Best Christmas Events
- Thread starter Wild Atlantis
- Start date
The Disneyland Resort probably has the best total holiday offerings factoring in attraction overlays like It's a Small World Holiday and Haunted Mansion Holiday along with all the seasonal entertainment like Viva Navidad and World of Color - Season of Light. The history and charm of Disneyland really lends itself to holiday celebrations. Having nearly all of it included in regular park admission is also a little miracle.
In terms of regional parks, Silver Dollar City is possibly the best overall. The setting is beautiful and the amount of Christmas lights is unreal. A Dickens' Christmas Carol is still one of the best holiday shows in a theme park, although the musical score was changed recently due to copyright issues.
In terms of regional parks, Silver Dollar City is possibly the best overall. The setting is beautiful and the amount of Christmas lights is unreal. A Dickens' Christmas Carol is still one of the best holiday shows in a theme park, although the musical score was changed recently due to copyright issues.
Not a park but if you are looking for a Christmas event on the Virginia area Nautacus Museum and the USS Wisconsin have consistently ranked in the top 50 in the Country and their Winterfest on the Wisconsin is well worth checking out and very reasonable priced.
The pictures are from 3 years ago it's only gotten better since then.
The pictures are from 3 years ago it's only gotten better since then.
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Outside of the theme park realm, Holiday Nights at Greenfield Village in Dearborn, MI is one of the most transportive classic Christmas events we've seen. With real Model T's rolling by (and available to ride in!), a brass band playing on a street corner, actual chestnuts roasting on open fires and a cast of costumed characters strolling the streets, it is truly like going back in time. Simply wonderful.
I think SeaWorld Orlando knocks it out of the park. Between the sea of lights, food and drink offerings, fireworks, public ice skating, and the shows, including the ice skating show, I put it way ahead of Universal AND Disney.
I don’t think there is a clear winner because none of the events excel in all categories above the other parks
Best lights. Carowinds. (Silver Dollar City has a lot of lights, but they are mostly on the buildings and I prefer them on the trees)
Best shows BGW
Best ride lineup Dollywood.
Best lights. Carowinds. (Silver Dollar City has a lot of lights, but they are mostly on the buildings and I prefer them on the trees)
Best shows BGW
Best ride lineup Dollywood.
1. Smoky Mountain Christmas - definitely my favorite Christmas event. Dolly keeps as many rides open as they can, the lights are great, and the shows are top notch. A perfect Christmas event if I say so myself.
2. Christmas Town Williamsburg - its a bit on the classier side of Christmas events. The shows are a major highlight of the event. The cutbacks in recent years are starting to rear their ugly head, but I still find this event to be pretty solid.
3. Carowinds Winterfest - the sheer amount of lights really puts this over the top. I just wish the park had more quality attractions open (Afterburn pls). Maybe it'll be better with their next coaster addition.
4. Holiday in the Park (GAdv) - The light displays are solid and the ride selection is good. What sets this event apart is the lack of crowds. I went on a weekend during peak Christmas and basically had the place to myself. I'm hoping this event can draw more people in the future as I'd love to see it expand, but in the meantime, I'll enjoy the light crowds.
5. Kings Dominion Winterfest - the lights are amazing here, but you can tell the event is getting a little long in the tooth. This many years without significant expansion does get kinda old after a while. The lack of crowds compared to CT is a huge plus too.
6. Sea World Christmas Celebration - I love that all the rides are open and the lights are better than any of the Florida parks, but that's not really saying much. Wondrous Night is a solid show. The lights aren't as extensive as other parks though.
7. Christmas Town Tampa - Again, the lights are alright but they could be a lot better. Its nice that all the rides are open though.
8. Hersheypark Christmas Candylane - The light displays are ok here. The park usually just throws lights on the ground and calls it a day. The specialty rides are fun though. Comet Hollow looks great. I wish the rest of the park matched that.
9. Universal Orlando/Disney (tied) - I wish there was a greater focus on lights with these events. The specialty Christmas stuff is nice but why not decorate the whole park in Christmas lights? These multi-billion dollar companies really have zero excuse to not hang lights everywhere. The Halloween/Christmas Parties are definitely the best way to experience Magic Kingdom but if I'm paying basically the price of a single day ticket for an after hours event, I expect there to be way more lights than what they're offering.
2. Christmas Town Williamsburg - its a bit on the classier side of Christmas events. The shows are a major highlight of the event. The cutbacks in recent years are starting to rear their ugly head, but I still find this event to be pretty solid.
3. Carowinds Winterfest - the sheer amount of lights really puts this over the top. I just wish the park had more quality attractions open (Afterburn pls). Maybe it'll be better with their next coaster addition.
4. Holiday in the Park (GAdv) - The light displays are solid and the ride selection is good. What sets this event apart is the lack of crowds. I went on a weekend during peak Christmas and basically had the place to myself. I'm hoping this event can draw more people in the future as I'd love to see it expand, but in the meantime, I'll enjoy the light crowds.
5. Kings Dominion Winterfest - the lights are amazing here, but you can tell the event is getting a little long in the tooth. This many years without significant expansion does get kinda old after a while. The lack of crowds compared to CT is a huge plus too.
6. Sea World Christmas Celebration - I love that all the rides are open and the lights are better than any of the Florida parks, but that's not really saying much. Wondrous Night is a solid show. The lights aren't as extensive as other parks though.
7. Christmas Town Tampa - Again, the lights are alright but they could be a lot better. Its nice that all the rides are open though.
8. Hersheypark Christmas Candylane - The light displays are ok here. The park usually just throws lights on the ground and calls it a day. The specialty rides are fun though. Comet Hollow looks great. I wish the rest of the park matched that.
9. Universal Orlando/Disney (tied) - I wish there was a greater focus on lights with these events. The specialty Christmas stuff is nice but why not decorate the whole park in Christmas lights? These multi-billion dollar companies really have zero excuse to not hang lights everywhere. The Halloween/Christmas Parties are definitely the best way to experience Magic Kingdom but if I'm paying basically the price of a single day ticket for an after hours event, I expect there to be way more lights than what they're offering.