It’s hard to believe that Christmas Town at Busch Gardens Williamsburg starts on November 17 (next Saturday). Sheesh! Didn’t they just finish Howl-o-Scream? Come to think of it, I remember seeing “Christmas trees” during the last night of HOS. They were wrapped in lights, just not illuminated. Such is the change of seasons in the theme-park world.
This is the tenth anniversary of Christmas Town. It’s interesting to consider how this event evolved. Much like the first Howl-o-Scream, Christmas Town originally involved a small portion of the park (Italy and Forest of Fun weren’t part of it). All of Busch Gardens is part of Christmas Town now.
The park gave us a backstage look at some of the work being done by the their 200+ team of decorators, who perform around 10,000 hours of work transforming the park from a realm of doom and darkness to a land of winter fantasy. It takes a lot of work to put up 10,000,000 lights; 20,000 ornaments; and all the other decor unique to each village in Busch Gardens.
So, what’s new for Christmas Town’s tenth anniversary season?
Christmas Town Express: Guests can sing-a-long to their favorite carols on this 1.5-mile train trip, which starts at Caribou Station in Fort New France. The ride will feature 2,000,000 Christmas lights and “themed holiday vignettes” ( round trip--no stops.) It’s nice to see the train being used as a “show,” rather than just a transportation system.
Concept photo courtesy of Busch Gardens Williamsburg.
Wilkommenhaus: Enjoy the “sweet smell of Christmas treats” as you watch a new Christmas spectacle (via projection mapping) in the park’s German village. The show runs every 15 minutes on the clock building near Land of the Dragons and the carousel. I think this will be a nice addition to the O' Tannenbaum Christmas-tree-light show in front of the Festhaus.
Photo courtesy of Busch Gardens Williamsburg.
Elmo’s Christmas Wish: Rosita, Grover, Zoe, and Cookie Monster help Elmo find his Christmas wish in this new show at the Sesame Street Forest of Fun.
The park’s other Christmas shows will be back: Gift of Harmony (Italy), 'Twas that Night (ice show in France), Deck the Halls (Festhaus in Germany), Scrooge No More (Globe Theater in England), and Gloria (Abbey Stone Theatre in Ireland). You can still, of course, visit Santa’s Workshop (and dine at Santa’s Fireside Feast) and visit Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and his friends. And there’s all the great holiday food and beverages (particularly the adult ones).
Looks like the elves are getting excited.
"Oooo! I see people in Santa hats!"
Let’s have a look at how Christmas Town is coming along.
The elves can’t wait for Christmas Town to begin.
But they hate getting wet while they wait.
“Sheesh! I feel like I’ve strung more than half those 10,000,000 lights myself, I tell you what!”
Our first stop was the Festhaus.
Yep. “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas” in here.
They’re rehearsing “Deck the Halls.” This show looks a lot like one of those old-school TV Christmas specials.
This is where the “O Tannenbaum” show is held (about every half-hour or so). The tree’s lights are synchronized to music. It's a local favorite at Christmas Town.
I think the elves like this show, too.
A little hot soup might’ve been good today.
They opened Santa’s Workshop in NewKastle (formerly DarKastle) last year. It used to be in the building where they house the HOS “No Escape” rooms (that’s where the new projection show is this year).
Speaking of Howl-o-Scream, maybe they should leave this shop as it is for those who wish you a very METAL Christmas.
This little Christmas tree was in “stealth mode” during the last weekend of HOS.
In through Santa’s Magical Quick Queue entrance.
Matthew, of the park’s entertainment division, dressed appropriately to fill us in on this year’s Christmas Town.
There’s still some work to be done . . .
. . . and the elves are busy doing it.
Hmm--presents? For whom, I wonder.
“I am the captain of the guard. Welcome to the presence of . . .
. . . the Claus and his wife!"
Santa hanging out with his elves, Holly and Jolly. Santa, you rascal!
Should I get a photo with these characters?
Why not?
Look at all these geeks in their silly hats . . . wait, never mind.
Here are the photo options when you visit Santa.
It’s the merriest equipment storage area ever!
Of course, there was hot chocolate.
Mrs. Claus supervised the making of s’mores.
A huge scnickerdoodle with chopped graham crackers, marshmallows, whipped cream, and chocolate sauce. It was good, but I couldn’t finish it.
Time to get our presents! Yay!
Here’s one last look at part of the workshop queue. It winds through other rooms themed to Santa’s home and workshop at the North Pole, too.
Elves give the big tree some more love.
Here’s how my picture with Santa turned out.
Thanks for the present and behind-the-scenes tour, Busch Gardens! See you at Christmas Town.
I loved Busch Gardens Williamsburg during the normal season when I visited years ago... I'd love to experience their Christmas Town event at some point, knowing how beautiful the park is on a regular day, that it's natural beauty lends to such a great decor-filled event.
Change the scheme, Alter the mood! Electrify the boys and girls if you would be so kind!
Hey, I just bought Christmas Town tickets for Sunday the 23rd. I saw a picture last year that showed traffic backed up to kingdom come. Can't remember what day that pic was taken on. Last year, were Sundays a very crowded day? If so, should I just get there when it opens, instead of waiting until about 4pm? Thanks.
Top 3 steel: Skyrush, Twisted Timbers, I305 Top 3 wood: El Toro, Twister, Wild One
^I expect the park will be insanely busy that close to Christmas (many people have Christmas Eve off work, too). They've been known to reach capacity during Christmas Town, so I'd get there early.
Looks like a beautiful holiday event. Thanks for the photos Chuck!
{1991} Chicago guy. Creative ad world guy with @adultswim @cartoonnetwork World traveler, concert attendee, salsa connoisseur, comic reader, and theme park nerd
cfc wrote:^I expect the park will be insanely busy that close to Christmas (many people have Christmas Eve off work, too). They've been known to reach capacity during Christmas Town, so I'd get there early.
What I had figured. Will get there at 145.
Top 3 steel: Skyrush, Twisted Timbers, I305 Top 3 wood: El Toro, Twister, Wild One
A shuttle element seems odd with Tempesto already in the park, but I'm certainly not going to turn my nose up at any Intamin goodness if this ends up being true.
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