Santa’s Workshop Expanding at Busch Gardens Williamsburg
The Christmas season often involves colorful light displays, festive music, delicious hot chocolate, and of course a visit with Santa Claus. All these traditions come to life Busch Gardens® Christmas Town™ event on select days between Nov. 24 and Jan. 1, 2018. This year’s event is bigger and better than ever with a larger home for Santa Claus, an all-new show called Gift of Harmony, and all new culinary offerings. Christmas Town will also have the most lights of an event in North America with more than 8 million across the park.
“Traditions are important during the holiday season, and we’re grateful so many families have made Busch Gardens Christmas Town a part of their annual celebrations,” Busch Gardens President David Cromwell said. “Every year, we add great new features while staying true to the many elements guests have grown to love about this one-of-a-kind event.”
New this year is Santa Claus’ bigger workshop located in the castle made popular by the Cure of DarKastle ride, allowing more children to meet jolly ol’ St. Nick, take pictures and drop off their Christmas lists. Santa Claus’ lead reindeer Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is also returning to Busch Gardens with his friends Clarice, Yukon Cornelius, Bumble, and Sam the Snowman. Guests can meet these characters and have their pictures taken at Rudolph’s Winter Wonderland in Holiday Hills, as well as enjoy a new production of the Rudolph television class at the new Rudolph’s Movie Experience.
“As a father of young children, I understand what a big deal it is to visit Santa,” Cromwell said. “We truly believe our Santa experience is the best anywhere around, and we have made changes this year to make sure families don’t have to wait as long.”
Sesame Street Forest of Fun will also be decked out for the holidays. Guests will be able to meet their favorite Sesame Street characters, including Abby Cadabby, Elmo and Cookie Monster, and take a special holiday photo. Families will also be able to ride Grover’s Alpine Express and do some Christmas shopping at Abby Cadabby’s Treasure Trove.
Gift of Harmony is a new show added to Christmas Town’s array of holiday shows for this year. This show will feature a modern a cappella sound with stunning vocals performed by a group of talented signers. The musical set will feature both traditional and newer holiday favorites.
Interested in holiday culinary delights? Christmas Town is sure to please. The new cookie shop in Germany village is a must visit (just watch out for Cookie Monster) with cookies, beverages, and a heated seating area. A variety of special dining experiences are also available including Dine with Rudolph and Friends, a buffet luncheon with foods sure to please both adults and kids, and Santa’s Fireside Feast, where Santa recounts a classic Christmas story while his elves prepare a, all-you-can-eat buffet. Children are able to visit and get a photo with Santa at the Fireside Feast.
If all the great holiday offerings aren’t enough for you, both InvadR, Busch Gardens’ new wooden roller coaster, and Verbolten, along with 22 other rides, will be open for guests to ride.
Busch Gardens is open 2 – 10 p.m. on regularly scheduled Christmas Town operating days from Nov. 24 through Jan. 1, 2018.
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