several new holiday food options including a trio of hot chocolate flavors. (Photo by Hamilton Pytluk, Universal Studios Hollywood)
Grinchmas returns to Universal Studios Hollywood and runs through Jan. 1. (Photo by Hamilton Pytluk, Universal Studios Hollywood)
Grinchmas returns to Universal Studios Hollywood and runs through Jan. 1. Located inside the Universal Plaza on the upper lot, Grinchmas also serves up several new holiday cocktails. (Photo by Hamilton Pytluk, Universal Studios Hollywood)
Universal Studios Hollywood celebrates the season with the return of Christmas in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter which includes live performances by the Frog Choir, The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle light projection show and all the décor in Hogsmeade Village. The holiday celebration continues daily through Jan. 1. (Photo courtesy of Universal Studios Hollywood)
Universal Studios Hollywood celebrates the season with the return of Christmas in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter which includes live performances by the Frog Choir, The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle light projection show and all the décor in Hogsmeade Village. The holiday celebration continues daily through Jan. 1. (Photo courtesy of Universal Studios Hollywood)
Hello Kitty is all decked out for the holiday season at Universal Studios Hollywood. She’s ready to pose for photos with guests in front of the Animation Studio Store. The holiday festivities continue daily through Jan. 1. (Photo by Hamilton Pytluk, Universal Studios Hollywood)
Grinchmas returns to Universal Studios Hollywood and runs through Jan. 1. (Photo by Hamilton Pytluk, Universal Studios Hollywood)
Families and kids were lined up on opening day to snag photos with the boisterous Grinch himself and his trusty, more mellow dog Max. They were entertained by the Whoville singers and there’s a very fun and colorful show about every half hour after sunset that includes the lighting of the 65-foot-tall Grinchmas tree and a flurry of faux snow.
“The Grinch is my favorite,” one child expressed as his father hoisted him up upon his shoulders to get a better view of the big green costumed character as he danced across the stage with a giant candy cane.
Inside the Grinchmas area, kids can also color ornaments to hang on little trees and there are fun cookies, a gingerbread whoopie pie and oversize Grinch donuts for purchase. While there were festive non-alcoholic mocktails and other beverages available, it seemed that most of the park was already out of hot chocolate (spiked and non-alcoholic) and a few of the more popular sweet treats during our visit on the rather chilly opening day. For the adults, the theme park also serves cocktails like the Bad Santa, Sleigh Bells Irish Sour, a Hot Espresso Martini, the Make It Snappy Santa and the Frostbite.
Though hot cocoa was a bust, the Three Broomsticks inside The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, which is also heavily decked out for the holiday, had plenty of hot Butterbeer. Out of the frozen, cold and hot varieties, hot Butterbeer is the most flavorful; a creamy butterscotch treat that just warms the soul. It’s also fun to grab a warm cup and head over to see The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle, which is a seasonal light projection show with lively music and fireworks that runs multiple times per evening. You can also catch a cappella performances by the Frog Choir.
Of course, there are holiday gifts galore.
The park sells a lot of ornaments and stockings with different Universal characters on them, but there were a few very popular items that guests were snapping up on the first day. Lots of folks were walking around with the new Harry Potter Snowy Owl, which can be situated upon a shoulder with a magnet. The little owl turns its head from side to side, makes little chirping noises and is fully interactive. People were buying them for themselves and bagging them up for gifts. It’s adorable, but it’s also $55.
Families were picking up various Grinch-themed matching pajama sets. There were a few different styles available — including onesies — that came in newborn, toddler, kids, adults and pet sizes ranging anywhere from $19.95-$59.95 each. Parents were also seen snagging accessories like beanies, scarves, gloves and slippers to go along with the seasonal wear.
At Universal CityWalk, several of the eateries including Antojitos Cocina Mexicana, Voodoo Doughnut and The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen have seasonal desserts, cocktails and dishes. The NBC Sports Grill & Brew has a tasty Peppermint Martini, Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville has a creamy Co-Co-Colada and the Vivo Italian Kitchen has Winter and Apple Cider martinis, too. There’s also a 40-foot-tall Christmas tree with more than 200,000 LED lights situated just outside Universal Cinema and the adjacent stage with a massive screen was showing holiday music videos while playing pop hits by acts like NSYNC, Jessica Simpson, BTS and more.
When: Various hours daily through Jan. 1
Where: Universal Studios Hollywood, 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City
Tickets: Starting at $109 for single-day and $149 for two-day general admission; $199 for Universal Express; $369 for the VIP Experience. All passes can be purchased at universalstudioshollywood.com.
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