WILLIAMSBURG, Virginia (Oct. 18, 2017) – Family fun during the Christmas season often revolves around colorful light displays, visits with Santa Claus, great food, delicious hot chocolate and festive music. These holiday traditions come to life in splendid beauty at Busch Gardens® Christmas Town™.
The annual Christmas celebration starts Nov. 24 and runs select days through Jan. 1, 2018. This year’s event is bigger and better than ever with a roomier home for Santa, an all-new show called Gift of Harmony™ and delicious new culinary offerings. Plus there are more lights than ever—more than 8 million across the park—giving Christmas Town the most lights of any holiday event in North America.
“Traditions are important during the holiday season, and we’re grateful so many families have made Busch Gardens Christmas Town a part of their annual celebrations,” Busch Gardens President David Cromwell said. “Every year, we add great new features while staying true to the many elements guests have grown to love about this one-of-a-kind event.”
The World’s Most Beautiful Theme Park becomes a holiday wonderland full of Christmas fun for guests of all ages. Those looking for thrills are in for a treat as InvadR™, Busch Gardens’ new wooden roller coaster, and Verbolten® will be open to ride, along with 22 other rides.
This year, Santa Claus has found a new workshop. The larger home is located in the castle made popular by the Curse of DarKastle ride and allows for more children to meet jolly ol’ St. Nick, take pictures and drop off their Christmas wish lists.
“As a father of young children, I understand what a big deal it is to visit Santa,” Cromwell said. “We truly believe our Santa experience is the best anywhere around, and we have made changes this year to make sure families don’t have to wait as long.”
Christmas Town has added a new offering to its array of yuletide shows. Gift of Harmony™ features a modern a cappella sound with stunning and complex vocals performed by a group of talented singers. The musical set will include traditional Christmas songs and some newer holiday favorites.
Beloved Christmas character Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer™ returns to Busch Gardens with friends Clarice, Yukon Cornelius, Bumble and Sam the Snowman. Guests can meet and have their pictures taken with the loveable characters at Rudolph’s Winter Wonderland in Holiday Hills™ and enjoy a new production of the television classic at the new Rudolph’s Movie Experience.
Sesame Street® Forest of Fun™ also will be all decked out for the holidays. Guests can meet their favorite Sesame Street characters, including Abby Cadabby, Elmo and Cookie Monster, and capture a special holiday photo. Families can ride Grover’s Alpine Express and take time for some Christmas shopping at Abby Cadabby’s Treasure Trove.
For those who visit Christmas Town to sample culinary delights, a trip to the new cookie shop in the Germany village is a must. Cookies, beverages and a heated seating area will be available here.
Christmas Town offers an assortment of special dining experiences, including Dine with Rudolph and Friends, a buffet luncheon featuring a carving station, pasta and salad bar, kid-friendly foods and other holiday favorites.
There’s also Santa’s Fireside Feast, where Santa recounts a classic Christmas story while elves prepare a scrumptious all-you-can-eat buffet and Mrs. Claus dazzles the dining room with holiday cheer. Children are able to visit Santa and get that all-important photograph as part of the experience.
Busch Gardens is open 2 - 10 p.m. on regularly scheduled Christmas Town operating days from Nov. 24 through New Year’s Day.
Enjoy unlimited visits during this year’s event by purchasing a Christmas Town Fun Card for $49, which is the price of a one-day general admission ticket. Current Annual Pass Members can buy a $39 Christmas Town Pass, which includes benefits such as parking and in-park discounts.
Single-day tickets will be available starting Nov. 2 with a five-day introductory sale offering the best prices of the season on one-day tickets. Prices will increase after the sale period and will vary by day throughout the event.
For complete details on events, ticket information and operating schedule, please visit www.christmastown.com/va.
