
With the 2017 holiday season rapidly approaching, many families are busy making plans to visit holiday shows nationwide. One of my favorite places to visit during the Christmas season is Busch Gardens Williamsburg. Having grown up just a few miles from Busch Gardens, it will always hold a special place in my heart. Christmas Town is an annual event that started just a few years ago and has rapidly expanded to include most of the park. With Williamsburg’s cold temps and the Christmas lights adorning the park, it is impossible not to get into the holiday spirit!

It should be mentioned that not all scheduled attractions will open. The coasters in Virginia can only operate over a certain temperature. As every Virginian knows, the temperature can be very inconsistent. One year I attended Christmas Town in December and wore a long sleeve shirt. The next year, I had to wear my Columbia Jacket and was still cold. Since Christmas Town is primarily an evening event, you want to watch the weather carefully to make sure you are prepared for the possibility of 30 degree temps!
While some restaurants offer specialty dinners and beverages, I personally recommend trying their peppermint hot cocoa. It is warm and creamy with a hint of peppermint. Perfect to warm you up while you are watching the lights displays!

Here is what Busch Gardens has to say about Christmas Town 2017:
There’s no better way to get in the holiday spirit than a visit to Busch Gardens ® Christmas Town ™ in Williamsburg, Virginia. Featuring the biggest Christmas light display in North America with over eight million twinkling lights, two KIDsiderate ® areas and an assortment of thrill rides, festive entertainment and dining experiences, there’s so much more to do and see at Christmas Town. The event starts Friday, November 24, 2017, and is open on select days through Monday, January 1, 2018.
Joining Christmas Town this year is the lovable Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Guests can relive the classic television special through a series of photo opportunities while waiting to have their pictures taken with the iconic reindeer and friends Clarice, Yukon Cornelius and Bumble at Rudolph’s Winter Wonderland in Holiday Hills ™. For the first time, Sesame Street ® Forest of Fun ™ is decked out for the holidays and open during Christmas Town. Young fans 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 do some Christmas shopping at Abby Cadabby’s Treasure Trove.
A visit to Christmas Town is not complete without a trip to Santa’s Workshop at the North Pole, where children can sit on Santa’s lap and pose for a classic Christmas photo that will forever capture the moment’s joy and wonder. This year Busch Gardens will offer two of its major roller coasters – Verbolten ® and InvadR™ – during the event, along with more than 20 other rides throughout the park.
Guests are invited to our six spectacular shows, such as ’Twas That Night ™, an ice show featuring world champion skater Elvis Stojko, or Gloria!, a joyous re-telling of the story of the first Christmas. Seasonal food offerings include an all-you-can-eat Christmas buffet at Dasher’s Diner ™ in Holiday Hills. Eat, drink and be merry this season at Busch Gardens Christmas Town.
When you are ready to book your Williamsburg vacation, contact one of our expert agents at [email protected]