SeaWorld sets fest dates, including Howl-O-Scream, Seven Seas concerts

Dewayne Bevil, Orlando Sentinel
Updated ·2 min read

SeaWorld Orlando has set the dates for its lineup of 2023 theme park festivals, including its third edition of Howl-O-Scream, its after-hours, separate ticket Halloween event.

The attraction celebrates something in a festival way every month of the year, although it’s not an everyday thing. The majority of the SeaWorld programming is listed as “select dates,” and it is weighted toward weekends.

The park will have Elmo’s Birthday Weekend activities in its Sesame Street Land starting Saturday and running through Feb. 3.

The SeaWorld Seven Seas Food Festival will run on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from Feb. 3 through May 7. Seven Seas has a few overlays/fests within a fest, including Mardi Gras (Feb. 16-26), St. Patrick’s Day (March 9-12, 16-19) and Cinco de Mayo (April 27-May 7).

On Wednesday, announced the Seven Seas concerts, including En Vogue (Feb. 4), REO Speedwagon (Feb. 5), Commodores (Feb. 11), Collective Soul (Feb. 18), Jerry Rivera (Feb. 19), Don McLean (Feb. 25), Ludacris (Feb. 26), Joey Fatone & Friends (March 4) and Eli Young Band (March 26). More performers will be announced, SeaWorld said.

Among the new food menu items at this festival will be pork belly feijoada, Parmesan truffle fries, Italian beef arancini and Jameson bread pudding. The park also is adding a Caribbean moonshine tasting booth to the event.

Viva La Musica, a “family-friendly Latin celebration,” is set for weekends between May 13 and May 21.

SeaWorld Summer Spectacular dates are between May 27 (the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend) and Sept. 4 (Labor Day). Its Craft Beer Festival overlaps from July 28 through Sept. 4.

Howl-O-Scream kicks off Sept. 8 and has a Saturday-Sunday schedule until its final days of Oct. 30-31. The Howl-O-Scream at sister park Busch Gardens Tampa Bay operates in the same time frame. SeaWorld’s daytime Spooktacular goes from Sept. 16 through Oct. 31. (Dates have not been announced for Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights or Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party events at Magic Kingdom.)

SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration will run Nov. 10-Dec. 31 and include New Year’s Eve fireworks on the final evening.

The SeaWorld Orlando festivals are included with regular park admission with the exception of Howl-O-Scream.

Email me at dbevil@orlandosentinel.com. Subscribe to the Theme Park Rangers newsletter at orlandosentinel.com/newsletters or the Theme Park Rangers podcast at orlandosentinel.com/travel/attractions/theme-park-rangers-podcast.