It's Definitely Looking A Lot Like Christmas At Busch Gardens

TAMPA, FL — It's impossible to maintain the "Bah Humbug" blues at Busch Gardens where the 10th annual Busch Gardens Tampa Bay’s Christmas Town is in full swing, running now through Jan. 9.

In addition to millions of twinkling lights, festive foods, decorated trees and holiday shows, Busch Gardens has introduced new features this year:

• The Serengeti Overlook Light and Projection Show is a new show adorning the Serengeti Overlook building, running daily, every 15 minutes, beginning at 6 p.m.
• Christmas with the Celts combines Christmas carols and Irish dance performed by a renowned group of vocalists, musicians and dancers performing at Stanleyville Theater Friday, Saturday and Sunday from Dec. 16 through Dec. 25.
• At Land of the Sweets, guests will find the Sugar Plum princess ballerina stilt walker and her Cavalier soldier at this winter wonderland based on "Nutcracker Suite" characters.
• Visitors will be awed by the new 32-foot-tall Christmas tree in the heart of Jungala, surrounded by a red and white winter wonderland.
• Holiday in the Sky is a colorful display of fireworks with an added water fountain show that dances to the rhythm of a soundtrack of classic holiday tunes on select nights at Festival Field.

They will be joined by returning fan favorites including Santa’s North Pole Experience, presented by Coca-Cola, in which jolly elves guide guests to interact with Santa in his workshop.

The Holly Jolly Express is back to transport guests into the celebration as they loop around the park aboard this sing-along train playing the favorite songs of the season.

Holiday tales come to life for Storytime with Mrs. Claus, and Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer is joined by Clarice and Bumble at Rudolph’s Winter Wonderland for meet-and-greets.

Shows include “Christmas on Ice” at the Moroccan Palace Theater, “Elmo’s Christmas Wish,” “Three Kings Journey,” a musical tale of the three wise men journeying to Bethlehem at the Dragonfire Grill on select nights, and the “Holly Jolly Express,” a sing-along journey looping around the park.

Christmas Town wouldn't be complete without seasonal treats.

Holiday cocktails and eateries include:

Wine and Truffles

• 19 Crimes Snoop Dog's Cali Gold Sparkling Wine
• Notorious Pink Ganache
• Sin Zin by Alexander Valley Vineyards
• Beringer Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
• Dow's Fine Ruby Porto
• Three truffles — dark chocolate, salted caramel, vanilla

Christmas Cocktails

• Fresh-baked Christmas cookies — snickerdoodles, sugar or gingerbread
• Spiked bourbon cider mule with bourbon, apple schnapps, ginger beer
• Jack Frost cocktail with coconut rum, blue curacao and a splash of lime
• Cinnamon Whiskey Sour Whiskey with cinnamon schnapps and craft standard sour mix
• Sam Adams Winter Lager
• Specialty Hot Cocoa served in a souvenir cup with your choice of peppermint or gingerbread and whipped topping. Make it jolly by adding Baileys Irish Cream, Kahlúa or peppermint schnapps

Char Siu Christmas

• Red curry shrimp and jasmine rice
• Char Siu pork-fried rice

Christmas Celebration

• Roasted apple salad with spicy maple vinaigrette
• Pork loin with apple demi-glaze and butternut squash purée
• Chocolate peppermint brownie

Polar Pavilion

• Spiked bourbon cider mule
• Jack Frost
• Cinnamon Whiskey Sour
• Sam Adams Winter Lager
• Specialty Hot Cocoa served in a souvenir cup with your choice of peppermint or gingerbread and whipped or add Baileys Irish Cream, Kahlúa or peppermint schnapps

Xcursions

• Apple & cherry tarts
• Christmas Town signature cupcakes of Raspberry Poinsettia, Nutella Nutcracker, Coconut Snowball, Peppermint Ganache

Holiday Joy Tasting

• Pennsylvania Dutch cream liqueur with eggnog, salted caramel, pumpkin spice, peppermint bark
• Bubba's Secret Stills® whiskey including marshmallow chocolate whiskey and burnt sugar whiskey

Dasher's Delight

• Wild mushroom tart with Boursin cheese crema
• Braised beef and roasted garlic smashed potato
• Brussels sprout salad with crispy bacon and apple cider vinaigrette

Cookies, Cocoa & Cocktails

• Fresh-baked Christmas snickerdoodle, sugar or gingerbread cookies
• Spiked bourbon cider mule with bourbon, apple schnapps and ginger beer
• Jack Frost with coconut rum, blue curacao and a splash of lime
• Cinnamon Whiskey Sour with whiskey, cinnamon schnapps and craft standard sour mix
• Sam Adams Winter Lager
• Specialty Hot Cocoa served in a souvenir cup with your choice of peppermint or gingerbread and whipped topping

Cookie Time

• Decorate your own snickerdoodle, sugar or gingerbread cookie

Cocoa and Cream

• Cold hot cocoa and ice cream
• Cocoa soda float
• Snickerdoodle apple pie ala mode
• Specialty hot cocoa served in a souvenir cup

Zambia Smoke House

• Gulf coast ceviche
• Smoked BBQ chicken slider with pickled cucumbers

Twisted Tails

• Spinach feta stuffed pretzel
• Sam Adams Winter Lager
• Walking Baby Cakes Oatmeal Stout

Dragon Dog Mobile

• Brown sugar and pineapple-glazed ham with green beans
• Brie tart arugula salad with hazelnut vinaigrette
• Panettone bread pudding

Giraffe Bar

• Sam Adams Winter Lager
• Walking Baby Cakes Oatmeal Stout

Guests can purchase a Christmas Town food sampler lanyard starting at $40.

Christmas Town at Busch Gardens Tampa has once again been nominated for USA Today’s Best Theme Park Holiday Event for 2022, and fans are encouraged to cast their votes until Monday, Dec. 5 at noon. Vote here.

Click here.