A few days ago, my husband and I took the kids back to Christmas Town.
Christmas Town is held at Busch Gardens, Williamsburg, every year during the holidays and it is wonderful. Everything, from the Christmas music playing, to the decorations throughout the park, to the carolers singing songs, is beautiful and so wonderfully festive.
We got some hot chocolate to enjoy as we strolled through the park enjoying the sites. There were over eight million lights this year, and the result was spectacular. The park is already beautiful and the addition of so many lights turned Christmas Town into a true wonderland.
This year, we got a special treat – a visit to “Ice Palace: A Penguin Paradise,” which allowed us to get really close to a group of penguins in an icy environment. Lots of beautiful lights and very friendly and knowledgeable penguin experts made this experience unforgettable. We learned about different varieties of penguins, and we saw some from areas near South America and another one from near South Africa. Even though we learned that penguins do not live in the North Pole with Santa, this wintry display fit in perfectly with the Christmas Town experience.
But, coolest of all, we got to actually pet a penguin. The kids were beside themselves with excitement.
There is lots of great food in the park. We had lunch from Grogan’s Grill, and we took lunch into Grogan’s Pub across the way in Ireland. This was a nice family meal, and the grown-ups got to enjoy some good cold draft beers from the taps to warm our spirits.
After lunch, we explored the park and admired the sights. Of course, the kids enjoyed rides like Der Autobahn (bumper cars), Peppermint Twist (spinning cups), and Snowman Summit. We appreciated lots of opportunities for shopping for souvenirs, as wells as unique gifts for people on our Christmas lists and decorations for our home.
We also were thrilled to be able to see the wolves in ‘Wolf Haven’ enjoying the cool weather.
The kids also loved seeing the enormous Clydesdale horses.
Later on for dinner, we headed over to Santa’s Fireside Feast, hosted by Mr. and Mrs. Claus and their helpful elves. The food on the buffet was very good, and it featured lots of great options for the whole family, including salad, pasta, Swedish meatballs, corn bread stuffing, hot dogs, vegetables and much more.
Santa’s elf named Jolly came to our table and talked to the kids, making jokes and being very friendly. Santa told the story of “Twas The Night Before Christmas” to the crowd, and Mrs. Claus then came around to the tables with cookies to pass out to everyone. Santa told us not to have one, but to “have two!”
Afterward, the kids got to tell Santa what they wanted for Christmas and to take pictures with him.
Christmas Town features several different shows, including “Scrooge No More” in England, “Gloria!” in Ireland, “Miracles” in Italy, and “Deck the Halls” in Oktoberfest.
Our family decided on a performance of “Scrooge No More,” which we all really enjoyed.
Our son’s favorite part was Jacob Marley floating in with chains, and our daughters liked the ghost of Christmas past most because she looked like a Christmas fairy flying in. The show featured many great musical numbers and well choreographed dancing by the fantastic cast. I would definitely recommend catching the show.
The lighting the O’Tannenbaum Tree in front of Das Festhaus in Oktoberfest was another wonderful experience. We enjoyed listening to carolers as we counted down to the tree lighting.
The tree was absolutely massive and was so beautiful when lit.
This was one of several spots throughout the park where Busch Gardens Christmas Town photographers took pictures of us, and we used our Photokey. Photokey was a smart and fun way for us to collect, view, and share our Christmas Town photos instantly. We can go online to see the photos and to create keepsakes for us to treasure for years to come.
I am going to order a customized ornament to hang on our Christmas tree this year, so we can remember and celebrate our awesome trip to Christmas Town!
Amy K says
This would be wonderful to go to when our family is all in town for the holidays! Will have to look into getting tickets!
Beverly says
We went to Busch Gardens earlier in the year but had no idea they even had this. It sounds beautiful!
Carrie says
We have been thinking of going to Christmas Town and definitely will now. The kids will love it!
Kelly says
We’ve been thinking of going and were looking for personal reviews. Thank you.
Kecia says
Now I REALLY want to go, since you got to pet a penguin! The place looks very decorated for the holiday. That tree is beautiful!!
Mickey says
Coolest thing ever. I was telling the kids it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! We loved it.
Liz Mays says
You got to pet a penguin? I’m so jealous! Although I might have been too afraid to touch it.
Digna D. says
Very nice photos. Would love to check it out one year. It isn’t terribly far so it might be doable. Thank you for sharing.
Kim says
Now this would be a FUN place to visit! My kids would go crazy! I would love to see the scrooge play too, how neat!
Sara P says
How FUN is that?! I love the photo of the Clydesdale! We will be visiting Busch Gardens (Sea World San Antonio) next weekend and I can’t wait to see it all decked out in Christmas stuff!
Lisa says
OH MY WORD! You’ve got me SO SO excited about moving back to the East Coast because this means we get to visit BUSCH GARDENS again yay! And they always do such a GREAT job with their decorations! Eek! So excited to see for myself 😀 😀
James Robert says
What a great time this must have been, my kids would be so excited to go here. Wish it was a little closet and we would
carla hoffman says
it loks like so much fun
Beth says
We were just talking about going to this last night. I love how festive it is! I think the kids would love it!
Amy M. C. says
This looks like such a charming trip!
Lori M says
Wish I lived a little closer, my family would love this!
Denine Anderson-Regan says
This looks beautiful. We’ve never been there, but I keep saying we should go!!
Sarah Matos says
Looks like a special place! I love that you can pet the penguins.
Karen W says
This sounds like so much fun. We don’t have anything like that near us and so wish we would. How awesome they got to pet penguins! They are my favorite and I would love to be able to do that!!
Crystal says
Looks like the perfect place to visit during the holidays! I’d go just for the penguins, though.
Teddie says
I would love to get up close to a penguin. Lucky you!
Jennifer Marohn says
That’s so pretty!! I’ve always wanted to go there for Christmas because I’ve heard it’s so pretty.
M.Clark says
It sounds like you had a great time. I had never heard about Christmas Town at Busch Gardens, Williamsburg before reading about it here. Thank you for sharing this post.
Christina says
We will hopefully get to visit Williamsburg next October. My brother is getting married near there. I can’t wait to see the sights.
Mel says
Oh, what fun! I would love to visit sometime!
HiLesha says
Such lovely pictures. How nice it would be to visit this time of year!
Shakeia Rieux says
I would love to visit Busch Gardens, Williamsburg for Christmas
Lindsay Giedosh says
This looks like so much fun! I’d especially love to visit Wolf Haven
Heather Freeman says
Looks like you had a great time! Petting a penguin and everything!
Joyce Chatman says
This would be a great place for family vacation.
Jessie Shiflett says
This looks like so much fun, I only wish we had something like this where I live.
Trish says
I would love to go
Colleen Maul says
I love your pics so vibrant and Christmasy
Kazuko Smith says
I love the photos. I love animals as well. I would love to go there. It makes me want to visit our animal places.
Shell Feis says
That’s so amazing! I love all the Christmas stuff of course, but the animals are the best! I would love to get up close with some penguins and those wolves {and horse} are just beautiful!
Melissa George says
wow such an amazing place and lots of activities to do. i would love to visit with my daughter.
Patrycja Chudziak says
I would love to take my son to Christmas Town! He loves all things Christmas and would be thrilled to spend a day surrounded by such beautiful decorations, the picture of that beautiful tree is my favorite! We would also LOVE to pet a penguin!
ellen beck says
I bet the kids loved this and it would be fun for aduts too. This would really put you in the Christmas spirit!
Marina says
So festive! I love that they have the C horses. We used to have some at our SeaWorld but they’re no longer there. They remind me of horses on Christmas cards plodding through the snow.
Melissa S says
That looks like a great time. I would love to visit with my family this time of the year.
Mary D says
It looks like the venue was decorated well for the holidays. The Clydesdales are certainly beautiful horses and it is a treat to see them. Hope your family had a great time.
Rhonda Martin says
I’d love to spend a day there. Especially to see the Clydesdale horses. I’m crazy about horses and the Clydesdale’s are so beautiful. What a festive day it would make. Thanks for sharing Christmas Town at Busch Gardens Williamsburg with us.
Dana Rodriguez says
That is beautiful.I would love to visit!
Ruth Griffeth says
I would love to be able to have a place like this around in our area! what a beautiful town!
Trish says
I have never been here, but would love to go one day
ellen beck says
Duch great memories made and beautiful pictures I bet your kids were thrilled!
Dana Stargazer Truitt says
I love this place, I went last year and boy was it beautiful!
Jennifer Hiles says
What a neat experience! That sounds like so much fun. So cool that you got up and personal to the penguins. How cute. Looks like a great place to visit over the holidays. My daughters would love this.
Julie Waldron says
Looks festive and like a lot of fun! I was at Busch Gardens Tampa in 1993, it was a lot of fun.
ellen beck says
Such a festive thing to do sure to bring smiles and giggles from the kids. It loos fun.
Linda Madden says
Such a magnificent display to take the young ( old) to see. Would absolutely love it!!!
Trish says
Looks beautiful
Cheryl says
I can only imagine the beautiful sites down there at Christmas!! So wish I could go!!
ellen beck says
I wish they had one of these in every town,, it would put people in a nicer mood and have more of a Christmas feeling. It looks like you all had a ball.
Trish says
Beautiful pictures
ellen beck says
I would love to see something like this, it looks fun and kids would have a ball. I like how colorful everything is.
Sarah Oswald says
I have never been to Busch Garden but I would love to go and it sounds like Christmas would be a great time to visit thanks for sharing.
Betsy Barnes says
How festive! They really have gorgeous decorations during the holidays. I would really love to visit during the holidays. This is now on my bucket list of holiday things! 🙂
Cheryl says
I used to love visiting Busch Gardens and Williamsburg when I lived in Hampton.
ellen beck says
I would love to take our family here it looks so fun. I bet it is awesome.
laurie says
i love going there and see how they decorate
Lesley F says
Love the old town feel of Christmas! Beautiful
sherry walker says
Christmas Town would be so cool to visit!
Kristen Osborne says
I love Busch Gardens!!! I can’t wait to take my baby girl there 🙂
Pauline says
Love the feel & beauty of the place!
Fee Roberts says
We have a Busch Gardens here in Florida. I haven’t been in years. Don’t know if it’s as beautiful as Williamsburg tho.
ellen beck says
The smiles would be worth it to go to one of these displays. I bet it is so pretty after dark!
Maria P. says
This makes me get butterfly’s in my stomach.
BILL HOFF says
There is a Holiday World in Santa Claus IN…but they concentrate more on rides than Christmas themes
Richard Hicks says
I would love to visit there during xmas. I have been there in the summer and it is a great place
Susan Smith says
How beautiful, I’d love to visit Christmas Town and see the beautiful decorations.
Buddy Garrett says
It sounds like a wonderful place to visir]t during the holidays.
Jennifer Shelton says
I WOULD LOVEEEE to visit! I am a huge Christmas fanatic!
ellen beck says
These are the places that when you see the look of wonder on a childs face it makes you believe the hustle and bustle are all worth it. This looks fantastic.
Nicole H. says
I’m glad you and your family had such a wonderful time! It looks very pretty. =]