ORLANDO – As Halloween Horror Nights comes to an end this year Universal Orlando ($UVV) has decided to bring the terror to tinsel town with its new holiday event, Christmas Horror Nights. In what can only be described as a fever dream fueled by too much eggnog, the theme park is expanding its infamous Halloween Horror Nights into the festive season. Because, after all, nothing says “Merry Christmas” like a chainsaw-wielding Santa Claus and mutant elves ready to disembowel you under the mistletoe.
Nothing Says Holiday Cheer Like a Bloodthirsty Santa
“We wanted to capture the spirit of Christmas, but with more chainsaws and psychological trauma,” said Michael Aiello, Senior Director of Entertainment and Creative Development at Universal Orlando. “Why limit fear to just one season? Halloween Horror Nights is such a massive hit and a legendary cash cow that we finally realized people want to be terrified year-round.”
That’s right, Universal has heard the cries of people everywhere who apparently think traditional holiday cheer is just too peaceful, and who crave the adrenaline rush that comes from fleeing homicidal reindeer and evil gingerbread men.
Tinsel, Terror, and Trauma: A Very Universal Christmas
Visitors can expect Christmas Horror Nights to have all the grotesque, jump-scare-filled charm of its Halloween counterpart, but with a holiday twist. Imagine this: You walk into what looks like a cheerful winter wonderland. There’s fake snow, twinkling lights, and maybe the distant sound of jingle bells. You let your guard down because, hey, it’s Christmas, what could go wrong?

Then, without warning, you’re being chased by a disheveled Santa with a demonic face, wielding a candy cane sharpened to a deadly point. Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer? Oh, he’s there—except he’s rabid, frothing at the mouth, and looking like he’s ready to gore you with his antlers.
“We really leaned into the concept of Christmas gone wrong,” said Aiello, grinning maniacally as if he wasn’t currently describing a living nightmare. “You’ve got killer elves, a bloodthirsty Mrs. Claus, and a sinister Jack Frost who turns anything he touches into a frozen corpse.”
A Bloody Sleigh Ride
The highlight of Christmas Horror Nights is undoubtedly “Krampus’ Sleigh Ride,” an immersive experience where guests are forced into a nightmarish journey through Krampus’ lair. Sure, it starts out looking like your typical cheerful sleigh ride, but within moments, you’re plummeting into the depths of a hellscape, dodging impish minions and running from the horned Krampus himself, who’s out to punish those who’ve been “naughty.”
“We thought about going with the classic Christmas sleigh ride, but then we asked ourselves—how can we make it more disturbing?” Reynolds explained. “Naturally, the answer was to fill it with fire, brimstone, and the screams of terrified children.”
The attraction is packed with “festive” imagery like Christmas trees adorned with severed doll heads, and stockings hung by the chimney with—you guessed it—carefully placed body parts. Universal is betting that thrill seekers who brave this sleigh ride will leave with memories they’ll never forget. Or never stop having nightmares about.
Scare Zones: Christmas Carnage
Of course, no horror-themed event would be complete without its iconic scare zones, and Christmas Horror Nights delivers in terrifying style. With five bone-chilling scare zones, Universal Orlando is replicating the formula that has made Halloween Horror Nights a world-wide hit.
Candy Cane Carnage

Enter a twisted holiday street where candy canes are no longer sweet treats but deadly weapons. Sinister candy cane creatures with razor-sharp edges roam the zone, slicing through the air with malicious intent. Tinsel and lights are draped menacingly from poles, and lurking holiday terrors wait in the shadows, ready to strike.
Snowman’s Revenge

The once friendly snowmen have come to life with a thirst for vengeance. Their eyes glow with malice as they chase you through a snow-covered village, wielding sharp icicles and frosty breath. The air is thick with fog, and eerie Christmas music echoes through the chilling atmosphere as the snowmen stalk their prey.
Twisted Toyland

Step into a nightmare version of Santa’s toy shop where broken dolls, demonic action figures, and maniacal stuffed animals have escaped. The toys are out for blood as they scurry through the streets, springing from oversized gift boxes and attacking from every corner. The once joyful sounds of toy-making are replaced with terrifying screams and laughter.
Gingerbread Nightmare

Venture into a darkened village where giant, grotesque gingerbread men roam the streets, their icing dripping like blood and their cookie limbs twisted in disturbing ways. These monstrous baked goods chase guests through a holiday nightmare, their gaping mouths gnashing as they go. The gingerbread houses surrounding the zone are crumbling, creating a backdrop of terror.
Kringle’s Dark Alley

Explore the seedy underbelly of the North Pole, where Santa’s rejected and misfit elves have taken over. These crazed, sinister elves lurk in dark alleyways, covered in soot and grime, wielding dangerous tools as they seek revenge on anyone who enters their domain. Broken sleigh parts, abandoned toys, and flickering lights add to the chaos as the elves lash out, filled with rage.
The Houses: A Nightmare Before Christmas on Steroids
Santa’s Slaughterhouse

Deep within the icy caverns of the North Pole lies Krampus’ Lair, a nightmarish retreat where the demonic anti-Santa hides away. Frost-covered walls reflect dim, flickering torchlight as twisted holiday decorations litter the ground. Krampus himself stalks through the shadows, chains rattling, carrying a sack full of writhing bodies. His grotesque, horned minions wait in the darkness, eager to drag you deeper into the lair where escape is not an option.
Mrs. Claus’ Kitchen of Carnage

Mrs. Claus has finally had enough, and her sweet cookies and cakes have turned into a grotesque feast of horrors. In her Kitchen of Carnage, fruit-punch colored blood stains the countertops, and the ovens burn with a sinister flame. Twisted gingerbread men leap from cookie sheets, brandishing sharp candy pieces. Mrs. Claus herself prowls with a butcher’s knife, preparing her latest dish from unfortunate guests. Tattered holiday decorations hang ominously, while grotesque baked goods wait to pounce.
Frostbite: Jack Frost’s Revenge

The air grows colder as you enter the frozen wasteland that Jack Frost calls home. Jack Frost, a towering figure with sharp icicle claws and glowing blue eyes, emerges from the shadows, freezing everything he touches. Frozen corpses line the path, trapped in blocks of ice, their expressions frozen in fear. Jack’s icy breath fills the air as he stalks you through this arctic nightmare, leaving behind a trail of death and destruction. The snow-covered trees creak as Jack hunts for his next frozen victim.
Silent Night, Deadly Night

A quiet suburban neighborhood is transformed into a horrific bloodbath in Silent Night, Deadly Night. As you walk through the snow-covered streets, holiday lights flicker ominously, and wreaths hang crookedly on broken doors. Inside each house lies a new horror—families frozen mid-Christmas dinner, another hiding the remains of a brutal massacre. The decorations, once symbols of joy, are now twisted with sinister intent, as holiday cheer becomes a deadly trap for all who enter.
The North Pole Asylum

Once a cheerful place where toys were made, the North Pole is now an asylum for deranged elves who have lost their minds. In this twisted version of Santa’s workshop, psychotic elves roam crumbling, decaying hallways, wielding sharpened candy canes. Broken toys and remnants of holiday spirit litter the floor, as the insane elves lash out in rage. Screams echo through the air while flickering lights cast long shadows, making every step feel like a descent into madness.
Rudolph’s Rampage

Rudolph is no longer the innocent red-nosed reindeer we know. In Rudolph’s Rampage, he’s a feral, bloodthirsty creature leading a savage pack of killer reindeer. His red nose glows with malice, casting a horrifying light over the carnage. Sleigh parts and shattered presents litter the ground as the reindeer emerge, snarling and charging. The air fills with the sounds of stomping hooves and guttural growls as Rudolph leads the charge through the snowy woods.
The Naughty List

Santa Claus has checked his list, and for those on the naughty side, the punishment is brutal. The Naughty List takes you into a decrepit room where names are written in blood on a giant scroll. The room is filled with broken decorations and bloodied stockings hanging from a fireplace roaring with ominous flames. Santa roams the room, carrying a deadly weapon, ready to deliver his terrifying form of justice to those who failed to be good.
Tinsel Terror

In Tinsel Terror, Christmas decorations have come to life with deadly intent. What was once a cozy, decorated holiday living room is now a deathtrap of murderous ornaments and strangling tinsel. The Christmas tree, glowing with sinister light, seems to move, while sharp ornaments dangle threateningly. The tinsel wraps around throats, leaving no escape. Flickering lights cast eerie shadows as presents explode with nightmarish surprises.
Yuletide Yeti

In the icy mountains, the Yuletide Yeti reigns supreme, terrorizing holiday travelers who dare to celebrate Christmas. The Yeti, a hulking, white-furred beast with glowing eyes and blood-stained claws, hunts down his prey in a desolate, snow-covered landscape. As you navigate a destroyed holiday cabin, you’ll see shattered ornaments, smashed presents, and blood-streaked walls. The wind howls as the Yeti barrels toward you, freezing everything in his path.
Krampus’ Lair

Deep within the icy caverns of the North Pole lies Krampus’ Lair, a nightmarish retreat where the demonic anti-Santa hides away. Frost-covered walls reflect dim, flickering torchlight as twisted holiday decorations litter the ground. Krampus himself stalks through the shadows, chains rattling, carrying a sack full of writhing bodies. His grotesque, horned minions wait in the darkness, eager to drag you deeper into the lair where escape is not an option.
Holiday Merchandise: Get Your Bloody Christmas Sweaters
Not content with merely scarring your children for life, Universal is also capitalizing on Christmas Horror Nights with a full line of merchandise. From blood-spattered Christmas sweaters to ornaments shaped like decapitated elves, there’s something for everyone.
“We’ve got Krampus plushies, tree toppers of deranged Santas, and even gingerbread cookies that look like they’re straight out of a slasher film,” said a Universal marketing executive. “Nothing says ‘Happy Holidays’ like a stocking stuffed with a severed hand.”



Visitors can also take home exclusive Christmas Horror Nights snow globes, featuring gory scenes from the event, perfect for your mantle or as a conversation starter when Grandma comes over for Christmas dinner.

Why Is This Happening?
If you’re wondering who on earth would actually want to attend such a twisted event, CEO of Universal Destinations & Experiences Mark Woodbury has the answer: “People love Christmas, and people love Halloween Horror Nights. We just mashed them together in the most disturbing and entertaining way possible. The holidays are stressful enough as it is, so why not embrace the chaos?”
While some critics have voiced concerns that this could ruin the wholesome spirit of Christmas, Universal isn’t fazed. “Look, Christmas has always had an undercurrent of creepiness,” Woodbury said. “Think about it—a strange man breaks into your house and watches you while you sleep? We’re just leaning into the darker side of things.”
Whether you’re a fan of horror or just want to traumatize your kids for life, Christmas Horror Nights promises to deliver a holiday experience unlike any other. As Woodbury puts it, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year—to scream.”
I’m not sure what Area 52 has to do with any
of this?