The music goes on and on at Universal Orlando. While the extended Mardi Gras celebration has barely ended, the theme park is already gearing up for its annual run of summer music.

Scheduled musical artists for this year’s Summer Concert Series at Universal Studios have been announced. The six-week run of Saturday night concerts at the Universal Studios Music Plaza begins June 11 with the Go-Gos.

Summer Concert Series shows begin at 9 pm and are included with regular theme park admission.

Universal’s 2011 Summer Concert Series

June 11       Go-Gos

June 18       Nelly

June 25       Third Eye Blind

July 2           Trey Songz

July 9           Boys Like Girls

July 16         Drake

Boy Genius fans take note.

On April 1, Universal Orlando® Resort will close the Jimmy Neutron’s Nicktoon Blast attraction at Universal Studios Florida.®

Although Universal will immediately begin work on an all-new theme park experience, the Neutron ride will re-open for limited periods during the spring and summer of 2011. The attraction is scheduled to close permanently on August 11.

Universal states the the replacement attraction will be based on an amazing concept and be a natural fit for Universal Orlando. However, additional details are not yet available.

With the holidays just around the corner, Universal Orlando is getting ready to break out the Christmas music and special holiday events.

The Orlando theme park is scheduled to open its official holiday celebration on Dec. 4 with the first of three live concerts by Mannheim Steamroller, along with the return of its popular ”Grinchmas” musical and the annual Macy’s Holiday Parade.

Mannheim Steamroller will perform at Universal on Dec. 4, 11 and 18, on the Music Plaza stage within Universal Studios theme park. The concerts are included with regular park admission.

2010 marks the 25^th anniversary of Mannheim Steamroller’s annual Christmas tours. The group led by Chip Davis has sold more than 27 million Christmas records, making Mannheim Steamroller the biggest selling Christmas artist in history.

Meanwhile, the Macy’s Parade, featuring balloons also seen in the famed Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade in New York City, will wind through Universal Studios before culminating with a nightly tree-lighting ceremony and a special appearance by Santa Claus. 

Another staple of Universal’s holiday celebration is the musical live show, “Grinchmas,” based on the Dr. Seuss book “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” The show will be staged multiple times daily at Universal’s Islands of Adventure theme park and features music recorded by Mannheim Steamroller.

Universal’s holiday celebration runs through Jan. 1, 2011.

Looking for a great fright night? Look no further than the 20^th edition of the annual Halloween Horror Nights fright-fest at Universal Studios in Orlando.

With a long list of terrifying Haunted Houses set up around the theme park, there is plenty of fear to be found. But the frights don’t end with those Haunted Houses.

Halloween Horror Nights keeps the thrills and chills going with open air scare zones located between the houses.

This year’s scare zones include glimpses of past horrors, some re-imagining of old favorites, a zone that ties directly to a haunted house, as well as some all new material never before seen at HHH.

One of the old standbys, the chainsaw drill team, has patrolled the streets of HHN for many years. Wandering around with their menacing and loud saws, the drill team is always a good fright. But this year, they’ve added some creepy steam and some additional chain saw wielders to the zone.

The terrifying Zombie Gras scare zone can be found outside the exit of the Zombiegeddon house. Based on the park’s annual Mardi Gras festival, Zombie Gras is truly a parade gone wrong. A wreck has caused a power outage which, in turn, causes problems in the Zombiegeddon house.

Esqueleto Muerte is a scare zone based on Mexican Day of the Dead and offers “guests” a neon nightmare. Meanwhile, The Coven is highlighted by sirens that draw guests into a wooden area filled with horribly terrifying hag-like witches.

The HHN: 20 Years of Fear zone is an extension of the Hallow’d Past haunted house. Here, you’ll come face-to-face with evil and frightful icons of the past and the presence of Fear himself.

For photos, videos and more information on Halloween Horror Nights XX, go to www.HalloweenHorrorNights.com/Orlando. Or visit http://www.orlandothemeparkvacations.com/ for information on discount Universal Orlando tickets and discount Orlando vacation packages.

It’s almost time to face your fears at Universal’s annual scare-fest, Halloween Horror Nights.

Halloween Horror Nights® XX: Twenty Years of Fear, takes place only at Universal Orlando® Resort on select nights in September and October.

Universal Studios Florida® theme park will be transformed into the nation’s premier annual Halloween event with a wide range of scream-filled haunted houses, scare zones and shows.

During this 20th anniversary edition, Universal takes terror to a whole new level as you venture into a nightmarish maze of one-of-a-kind frights that make up the ultimate Halloween experience.

Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando Resort is a separately ticketed event. This year’s event nights are September 24, 25 & 30; October 1-3, 7-10, 14-17, 20-24, 27-31.

Haunted Houses

Catacombs Black Death Rising

Hades The Gates of Ruin

Horror Nights The Hallow’d Past

Havoc Dogs of War

Zombiegedden

Legendary Truth The Wyandot Estate

Psychoscareapy Echoes of Shadybrook

The Orfanage Ashes to Ashes\\

Scare Zones and Shows

Zombie Gras

The Coven

Saws N’ Steam

Esqueleto Muerte

XX Fear Revealed

HHN Twenty Years of Fear

Bill and Ted’s Excellent Halloween Adventure

Brian Brushwood: Menace and Malice

For more information on Halloween events in Orlando, visit http://www.orlandothemeparkvacations.com/. Or go to www.halloweenhorrornights.com/orlando for details on Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios.

Music fans, get ready to Rock the Universe.The popular two-night contemporary Christian musical festival, Rock the Universe is headed back to Orlando’s Universal Studios on Sept. 10-11.

Each night brings new entertainers and many of the park’s most popular rides and attractions will remain open throughout the concerts. Performers scheduled to appear include:

Friday, Sept. 10

Music Plaza Stage

Chuck Tocco, 6 pm

Decyfer Down, 7 pm

Jars of Clay, 8:30 pm.

Skillet, 10:15 pm

Hollywood Stage

Kutless, 6:30 pm

Hawk Nelson, 8 pm

Newsboys, 9:30 pm

Saturday, Sept. 11

Music Plaza Stage

Jeff Chandler, 6 pm

Needtobreathe, 7 pm

tobyMac, 8:30 pm

Relient K, 10:15 pm

PLUS Candle lighting at 11:15 pm

Hollywood Stage

Grits, 6 pm

Fireflight, 7:30 pm

Jeremy Camp, 9:15 pm

For more info about Rock the Universe, go to http://www.rocktheuniverse.com/.

While most of the excitement at Universal Studios Orlando currently centers around the new Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Islands of Adventure, there is still plenty of magic to be found at Universal Studios theme park, as well.

Almost lost in the immense shadow of Hogwarts castle, Universal Studios offers up the still new Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit. The state-of-the-art roller coaster provides an unique ride every time as riders create their very own coaster experience by choosing their own musical soundtrack.

Riders can select from 30 songs and the varied genres include country, pop/disco, club/electronia, rap/hip-hop and classic rock/metal. To date, the most popular selections include Glamorous by Fergie, Bring Me to Live by Evanescence, Rollin by Limp Bizkit, Pump It by Black Eyed Peas and Stonger by Kanye West.

But other options include The Devil Went Down to Georgia by Charlie Daniels Band, That’s the Way (I Like It) by KC and the Sunshine Band, U Can’t Touch This by MC Hammer, Intergalactic by Beastie Boys, and Kickstart My Heart by Motley Crue, to name just a few.

While the masses are jamming into the Wizarding World, now’s a great time to experience Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit and the many other popular rides and attractions at Universal Studios Florida.

Visit http://www.orlandothemeparkvacations.com/ for details on the two Universal theme parks and for discount ticket and hotel options. Or go to http://www.westgatereservations.com/ for resort accommodations like the luxurious Westgate Lakes Resort and Spa.

Get ready for more Halloween screams at Universal Studios Florida! Halloween Horror Nights XX: Twenty Years of Fears is coming back to bring the ultimate in fright nights to Orlando on select nights during September and October.Universal Studios theme park will be transformed into a nightmarish maze of all new haunted houses, scare zones and live shows while an assortment of mutants, monsters and maniacs roams the darkened streets.

For details on how you can enjoy the thrills and chills of Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights, go to www.halloweenhorrornights.com/orlando. Official event dates include: SEPTEMBER 24, 25, 30 and OCTOBER 1-3, 7-10, 14-17, 20-24, 27-31, 2010.

The ultimate Halloween nightmare is coming back for a 20^th year of nightmarish thrills and unbridled terror. Get ready for Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights® XX: Twenty Years of Fear.

On select evenings in September and October, Universal Studios Florida® theme park will transform into a nightmarish maze of all new haunted houses, scare zones, and outrageous live shows. Meanwhile, an extensive assortment of mutants, monsters and maniacs will also roam the darkened studio streets offering scares of their own. It’s all part of the fun of this wildly popular annual event.

General admission for this separate ticket event is $74.95. However, Florida residents can save with a variety of advance purchase options, including $64.99 on Saturdays, $49.99 on Fridays and just $39.99 on Sundays-Thursdays. Additional savings are available with “Frequent Fear” passes.

Visit www.halloweenhorrornights.com/orlando for up-to-date details and restrictions regarding the event, as well as some history on the past 20 years of Halloween Horrors!

For more on discount Orlando vacation packages and other theme park adventures, go to www.OrlandoThemeParkVacations.com.

Dates for Halloween Horror Nights® XX

SEPTEMBER 24, 25, 30, 2010
OCTOBER 1-3, 7-10, 14-17, 20-24, 27-31, 2010

The new Wizarding World of Harry Potter is stealing all the headlines these days, but there’s another world renowned show also ready to grab your attention at Universal Orlando Resort.

So while the crowds are squeezing into Hogwarts castle and sipping on Butter Beer, now is a great time to take a break from the theme park fun and instead experience the wild and wacky antics of Blue Man Group. The show is full of live music, side-splitting humor, audience interaction, original musical instruments, multimedia theatrics and paint; lots and lots of paint!

Sit down and buckle up for a show that is jam packed with the Blue Man Group’s unique and witty style of entertainment, providing a totally outrageous experience for all.

After the amazing Blue Man Group party, you can also enjoy free admission to select Universal CityWalk® venues with the presentation of your Blue Man Group ticket stub.

For more information on Universal Orlando Resort and discount ticket options, visit http://www.orlandothemeparkvacations.com/.