As the holiday season approaches, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida, has unveiled plans for a new themed light show
“Hard Rock the Holidays” will be featured at the property’s Guitar Hotel. With more than 2 million LED lights, displays, and family experiences spanning 35 days, the show runs from November 29 through January 3.
” ‘Hard Rock the Holidays’ transforms the Guitar Hotel into a dazzling winter wonderland that brings people of all ages together in the spirit of joy and celebration,” Hard Rock International Chairman and Seminole Gaming CEO Jim Allen said in a statement. “This event is about more than lights and music; it’s about creating meaningful moments for our guests, families, and especially children, whose wonder and excitement remind us what the holiday season is truly about. We’re proud to celebrate and give back to the South Florida community that has supported us for so many years, and to begin a new holiday tradition that families can enjoy for generations to come.”
“Hard Rock the Holidays” will transform 24 acres of the Guitar Hotel Pool into a glowing wonderland complete with more than 20 themed areas, interactive photo moments, and a signature Guitar Hotel Light & Music Show, synchronized to holiday classics. Guests of all ages are welcome to enjoy seasonal food and drinks, festive treats, and live entertainment designed to capture the magic of the season during the immersive celebration.
The 20 themed areas each bringing a story to life through lights, design, and sound. Guests enter through the Gates of the Glowing Grove, where two 13-foot illuminated deer welcome them into a winter wonderland of warmth and wonder. The North Pole Passage follows, with twinkling garland arches creating a tunnel of lights for holiday photos.
Frozen Flame showcases ice sculptures and cool lighting to create an arctic escape, and Santa’s Celestial Ride is where jolly St. Nick and his reindeer will soar across the night sky surrounded by more than 100 glowing RGB orbs.
Guests also can stroll past the Fountains of Frost, take in the Crystal Forest of towering ice sculpture trees, and snap photos along Holiday Portrait Lane. Starlight Boulevard features 12 illuminated star arches, while Glowing Palm Paradise transforms 28 palm trees into a tropical winter escape.
Families can wander through Whimsy Woods, where elves and gnomes add charm, and the Garland Gateway and Gingerbread Junction, a candy-colored village of giant wreaths and sweet décor.
Other highlights include the Cathedral of Light, a 40-foot structure with immersive animations, the Penguin Promenade featuring 50 illuminated animal sculptures, and The Conductor’s VIP Path, where garland-wrapped cabanas create holiday retreats. The centerpiece, a 50-foot Tree of Wonder, anchors the celebration, while Santa’s Getaway is a festive car topped with a glowing red bow, symbolizing the joy of holiday travel.
Across the resort, guests can also enjoy the Snowflake Skyline with 36 illuminated snowflakes on the Lucky Street parking garage, Garland Glow Poles wrapped in 20-foot garlands topped with red bows, and a Forest of Lights featuring more than 350 illuminated trees and hedges.
The celebration extends across the lagoon with six themed islands. Santa Rocks! showcases Santa strumming his guitar in Hard Rock fashion, while Elf’s Landing offers a setup with milk and cookies for Santa’s favorite helper. The Island of Misfit Toys delivers nostalgia and charm, and Reindeer Bay features Santa’s reindeer ready to take flight. Guests can also explore the sugary spectacle of Candy Cane Cove and the icy glow of Polar Bear Island.
Festive flavors will be featured at Santa’s Snack Emporium, offering merry bites, sweet treats, and seasonal sips for beachside revelers. Guests can enjoy freshly popped kettle corn at Elf-Popped Delights or sip tropical cocktails at Santa’s Beachside Bar.
Specialty food stations throughout the Oasis Pool area include the hot chocolate station at Sandy Sips & Holiday Whips; Frosted Fluff & Creamery for cotton candy and gelato; Snowfall Sweets & Treats for praline nuts and shaved ice; Frosty’s Candy Cove featuring gourmet chocolates and gummies; and Santa’s S’mores Shack for an interactive treat experience. Ms. Claus’s Kitchen will take over the Beach Club and offer a coastal-inspired dining experience with nostalgic holiday dishes and hospitality. Guests can also toast the season with the festival’s signature cocktail, the North Pole Nightcap.
Younger guests can discover, explore, and become Junior Holiday Rockstars in the Hard Rock the Holidays! Scavenger Hunt. Participants will visit themed stops across the resort, solve clues, and record their discoveries. After completing all eight stations, they can claim a Junior Holiday Rockstar Badge at Ms. Claus’s Kitchen.
Spanning the 24-acre Guitar Hotel pool deck and surrounding resort grounds, the light installations will be expertly executed by Holiday Outdoor Décor in Allentown, Pennsylvania, a leader in large-scale commercial lighting design. Their team will manage the logistics of illuminating expansive spaces, coordinating every phase from design layout and structural mounting to electrical integration and final testing.
Guests also can enjoy a premium holiday experience filled with festive fun and exclusive perks. Unity by Hard Rock members receive special pre-sale pricing and offers, and families can take advantage of a four-pack deal. The celebration offers opportunities to capture the season’s magic with a photo with Santa and the Conductor’s VIP Path add-ons, featuring access to themed backdrops, a custom train set against the Guitar Hotel, and a commemorative tumbler with specialty drink options.
