It was finally dark enough to check out the lights we’d paid a small fortune to see at Busch Gardens.
Have you ever stood in a freezing cold circle of strangers and stared at a tree?
We did.
And I felt like a Who.
Don’t get me wrong, I love Christmas as much as the next person.
But Christmas in Busch Gardens? Loud and crowded, filled with screaming, unruly, sugared up children as well as their rude, cell phone addicted parents…. and utterly devoid of the old world charm they were attempting to replicate?
No.
But we smiled… and enjoyed the company of those we love.
If not the techno extravaganza.
I read there were 10 million lights in Christmas Town…. and I believe it.
If it stood still? They lit it.
Admittedly there were some pretty spots.
But the crowds pushed you along at a pace not conducive to enjoying them.
There were numerous theaters you could enter and view a show…. for a large price.
But we did stumble on this extremely blue one for free.
Naturally there was no place left to sit…
So we stood off to the side and listened for a while.
Until our teeth were chattering again.
Thank God for the warm up stations.
At least they got that right.
This was an impressive section of lights.
Although I was constantly getting bumped into when I stopped and attempted to focus a shot.
That tree at the end?
Shone like the sun.
It was so damn bright….. I think my retinas actually screamed.
In case I forgot to mention it….. trying to stay together and find your way around this place in the dark amidst the crowds of screaming children and oblivious parents? A total nightmare. We had no idea where we were half the time and by the time we decided to head back to the parking lot?
We couldn’t find a map, no less the exit. And I think they plan it that way. We even went into the stores and asked the staff how to get out …. but they looked at us like the proverbial deer in headlights.
Maybe they never get out…
I don’t know.
Asking the plastic polar bears seemed like a waste of time.
So we kept walking.
Took a right past the ice castle…. then a left…. then a right… and another left…. and backed up… and crossed a bridge…. and turned around….. and found ourselves back at the damned ice castle.
We walked and walked.
And shivered and chattered and froze.
We also blessed the day man discovered fire.
But then we finally saw something familiar.
And I was never so happy to see a fake European village square in my life.
Joy to the World my *ss.
I was only joyful when we found the exit, waited on yet another long line for the shuttle, rode the sardine can to the parking lot with 50 tired, cranky children and worn out adults and got into our car.
Christmas Town at Busch Gardens Williamsburg?
Bah humbug.
Overpriced and over rated.
River's world..... 
At Texas Tech, they would put thousands of lights around the main hub on all the buildings. Then, at dusk, they’d hold an assembly with carolers. It would slowly get dark and, at the end of one of the carols, all the lights would come on at once. It was STUNNING.
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That sounds wonderful…
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10 million lights? Oh that’s too many. My eyes hurt just thinking about the glare. I feel for you, my dear– or should I say deer?
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The lights were the only redeeming feature of the place…. although my retinas are still burning from that tree.
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Somehow I don’t think they’ll feature this in the 2020 brochure 😉
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Probably not….
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Kitsch is never enough. One always needs more. To quote the great and wise Christopher Walken: “More cowbell”.
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Cowbell would have helped….. undoubtedly.
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I have to defend Busch Gardens in one area. They have really good food there. Not the usual theme park food. They employ five star chefs. Our favorites are the Festhaus in Germany and the Italian pavilion in Italy (duh). We used to get military discounted yearly passes and sometimes we would drive up there just to go eat. Not sure if those places are open during special events like Christmas town though.
On the other hand, I can feel your pain. When I lived in California within driving distance of Disneyland, I had to go there every time an out of town relative or friend would visit. Got sick of the place!
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Okay. To be fair we didn’t try any of the restaurants because the lines were 50 people deep at each door… but I still doubt I’d visit, even for that.
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You should get a medal for not killing anyone in that so called “theme” park, lol.
Any theme park I visit will have alcohol, it will have rides called the Margaritaville Marry-Go-Round and Mudslide, mudslide and the Pina Colada rest pit. Purely for adults of course, no one under 25 allowed because who needs a bunch of drunk college kids in an adult beverage theme park.
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Finally….. a theme park idea I can get behind.
And under as the case may be.
😉
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Nope. Not going. Even for a free ticket if you complain enough…wait!
I’ll give it to my sister!! lol
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The perfect gift for those you want to have a horrible time.
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aaaaaaaaaaayup!
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They can probably see that place from space (at night)!
Glad you got out alive.
Rocks. Stick with destinations with lots of rocks.
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A theme park of rocks.
I’m still looking!
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OMG!!! My birthday–February 29–comes once every 4 years and you’re still on Christmas??? I’ll never have another birthday and I want to be an adult!! (But not if it means I’ll spend 4 years in Christmas!!)
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Christmas will run well into March this year…. didn’t you get the memo?
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“You can check out anytime you like…”
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Indeed!
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Night? Cold? December? And you actually stayed outside?
Not me …
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It was outside Virginia… supposed to be warmer than Maine.
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I LMAO! Sorry, not sorry. You had me at twinkly lights — I thought it was about to get good. Very pretty, but I feel every bit of the cold crowded enough-is-enough here. I am also glad you found fake Europe. Thank tacos!
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I’m afraid nothing about it was good.
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