Chula Vista, CA — A Very Furry Christmas is running now at Sesame Place San Diego, on select dates through Jan. 3, with a daily tree lighting called the Grand Illumination, the Sesame Street Christmas Cavalcade, Santa and Cookie Claus photos and a Christmas tree maze, all included with park admission. It’s open on Christmas Day, and Dine with Santa runs on select dates through Dec. 24. Below is my guide to the event to help you plan.
SeaWorld San Diego’s holiday event is in my Christmas Celebration guide, and Sesame Place Philadelphia has its own A Very Furry Christmas guide.
What’s new for 2026 as the park labels it
- NewGrand Illumination: Jingle Bell Elf and Sesame Street friends light a 24-foot tree every night on Big Bird’s Beach Lawn. The park calls the show and the tree all-new.
- NewChristmas Tree Maze: a family maze of Christmas trees near Abby’s Fairy Flight, which the park calls all-new.
- NewMerry Monster Game Show: an interactive game show with Sesame Street friends, which the park calls all-new.
- ReturningThe Sesame Street Christmas Cavalcade, the Furry Friends Christmas Dance Party, Cookie Claus, Photos with Santa and holiday character photos, all on the park’s 2024 lineup.
The Grand Illumination Tree Lighting
The Grand Illumination is the tree lighting the park puts on every night of the event: Jingle Bell Elf and Sesame Street friends gather around a 24-foot Christmas tree on Big Bird’s Beach Lawn and light it with thousands of twinkling lights. The park calls the show and the tree all-new this year, and it lists the times on its daily schedule. Reserved seating with hot chocolate costs extra.
Grand Illumination
Jingle Bell Elf and Sesame Street friends light the 24-foot tree. The park calls it all-new.
When: Every night of the event. Times are on the park’s schedule.
Where: Big Bird’s Beach Lawn
Grand Illumination Reserved Seating
Premier seats, hot chocolate in a cookie cup, a photo print and first place in line for photos with the characters.
Price: $31.99 a guest. Park admission is required.
Check-in: At the wave pool, at least 15 minutes before your seating time
The Christmas Cavalcade and Holiday Shows
The Sesame Street Christmas Cavalcade sends holiday floats down the parade route with Elmo, Cookie Monster, Abby Cadabby, Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch, Bert, Ernie, Zoe, Grover, Rosita and Telly. The show list also has the Furry Friends Christmas Dance Party, Christmas Storytime and the Merry Monster Game Show, which the park calls all-new. Elmo’s Christmas Wish, which played in 2024, isn’t on this year’s show list.
Sesame Street Christmas Cavalcade
Floats decorated for the holidays and performances by the Sesame Street cast.
When: Times are on the park’s schedule.
Where: Parade route
Furry Friends Christmas Dance Party
Elmo and friends lead an interactive dance party to holiday songs.
Where: Big Bird’s Wave Pool Lawn
Christmas Storytime
A Sesame Street friend reads a holiday story, then stays for photos and hugs.
Where: Big Bird’s Nest, Sesame Street Neighborhood
Merry Monster Game Show
An interactive game show where Sesame Street friends lead the games and you cheer your team on. The park calls it all-new and hasn’t posted where it plays.
When: Times are on the park’s schedule.
Santa, Cookie Claus and Holiday Photos
Santa meets families for photos, and Cookie Claus, Cookie Monster in a Santa suit, poses for holiday photos at Abby’s Fairy Flight. Sesame Street friends in holiday outfits meet guests at Photos with Elmo & Friends. The park lists the times on its schedule and hasn’t posted where Santa sits or what the photo packages cost.
Photos with Santa
Meet Santa, share your Christmas wishes and take a photo.
When: Times are on the park’s schedule.
Cookie Claus
Holiday photos with Cookie Monster dressed as Santa.
Where: Abby’s Fairy Flight
Holiday Photos with Sesame Street Friends
Characters in holiday outfits.
Where: Photos with Elmo & Friends
The Christmas Tree Maze, Lights and the Golden Gift Hunt
The Christmas Tree Maze near Abby’s Fairy Flight is a family maze of Christmas trees, which the park calls all-new. Thousands of lights go up around the park, most of all in the Sesame Street Neighborhood. Each operating day through Dec. 25, the park hides a Golden Gift somewhere in the park, and whoever finds it takes it to Guest Services for an exclusive surprise. The dry rides stay open through the event.
Christmas Tree Maze
A family-friendly maze of Christmas trees. The park calls it all-new.
Where: Near Abby’s Fairy Flight
Golden Gift Hunt
Find the Golden Gift hidden in the park and bring it to Guest Services for an exclusive surprise.
When: Each operating day through Dec. 25
Where: Anywhere in the park
Holiday merchandise
Holiday gifts and souvenirs, from Sesame Street plush toys to puzzles, apparel and pins.
Where: Hooper’s Store
Dry rides
Super Grover’s Box Car Derby roller coaster, Sesame Street Soar & Spin, Elmo’s Rockin’ Rockets, Abby’s Fairy Flight, the Sunny Day Carousel and Rub-A-Dub Sub.
Dine with Santa and Cookies with Cookie Monster
The event page promises holiday food and drinks but doesn’t list any, and the park hasn’t posted a holiday menu. Dine with Santa is a buffet with Elmo, Cookie Claus and Sesame Street friends at the Sunny Day Cafe, an indoor restaurant that seats up to 160, on select dates from Nov. 7 to Dec. 24. Christmas Cookies with Cookie Monster serves cookies and milk in a souvenir mug, with crafts and a photo with Cookie Monster. Both need a reservation and park admission.
Dine with Santa
A buffet with Elmo, Cookie Claus and Sesame Street friends, with singing, dancing and photos.
When: Select dates, Nov. 7 to Dec. 24
Where: Sunny Day Cafe
Price: Starting at $45.99 for adults and $25.79 for children. Reservation required.
Add-on: A $15.99 Birthday Party Package adds a party hat, a birthday sticker, a souvenir cup and a mini sweet treat.
Christmas Cookies with Cookie Monster
Cookies and milk in a souvenir mug, crafts and a photo with Cookie Monster.
Where: Sunny Day Cafe
Price: Starting at $15.99 a guest. Every guest needs a booking.
Dates and Hours
A Very Furry Christmas opened Nov. 7 and runs weekends through Dec. 13, every day from Nov. 21 to 29, and every day from Dec. 19 to Jan. 3, Christmas Day included. The park is open noon to 6 p.m. on event days, except Nov. 14, when it closes at 5:30 p.m., and Jan. 3, when it opens at 10 a.m. Tap a date for its hours.
November 2026
December 2026
January 2027
Open. Tap a date for its hours
Tap a date to see its hours and what’s on.
Tickets and Season Passes
A Very Furry Christmas is included with a Sesame Place San Diego ticket, with no reservation needed, and with 2026 and 2027 Season Passes, whose members can use their free friend tickets during the event. Single-day tickets are priced by date online, and the ticket page lists $100.99 as the full price. Children under 3 don’t need a ticket.
Ticket types, Season Passes and parking
Ticket and pass prices change by date and with the park’s sales. The park’s tickets page and Season Pass page have today’s prices.
| Ticket | Price | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Single-Day Ticket | priced by date online. The ticket page lists $100.99 as the full price | the date chosen. Children under 3 don’t need a ticket |
| Two-Day, Two Park Ticket (Sesame Place and SeaWorld San Diego) | on the park’s tickets page | a visit to Sesame Place and a visit to SeaWorld San Diego within 6 months |
| 2027 SoCal Pass | on the park’s Season Pass page | unlimited visits, no blockout dates |
| 2027 Silver, Gold and Platinum Passes | on the park’s Season Pass page, with monthly payments | unlimited visits through Jan. 2, 2028, no blockout dates. Platinum covers 11 SeaWorld parks |
Parking starts at $35 a day, and VIP parking in the section closest to the entrance is $77.
Photos
A Very Furry Christmas FAQ
When is A Very Furry Christmas at Sesame Place San Diego in 2026?
It opened Nov. 7, 2026, and runs through Jan. 3, 2027: weekends through Dec. 13, every day Nov. 21 to 29, and every day Dec. 19 to Jan. 3, Christmas Day included.
Is A Very Furry Christmas included with admission?
Yes. It is included with park admission and with 2026 and 2027 Sesame Place Season Passes. No reservation is needed.
What are the hours?
Noon to 6 p.m. on every event date, except Nov. 14 (noon to 5:30 p.m.) and Jan. 3 (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.).
Is Sesame Place San Diego open on Christmas Day?
Yes. Dec. 25 is an event date, noon to 6 p.m.
How much are tickets?
Single-day tickets are priced by date online, and the park’s ticket page lists $100.99 as the full price. Children under 3 don’t need a ticket. A Very Furry Christmas is included.
Can you eat with Santa at Sesame Place San Diego?
Yes. Dine with Santa, a buffet with Elmo, Cookie Claus and friends at the Sunny Day Cafe, runs on select dates, Nov. 7 to Dec. 24. It starts at $45.99 for adults and $25.79 for children, and needs a reservation and park admission.
Which rides are open during A Very Furry Christmas?
The dry rides: Super Grover’s Box Car Derby roller coaster, Sesame Street Soar & Spin, Elmo’s Rockin’ Rockets, Abby’s Fairy Flight, the Sunny Day Carousel and Rub-A-Dub Sub.
Is there a Christmas parade?
Yes, the Sesame Street Christmas Cavalcade, with floats and performances. Check the park schedule for times.
What is new in 2026?
The park calls three things all-new: the Grand Illumination tree lighting, the Christmas Tree Maze and the Merry Monster Game Show.
A Very Furry Christmas runs on select dates through Jan. 3, 2027, at Sesame Place San Diego in Chula Vista. For tickets and hours, visit sesameplace.com. Southern California’s other big holiday event is in my Disneyland Christmas guide.
