Take a Look at Disneyland’s Seasonal Events Calendar for 2024

Last month Disney does something it doesn’t normally do: it announced the dates for every seasonal event coming to Disneyland in 2024. Normally they reveal these dates as the year goes on, focusing on the latest event before announcing too much about the next one. Given how much preparation needs to go into a trip to Disneyland, from booking flights and hotels to getting a park reservation and buying tickets, it’s really useful to know these dates well in advance. Disneyland seasonal events aren’t just a fun way to celebrate a specific holiday, movie, or set of characters, but a chance to see Disneyland in a different light, with special food, drinks, entertainment, decorations, and more. These changes might be temporary, but they’re still emblematic of how Disney’s theme parks have remained relevant and popular for decades—by balancing regular change with the ageless genius of their classic attractions and design.

2024’s calendar of events features the return of several favorite festivals, starting with the Lunar New Year at Disney California Adventure. This annual celebration of Asian culture, which includes special food, decor, a parade starring Mulan, and festive outfits for Mickey and his friends, starts on Jan. 23 and runs through Feb. 18. Also in February is the annual Celebrate Gospel concerts on Feb. 17 and 24. The first night will feature a performance by Marvin Sapp, while Tasha Cobbs Leonard headlines on the 24th.

Next up is the Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival, which runs from March 1 through April 22. The West Coast version of EPCOT’s beloved International Food & Wine Festival focuses on California’s food heritage, with kiosks throughout California Adventure serving local delicacies, and special classes and tasting sessions focused around California’s wine and spirits industries. Soarin’ Over California, the original version of the popular ride, will also return for a limited time during the festival. If you go to Disneyland in early April you can combine the Food & Wine Festival with another popular event: Disneyland’s Star Wars Season of the Force, which runs from April 5 to June 2, and which has presumably changed quite a bit since we attended it all the way back in 2016. (We didn’t even know what a Baby Yoda was back then. What a dark time.) Expect to find new scenes in the always-changing Star Tours ride in Tomorrowland, and Space Mountain will once again be transformed into Hyperspace Mountain through a Star Wars overlay. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge will no doubt have some new surprises, as well, and Star Wars-themed food, drink, and merch will be found at Tomorrowland and Galaxy’s Edge.

The end of April ushers in Pixar Fest, which will spread out across both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure. The latter has a number of Pixar-themed rides, primarily focused around Pixar Pier, and will also host a brand new Pixar-themed daytime parade, “Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration.” Meanwhile “Together Forever—A Pixar Nighttime Spectacular” returns to Disneyland, with projections, lasers, and fireworks lighting up the sky. You’ll also be able to find Pixar characters and themed food and merchandise throughout both parks. That starts on April 26 and stretches all the way to August 4, so expect a Pixar-y good time at Disneyland during most of the spring and summer.

Not one but two seasonal events kick off on August 23. First up is Disneyland Resort’s annual Halloween Time celebration. Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion will once again be turned into a Nightmare Before Christmas ride, California Adventure’s Guardians of the Galaxy—Monsters After Dark will turn the old Tower of Terror ride into a frightful plunge through the dark, the villain-heavy Halloween Screams nighttime spectacular takes over Disneyland, characters will be in their costumes throughout the resort, and special holiday treats and merch will be available. The Oogie Boogie Bash after hours event will also return to Disney California Adventure on select nights, and both parks will have Día de Los Muertos events. Halloween Time at Disneyland runs from August 23 up through October 31. One of those Día de Los Muertos observations gets its own entry on the events calendar. California Adventure’s Plaza de la Familia features A Musical Celebration of Coco, with live performances of songs and music from Pixar’s gorgeous film. Guests can also meet characters from the movie, leave messages to their loved ones at the Memory Wall, and find other special activities at California Adventure. This event starts on August 23, and wraps up on November 2, which is traditionally the second and last day of Día de Los Muertos.

After Halloween there’s only one major event, but it’s maybe the biggest: The Holidays at Disneyland Resort event is ushered in on November 15.  This is my favorite time to go to Disneyland (even if the Haunted Mansion is still in its inferior Nightmare Before Christmas state), with Christmas lights and holiday decorations everywhere, and a temporary It’s a Small World overlay that weaves Christmas music into its song. California Adventure is also home to the Disney Festival of Holidays, which shows how a variety of cultures and religions celebrate their Winter holiday. We don’t know when this year’s Holidays season will end at the park, but expect it to run into 2025; the 2023 Holiday celebrations are actually still running today, with this Sunday, January 7, marking their end.

If that was all a little too long for you to read, here’s a handy little graphic Disney cooked up with all the dates marked out on it. And you can expect updates on both these events and more announcements about Disneyland and Disney World at the Disney Parks Blog.