Celebrate the Holidays at Busch Gardens Tampa

Last weekend I was invited to visit Christmas Town at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay for the third year in a row.  This year was very different than the last few years due to COVID-19.  I have to say, I think I enjoyed it even more!  Just like in previous years, there was the Christmas Village which was full of food and beverage vendors with tons of holiday treats. Plus there was still meet and greets, Santa, the ice skating show, and more just in a more social distanced and masked-up way! 

Honestly, I love that the park requires reservations and is at limited capacity because it means a much more enjoyable experience (IMO).  We felt like we had SO much room and we rarely waited in line for food or drinks.  We felt very safe, especially since we mainly stay in our homes during this time, so this was a huge thing for us.  We did not have a chance to catch the ice skating show, but I loved that they held it outdoors this year, because in the past going inside made me a little claustrophobic plus a little warm.  The weather was beautiful, so it was perfect to have it outdoors so that people could enjoy the weather and have their holiday food and beverage. The show took place 3x that evening as well.

There are things to do ALL day as part of the "Christmas Town" experience, but the food/drink vendors don't open until 4pm.  Just like many of the other festivals, you will find this area by taking a LEFT once you start getting into the park.

I LOVED that the first thing you saw this year was Frosty! Last year he was a bit hidden, but this year he was your first friendly holiday face to greet you!

After Frosty, once you get to the Christmas Village, this is where the yummy food and beverage vendors begin!

Let's talk holiday food and beverages - let's be real, this IMO is the best part of holiday fun at the parks other than - FIREWORKS, but we'll get to that.

There are SO many different foods and treats, but for sure an emphasis on TREATS.  If you have a sweet tooth, you are going to LOVE this! I mean, look at those cookies and donuts!  Is your mouth watering yet?  Just wait...

Apple Cobbler Cake Cone from North Pole Bakery

Chicken & Waffles, Bison Beef Sliders, and Beer Cheese Soup from Winter Waffles & Bites

Those were just a few, there's plenty more to be had, but let's talk about some of the drinks!

Frozen Hot Cocoa with Baileys added in from Jack Frosty Cocktails (not sampler lanyard size)

Frozen Kahlua Eggnog from Jack Frosty Cocktails (sampler lanyard size)

Above: Cinnamon cranberry mimosa - all the holiday feels in a delish mimosa! Perfect for a holiday cheers!
​Below: Peppermint Hot Cocoa with Baileys added in a refillable mug - yum!  Nothing says "it's the holidays!" like some hot cocoa!

How did we eat and drink so much?  Well, the best deal is to purchase the Christmas Town Sampler Lanyard.  The 5-item lanyard is $34.99 and the 10-item is $49.99 (this makes everything $5!)  Now, the drinks WILL be a smaller size, but that just means you get to try more! Honestly, I love the sampler lanyard because I never have to worry about how much I am spending nor do I have to worry about taking out my wallet - easy peasy! PLUS, if you love the hot cocoa, there is a souvenir refillable mug - super cute and highly recommend! To learn more about the other food and drink offered during Christmas Town, GO HERE.

During COVID, I do not go on rides or really go inside places, it still makes me pretty uncomfortable, so I love that Busch Gardens has tons of things to do outside while being socially distanced.  There were a few meet and greets with some Princesses and also Santa (we did not meet Santa).  

We did decide to ride the Christmas Train as they were offering social distancing (skipping a row between parties) and it was only one way.  This was a nice little break as you get to see different parts of the park while also hearing holiday music.  I loved that they kept parties separated, so we felt very safe.

As previously stated, I did not visit with Santa, but I did see this GIANT Coke Santa that the had on display, which was pretty amazing:

Now, for the part that really made the evening SUPER special - FIREWORKS!  This does not happen every night during Christmas Town, so be sure to check out their schedule online before booking your reservation if this is something you want to see - which I recommend! 

I live in Central Florida and I have been seriously missing fireworks, so this was something really special right now.  I was so happy to see fireworks again!  Most people watch them from the field where they had the ice skating show, but we watched from the Christmas Town Village - this was awesome because we were able to sit down and were almost all by ourselves.  We could see and hear the music just fine. 

Christmas Town was a wonderful this year, even with social distancing, masks, etc.  If you are looking for a fun holiday experience, I recommend going. Christmas Town is included with daily admission, so you can start your day with rides and animals, and end your day with Holiday Cheer!

I am a Busch Gardens blogger ambassador. In exchange for sharing upcoming information sometimes I receive complimentary admission to events. As always, all opinions are my own.