Busch Gardens will launch the fourth season of twinkling lights and bottomless hot chocolate when Christmas Town opens on Nov. 23.
Tickets are on sale now for the expanded event, which uses six million lights to transform the park from haunted Howl-o-Scream to a holiday village. The attraction will be open on select days until Dec. 31 (see the calendar here).
On Wednesday, the park offered discounted tickets through an online sale to season pass holders. Technical difficulties plagued the sale, prompting Busch Gardens to extend the offer to today, with discounted tickets available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
This year, the park will turn Festa Italia into “Holiday Hills,” a nostalgic nod to classic American Christmas. Riders will also be able to get a full view of the park’s lights from the park’s observation station, Mach Tower, which will be turned into “Nacht Tower” for the holiday season. Instead of plummeting from 240 feet in the air, the tower will slowly descend, allowing visitors to enjoy 360 degree views of the park.
Visitors can watch “Deck the Halls,” one of several signature performances, while enjoying an all-you-can-eat dinner buffet called “Tastes of Christmas Town.” The meal must be reserved, due to the popularity of the event. Find more information about dining here.
Until Sunday, Busch Gardens fans have a chance to win Christmas Town tickets through a Retro Christmas photo contest. Share a favorite retro Christmas picture through social media, either uploading a file and posting it on Busch Gardens’ Facebook page, sharing a picture from an existing Facebook album or uploading a photo to Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #BGWRetroChristmas.
Entries must be submitted by Sunday, and voting will start on Nov. 19. The winners will be announced the week of Nov. 26. The first-place photo winner will receive two tickets to Christmas Town, $50 in Busch Bucks and a free photo with Santa. The second-place photo winner will receive two tickets to Christmas Town and a free photo with Santa. Entrants must be at least 18 years of age or older.
