Top 5 Pairings You Must Try at SeaWorld San Diego’s Viva La Música Festival
With Latin culture woven into the heart of San Diego, SeaWorld brings its vibrancy together in one unforgettable celebration—Viva La Música. And this year, the festival returns bigger, louder, and more spectacular than ever. To kick off weekend one, the fiesta included SoCal Taco Fest, exciting performances from Frankie J and Baby Bash, endless supplies of tacos, and refreshing drinks. Weekend two brought sunshine, even more tacos and infectious rhythms from Banda Zeta, wrapping up around perfect Viva La Música weekend. This lively, unforgettable fiesta continues for its final weekend, May 15 – 17, and here’s your guide to make the most of this cultural, Latin experience!
1. Savory Tostilocos and Team Yonkes Lowriders
Start off your day with savory treats and incredible collections of Scale Crawlers and RC Lowriders. This pairing is perfect for those who enjoy a mix of culture with adventure. If that’s you, head over to SkyTower Lawn to visit the Tostilocos Bar and SkyTower Stage.
Once you have picked your perfect dish, immerse yourself in a classic Chicano tradition with lowriders. Team Yonkes put their passion and expertise on display with their collection of remote-controlled RC Lowriders and Scale Crawlers. Learn more about this San Diego-based group as they share their culture, passion and cars!
Find the full schedule HERE.
2. Refreshing Raspados and Inspiring Arte
Are you someone who enjoys a slow, laidback afternoon? Well, this next Viva La Música pairing is perfect for you! Head over to Waterfront for an amazing view of Mission Bay, refreshing drinks, and cultural art!
Waterfront is the ideal way to unwind before heading back into the park for your next adventure. At this location, you’ll find savory, frozen drinks, like Chamango, Fresada, Raspado de Tamarindo or Limon, or a classic Frozen Strawberry Smoothie!
Pick the drink that speaks to you most:
- Feeling lively? Grab a Chamango!
- Feeling laid-back? Pick a Raspado de Limon to fit your vibes!
- Feeling cool? A Frozen Strawberry Smoothie matches your mood!
Once you have selected your perfectly tailored drink, dive into the culture by creating colorful papel picado! Papel Picado is used to create colorful, cultural banners, a tradition dating back to pre-Hispanic times when the Aztecs used a paper made of the bark of mulberry and fig trees.
This pairing connects you with Latin culture in more ways than one, with a refreshing drink and creativity.
3. Tasty Rolled Tacos and Caribbean Steel Pan Band
Need a little more Zen? Keep the chills vibes going by sticking around Waterfront and fueling yourself with tasty, rolled tacos and toe-tapping melodies from the Caribbean Steel Pan Band!
New to Viva La Música this year, the Caribbean Steel Pan Band brings a mix of Caribbean Cumbia beats that will get you moving! Their lively tunes will put you into vacation mode as you sit back (or dance) to the island vibes and feel-good atmosphere.
Pair the Cumbia beats with Beef Rolled Tacos or Chicken Rolled Tacos to satisfy your newly found, relaxed self. Or tap further into the island vibes with Fish Tacos or Agua Chile with Chips.
Soak it all in, savor the flavors, and let the island beats keep you dancing long after the sun sets at Waterfront.
4. Delicious Tacos and Folklorico
Viva La Música is bursting with energy—rhythms that move you, flavors that delight you, and a celebration that feels alive. If you’re drawn to performances that get your body swaying and authentic Latin bites that bring the heat, this pairing is your perfect match.
Near Manta, you will find the Taqueria and the Manta Stage, home to delicious tacos and show-stopping entertainment. From adobada, carne asada, and chicken tinga, your options for flavor are unlimited. Can’t choose one? You don’t have to; challenge yourself to try them all!
Once you have satisfied your hunger, indulge more in the culture with the talented Grupo Folklorico Herencia Mexicana. Watch as the dancers tell their cultural history through dance with colorful skirts and traditional music. Through their passion and moves, you’ll feel the Latin culture in the air, making your experience at Viva La Música more meaningful and something to take home with you!
5. Thirst-Quenching Micheladas and Live Latin Concerts
Save the best pairing for last! Viva La Música festival has a high-energy concert line-up with infectious rhythms and beautiful views of Mission Bay. Pair with a delicious Michelada, and you have the perfect package for a thrilling, unforgettable fiesta.
Opening weekend set the tone as Frankie J and Baby Bash rocked the Bayside Amphitheater, launching Viva La Música with a wave of throwback favorites.
The party continued this past weekend with an electrifying performance from Banda Zeta, which brought guests to their feet and Bayside Amphitheater to life!
Viva La Música closes out this weekend by hosting La Sonora Dinamita (May 16 & 17). Enjoy cumbias you’ll feel in your soul and sway your hips to the infectious tempos! With fan-favorites hits, like Que Bello and Que Nadie Sepa Mi Sufrir, you won’t want to miss this party!
Plus, concerts are included with admission, which means you can enjoy these live Latin concerts and more at no extra cost!
Before you head over to Bayside Amphitheater, stop by the Michelada Bar to grab a drink to kick off your fiesta! Then get ready to be on your feet, dancing to these lively rhythms and beats.
The most exciting part of SeaWorld’s Latin Festival is that you can make it your own in every way. Try all the pairings above or mix and match! Let us know how you fuel and move through your Viva La Música festival experience by sharing with us on social media, @seaworldsandiego!
To make the most of your adventure, purchase an Annual Pass for unlimited visits to keep enjoying all things SeaWorld has to offer. From ALL-NEW Shark Encounter opening May 22 to ALL-NEW Ocean of Dreams Drone Show and Nighttime Animal Presentations, you can experience it all!