Grinchmas Returns to Universal Studios Hollywood With New Shows, Snowfall & Wholiday Fun

Celebrate the return of Grinchmas at Universal Studios Hollywood! KFI entertainment reporter Heather Brooker talks with Stephen Siercks, Senior Director of Entertainment Production at USH. We're taking you inside the Wholiday festivities, from the towering Grinchmas tree to the nightly snowfall, storytime with Cindy-Lou Who, and a live meet-and-greet with the mean green one himself. Hear what’s new for 2025, the best times to visit, and how to capture the ultimate holiday photo ops. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Grinchmiss has officially returned to Universal Studios Hollywood, transforming the
park into a glittering, mischievous holiday playground. From photo ops
with the Grinch to the nightly tree lighting, it's become
one of so call's signature Christmas traditions. And joining us
now is Steven Serks, the senior director of Entertainment at
Universal Studios Hollywood. Hi, Steven, how are you.

Speaker 2 (00:20):
I'm doing so good. How are you happy Holidays?

Speaker 1 (00:22):
Well, thank you very much. I want to talk about
Universal Studios. There's something really special and magical about Universal
during this time of year. It's really special the way
you're able to bring in all the fandoms and incorporate
them into the holidays. What can we expect to see
this year? What's something we can look forward to?

Speaker 2 (00:41):
Yeah, I couldn't agree. More. Holidays is a really special
time here at Universal Studios Hollywood, and we're so excited
to once again be celebrating the holidays here throughout the
park and city Walk, and some of those great traditional
and traditions that we've created over the last couple of
years will of course be coming back. Elements like Grinchmiss,
the Christmas and the Wizarding World, the Holiday Corps, and
Supernintendo World, and then just the park wide merriment is

(01:04):
all available to our guests to enjoy and experience throughout
the holidays.

Speaker 1 (01:07):
This year, again every year, I see all the videos
of people doing the meet and greet with the Grinch,
and I know his heart is two sizes too small,
but it makes my heart so happy to see how
he really just teases them and ribs them. What is
it about the Grinch that people love so much? Because
sometimes he's mean?

Speaker 2 (01:27):
I think one of the great parts about the Grinch
is that just irreverence in playfulness really plays to the
overall spirit of the holidays, and such a great character.
Meet and Greet an opportunity to engage with not only
the Grinch, but throughout all of Grinch miss with the
who's strolling around the plaza, as well as the Grinch's

(01:48):
faithful companion Max. The whole area really comes to life
during the holidays and transforms the park into a festive
place to experience.

Speaker 1 (01:56):
My family and I go to Universal Studios every year
during Christmas time sort of kicks off the holidays for us,
and I would love to know what is something new
or different than we can look forward to seeing this year.

Speaker 2 (02:07):
One of the exciting things this year is the return
of our holiday decorps in Super Nintendo World and transforming
one of our latest attractions and areas of the park
into a holiday arena for us, so guests we'll be
able to come back and experience Super Nintendo World with
its festive holiday to core and then one of the
great parts about holidays at Universal Students Hollywood is the

(02:28):
tradition of it and be able to come back and
experience things like Grinchmiths and Christmas and The Wizarding World
year in and year out and see how the park
has transformed itself for the holidays. It's something that our
guests really enjoy and it's so great to see the
energy of the park during this time of year.

Speaker 1 (02:44):
One of the things we also look forward to every
year is the holiday themed food from Universal. What are
some of the new treats and savory options that we
should be on the lookout for.

Speaker 2 (02:54):
Our team has gone all out this holiday season to
be able to bring back some of those elements that
have been fan favorites over the year, but introduce new
elements as well. So Hollywood and Dyne, which is one
of our restaurants in the front of the park, is
being transformed into a Grinch miss Food experience where they'll
have brand new food offerings themed to the Grinch. Superintendo

(03:16):
World is debuting some new treats themed to the holidays,
and then coming back to Christmas. In the Wisdening World
is seasonal themed food throughout that land as well.

Speaker 1 (03:26):
There's definitely some warm butter beer in my future. All right,
let's talk about entertainment. What's going to be new on
the entertainment front.

Speaker 2 (03:33):
Entertainment is near and dear to of course my heart,
and this is one of my favorite times of the
year here at the park, so being able to meet
and greet characters like the Grinch and his faithful companion Max,
as well as some of the strolling characters throughout Whoville.
Continuing as always to be able to meet Mario and
Luigi and the other friends within Superintendo World, and then

(03:53):
be able to have some seasonal entertainment in Christmas in
the Wizarding World featuring the Frog Choir holiday overlay, where
we're able to bring some additional merriments to the Wisdenying
World of Harry Potter as well.

Speaker 1 (04:05):
There's something so special about drinking butter beer in Hogsmead
at Christmas time and I cannot wait to go and
do that. What are you looking forward to the most?
I know you work on this all year long. What
are you looking forward to the most during the holidays
at Universal?

Speaker 2 (04:22):
Holidays are so near and dear to my heart here
at Universal Studios Hollywood, just based on the energy of
the season and the fact that the team really transforms
the entire park into a festive atmosphere for our guests
and so being able to just step back and watch
their interactions, whether it be with characters throughout the park,
as well as some of our signature moments in Gridgemith,

(04:43):
Supernintendo World and the Christmas and the Wisdening World. Really
being able to zoom out and reflect on this season
and this time of year, well as being able to
see all the great engagement interactions that are happening throughout
the park and city walk as well.

Speaker 1 (04:56):
Okay, remind everybody where they can get tickets and how
long Universal HA Holidays.

Speaker 2 (05:00):
Last Holidays at Universal Studios Hollywood is running now through
January fourth, and you can go to Universal Studios Hollywood
dot com for more information.

Speaker 1 (05:08):
Also quick shout out to the Universal Studios tour that's
also so much fun during the holidays. I used to
be a tour guide there, so I have a lot
of fond memories of that part of the park. Steven,
thank you so much for joining me in Happy Holidays.

Speaker 2 (05:22):
Thank you, Happy Holidays. We'll see you out there.