Busch Gardens Tampa Bay transforms into a holiday wonderland during its annual Christmas Town celebration! From dazzling lights and festive entertainment to unique treats and joyful experiences, the park invites guests to immerse themselves in the magic of the season. And the best part? This holiday extravaganza is included with regular admission, making it the perfect reason to visit now through January 5, 2025!
Let’s take a look at what Christmas Town has to offer this year!
Christmas Town Food and Drink
The holidays are all about indulgence, and Busch Gardens’ Christmas Town delivers a feast of festive flavors! Starting each day at 4pm, the Festival Walkway transforms into a culinary wonderland, offering something to satisfy every palate. Highlights include:
- Holiday turkey with cornbread stuffing
- Braised shortribs with gouda mac & cheese
- Apple Spice Cake
- Mushroom ravioli with truffle cream sauce
- Peppermint cheesecake
- Holiday sundae bowl
- Bourbon & fall spice pork shank
Here are a few of the things that we tried on our recent visit to Busch Gardens:
And what’s food without drink? Here are some of the signature Christmas Town cocktails worth checking out for those who are 21+:
- Mistletoe Margarita -Tequila, cranberry juice, triple sec, margarita mix
- Snow Bird – Vodka, cranberry juice, mojito mix
- Bailey’s Floaters -Chocolate, espresso cream, vanilla cinnamon, salted caramel
- Mistletoe Smash -Gin, blood orange, pomegranate, mojito mix
- Naughty or Nice -Vodka, triple sec, pomegranate, pink lemonade mix
Of course, there’s also delicious hot cocoa (appropriate for all ages), but this year the option to “make it jolly” (for those old enough) with your choice of spirits was absent from most cocoa locations. The only place we saw it offered was at the exit to Santa’s North Pole Experience.
Our go-to strategy for food and beverage events like this is the trusty sampler lanyard. Available in 5- or 10-item increments—and with a special pass member deal offering 12 items for the price of 10—it’s the best way to explore all the holiday treats without breaking the bank. If you’re planning to indulge, we highly recommend grabbing a lanyard for the most value!
Christmas Town Lights
The park is decked out in more than a million beautiful twinkling lights that would make even the biggest Scrooge smile.
The light tunnel (which is one of our favorite features) is back again in its new location by the bird gardens.
And let’s not forget…. Coasters in the dark!
Christmas Town Entertainment
There are several entertainment options throughout the park for guests to enjoy some holiday cheer from daytime into the night!
Rudolph’s Winter Wonderland – Visit “the most famous reindeer of all” and his friends at this special meet and greet at the Pantopia Theatre.
Santa’s North Pole Experience – Get a “sneak peek” of Santa’s Workshop and get a special meet and greet with the big man himself!
Christmas On Ice – This extremely popular show is back again to dazzle audiences at the Moroccan Palace with spectacular skating routines set to traditional and popular Christmas tunes. There are multiple shows each day, and we recommend arriving early as this show fills up quickly every performance.
Elmo’s Christmas Wish – Help Elmo find his Christmas Wish! This popular show for the youngsters features favorite Sesame Street characters in this merry sing-a-long.
Storytime With Mrs. Claus – At the Coke Canopy, join Mrs. Claus for a traditional holiday tale and joyous song.
Three King’s Journey – For a more traditional Christmas show, follow along with the three wise men to Bethlehem in an inspiring musical tale. This show is performed select nights at the Dragon Fire Grill through January 5.
Holiday In the Sky, a Nighttime Spectacular – What better way to cap off your evening at Christmas Town than with fireworks? The night sky comes alive with fireworks set to festive holiday tunes on select nights. You can view the fireworks throughout the park, but the best viewing area is the Festival Field behind Iron Gwazi.
Character Greetings – Be on the lookout for appearances from The Poinsettia Princess, Ice Princess and Sugar Plum Princess and other merry characters throughout the park!
The Holly Jolly Express train ride had a delayed opening due to damage to the train tracks caused by Hurricane Milton. But the park has worked tirelessly to repair the damage and the train is now back open for guests to enjoy again.
Busch Gardens Holiday Merchandise
And what holiday event isn’t complete without merchandise? There are so many great items from shirts and spirit jerseys, ornaments, pins and Loungefly bags! Here’s a quick overview of what’s available:
A Merry Must-See for the Season
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay’s Christmas Town truly offers something for everyone, whether you’re a foodie, a thrill-seeker, or simply looking to soak in the holiday cheer. From the dazzling lights and festive entertainment to unique gifts and indulgent treats, it’s a celebration that captures the spirit of the season. With so much to see, taste, and experience—and all included with your park admission—it’s an event that’s well worth adding to your holiday traditions. Don’t miss your chance to visit before it wraps up on January 5, 2025!