On November 16, Universal Studios Hollywood lifted the veil on its newest addition to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter by introducing “Christmas in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter”.
Beginning November 24, guests can stroll through Hogsmeade and enjoy festive holiday décor, merchandise, special food offerings and all-new entertainment capped off by their new nighttime spectacular “The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle”.
Karen Irwin, President and COO of Universal Studios Hollywood, was on hand to welcome everyone to the night’s festivities.
“We are delighted to welcome ‘Christmas in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter’ as a new holiday tradition…This exciting new holiday program further expands the Harry Potter universe by bringing some of the holiday spirit from the films to life for guests to experience for themselves.”
The streets of Hogsmeade are now adorned with festive décor, with each shop receiving its own unique set of decorations. Guests looking for some holiday food can head on over to the Three Broomsticks where a holiday feast awaits. Roasted Turkey with cranberry sauce, stuffing, and potatoes will makes you feel like you’re at home with family enjoying a warm comforting meal.
And don’t forget hot Butterbeer as the seasonal favorite is back!
In addition to the new nighttime show, The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle, Universal has added new songs for the Frog Choir to sing for the Holidays.
This special version of the Frog Choir introduces four new carols including “Christmas at Hogwarts” and “The Most Magical Yule Ball of All”. The holiday version is far superior to its regular iteration, as the songs were catchy, festive and fun; making it a great addition to the Holiday line-up. The new songs don’t rely as heavily on the beat boxing, which helps with repeat viewings.
The main draw for this holiday event is the new nighttime spectacular – The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle. Earlier this year Universal debuted a summer version, which was their first in utilizing map projection technology for a nighttime show. While The Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts Castle was stunning, the brand new holiday version was an absolute showstopper; perhaps the best use of map projection seen from any theme park.
From the opening scene – with ghostly carolers singing in the holiday season, the castle lights up with brand new magic, vibrant projections, and even a few low-level fireworks. The show has a run time of a little over six and a half minutes, which puts it a tad longer than the summer version.
The holiday show has a much different feel, where the projections not only make you go “Wow!’, but also immerse you into the Holiday spirit; allowing you to become captivated with the visuals. Universal’s Entertainment Department took the challenge of creating something new, and went above and beyond what those expectations were.
Universal Studios Hollywood has a bona-fide hit on their hands, and guests should make Universal a must-see during this holiday season. Christmas in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter runs from November 24 through January 7.
Be sure to following Inside Universal for continuing coverage of the Holidays around the Universal Parks and Resorts.
