- Mar 13, 2024
- 8,597
- 36
What I’m about to share might surprise some, but it's true. I attended a theme park food festival, and it wasn't at EPCOT. I visited Busch Gardens Tampa Bay's Christmas Town, a holiday festival brimming with food, entertainment, rides, and animals. Growing up with fond memories of Busch Gardens, I haven't visited in years but recently had the chance to experience this event. How does it stack up against an EPCOT festival?
Christmas Town runs until January 5th, 2026, transforming the park into a winter wonderland with holiday-inspired treats, character meet-and-greets, festive entertainment, and holiday shopping all included with park admission. The festival starts at park opening, but food booths open at 4 PM. There are 19 booths with unique holiday menus located centrally in the Festival Marketplace and throughout the park.
Available dishes range from slow-roasted prime rib and toasted pumpkin ravioli to desserts like apple pecan cobbler and a traditional yule log. Be warned: popular items vanish quickly. I arrived at 4 PM and secured a drink without hassle, but delaying a meal was a mistake.
One of the festival's highlights is the Food & Beverage Sampler cards, available for purchase in increments of 5 or 10 items—similar to Disneyland's Sip & Savor Pass, which I wish EPCOT offered.
The park truly sparkles with holiday decor, including lights and themed meet-and-greets with favorite characters like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. I tried the Mistletoe Margarita, a festive chipper cocktail that blended tequila, pomegranate syrup, and margarita mix elegantly.
About the food? The toasted pumpkin ravioli was delicious, although I wish there'd been more menu items to sample that hadn't sold out by 6 PM—barely two hours in. Despite running low on food, I enjoyed a Yule Log and warm chocolate chip cookies.
To cap off the evening, I indulged in Coquito, a personal holiday favorite. This concoction of Bacardi, vanilla, and cinnamon made for a delightful nightcap.
Overall, the experience is enjoyable for its spirit, thrilling rides, and twinkling lights. However, the food couldn't compare to EPCOT standards. If you have high expectations for an EPCOT-like festival, temper them.
Have you been to Busch Gardens' Christmas Town festival? I'd love to hear your thoughts!
Christmas Town runs until January 5th, 2026, transforming the park into a winter wonderland with holiday-inspired treats, character meet-and-greets, festive entertainment, and holiday shopping all included with park admission. The festival starts at park opening, but food booths open at 4 PM. There are 19 booths with unique holiday menus located centrally in the Festival Marketplace and throughout the park.
Available dishes range from slow-roasted prime rib and toasted pumpkin ravioli to desserts like apple pecan cobbler and a traditional yule log. Be warned: popular items vanish quickly. I arrived at 4 PM and secured a drink without hassle, but delaying a meal was a mistake.
One of the festival's highlights is the Food & Beverage Sampler cards, available for purchase in increments of 5 or 10 items—similar to Disneyland's Sip & Savor Pass, which I wish EPCOT offered.
The park truly sparkles with holiday decor, including lights and themed meet-and-greets with favorite characters like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. I tried the Mistletoe Margarita, a festive chipper cocktail that blended tequila, pomegranate syrup, and margarita mix elegantly.
About the food? The toasted pumpkin ravioli was delicious, although I wish there'd been more menu items to sample that hadn't sold out by 6 PM—barely two hours in. Despite running low on food, I enjoyed a Yule Log and warm chocolate chip cookies.
To cap off the evening, I indulged in Coquito, a personal holiday favorite. This concoction of Bacardi, vanilla, and cinnamon made for a delightful nightcap.
Overall, the experience is enjoyable for its spirit, thrilling rides, and twinkling lights. However, the food couldn't compare to EPCOT standards. If you have high expectations for an EPCOT-like festival, temper them.
Have you been to Busch Gardens' Christmas Town festival? I'd love to hear your thoughts!
