SeaWorld San Diego plans to reopen this week as a zoo with orca, dolphin and sea lion stadium shows along with a food and beer festival while the marine park’s rides and roller coasters remain closed amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The limited-capacity, advance-reservation Zoo Days: Bayside BBQ & Brews experience will run Fridays through Sundays from Aug. 28 through Sept. 27 (plus Labor Day) from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at SeaWorld San Diego.
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SeaWorld San Diego has been cleared to reopen the zoo portions of the marine park after a five-month coronavirus closure while California theme parks remain closed indefinitely by state mandate.
SeaWorld will follow the now-familiar “new normal” of COVID-19 health and safety protocols with mandatory face coverings, temperature screenings, social distancing and enhanced sanitization.
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Zoo Days combines elements of SeaWorld’s Seven Seas Craft Beer & Food Festival typically held in the spring along with the animals-only Marine World Experience that opened in early July at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo. Busch Gardens Williamsburg — SeaWorld’s sister park in Virginia — hosted a similar reduced-capacity Coasters and Craft Brews event in August with beer, BBQ and select roller coasters. Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park has been hosting a series of beer and food events without rides or coasters since mid-July.
The limited-time Zoo Days event at SeaWorld San Diego will take over 40 of SeaWorld’s 200 acres with animal exhibits, stadium shows and a San Diego craft beer and BBQ food festival.
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SeaWorld’s killer whale, dolphin and sea lion stadium shows will be open with physically distant seating. Outdoor animal exhibits will include stingrays, otters, penguins, bamboo sharks and flamingos. Visitors can purchase additional upcharge experiences with dolphins, sea lions and stingrays.
The Bayside BBQ & Brews menu will include brisket sliders, shrimp tacos, grilled fish, German bratwurst, fried green tomatoes and Impossible burgers.
Date-specific tickets must be purchased online and in advance for $74.99 (adults), $64.99 (children), $30 (season passholders) and $20 (passholders ages 3 to 9 years old). Tickets include access to the park and a tasting lanyard for six food or drink items (including beer and wine). Tickets go on sale at 9 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 24.
