Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is flipping the switch on its holiday season, with Christmas Town set to run on select dates from Nov. 13, 2026, through Jan. 4, 2027. The celebration is included with regular park admission and brings new entertainment, nighttime coaster rides, seasonal food and drinks, and a sprawling light display spread across the park.
Among the headline additions this year is Lights of Wonder, a new drone show described by buschgardens.com as one of the holiday shows debuting for the 2026 season, alongside another new production called A Very Merry Cirque. According to clickorlando.com, the drones light up the night sky in sync with classic holiday tunes, adding a tech-forward twist to the park's long-running holiday lineup. The Tampa Bay Times notes the celebration is included with park admission, meaning there's no separate ticket required to experience the holiday programming.
Lighting is central to the whole affair this year. Busch Gardens says nearly 70 miles of glittering lights will illuminate the entire park throughout the run of Christmas Town, turning the Tampa attraction into one big seasonal display from dusk through closing on event nights.
Kickoff Night and Holiday Lighting Ceremonies
The season officially begins Nov. 13 with a tree lighting ceremony, with guests invited to gather at 7 p.m. for the moment the park's centerpiece tree comes to life. Just a few weeks later, the holiday programming expands to include Hanukkah observance: the park will light a menorah every night at 6 p.m. from Dec. 4 through Dec. 12.
Those lighting ceremonies bookend a run of additional select-date programming. Holiday photos with Sesame Street characters will be offered on select dates from Nov. 13 through Jan. 4, per the park's show schedule page, while the Three Kings Journey Show runs on select dates from Nov. 21 through Jan. 4.
Nighttime Thrills and Seasonal Bites
Thrill-seekers aren't left out of the holiday mix. Nighttime rides on Iron Gwazi and Phoenix Rising will be part of the Christmas Town experience, the same clickorlando.com report notes, giving visitors a chance to tackle two of the park's marquee coasters after dark and under the lights.
Food and drink service for the event kicks in starting at 4 p.m. on event nights, with alcoholic beverages limited to guests 21 and older. For those looking to sample a variety of seasonal offerings, Christmas Town Sampler Lanyards start at $35, according to the same report.
New Year's Eve Finale
Christmas Town's run doesn't end quietly. Busch Gardens says it will cap the season with a special fireworks finale on New Year's Eve, Dec. 31, giving the holiday celebration a bright send-off before the calendar turns to 2027.
