SeaWorld's Veterans Salute Is This Weekend — and Military Admission Is Free

Overview

Red, White & Blue Salute is at SeaWorld San Diego this weekend — fireworks nightly on Saturday, November 7 and Sunday, November 8, 2026.

It's included with park admission. And through SeaWorld's Waves of Honor programme, active duty and former military personnel may enter free.

In a Navy town, that last part is the whole point. San Diego has one of the largest concentrations of active-duty personnel and veterans in the country, and this is the park's annual acknowledgement of it.

One scheduling note before you plan. SeaWorld's navigation lists the event as running November 7 to 9, but the only nights with fireworks published are the 7th and the 8th. What happens on Monday the 9th isn't stated anywhere. And this year's run doesn't include Veterans Day itself, which falls on Wednesday, November 11. If Veterans Day is the day that matters to you, that's worth knowing now.

What's On

The fireworks — Veterans Day Fireworks presented by Navy Federal Credit Union, "as the sun sets" both nights. No clock time is published, so check the park's daily schedule on the day.

The Hero's Salute — a pre-show at Orca Encounter honouring veterans and active-duty guests in the audience.

The Flag Ceremony — held daily at park open at Explorer's Reef. Again, no specific time is given; park opening varies by day.

The Field of Honor — a display of flags representing local veterans and their families. This is the quietest thing on the list and, for a lot of people, the one worth walking to.

The Hero Mailbox — write a postcard to an active-duty service member, in partnership with the Warrior Foundation.

The Hero Tribute — a photo backdrop honouring the fallen.

At Wild Arctic Plaza — community organisations with kid-friendly crafts and face painting.

Plus patriotic merchandise at The SeaWorld Store and the Whale Shop.

Admission and Military Benefits

• The event is included with park admission — no separate ticket
• Waves of Honor: active duty and former military personnel may enjoy complimentary admission. Restrictions apply
• Military Silver Pass: $119. Restrictions apply
• Free admission with annual passes
• Military guests use a separate dedicated entrance line

What isn't published: exactly what ID or verification you need, and what the restrictions are. The park links to its military discount page but doesn't spell it out. If you're coming on the Waves of Honor benefit, bring your ID and allow extra time at the gate.

No registration or reservation requirement is stated.

Parking

SeaWorld publishes three reserved parking tiers:

• VIP — $77
• Up-Close — $55
• General — $35

A standard, non-reserved drive-up rate isn't published on their parking page, which is unusual. Budget for at least $35. Annual passholders get parking included depending on tier.

Fair warning: their parking page's booking calendar was returning errors when we checked — "There was an issue loading the calendar" — so if you want to pre-book, try early or plan to pay at the gate.

How to Go

• When: Saturday, November 7 and Sunday, November 8, 2026. Fireworks at sunset
• Where: SeaWorld San Diego, Mission Bay
• Admission: included with park admission. Free for active duty and former military via Waves of Honor
• Flag Ceremony: daily at park open, Explorer's Reef
• Parking: reserved tiers from $35

Good to Know

• Fireworks are published for the 7th and 8th only. The nav mentions the 9th; nothing else does.
• This year's run doesn't cover Veterans Day (Wednesday, November 11).
• No clock times are published for fireworks or the flag ceremony. Check the daily park schedule when you arrive.
• Military guests have a separate entrance line. Bring ID.
• Dates and times are subject to change without notice — the park's own caveat.
• The Field of Honor is the one to seek out if you want a moment rather than a show.

Why It's Worth It

Because of where it is.

A fireworks display over Mission Bay is a fireworks display anywhere. A field of flags representing local veterans, in a city where a large share of families have someone serving or who has served, is something else.

The programming reflects that too. The Hero Mailbox and the Warrior Foundation partnership mean you can do something small and concrete while you're there, and the Hero's Salute at Orca Encounter puts the recognition in front of a full stadium rather than in a corner of the park.

And free admission for anyone who has served is a meaningful gesture in a town this size. If that applies to you or someone you're bringing, this is the weekend to use it.

One more note worth having: next year's edition is scheduled for November 11 to 14, 2027 — which does include Veterans Day. If this weekend doesn't work, that one will.

For more things worth doing, browse our events calendar.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Red, White & Blue Salute at SeaWorld? Fireworks run nightly on Saturday, November 7 and Sunday, November 8, 2026. SeaWorld's navigation lists the event as November 7 to 9, but nothing is published about the 9th.

Is it on Veterans Day? No. Veterans Day 2026 is Wednesday, November 11, which falls outside this year's run. The 2027 edition is scheduled for November 11 to 14 and does include it.

How much does it cost? It's included with park admission. Active duty and former military personnel may enter free through SeaWorld's Waves of Honor programme, and a Military Silver Pass is available for $119. Restrictions apply to both.

What time are the fireworks? No clock time is published — only "as the sun sets." Check the park's daily schedule on the day.

What time is the flag ceremony? It's held daily at park open at Explorer's Reef. Park opening times vary, so check the schedule.

What do I need to bring for the military benefit? The park doesn't specify what verification is required, only that restrictions apply and that military guests use a dedicated entrance line. Bring your ID and allow extra time.

What's the Field of Honor? A display of flags representing local veterans and their families.

Can I send a message to a service member? Yes — the Hero Mailbox lets you write a postcard to an active-duty member, in partnership with the Warrior Foundation.

Is there anything for children? Community organisations at Wild Arctic Plaza run kid-friendly crafts and face painting.

How much is parking? SeaWorld publishes reserved tiers at $77 VIP, $55 Up-Close and $35 General. A standard drive-up rate isn't published.