First Look at Xanathar at Universal Fan Fest Nights

Okay, let’s talk about something epic that’s coming to Universal Studios Hollywood—and why my whole family is counting down the days: Universal Fan Fest Nights.

We just saw the first official photo of Xanathar, the legendary beholder from DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, and YES—he’s every bit as wild, weird, and magical as you’d hope. But what really blew me away is that he was created in collaboration with Jim Henson’s Creature Shop (yes, that Jim Henson). So not only is this a D&D fan dream, it’s going to be jaw-droppingly immersive.

And it’s not just for the grown-up geeks (hi, it’s me). It’s going to be a blast for families too—and here’s why we’re all in.

A One-of-a-Kind D&D Adventure

Universal Studios Hollywood is bringing DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: Secrets of Waterdeep to life in a totally new in-world experience during Fan Fest Nights. Guests (aka us) will join the Harpers, a secretive network of heroes, on a mission to stop Xanathar from taking over the city of Waterdeep. And yes, his pet goldfish Sylgar is making an appearance too.

Whether your kids play D&D or you’ve been a long-time fan yourself, this is the kind of storytelling-meets-immersion experience that pulls you right into the magic.

Our Kind of Fandom Playground

Fan Fest Nights isn’t just about D&D. This entire event is designed to bring fans of sci-fi, fantasy, gaming, and anime together for a night of absolute fun. That means cosplay, exclusive merch, and themed food—yes please!

Our family can’t wait to explore all the activations tied to fan-favorite franchises like:

• Star Trek

• Back to the Future

• ONE PIECE

• Jujutsu Kaisen

• … and even meet Elphaba and Glinda from Wicked!

  
  

Oh, and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ and SUPER NINTENDO WORLD™ are getting special additions just for this event. We’re already planning which wand to bring and which Mario character to cosplay.

Select Rides Stay Open

You know how much we love a good ride—and during Fan Fest Nights, some of our favorites will be open, including:

• Jurassic World—The Ride

• Despicable Me Minion Mayhem

• Mario Kart™: Bowser’s Challenge

• The Simpsons Ride™

• Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey™…and more.

So yes, it’s going to be a long night, and yes, we will be fully living our best fan lives.

When & How to Go

Universal Fan Fest Nights runs on select evenings from April 25 through May 18, 2025:

• April 25–27

• May 2–4

• May 9–11

• May 15–18

You can grab your tickets now on their official site and follow along on social @UniFanFestNights.

As a mom who loves watching my kids’ imaginations light up—and okay, as someone who gets way too excited about immersive experiences—this event checks every box. Fantasy, fandom, rides, food, and magic? Sign. Us. Up.

We’ll be there, soaking it all in, probably dressed up, definitely eating our weight in themed treats—and making memories we’ll never forget.

See you at Fan Fest?