What is Universal Fan Fest Nights? All about the first-ever fandom event
By BRADY MACDONALD
The Orange County Register (TNS)
Universal Studios Hollywood will celebrate Trekkies, Potterheads, Dungeon Masters and other obsessed fandom communities when a new festival dedicated to sci-fi, fantasy, gaming and anime debuts this spring.
The new Universal Fan Fest Nights featuring Harry Potter, Star Trek, Back to the Future and Dungeons & Dragons will run on select nights between April 25 and May 18 at the Hollywood theme park.
Fan Fest Nights tickets are on sale now for the after-hours, separate admission event at Universal Studios Hollywood.
Fan Fest promises to be a cross between Halloween Horror Nights and Comic-Con with walk-through attractions, fan zones, anime films, light projection shows, drone shows and character meet-andgreet photo ops as well as cosplay opportunities, themed food and exclusive merchandise.
Here’s a closer look at the seven Fan Fest experiences that will be available each night throughout the theme park.
Star Trek: Red Alert
The Star Trek: Red Alert walkthrough attraction will take visitors on a mission aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise from the “Star Trek: Picard” television series.
Visitors will be transported to the year 2403 where they will help prevent an interstellar threat by an otherworldly entity that wreaks havoc on the ship.
Visitors will encounter Star Trek performers as they travel from the shuttle station to the ship where they will pass through the sick bay, control room, turbo lift and Enterprise bridge before using a transporter pod to return to Earth.
The pulsed story experience will feature audio, visual and special effects.
Dungeons & Dragons: Secrets of Waterdeep
The Dungeons & Dragons: Secrets of Waterdeep walk-through attraction will bring visitors face to face with wizards, monsters and treasure hunters during Fan Fest.
Visitors will join the Harpers spy network to help foil a plot by Xanathar the Beholder and save the city of Waterdeep during a quest to find a stolen MacGuffin.
Visitors will encounter D& D performers as they travel through a chaotic marketplace, hidden tunnel and illuminated passage before casting runes to determine their fate.
The fates send the visitors stumbling into Xanathar’s Lair where they must survive a surprise plot twist before emerging victorious.
Jim Henson’s Creature Shop is creating a 30-pound puppet creature of Xanathar for the walkthrough experience.
The D& D activation will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the role playing game, 2023 “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” film and Baldur’s Gate 3 video game.
Back to the Future: Destination Hill Valley
Riders aboard the Studio Tour tram will be transported to Courthouse Square on the Universal backlot for the Back to the Future: Destination Hill Valley experience.
The backstory finds the tram reaching a speed of 88 mph so riders can time travel back to 1955 where familiar scenes from the original “Back to the Future” film will be recreated.
Visitors arriving in Courthouse Square will hear “Mr. Sandman” playing in the background, watch gas station attendants break into song and witness Marty McFly play guitar during the Enchantment Under the Sea dance.
The highlight of the experience will be the Clock Tower lightning strike that sends Marty McFly back to the future several times a night in the DeLorean Time Machine.
One Piece: Grand Pirate Gathering
The One Piece: Grand Pirate Gathering fan zone will drop visitors into the adventures of Monkey D. Luffy and his Straw Hat Pirates from the Japanese manga series as they continue their quest to find a legendary treasure.
Visitors will be able to pose for photos with “One Piece” characters Luffy, Sanji, Usopp, Nami and Zoro from the hit anime series.
Jujutsu Kaisen: Hunger of the Cursed
The “Jujutsu Kaisen: Hunger of the Cursed” film from the Cool Japan event at Universal Studios Japan will play in the Dreamworks Theater during Fan Fest.
The “Jujutsu Kaisen” supernatural horror anime TV show follows the exploits of cursed student Yuji Itadori at a curse-fighting martial arts high school.
Wizarding World of Harry Potter
The “Hogwarts Always” light projection show on the Hogwarts Castle that debuted at Universal Orlando last year will run during Fan Fest in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
Magical creatures from the Potterverse will also pop up during Fan Fest – including a Niffler, baby dragon and Grand Occamy.
The Niffler and baby dragon puppets regularly appear at Universal Studios Japan, but the Occamy puppet will be making its debut during Fan Fest.
Super Nintendo World
A new Nintendo-themed drone show will debut in the skies above the video game themed land during Fan Fest.
A Yoshi meet-and-greet character will make his debut in Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Hollywood during the event.
Visitors who complete a scavenger hunt in Super Nintendo World will get a chance to meet a multi-colored version of the Yoshi character.
Select attractions will also be open during Fan Fest – including Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, Transformers: The Ride 3D, Revenge of the Mummy roller coaster, Jurassic World – The Ride and the Simpsons Ride.
Universal Fan Fest Nights 2025 will be held Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights on April 25-27, May 2-4, May 9-11 and May 16-18.
Tickets range from $74 for general admission to $383 for the VIP package. An Ultimate Fandom Pass good for all 12 nights of Fan Fest costs $249.
The new Universal Fan Fest Nights featuring Harry Potter, Star Trek, Back to the Future and Dungeons & Dragons will run on select nights in April and May at the Hollywood theme park.
Dean Musgrove / Los Angeles Daily News / TNS
