This holiday season, Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood delivered Gilmore Girls magic like never before. With the return of its fan-favorite Holidays Made Here immersive experience, this time centered on the show’s 25th anniversary, the beloved fictional town of Stars Hollow was brought to life in stunning, festive detail, delighting longtime fans and first-timers alike.

Having attended this event in previous years, I went in with a few thoughts on how it could be elevated for such a milestone anniversary. That said, the team behind the experience completely surpassed both my notes and my expectations.

HOLIDAYS MADE HERE: WELCOME TO STARS HOLLOW

As soon as we stepped onto Midwest Street, we were instantly transported into the heart of Stars Hollow. The backlot is fully recreated and decked out for the holidays with all the charm and whimsy fans have always adored. Iconic locations like Lorelai’s House, Luke’s Diner, and the Dragonfly Inn returned. Alongside those, the highly requested and newly added Miss Patty’s School of Ballet. Every space was beautifully dressed for the season, making it feel less like a studio tour and more like stepping directly onto the show’s set.

But the magic wasn’t just about seeing familiar backdrops; it was about truly experiencing them. The event was packed with festive activities, photo opportunities, themed food, and interactive moments throughout the town. This year, Stars Hollow felt especially alive thanks to walk-around residents, including the town troubadour, Lane’s grandmother, “Miss Patty”, and everyone’s favorite chaotic presence, “Kirk” (whom we affectionately dubbed Dirk).

There were also tons of exciting new store additions, including Stars Hollow Video, The Knitting Store, Weston Bakery, Periodicals Newspaper & Magazine, and Taylor’s Olde Fashioned Soda Shoppe. One of my favorite improvements was how organized the merchandise was; each shop featured its own exclusive merch, which made browsing feel intentional rather than overwhelming.

HOLIDAYS HERE: GILMORE GIRLS FOOD!

The introduction of the Food Passport was a fantastic idea. However, it sold out early, leaving many fans unable to participate. I’m not quite sure why there was a limit, but hopefully next year it’s available to everyone. That said, let’s talk about the food. No one should come in expecting five-star cuisine—this is theme-park food—but some offerings were definitely stronger than others.

The best bang for your buck was easily Al’s Pancake World. The portions were large, shareable, and actually edible (a win). Taylor’s Olde Fashioned Soda Shoppe served up great treats, including a standout banana split. The Weston Bakery impressed with its desserts and peppermint coffee. On the flip side, the pizza, jalapeño mac and cheese, and churros were skippable. Unfortunately, it tasted more like bad high school cafeteria food than Stars Hollow comfort eats.

While the food had its ups and downs, the magic of the event absolutely did not. The expanded spaces, incredible new merchandise, walk-around characters, interactive moments, and countless photo ops made the love for this series shine through at every turn. Sadly, we didn’t get a chance to stay for the evening events. That said, the videos we’ve seen capture just how special those moments were.

I truly cannot wait to see how they make this event even better next year.