Are you feeling the Christmas spirit yet? Do you feel overwhelmed with work, shopping, parties and all else that comes along with the holidays? Christmas Town: A Busch Gardens Celebration, offers a great opportunity to rejuvenate and rekindle your love for this time of year.

After a thrilling Howl-O-Scream event it’s always difficult to imagine that within a month’s time the park has been transformed into a magical happy place full of snow, penguins and Santa Claus. However, once you start to hear classics like “Here Comes Santa Claus” and “White Christmas” pumping through the park you start to realize the gift that has arrived.

During this time of year Water Country USA is closed and buttoned up for the season. The Water Country USA team gets the opportunity to come support our sister park, Busch Gardens. The past two months we have helped operate the “13 Your Numbers Up” and “Bitten” haunted houses for Howl-O-Scream. I spent 17 years working at Busch Gardens, so I especially enjoy seeing old friends and working back in my home park.

It’s that time of year. The trees are up, the lights are on, the shops and shows are sparkling and Santa and Mrs. Claus have arrived to help us celebrate Christmas Town.

This season, kids of all ages can experience Busch Gardens as we celebrate Christmas through Europe. Each country is themed to the likes of its origins including lights, scents and sounds along the way.

I just arrived back from a week-long vacation with my husband and two children to Orlando, Florida. My favorite part of the vacation was the time I got to spend with all of them. Even the long drive there and back. Some of the time we spent in the car I introduced my youngest, Zachary, to hidden pictures. Other times Alex, the oldest, read books out loud to Zachary.

As a chill begins to set in and the trees turn golden and shed their leaves, the Christmas Town installation team continues to work their magic around the park. Fresh cut trees and LED lights have been popping up throughout the park since the beginning of November. These last few days are when the impactful details are added around the park to bring out the holiday magic of Christmas Town.