Family, travel, mom blog | Theme Park Mom (Leigh Caldwell)

Universal Orlando kicks off its holiday celebration this Saturday, Dec. 5 with a concert by Manheim Steamroller.

Here are the highlights of Universal’s celebration:

• Grinchmas at Islands of Adventure, when the Seuss Landing area transforms into Whoville. You can see the live musical “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” several times each day, beginning at noon.
• Breakfast with the Grinch is held each weekend morning in December at Confisco Grille at Islands of Adventure.
• Macy’s Holiday Parade, a version of the NYC Thanksgiving Day spectacle, kicks off every afternoon on the streets of New York at Universal Studios Orlando.
• The Holiday Concert Series is new on Saturdays this year. The concerts happen in Universal’s Music Plaza immediately following the parade. Performers include Manheim Steamroller (Dec. 5), Chris Isaak (Dec. 12) and Natalie Cole (Dec. 19).
• And a couple of Universal Studios’ shows have also been re-tooled with a holiday theme, including Barney’s Christmas Show and the Blues Brothers Christmas Show.

All of the festivities, with the exception of Breakfast with the Grinch, are included with park admission.

Universal is offering several discounts for the holiday season. For $79.99, Florida residents can buy a Holiday Pass that offers unlimited admission to both parks through Jan. 31, 2010.

And there are some great package deals that include hotels and park admission, which would be perfect for a weekend getaway.

The Universal Orlando holiday celebration runs Dec. 5 – Jan. 1.

Universal Studios Orlando will feature Manheim Steamroller live in concert on Dec. 6. The group will perform at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. that day in the New York area of the park.

And Dec. 6 is a big day for the resort. The Macy’s Holiday Parade also debuts that day at 7 p.m. in the Universal Studios park.

And the “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” show will be back in Islands of Adventure beginning Dec. 6.

The shows are included in the regular park admission prices.