SeaWorld proudly proclaims its seasonal programme of live entertainment around the park as its Summer Spectacular, and it’s hard to argue with that title. There is a lot to see during the summer months, and it is most definitely a major spectacle. In fact, there’s no real comparison for a bit of summer sizzle (unless you count sister park Busch Gardens in Tampa Bay with its Summer Nights event).
And this year, they have packed in even more excitement and live entertainment into a typical summer day, from Baby Shark to a high-energy stage show and Emperor penguins to a firework finale highlighted by drones! That means we think this should be on most visitors’ list of things to do for the next eight weeks (throughout July and on weekends in August, through to September 1), especially as the best part of the day is actually the evening, when the sun goes down and it’s not quite as hot.
Just to start with, all the extra live events around the park are included with regular admission, so there’s no extra fee involved, unless you want reserved seating for things like the Ignite Fireworks Happy Hour viewing and the weekend concert. And, with park hours from 9am to 9pm, it makes for a very full day.
It also runs every day through the whole of July, and then Friday-Sunday in August, concluding on Monday September 1, which is Labor Day and a bank holiday in the US (officially the last day of summer). The park is open as usual Monday-Thursday in August, but there is no Summer Spectacular programme and the hours are 9am-8pm (10am-8pm August 18-21 and 10am-6pm August 25-28.
If that the basic outline, there is a huge amount to pack into your SeaWorld summer day. The first extra element to look out for is the Shamu and Crew Parade at 1pm, which starts from the side of the Pacific Point Preserve area and continues around Sea Lion and Otter Stadium and disappears again next to the Shark Encounter attraction. It features four floats carrying a cuddly Shamu and friends from the 2024 So Much More to Sea experience, as well as dancers and stilt-walkers, and, while it doesn’t quite have the Disney or Universal parade razzamatazz, it is fun for children and a nice diversion.
Next up is the all-new 22-minute Hydro Surge show at 2.30pm (as well as 4 and 5.30pm), which brings the flavour of some cleverly-staged high-energy acrobatics, dancers, vocalists and an iconic drummer to the Nautilus Theater. Then there is the more gentle Rescue Tails, at 3.15pm and 5pm each day. Located at the Seaport Theater, this show features amazing animals, and you will hear inspiring tales of rescues while learning about the importance of conservation.
Things really start to hot up, though at 7.30pm with the start of the Club Sea Glow party, a signature part of the summer series now for the past eight years. This DJ-hosted dance affair is held at Bayside Stadium, with a variety of performers interacting with the crowd and great music to energise everyone, children and adults alike.
This really carries the event through to the grand finale at 9pm – the fabulous Ignite Fireworks Spectacular. This unforgettable first-of-its-kind spectacle features drones for the first time as SeaWorld ends the night with a bang. With hundreds of drones, plus fountains, lighting effects and fireworks lighting up the sky in sync with the electrifying anthem “Feeling Electric,” it’s a celebration of everything we love about Orlando at night.
But wait, there’s more! This month sees the return of Bands, Brew & BBQ, the unique blend of live music, mouth-watering barbecue food and refreshing beers, to add sizzle to the summer. This year’s barbecue “season” runs on select dates from July 5 to August 24 and will offer a line-up of more than 130 craft brews, cocktails and food items. Guests will be able to savour regional BBQ styles at various huts stationed throughout the park, ranging from Kansas City to Carolina, Texas to Memphis and even SeaWorld’s own famous BBQ.
The musical part of the celebration offers an exclusive lineup of live concerts, featuring award-winning artists and high-quality local acts. For this, the air-conditioned Nautilus Theater will come alive every weekend with performances from top rock and country artists, delivering exhilarating musical experiences. The concert lineup is as follows:
- July 12: Journey Tribute
- July 13: Joe Nichols
- July 19: Toby Keith Tribute
- July 20: Blue Oyster Cult
- July 26: Jason Aldean Tribute
- July 27: DOKKEN
- Aug 2: Bon Jovi Tribute
- Aug 3: Avery Anna
- Aug 9: Luke Bryan Tribute
- Aug 10: LoCash
- Aug 16: Fleetwood Mac Tribute
- Aug 17: Fuel & LIT
- Aug 23: American Stones Tribute
- Aug 24: Lee Greenwood
For the best seats in the house, guests can also choose from the optional Reserved Seating ($9.99) and Premier Seating ($14.99) in advance on this link.
Remember Baby Shark? Well, the phenomenon that rocked the planet in 2016 is back and starring at SeaWorld’s Seaport Theatre to enchant children until September 2. Prepare to sing, dance and doo doo doo with Baby Shark and friends for high-energy live performances three times a day (at 10 and 11.30am and 1pm) at Pinkfong and Baby Shark’s FIN-Tastic Adventure. Then, starting in August, create unforgettable memories as you meet and snap photos with Pinkfong and Baby Shark. Perfect for guests of all ages, this fin-credible experience brings you face-to-face with these two much-loved bubbly characters in a fun and lively setting, with the unique extras of themed merchandise and sweet treats.
And then there are penguins – BIG penguins! While SeaWorld has long had these heart-warming birds as part of its carefully-curated animal exhibits, the addition of Emperor penguins is another major new element for the park. Native to the harsh, frozen landscape of Antarctica, Emperors are built for life on the ice, with dense feathers and impressive swimming abilities that allow them to dive deeper than any other bird species. To prepare for their arrival, SeaWorld upgraded its Antarctica realm to meet the species’ environmental needs, including reducing temperatures to around 28°F (-2C) and mimicking Antarctic light cycles to support their natural rhythms.
The Emperor penguins were relocated from SeaWorld San Diego, which has led global efforts in penguin care and breeding since the early 1980s. Jon Peterson, Park President of SeaWorld Orlando, explained: “This is an incredibly rare and exciting opportunity for guests to encounter one of nature’s most extraordinary species. We’re proud to continue SeaWorld’s legacy of penguin care and conservation, while giving our guests a rare chance to connect with these animals in remarkable ways.”
It all adds up to a true Summer Spectacular, and, with all these elements part of the regular guest admission, great value for the price of your SeaWorld ticket. Don’t miss it! To check the park hours and schedule for all the extra summer entertainment, visit https://seaworld.com/orlando/events/summer-spectacular.
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