Fans will enjoy live performances by 12 of Christian music’s most compelling talent in the heart of Universal Studios Florida. This year’s line-up includes Billboard chart-topping band Casting Crowns; six-time Grammy Award-winning hip-hop artist TobyMac; the musicians of Jesus Culture; and, more.

Plus, enjoy a moving Candlelighting Ceremony on Saturday and the FanZone presented by Coca-Cola® where you can catch more live performances and electronic dance music spun by Sarah Reeves and DJ PROMOTE. You’ll also enjoy the park’s most awesome rides and attractions like Revenge of the Mummy, Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit and the all-new, high-octane ride, Fast & Furious – Supercharged, which is opening this spring! It’s an unforgettable weekend of faith and fun.

2018 Rock the Universe Artists

Friday, September 7

• Jesus Culture-Music Plaza Stage
• TobyMac-Music Plaza Stage
• Lauren Daigle-Music Plaza Stage
• Red-Hollywood Stage
• Zach Williams-Hollywood Stage
• Trip Lee-Hollywood Stage

Saturday, September 8

• Casting Crowns-Music Plaza Stage
• For King & Country-Music Plaza Stage
• Family Force 5-Music Plaza Stage
• Brandon Heath-Hollywood Stage
• Andy Mineo-Hollywood Stage
• Ryan Stevenson-Hollywood Stage

Rock the Universe is a special ticketed event at Universal Studios Orlando. Tickets and packages will be going on sale soon so make sure to check back for that information when it becomes available.

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Universal Orlando’s Rock the Universe returns September 9 and 10 with live performances by some of today’s most compelling artists in Christian music. Rock the Universe offers fans a unique opportunity to see their favorite faith-based artists in the heart of Universal Studios Florida. This year’s line-up features Billboard Music Award-winning and GRAMMY-nominated rock band Skillet; two-time GRAMMY-award winner and Billboard Top 200 regular Lecrae; and Christian hip-hop legend TobyMac, who has sold more than ten million albums and has won seven GRAMMY awards since the start of his music career.

Friday Night Artists:

• Skillet
• Jeremy Camp
• Rend Collective
• KB
• Matt Maher
• Lauren Daigle
• Finding Favor
• DJ Promote

Saturday Night Artists:

• Lecrae
• TobyMac
• Family Force 5
• Andy Mineo
• Colton Dixon
• NF
• I Am They
• DJ Promote

Guests will be greeted with rock, hip-hop, and gospel sounds in an unforgettable atmosphere that only Rock the Universe can provide. The festival also features the Fan Zone with more live music, electronic dance music with DJ Promote, autograph sessions with performing acts and more. Guests will also have the opportunity to experience a Saturday night candle lighting ceremony and access to Universal Studios Florida’s thrilling attractions – like Revenge of the Mummy, Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit – and more.

If you would like to experience Rock the Universe for yourself, let me know. I am happy to book your Universal Studios Orlando vacation for you. My services are free to you.

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Let the good times roll at Universal Orlando Resort’s 2016 Mardi Gras celebration. On select nights Feb. 6 through April 16, guests can top off their day in the theme parks with a family-friendly version of the famed “N’awlins” celebration at Universal Studios Florida – featuring delicious Cajun cuisine, a dazzling parade and 14 nights of exhilarating concerts from some of the biggest names in music.

This year’s star-studded concert lineup features a diverse array of talent with something for everyone to enjoy. Headliners include rock band Fall Out Boy, teen pop sensation Shawn Mendes, GRAMMY-nominated recording artist Adam Lambert, country singer-songwriter Hunter Hayes and legendary entertainer Diana Ross.

This year’s Mardi Gras parade features 12 vibrant floats, including four new additions that celebrate different cultures and festivals from around the world – Venetian Carnival, Oktoberfest, 4^th of July and Rio de Janeiro Carnival. All of the exquisitely detailed Mardi Gras floats are engineered by Blaine Kern Artists, the same company that has been hand-crafting floats for the iconic New Orleans celebration since 1947.  Plus, guests can visit Universal Studios Florida’s very own French Quarter Courtyard to enjoy authentic Cajun cuisine and see performances by bands pulled straight from Bourbon Street.

The excitement of Universal Orlando’s Mardi Gras celebration is included with admission to Universal Studios Florida.  Florida Residents get up to three months free on any 2-park Annual Pass with a Coca-Cola UPC code or promo code on specially marked cups from participating Wendy’s restaurants. For more information on this special offer and Mardi Gras, visit www.universalorlando.com/mardigras.

I am available to help you plan your Universal Studios Florida Vacation! Just let me know.

The post Mardi Gras 2016 at Universal Starts February 6 appeared first on The Mom Maven.

Busch Gardens Tampa

Christmas Town transforms Busch Gardens® Tampa into a holiday wonderland of wintery surprises and all things Christmas, filling guests’ senses with seasonal sights, sounds and flavors, and continuing a beautiful family tradition.

Christmas Town is now included with any annual pass, Fun Card or daily admission to the park. This year’s event has added even more dates to experience Christmas Town attractions, shows and shopping. Christmas Town is open 23 select dates and park closing times will range from 8pm to 9pm throughout the event, Nov. 28 through Dec. 31.

From the nostalgic Holiday Hills to the nature-inspired Jungle Jubilee, more than a million lights will blanket Busch Gardens during Christmas Town. Plus, fan-favorite shows including Christmas on Ice and the Carol of the Bells light show return to ring in the season. In addition, brand new beautifully-lit areas will debut at Christmas Town:

• Dazzling lantern stars transform Pantopia into the jewel-toned Celestial Crossing, complete with a gigantic LED star that beautifully lights the way to Mrs. Claus’ Family Feast and the Christmas Celebration show. The new area is also home to the Bottle Christmas Tree, a conservation collaboration project that transformed 5,000 recycled plastic bottles into a Christmastime masterpiece with the help of nearly 50 Hillsborough county schools.
• The Egypt area of the park transforms into the humble town of Bethlehem, where guests discover the famed journey to the Three Kings. The magical story unfolds as the North Star guides the way to a land filled with desert-themed rustic décor, larger-than-life camels and the Three Kings Caravan.

We attended Christmas Town last year  when it was a hard ticket event. Unfortunately, Snow World is gone but the event should be a nice addition to your day at Busch Gardens.

SeaWorld Orlando

Waves of holiday spirit splash over the park during SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration. Here in a wintery, watery wonderland, guests of all ages will enjoy stunning live shows inspired by the natural world, journey to the North Pole on THE POLAR EXPRESS Experience, then share a smile with a playful penguin at the South Pole while visiting the park’s newest attraction, Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin®!

Christmas carols can be heard as guests encounter a sparkling Sea of Trees and skaters dancing on ice. With everything from Santa to Shamu®, presents to penguins, and elves to Elmo, SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration is where holiday memories are made. The celebration takes place on select dates November 22 through December 31, 2014 and is included with park admission, annual pass and Fun Card.

Visit SeaWorldOrlando.com and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for the latest details about SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration. Join the conversation by using the hashtag #SeaWorldChristmas.

New this year:

Christmas Show Seating Packages

• Christmas Signature Show Seating and Dine with Shamu – Guests will enjoy reserved seating at our most popular Christmas shows and enjoy Orlando’s most immersive and memorable family dining experience – Dine With Shamu® at SeaWorld® Orlando. A complimentary family photo is also included to remember the night.
• Christmas Signature Show Seating and Santa’s Fireside Feast — Enjoy reserved seating at our most popular Christmas shows, a warm-hearted holiday experience and meet Santa and Mrs. Claus at Santa’s Fireside Feast.
• Christmas Signature Show Seating and Dining Certificate and Family Photo — Enjoy reserved seating at our most popular Christmas shows and a dining certificate to use that evening at any participating restaurant. Dining Certificate includes an entrée with its accompanying side, an additional side item and a non-alcoholic beverage.

Christmas Show Seating provides guests with reserved seating at Shamu® Christmas Miracles, O Wondrous Night, and Winter Wonderland on Ice, plus front-of-the-line access to THE POLAR EXPRESS Experience.

Christmas Family Fun Tour

• Experience the favorite attractions for children at SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration during this 3-hour walking tour. Highlights include: a penguin meet and greet, reserved seating at the Elmo’s Christmas Wish show, a warm-hearted meal at Santa’s Fireside Feast with an exclusive visit with Santa and front-of-the-line access to THE POLAR EXPRESS Experience.

We were invited to attend SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration in 2012 and 2013 click on the year to read our reports.

Visiting Central Florida in December? Here are the theme park holiday events.
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Universal Studios Orlando

It’s the most wonderful time of the year at Universal Orlando Resort. Beginning Dec. 6 through Jan. 3, families can create lifelong memories during Universal Orlando’s Holidays celebration. Kids from one to 92 can watch larger-than-life balloons float through the streets during the Macy’s Holiday Parade, hear Christmas music sensation Mannheim Steamroller perform beloved holiday classics with a modern twist and come face-to-face with The Grinch at Grinchmas,

At Universal Studios Florida, the Macy’s Holiday Parade will fill the streets with the same larger-than-life balloons seen in the famous New York City parade. Guests will be immersed in the spirit of the season with holiday characters, fantasy-filled floats and a tree-lighting ceremony with the big man himself, Santa Claus. Also, guests won’t want to miss the Chloe The Clown “Balloonicle,” a new addition to the parade that combines a towering balloon with a self-powered vehicle that roams the streets of Universal Studios.

Following the parade, the acclaimed musical group Mannheim Steamroller will take to the Music Plaza stage in Universal Studios to perform memorable holiday hits on Dec. 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, and 21.

At Universal’s Islands of Adventure, guests will smile from ear-to-ear during the heartwarming live show, “Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular,” featuring The Grinch and the Whos from Who-ville, accompanied by an original musical score by Mannheim Steamroller. Guests can meet the mean, green one himself and the Whos daily and, on select dates, enjoy a special breakfast with the characters.

All theme park holiday entertainment – including Mannheim Steamroller concerts – is included as part of park-to-park or multi-day admission to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. We have never been invited to attend this event so unfortunately, we don’t have any first-had knowledge. I do know I would love to go someday.

Walt Disney World

I have already told you about Mickeys Very Merry Christmas Party, A Frozen Christmas Wish and Candlelight Processional for this year. Don’t forget you can get your shopping done at Downtown Disney, celebrate with Epcot’s Christmas Around the World and catch the Osborne Spectacle of Dancing Lights at Disney’s Hollywood Studios too.

As you can see there is plenty to do to celebrate Christmas in Central Florida throughout the month of December. Will you be visiting any of these special events? Leave me a comment and let me know what you have planned.

The post Holiday Events at the Central Florida Theme Parks 2014 appeared first on The Mom Maven.

Mardi Gras 2013 will be highlighted by a concert series featuring 14 nights of performances by top-name artists, including chart-topping rock band Matchbox Twenty. Originally from Orlando, the four-time Grammy-nominated pop rock band has sold millions of albums worldwide and amassed loyal fans everywhere with hits such as “3 a.m.,” “Push,” “If You’re Gone,” and “She’s So Mean” from their new studio album which debuted No. 1 on the Billboard 200 Chart. Matchbox Twenty will perform at Universal Orlando’s Mardi Gras celebration on March 16, 2013.  The complete Mardi Gras concert line-up will be revealed in early 2013.

Before enjoying the live concerts, guests can dance along with street performers and collect beads by the handful as the Mardi Gras parade makes its way through Universal Studios.  The parade’s elaborate, hand-crafted floats are built by Blaine Kern Artists – the same company that designs floats for the Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans.

The celebration doesn’t stop there. Guests can also enjoy the soulful sounds of authentic New Orleans bands that travel straight from The Big Easy to Universal Orlando’s very own French Quarter Courtyard to perform Blues, Jazz and Zydeco music for partygoers.  Inspired by the delicious dishes found in New Orleans, guests can also enjoy authentic Cajun cuisine, including jambalaya, gumbo, beignets and more.

Mardi Gras is included with regular admission to Universal Studios. Florida residents can take advantage of the following special offer:

 Florida Resident Mardi Gras Special Offer Save over $30 off gate prices on multi-day tickets, online only, blackout dates apply.

To learn details about vacation packages available to Florida residents, call 1-877-801-9720. For more information about this year’s event, visit www.universalorlando.com/mardigras.

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Viewers will be treated to highly-visual and entertaining events commemorating the opening of the world’s most anticipated entertainment experience. Viewers may even get a glimpse of stars from the “Harry Potter” films who will be in attendance at the events.

Live updates from the grand opening events will also be shared on Universal Orlando Resort’s Twitter page – www.twitter.com/UORnews.

More than five years in the making, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is the most highly anticipated entertainment experience of 2010. The 20-acre area inspired by J.K. Rowling’scompelling stories and characters features multiple themed attractions, shops and a restaurant and brings the magic of Harry Potter to life.

Celebrity Preview Wednesday, June 16 from 9:30 – 10:00 PM EDT

Official Public Grand Opening Friday, June 18 from 9:00 – 9:30 AM EDT

Go to www.UniversalOrlando.com/HarryPotterNews and click on the LIVE FEED button at the top left of the home page (next to the RSS feeds button)

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