PHOTO VIA AQUATICA ORLANDO
Aquatica Orlando (Website) is launching a new nighttime event this holiday season called ILLUMINATE: A Lantern Festival at Aquatica, which will transform the water park into a big fancy light installation from November 8 through January 31, 2026.
The festival will feature five illuminated “realms,” each with its own story, sound, and design. Guests can wander around and take selfies with large animal lanterns, and explore interactive displays from 6 to 10 p.m. Water attractions will be closed during the event to allow for a full focus on the nighttime experience.
And you guys, Park President Bradley Gilmour said the festival is “unlike anything Aquatica has done before. From glowing mermaids and candy-colored forests to a lantern safari brought to life, this festival will light up the night in a way that’s both completely new and uniquely Aquatica.”
The five themed areas include AquaLuma, inspired by mythical animal guardians of the sea; Candy Cascade Falls, a candy-themed forest; Enchanted Lagoon, with a glowing mermaid and a sea unicorn; Myst Wood Waters, where visitors can trigger light displays beneath a Great Tree of Light; and Rivers of Discovery, which will have lanterns of animals from SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, and Discovery Cove.
Tickets start at $29.99, and annual pass members will receive discounts on admission and food packages.
