Christmas Town Tampa Food is back at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay starting Nov. 13 with 14 cabins, scallops, duck, a Dessert Cabin and a new Dessert Sampler. See every item and what is new.

Christmas Town returns to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay on Nov. 13, and the Christmas Town Tampa food lineup just got a serious makeover. This year’s menu spreads across 14 numbered cabins plus a handful of other spots. Also, a big chunk of it is brand new, from Chimichurri Scallops and Yule Tide Duck to Gingerbread Tiramisu and a first ever Dessert Sampler. Christmas Town runs on select days from Nov. 13 through Jan. 4, and it is included with park admission.

Below, you will find every food and beverage item listed on the official Busch Gardens Tampa holiday dining page, cabin by cabin, with new items marked.

What Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Is Saying

Busch Gardens Tampa Bat park president Brian Bacica, who returned to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay earlier this fall, shared this about the season:

“This time of the year is all about spending time with those we hold dear and there is no better place to do so than at Christmas Town,” said Brian Bacica, Park President at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. “Christmas Town allows families to celebrate and create traditions old and new while exploring dazzling lights and delicious bites.”

Christmas Town Tampa Food: The Biggest New Additions

We compared this year’s menu against our 2025 Christmas Town food guide, and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay clearly went bigger on seafood and desserts this year. The Christmas Town Tampa food standouts:

• A seafood push: Grouper Bites and Shrimp Cocktail at Merry In The Wild, Salmon Piccata at Clove and Carving, and a whole seafood cabin (Winterland Warf) with Chimichurri Scallops and Green Curry Mussel.
• Yule Tide Duck: The new Mistletoe Mallard cabin pairs it with returning Chicken N Dumplings. A duck cabin named after a duck is the kind of commitment we respect.
• A dedicated Dessert Cabin: Christmas Tart, Peppermint Bark Fudge, Apple Pie, Stuffed Churros and Frozen Hot Chocolate, all new.
• Deep-dish cookies: Assorted deep-dish cookies, a Deep Dish Chocolate Chip Cookie and a Deep Dish Snickerdoodle Cookie show up at several spots, including Santa’s House.
• New desserts at nearly every cabin: Chocolate Mousse Cup, Crème Brûlée, Sweet Potato Cheesecake, Gingerbread Tiramisu, Orange Cranberry Tres Leches, Black Forest Cake and Mini Donuts.
• Comfort food newcomers: Pastrami on Rye, Mushroom Risotto, Smoked Pork Tenderloin, Butternut Squash Gnocchi, Beer Cheese Soup and Brussel Sprouts.
• New drinks: Frozen Spiked Apple Cider, Chocolate Mint Mojito, Winter Mint Mojito, two new mocktails (Holiday Party Punch and Snow Drift Spritz), and named wines at several cabins.
• Retro souvenirs: Retro Specialty Popcorn Buckets and Retro Drink All Day Cups at Elfin’ Around.

Christmas Town Samplers

• Christmas Town Sampler: 5 item or 10 item options ($45 and $65)
• Pass Member Sampler: 12 items for the price of the 10 item Sampler.
• Dessert Sampler:  NEW 5 items, one hot chocolate plus four Christmas Town desserts for $35

Samplers are sold online and at the Christmas Town Welcome Center. The Welcome Center and seasonal food and beverage open at 4 p.m. on event nights. Hot cocoa and frozen hot cocoa are made with fresh milk and sponsored by Dairy Does More.

Every Christmas Town Tampa Food and Drink Item, Cabin by Cabin

Items marked NEW were not on last year’s Christmas Town menu, based on our 2025 guide. Menus may change during the event.

Christmas Town Tampa Food Cabin 1: Savory Sleigh

• Braised Short Rib
• Roasted Pumpkin Bisque
• Eggnog Bread Pudding
• Decoy Red Blend NEW
• Assorted Canned Beer

Cabin 2: The Yule Hearth

• Pastrami on Rye NEW
• Monte Cristo Bites
• Holiday Yule Log
• Jolly Elf
• Souvenir Mug with Hot Chocolate
• Hot Cocoa
• Make It Jolly
• Assorted Draft Beer

Cabin 3: The Holiday Spice

• Beef Wellington
• Mushroom Risotto NEW
• Chocolate Mousse Cup NEW
• Spiked Eggnog
• Freak Show Petite Petit Sirah NEW
• Assorted Canned Beer

Christmas Town Tampa Food Cabin 4: Merry In The Wild

• Grouper Bites NEW
• Shrimp Cocktail NEW
• Crème Brûlée NEW
• Christmas Punch
• J. Lohr Chardonnay NEW
• Souvenir Mug with Hot Chocolate
• Hot Cocoa
• Make It Jolly

Cabin 5: Holiday Cravings (Festival Walkway, first on the left)

• Turkey Dinner
• Brussel Sprouts NEW
• Sweet Potato Cheesecake NEW
• Frozen Spiked Apple Cider NEW
• Harken Chardonnay NEW

Cabin 6: Caroler’s Table (Festival Walkway, second on the left)

• Smoked Pork Tenderloin NEW
• Butternut Squash Gnocchi NEW
• Pumpkin Cheesecake
• Mistletoe Margarita
• Assorted Canned and Draft Beer
• Coca-Cola products and Dasani water

Christmas Town Tampa Food Cabin 7: Clove and Carving

• Lamb Chops
• Salmon Piccata NEW
• Gingerbread Tiramisu NEW
• Gingerbread Mule
• Souvenir Mug with Hot Chocolate
• Hot Cocoa
• Make It Jolly
• Assorted Canned Beer
• Coca-Cola products and Dasani water

Cabin 8: Cookies and Cocoa

• Cookie Decorating
• Holiday Cookies (choose two)
• Mini Donuts with Topping NEW
• Assorted Deep-Dish Cookies NEW
• Deep Dish Chocolate Chip Cookie NEW
• Souvenir Mug with Hot Chocolate
• Hot Cocoa
• Assorted Canned Beer
• Coca-Cola products and Dasani water

Cabin 9: Mistletoe Mallard

• Chicken N Dumplings
• Yule Tide Duck NEW
• Orange Cranberry Tres Leches NEW
• Chocolate Mint Mojito NEW
• Cranberry Whiskey Mule
• Coca-Cola products and Dasani water

Cabin 10: Christmas Tavern

• Prime Rib
• Beer Cheese Soup NEW
• Black Forest Cake NEW
• Citrus Frost Lemonade
• Beringer Knights Valley Cabernet NEW
• Souvenir Mug with Hot Chocolate
• Hot Cocoa
• Make It Jolly

Christmas Town Tampa Food Cabin 11: Winterland Warf

• Chimichurri Scallops NEW
• Green Curry Mussel NEW
• Fireside Mojito
• Candy Cane Lane
• Mahua Sauvignon Blanc NEW
• Souvenir Mug with Hot Chocolate
• Hot Cocoa
• Make It Jolly
• Assorted Canned Beer
• Coca-Cola products and Dasani water

Cabin 12: Dessert Cabin

• Christmas Tart NEW
• Peppermint Bark Fudge NEW
• Apple Pie NEW
• Stuffed Churros NEW
• Frozen Hot Chocolate NEW
• Souvenir Mug with Hot Chocolate
• Hot Cocoa
• Make It Jolly

Cabin 13: Elfin’ Around (Stanleyville Train Station)

• Retro Specialty Popcorn Buckets NEW
• Retro Drink All Day Cups NEW
• Assorted Deep-Dish Cookies NEW
• Souvenir Hot Cocoa Mug
• Hot Cocoa
• Make It Jolly

Christmas Town Tampa Food Cabin 14: Kenya Kanteen

• Assorted Deep-Dish Cookies NEW
• Souvenir Hot Cocoa Mug
• Hot Cocoa
• Milk

Twinkle Tree Cafe

• Mistletoe Margarita Cocktail
• Winter Mint Mojito Cocktail NEW
• Holiday Party Punch Mocktail NEW
• Snow Drift Spritz Mocktail NEW
• Coca-Cola products and Dasani water

Gwazi Field Bar (opens Dec. 19)

• Deep Dish Chocolate Chip Cookie NEW
• Assorted Deep-Dish Cookies NEW
• Souvenir Hot Cocoa Mug
• Hot Cocoa
• Make It Jolly
• Assorted Canned Beer
• Assorted High Noons
• Coca-Cola products and Dasani water

Christmas Town Tampa Food: Santa’s House Experience

• Deep Dish Chocolate Chip Cookie NEW
• Deep Dish Snickerdoodle Cookie NEW
• Milk

Village Snacks

• Frozen Hot Chocolate NEW

Holiday Dining Experiences

Rudolph & Friends Character Dine at the Gwazi Event Pavilion (listed on the dining page as the Christmas Character Dine, Dec. 19 and 20) includes a holiday buffet, a message from Santa, a meet and greet with Rudolph and Clarice, an animal encounter and cookie decorating with Mrs. Claus. Pricing is $42.99 for adults (10 and up), $24.99 for children (3 to 9), and free for infants. Check in opens 15 minutes before your reservation.

• Salads: Kale Salad, Ambrosia
• Entrées and sides: Apple and Brie Stuffed Chicken Breast, Carved Brown Sugar Glazed Ham, Smoked Cheddar Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans Almondine, Honey Butter Poached Carrots, Warm Rolls and Butter
• Kids’ menu: Crispy Chicken Sliders, White Cheddar Mac & Cheese, Mini Corn Dogs, Buttered Green Beans
• Desserts: Pumpkin Pie, Peppermint Bark, Warm Bread Pudding with vanilla ice cream, cookie decorating with Mrs. Claus

Also, a Thanksgiving Feast is offered on Nov. 26

Christmas Town Entertainment at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

You will need something to do between cabins, and there is plenty. Two shows are new this year:

• Lights of Wonder:  NEW a drone show set to classic holiday music.
• A Very Merry Cirque:  NEW an acrobatic holiday spectacle.

Returning favorites include Christmas on Ice at the Moroccan Palace Theater, Mrs. Claus’ Storytime, Elmo’s Christmas Wish, Three Kings Journey, the Holly Jolly Express, Christmas Town character appearances, the Ginga Ninjas on select nights, Rudolph’s Winter Wonderland, and Santa’s North Pole Experience. The Skyride returns for nighttime views of the lights, and on Dec. 31, the park wraps the year with a New Year’s Eve fireworks finale.

Tips for Christmas Town at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

• Night rides are back. Iron Gwazi and Phoenix Rising run after dark during Christmas Town. Our guide to the free Iron Gwazi lockers will save you a few bucks before you ride.
• Need a break from Christmas Town Tampa food? The new Wild Tortilla in Pantopia is a solid year round option if your group wants something besides holiday plates.
• Stanleyville is still a construction zone. Elfin’ Around sits at the Stanleyville Train Station, right by the Project Driftwood site (Simbi Rush- if you ask us!) where Stanley Falls Flume used to be. Grab a retro popcorn bucket and sneak a peek at the progress.
• Gwazi Field Bar does not open until Dec. 19. If you are counting on its deep-dish cookies and High Noons, plan a later visit.
• Go early in the season. Weeknights in mid November are usually lighter than the weeks around Christmas, and the cabin lines will thank you.

Christmas Town at Busch Gardens Williamsburg

If you are heading north this season, Busch Gardens Williamsburg runs Christmas Town on select dates from Nov. 13 through Jan. 3, with more than 10 million lights and more than 25 attractions, including the all new Verbolten: Forbidden Turn. New for 2026 is the Queens of Christmas concert, joining returning shows like Christmas Town Live! A Holiday Special, Gloria!, ‘Twas That Night and Scrooge No More, plus Santa’s Fireside Feast in Killarney, flavored hot chocolates and deep-dish cookies.

Tickets and Deals

Christmas Town is included with Busch Gardens Tampa Bay admission. For a limited time, guests can save up to 60% on tickets, Fun Cards and Annual Passes. Pass Members get free parking, free guest tickets and discounts on food, beverage and merchandise. For hours and tickets, visit ChristmasTown.com.

Christmas Town Tampa Food Initial Thoughts

This looks like the most ambitious Christmas Town Tampa menu we have seen. Last year leaned heavily on turkey and prime rib in a few different outfits. This year, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay rebuilt nearly every cabin around a clear theme, added real seafood, and finally gave dessert lovers their own cabin and their own sampler. Scallops and mussels at a theme park holiday event are a gamble, so we’re curious to see how they hold up on a busy night. Our early must-try list includes Yule Tide Duck, Chimichurri Scallops, Gingerbread Tiramisu, and the Frozen Spiked Apple Cider.

For more theme park-related news and information, visit MSM News. As always, eat like you mean it!

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