Beyond Immersive Displays and Photo Ops: What to Eat at ‘Twas the Light Before Christmas

Photo: Lucas Kamata

What you knew as the Hawai‘i Convention Center is now a world of lights and holiday cheer. ‘Twas the Light Before Christmas is magical—a blend of twinkling light sculptures, cheerful holiday music and a new photo op pretty much every 10 steps. It feels like stepping into a Christmas storybook.

SEE ALSO: Your Insider Guide to ‘Twas the Light Before Christmas

Photo: Lucas Kamata

But this isn’t just any holiday adventure, it’s filled with festive treats. My first pick is savory: Charcuterie cones ($8) hold an elegant skewer loaded with thin slices of cured meats and cubes of creamy cheeses, with a single pickle and olive perched on top. It’s perfect for snacking while wandering the wonderland.

Photo: Lucas Kamata

Next comes a box of macarons ($12), a rainbow of six flavors: vanilla, coffee, lemon, raspberry, chocolate and one last flavor that veers toward butterscotch but that I can’t quite place. Each macaron has a delicate shell with a soft, chewy, filled center. The chocolate macaron is my favorite—a rich bite that’s almost like fudge.

Photo: Lucas Kamata

Finally, I treat myself to a box of four Christmas Chocolate Truffles ($12): one dark, one white and two milk chocolates. These are decadent, with a thick chocolate shell encasing the velvety center. I savor them as I sit inside the kaleidaSCAPE immersive room, where vibrant lights and scenery dance to holiday music.

Photo: Lucas Kamata

For those craving more, ‘Twas the Light Before Christmas offers themed treats including Santa Cookies, Snowball Cookies and Christmas Bonbons, along with holiday drinks like signature coffees with whipped cream or salted caramel, Cranky Saint Nick cocktails and more. There’s something for both kids and adults to enjoy.

After nibbling my way through, my take is that ‘Twas the Light is a neat way to welcome the holiday season. If you’re looking for a festive and delicious activity, this immersive holiday adventure is one to add.

‘Twas the Light Before Christmas, Friday, Nov. 22, through Tuesday, Dec. 31, Hawai‘i Convention Center, 1801 Kalākaua Ave., alohaimmersive.com, @twas.honolulu