The exciting sights, sounds and aromas of Asia will come alive at Lunar New Year at SeaWorld®, San Diego’s premier cultural celebration Jan. 28-29, Feb. 4-5, 11-13 and 18-20. During this one-of-a-kind month-long festival, park visitors won’t want to miss the riveting performances from Chinese acrobats, the high-energy of Taiko drummers and lion dancers, and mouthwatering culinary delights.
SeaWorld guests will be immediately immersed in festive red décor and artwork at the park’s entrance and at the Lunar New Year Festival area depicting 2017’s Year of the Rooster. In keeping with the Chinese New Year tradition of wishing good fortune and happiness to family and friends, patrons visiting the Lunar New Year Festival area and Mission Bay Theater at select times during the celebration may also receive a red envelope with a special gift inside.
Take a look at the all the excitement of Lunar New Year at SeaWorld San Diego:
Chinese Acrobats of Hebei: Seen exclusively at SeaWorld, the Chinese Acrobats of Hebei are masters of agility and grace, combining jaw-dropping acrobatics and stunning costumes in a mesmerizing, 25-minute show. These spellbinding performances will be held four times a day at the park’s Mission Bay Theater and include lion dancing, hoop diving, foot juggling, contortion and chair stacking.
Lunar New Year Festival area: Located just east of the park’s Explorer’s Reef™, this highly decorative festival area will brim with cultural entertainment that includes Taiko drummers, lion dancers and fan dancers as well as martial arts and Diablo yo-yo presentations, and multiple dragon parades each day. The festival area will also include a traditional Wishing Tree where guests can write a conservation wish on a red ribbon for a $3 donation and place it on the tree. The Wishing Tree donations will benefit the SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund, a nonprofit foundation dedicated to supporting animal rescue and rehabilitation, conservation education, habitat protection, and species research projects around the world.
Asian-inspired culinary offerings: SeaWorld’s Lunar New Year Festival will overflow with Asian-inspired flavors and aromas:
- Scrumptious Pizzas: Spicy shrimp, teriyaki chicken and bulgogi beef & egg at the Asian Pizza House.
- Delectable Finger Food: Duck lumpia, vegetable spring rolls, pot stickers and bao sandwiches (five-spice pork belly bun with pickled kimchee) at the Spring Roll and Bao Hut.
- Stir Fry Heaven: Stir fry noodles and chow mein at the Stir Fry Cart.
- Barbeque Delight: Turkey legs with hoisin honey barbeque sauce at the Hibachi Grill.
- The Dragon’s Breath: Tantalize the taste buds with dragon-breath popcorn: a unique recipe that transforms the traditional snack into a unique, cold, nitrogen-infused treat.
- Teas and Sweets: Green tea, shaved snow and sweet lunar stuffed mooncakes at the Tea House.
Inspiring animal visits: SeaWorld’s amazing animals connect guests to wildlife and wild places, and during Lunar New Year visitors will have a chance to get up close with Asian small-clawed river otters and a Eurasian eagle owl.
Red envelopes with surprises: As part the Chinese New Year tradition of wishing prosperity and good fortune to family and friends, guests visiting the festival area and Mission Bay Theater at select times during Lunar New Year celebration may receive a red envelope with a surprise gift inside. Gifts will range from a free or discounted culinary sampling to premium seating at the live performances of the Chinese Acrobats of Hebei.