2019 at SeaWorld Orlando will begin with the return of its Three Kings Celebration, running from New Year’s Day through Jan. 6.
The annual event commemorates the extended holiday season celebrated by many Christians in Spain and Latin America until Three Kings’ Day. The holiday centers around the tale of the Three Wise Men visiting baby Jesus after his birth as told in the Gospel of Matthew. It also provides the last chance to see some of SeaWorld’s other Christmas offerings.
This includes the park’s “O Wondrous Night” show, which tells the story of Christmas with live animals, large puppets and “over 30 carols.”
“Lots of singing, special effects and incredible lighting enhance this production and holiday spirit,” SeaWorld said in a press release. “It’s a live nativity that only SeaWorld can bring to life.”
The more than 100 Christmas trees placed around the lake in the middle of SeaWorld — dubbed the “Sea of Trees” — will also remain in place through Jan. 6.
The additional offerings include the “Tale of the Three Kings,” another live nativity scene retelling the Three Wise Men’s arrival. The show will be performed multiple times per day and like “O Wondrous Night,” features live animals. All the shows are included with regular admission to SeaWorld.
Like most theme park events, there’s a food component: the park will offer exclusive “Latin-inspired dishes and drinks” like papas rellenas (fried stuffed potatoes), empanadas and bacalaitos (codfish fritters) and frozen sangria.
Other Orlando parks will be wrapping up their holiday celebrations in the same time frame. Universal Orlando’s seasonal offerings, like the “Grinchmas” show, end on Jan. 6. At Disney World, the exact end dates vary: Epcot’s International Festival of the Holidays runs through Dec. 30, while Sunset Seasons Greeting at Disney’s Hollywood Studios continues through Jan. 6.
Legoland Florida is the only major Orlando park to end its Christmas celebration on the holiday itself, when its Christmas Bricktacular makes way for its “New Beginnings Celebration” fireworks.