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Holiday Horrors Are Taking Over Universal Horror Unleashed in Las Vegas
If your idea of holiday cheer leans more toward “screaming in a fog-filled hallway” than “sipping cocoa by the fire,” Universal Horror Unleashed in Las Vegas has the perfect seasonal surprise. The brand-new year-round horror experience is celebrating its first-ever holiday season, and Universal is decking the halls with something far more sinister than tinsel.
On select nights from November 15, 2025, through January 3, 2026, guests can meet a trio of chilling winter legends, feast on folklore-inspired food, and witness a spectral procession that turns festive folklore into full-blown fear.
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This special holiday overlay is included with regular admission, and honestly, it may be the boldest “Christmas event” Las Vegas has ever seen.
Universal is leaning deep into European and Nordic mythology for this icy celebration. First up is Krampus, the Germanic punisher of the naughty and nemesis of warm, fuzzy holiday spirit everywhere. His photo op features a throne literally encrusted with skulls, proving that he’s not here to check lists — he’s here to end them. Nearby waits Grýla, the towering Icelandic troll mother known for hunting bad children and boiling them in her cauldron. She’s large, looming, and ready to remind you why Icelanders behave so well in December. Completing the trio are the Kallikantzaroi, the chaotic, goblin-like terrors of Greek folklore who love to cause mischief during the Twelve Days of Christmas. At this event, they hide beneath a rotting tree and pop out just when your nerves settle.
Guests can strike terrifying poses with each creature, making this one of the most unique holiday photo ops Universal has ever offered. It’s the perfect blend of folklore, frights, and Instagram-ready nightmare fuel.
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The food lineup is just as wicked. Horror Unleashed is serving up seasonal specialty items like the “Krampus” Snow Globe dessert, Grýla’s Char, and Chicken Souvlakichos. It’s a mix of European holiday influence and Universal’s trademark creative culinary chaos, all available for purchase throughout the event. And because this is Vegas, adults 21+ can also enjoy themed drinks — as long as they bring a valid ID.
Throughout the night, Krampus, Grýla, and the Kallikantzaroi take part in a haunting, lantern-lit procession that winds its way through the venue. It’s eerie, atmospheric, and surprisingly beautiful, creating a kind of ghostly holiday parade that only Universal could dream up.
With Horror Unleashed just opening this summer, this first holiday overlay signals something exciting: Universal fully intends to use this venue as a living, evolving experience. Seasonal additions, rotating scares, and folklore-inspired overlays have the potential to turn every visit into something new — and this winter celebration is a strong first step into that future.
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