Busch Gardens Christmas Town is Back for 2023

Christmas in Florida is done a little differently than anywhere else in the country. You won’t find any real snow or cold weather, but that doesn’t mean the festivities aren’t around. There are tons of different Christmas light show events throughout the Tampa area. Christmas Town is coming back to Busch Gardens for 2023 for its 11th anniversary.

Christmas Town isn’t just your average firework and lightshow. It will run from November 11th to January 7th and is included with park admission. This year, Busch Gardens will be filled with millions of lights, holiday displays, festive eats and world class attractions. Spanning across the Jungala area all the way through the Pantopia, brand new light displays will light up the park including a light dragon walkthrough and a huge brand new Christmas Tree light display.

Are you a fan of synchronized lights to your favorite classic holiday songs? You’re in luck because this year, the light tunnel will be filled with thousands of lights timed up to your favorite Christmas medlies.

Many of the fan favorite attractions are back again for family fun. On Santa’s North Pole Experience, joyful elves guide guests through Santa’s workshop as they get ready for the holiday season. Santa’s sleigh is parked right outside for the perfect family photo op. Meet Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and friends for the perfect photo opportunity at Rudolph's Winter Wonderland.

On select nights, watch the sky come alive as the specially choreographed fireworks are synced up with classic holiday music with the Holiday in the Sky, a Nighttime Spectacular. The Christmas on Ice Event is one of Busch Gardens' longest running holiday shows. Get ready to watch skaters hit the ice performing to classic holiday songs, but don't worry, the show runs multiple times a day in the Moroccan Palace Theater.

The Holly Jolly Express transports guests around the park where you can sing along and get into the Christmas spirit. Don’t forget about the brand new 32-foot tall Christmas tree in the middle of Jungala filled with glimmering lights.

Now that Christmas Town is coming back to Busch Gardens, are you excited? Checkout all of the new attractions and events here.

Looking for some ways to get into the holiday spirit without breaking the bank? You've come to the right place! One of our favorite holiday traditions is driving around neighborhoods in the Tampa metro area to see some of the best Christmas lights displays. Scroll down to see our favorite neighborhoods.

There are plenty of events and options to see some dazzling Christmas displays. But keep in mind how much you'll have to pay to get in and how much you'll spend on holiday-themed drinks, snacks, etc. Some families work for days to get their houses lit up beautifully for the holidays. Why not take advantage of the free Christmas light displays around the Tampa Bay area? If driving around isn't enough for you, we have the must-see holiday events guide here. 

We have a lot of non-traditional holiday celebrations in Tampa. While many other cities can take advantage of winter-themed celebrations, we have to get creative in the Sunshine State. Light-up boat parades are one of the more popular Florida Christmas events, you can see Christmas sand sculptures or make "sand angels". And all of our theme parks transform into a holiday paradise.  Here are some unique ways you can spend your Christmas day in Tampa.

When driving around the area gazing at lights, remember to respect the privacy of the families in their houses. Try not to park in front of their yard or ask them to keep their displays on longer. Also, keep in mind some families might turn off their displays when it's raining. We got our inspiration for this list from a Reddit thread and added a few of our favorites.

You could spend hours just admiring the houses along Bayshore Blvd and in Hyde Park, but during the holidays it's another level. The best street is South Boulevard between Swann and Bayshore.

The neighborhoods of Lake Park Estates, Wieker, Lakeside Estates, and Lake Seminole Village, generously decorate their homes and yards with over 3.0 miles of Christmas Lights and Decorations for the public to enjoy. Donations are accepted at the Suncoast Hospice Cart located along the route. 100% of the donations are provided to Suncoast Hospice to support their community activities. Find more info here.

This Palm Harbor neighborhood has been going all out for the holidays for YEARS! You can drive down any street in this neighborhood and find all of the houses decked out in lights.

The St Petersburg Oakdale neighborhood has been putting on this nationally recognized Christmas display for 46 YEARS! They have 500,000 lights, fantastic 18 Train HO Scale Model Railroad and more! They'll be open from Friday November 24, 2023 to January 3, 2024. Click here for more info.

This neighborhood in Temple Terrace starts decorating for Christmas in SEPTEMBER! So you know the stroll through the neighborhood is worth it.

Address: 7804 River Ridge Dr Temple Terrace, FL 33637

This Tampa neighborhood goes all out every year for the holidays. Drive by houses with decked out lights, inflatables, and a light show tuned to a radio station!

Any Tampa local knows all about the Chick-Fil-A on Waters Ave in Town n' Country. Every year this stores Christmas lights display gets bigger and bigger. We can't wait to see what they do this year!