While I was provided tickets to facilitate this review about family-friendly holiday activities, all the opinions expressed are 100% my own. Amazing Family Holiday Activities at Busch Gardens Christmas Town Near Richmond Virginia We have updated this post 6 years after going the first time. 

Busch Gardens is a beautiful park in the summer, full of flowers and plants. You often don’t even feel like you are in an amusement park at all but a botanical garden. So without all the beautiful summer flowers and green grass what would Busch Gardens look like during their family-friendly Holiday Activities at Christmastown?

 

 

 Holiday Activities at Busch Gardens Christmas Town

Christmas Town is one of the largest Christmas light displays in North America.  Filled with millions of lights (10 million to be exact) and evergreen trees (1,500 fresh-cut trees) you are truly transported to the North Pole. Walking down the lit walkways the amazing aroma of Evergreen fills the crisp air.

Nothing says Christmas for me more than the smell of a fresh evergreen tree. (note to the environmentally concerned the trees are turned into mulch for the park, I was concerned myself)

 

 

The entire park is transformed into a winter wonderland. From the games to the employees working there are candy canes, polar bears and even penguins filling the streets of each country. By far France was our family favorite. It was lit so amazingly you could just sit there and stare at the beauty.

 

 

What rides are open during Christmas Town?

Unlike our experience this summer, Busch gardens Christmastown is not all about rides, in fact, only one roller coaster was even working at this event. There are a lot of opportunities to watch artisans up close.

The kids and I were able to watch an Italian artisan paint traditional Capodimonte Florals, glass artisans make a glass bowl, and the kids enjoyed sneaking a peek at the bakers making some chocolate confection. The artisans are very welcoming to questions and up-close looks from the kids and adults.

 

Christmastown, of course, is not complete without a section dedicated to the guy in the red suit… you know MR C. aka Santa Clause. 

 

Want a closer look at the big red suit? Make a new family tradition by eating at Santa’s Fireside dinner where you get lunch, complete with the juiciest turkey I have had in a buffet line, with all the Fixin’s.

 

 

 

I wish I had more than my camera phone to take pictures after the sun went down. These pics don’t give the scenes the proper justice to the magical feeling of the park after dark. It was hard to leave this magical spot and we will definitely make this a new family tradition. I

 

 

 If you live nearby or traveling past this holiday season check out Christmas Town at Busch Gardens Williamsburg, open every weekend from 11/15-12/1 and every day between 12/6-1/15/20