“Embrace the Magic: Unveiling an Exciting Holiday Tradition at SeaWorld!”

Alongside their animal displays, amusement, activities, dining, and shopping, SeaWorld San Diego also organizes numerous special occasions throughout the year. A recent disclosure regarding one specific event piqued my interest:

“Join us in celebrating National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day with an entertaining evening at SeaWorld San Diego. Adorn your most inventive ugly Christmas sweater and gather at Nautilus Amphitheater for holiday enjoyment hosted by Park President Tyler Carter. Participate in the Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest for a chance to claim: $1,000 for 1st place, $500 for 2nd place, and $250 for 3rd place. Enjoy photo opportunities and an abundance of festive merriment.”

It’s fascinating how spontaneous events can evoke memories. This announcement reminded me of my father, who had passed away many years ago, and his very old, unique sweater that had long been stored in my clothes closet. Although I doubt I ever wore it, I preserved it after my father’s demise as a way to remember him.

This sweater carries a narrative. Years ago, my dad and two partners initiated a modest sweater manufacturing business in Canada. Over time it expanded, a brand-new building was constructed for it, and the company gained a reputable standing throughout Canada for the high quality and fashionable styles of its sweaters. I wore sweaters from my dad’s company while skiing, and I still possess a few, many years later. My skiing adventures may have come to an end, but those sweaters remain in excellent condition.

As I was composing this, I discovered a sweater catalog from 1973. Within its pages, on the company’s information section, I found that my dad had signed a photo of himself for me. Shortly after that, my dad stepped down as president of the company.

To honor what he had established, his employees crafted a unique retirement present for him: an entirely one-of-a-kind pullover sweater. Its primary wool fabric was a quilt-like, sewn patchwork of various small shapes and sizes of materials sourced from the diverse styles of sweaters the company produced.

I imagined it would be a lovely tribute to my dad if I wore that sweater in the SeaWorld contest, although I held no expectations of earning a reward for it. After all, it bore no holiday designs at all, but I hoped that people would find my sweater — and its narrative, worthwhile to share.

I recall my dad being quite a large man. Naturally, that was from my viewpoint as his considerably younger son. I presumed his sweater would fit me as an adult but, just to be cautious, I tried it on. To my surprise, it was snug, but fortunately, its numerous seams held firm. I carefully took it off and resolved to enter it in SeaWorld’s contest.

On the afternoon of December 20, I drove to SeaWorld. It was chilly outside, but my wool sweater kept me cozy as I strolled to the registration area at the Nautilus Amphitheater. Registration — restricted to the first 100 participants — was set to commence at 5 p.m., with judging starting at 6 p.m.

Upon entering the amphitheater, I observed many splendid sweaters. Some of the participants were individuals, while others were families. The Park President, Tyler Carter — the spirited Master of Ceremonies for the competition, called us up one-by-one to the front of the stage and encouraged us to share a few words about our sweaters. The four judges were seated before the grandstand. The stage was prepared for a performance of “A Stocking Full of Soul” — an engaging, high-energy musical and dance show that would follow our contest.

I stumbled upon a video on YouTube of our Ugly Christmas Sweater Competition. Here’s a link: (my father’s sweater and I appear in the footage at 07:49, 24.45, 27:21, 29:25, and 33:30).

It brought me joy that individuals consistently approached me to praise my dad’s sweater and its narrative. I believe he would have appreciated that, as well.

Tyler proclaimed that the judges had opted to introduce two additional awards. I secured one of those — a SeaWorld animal encounter for a future visit — for fourth position.

For further details regarding SeaWorld San Diego, head to: https://seaworld.com/san-diego/.

To delve into a diverse range of content dating back to 2002, featuring the most photos and the latest written pieces, explore “AutoMatters & More” at Search by title or subject in the Search Bar positioned in the center of the Home Page, or click on the blue ‘years’ boxes and peruse.

Copyright © 2024 by Jan Wagner – AutoMatters & More #865

Originally Published: December 31, 2024 at 2:52 PM PST