The winter of our content
Parks help turn the season’s blahs into bliss with special events
I just finished shoveling out from yet another winter storm. My forlorn dog held up his paws, stinging from the rock salt and freezing from the slush and snow, seeking relief. We are both bracing for a cold front that will plunge wind chill temperatures well below zero. Brr. And blah.
Thankfully, destination theme parks beckon in places that are considerably warmer than New England. I’ll gladly brave the wind chill factor aboard a coaster in California or Florida this time of year. To sweeten the deal, many parks are featuring special wintertime events.

Lunar New Year at Disney California Adventure Park
To help celebrate the Year of the Snake, Disney California Adventure is offering Lunar New Year through February 16, 2025. Mushu, the dragon from Mulan, leads a colorful procession multiple times daily through the park. He and his pals also appear each evening on giant water screens in a special pre-show before World of Color, the enchanting kiss-goodnight fountain and projection spectacular. Meilin Lee and her mother, Ming Lee, from the Pixar film, “Turning Red,” are on hand to greet guests. Musicians and dancers representing Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese cultures perform daily. And of course, it wouldn’t be a festival without food. Limited-time Asian dishes are on the menu at booths as well as at some of the park’s restaurants. Check out Disney’s description of its Legend of the Ten Spices flatbread, which is available at Pym Test Kitchen, and tell me you’re not salivating: “Kung pao beef, sesame spread, toasted bok choy, and napa cabbage, served with onion-cilantro salad garnished with heirloom radish and chile threads.” Yum.
EPCOT International Festival of the Arts at Walt Disney World
It’s one of EPCOT’s lesser known events (which include the International Food & Wine Festival, the International Festival of the Holidays, and the granddaddy of them all, the International Flower & Garden Festival), but the International Festival of the Arts, which continues through February 24, 2025, is jam-packed with things to experience. Like the park’s other celebrations, there are food stalls, which in this case feature art-inspired dishes such as Escargot en Chocolat. Served at the L'Art de la Cuisine Française booth, the dessert features Chocolate Mousse Flourless Cake with teensy dark chocolate mouse ears. Also, artists ply their trade and display their work on the park’s promenades. Budding artists can try their hand at drawing characters at the Animation Academy, which is led by a Disney animator. Performers from shows such as “Aladdin” and “Frozen” appear daily at the American Gardens Theatre for the Disney on Broadway concert series. And new this year, Once Upon a Stage: 30 Years of Disney on Broadway is being presented at CommuniCore Hall. The exhibit features props, set pieces, costumes, and more from Disney’s theatrical productions.
Universal Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval at Universal Studios Florida
There’ll be lots of beads tossed and plenty of beignets eaten at Universal’s ode to New Orleans. The parks 30th annual Mardi Gras celebration kicks off February 1 and continues through March 30, 2025. When the sun goes down, colorful floats crafted by the same creative folks that design the parades in The Big Easy will make their way through the park. Guests can use Universal’s app to apply to be a bead thrower aboard one of the floats. On select evenings, performers such as Joe Jonas, TLC, and Kool & the Gang will take the stage for the Mardi Gras concert series, which is included in admission. Dishes such as gumbo and jambalaya will be served at the event’s food booths.
Mardi Gras at Six Flags Fiesta Texas, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay in Florida, and SeaWorld San Diego in California
Universal doesn’t have a monopoly on Mardi Gras events. Other parks have jumped on the jazz bandwagon and more or less offer the same Cajun combo of parades, beads, entertainment, and New Orleans-inspired dishes.
Six Flags Fiesta Texas Mardi Gras Festival is being presented on select dates through March 16, 2025.
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Mardi Gras Event is being presented on select dates through March 2, 2025. The park is also offering the Real Music Series with tribute bands performing every day but Sunday through February 22.
Mardi Gras at SeaWorld San Diego is being presented on select dates through March 2, 2025. The park will also offer a Lunar New Year event on February 1, 2, 8, and 9.
Seven Seas Food Festival at SeaWorld Orlando in Florida
Forget the beads and the dragon dances. SeaWorld’s Florida park goes all in on tantalizing dishes and beverages with its Seven Seas Food Festival, which kicks off January 31 and continues on select dates through May 4. Over two dozen booths (or “markets” in SeaWorld-speak) will offer a wide variety of cuisines, including German, Gulf Coast, and Caribbean. The Irish food station will be serving up something called a Reuben Egg Roll. The multi-culti concoction pairs corned beef and sauerkraut in a fried egg roll that’s served with Thousand Island dipping sauce. Acts playing at the Seven Seas Food Festival Concerts will include ZZ Top, Sara Evans, and Warrant.
Will you be heading to any parks this winter? Might you check out any of the events?