Category: Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

 

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay will host Sesame Street Safari of Fun Kids’ Weekends this October, a kid-centered Halloween event featuring a hay bale maze, one-of-a-kind animal encounters, character parades, and trick-or-treat candy stations.

Sesame Street Safari of Fun

“Halloween” Kids’ Weekends

When:

“The Count Weekend” – October 22 & 23 from 11 a.m. to 2 p. m.

“Monsters & Fairies Weekend” – October 29 & 30 from 11 a.m. to 2 p. m.

Where:

Sesame Street® Safari of Fun, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

The event will feature beloved Sesame Street characters in their Halloween costumes with special appearances by Count von Count, Elmo, Cookie Monster, Abby Cadabby, Big Bird and other popular faces. Kids are encouraged to wear costumes, too.

Each Sesame Street Safari of Fun Kids’ Weekend will have a different festive theme. The first weekend will be themed after Count von Count, the famous Sesame Street vampire, where he’ll help you count your way through a “batty” Halloween maze. Monsters & Fairies weekend will follow, with Halloween-themed arts and crafts to transform the kids into a magical fairy like Abby Cadabby or a loveable monster like Elmo.

Character parades will take place at the top of every hour of the event. Plus, guests can expect kid-friendly music along with the chance to meet with Busch Gardens Tampa Bay’s animal ambassadors.

Be the first to know about new events like Sesame Street Safari of Fun Kids’ Weekends, special deals, and future announcements by following the park’s blog at BuschGardensTampaBlog.com, or “Like” the Busch Gardens Facebook page, and follow @buschgardens on Twitter and Instagram.

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Busch Gardens Tampa Announces New

Red Carpet Series

Headliners Include Wayne Brady and Arturo Sandoval in Intimate Broadway-style Venue

 

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, a leading Florida destination for all ages, announced an evolution of entertainment with its all-new second-gate, premiere event offering, the Busch Gardens Red Carpet Series. Held in the Moroccan Palace Theatre, kicking off the series is award-winning comedian and musician Wayne Brady, and legendary Latin jazz artist and ten-time Grammy winner Arturo Sandoval.

Newly renovated, the intimate 1,100-seat Moroccan Palace offers three tiers of comfortable seating with stellar sight lines and state-of-the-art acoustics. Boasting a unique personality all its own, the Moroccan Palace is the perfect venue to experience the top artists in entertainment.

“We are excited to offer Central Florida a new intimate way to enjoy their favorite artists,” said Jim Dean, President of Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. “The classic style of the Moroccan Palace along with impeccable site lines and beautiful sound, make for a truly special night out. Guests will experience some of the biggest names in entertainment, including some who rarely play in our area.”

Wayne Brady – Friday, August 26 at 8:00 pm, Moroccan Palace

For Wayne Brady, music and comedy has been at the center of his wildly successful and diverse career.  Wayne has been entertaining audiences with his singing, acting and unmatched improvisational skills for well over a decade.  This diversity has led to a career that goes beyond the term “triple threat.”

In 1998, his career took off with Whose Line is it Anyway? for which he won a 2003 Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety, Musical or Comedy Series. Wayne went on to host his own award-winning talk show, The Wayne Brady Show, for which he won two Emmys for Outstanding Talk Show Host. His award-winning talent has led him to hosting opportunities for high-profile shows including the NAACP Awards, BET Honors, The Late Late Show and the Emmy-nominated Let’s Make A Deal.

Arturo Sandoval – Saturday, September 17 at 8:00 pm, Moroccan Palace

A protégé of the legendary jazz master Dizzy Gillespie, Arturo Sandoval was born in Artemisa, a small town on the outskirts of Havana, Cuba in 1949. Sandoval began studying classical trumpet at the age of twelve, and it didn’t take him long to catch the excitement of the jazz world. He has since evolved into one of the world’s most acknowledged guardians of jazz trumpet and flugelhorn, as well as a renowned classical artist, pianist and composer.

Sandoval has been seen by millions at the Billboard Awards, Grammy Awards, and the Oscars. He is the recipient of 10 Grammy Awards, in addition to six Billboard Awards and an Emmy, and is one of the most dynamic and vivacious live performers of our time. His latest Grammy award-winning albums, Dear Diz, Every Day I Think of You as well as Live at Yoshi’s are now available worldwide.

Ticket prices for the Busch Gardens Red Carpet Series range from $30.00-$99.00 (taxes not included) and can be purchased through BuschGardens.com/RedCarpetSeries.

A limited number of VIP Packages will also be available that include premium seating, culinary offerings and more. Gates open at 6:30 and theatre doors open at 7:15 pm.

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 Busch Gardens Tampa lights up the sky

for the 4th of July

Celebrate Independence Day with Thrill Rides in the Dark, Live Entertainment and Fireworks 

This Independence Day, families can celebrate with a night of thrill rides, live entertainment and an incredible fireworks show at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.

Open late for Summer Nights, guests can celebrate the Fourth of July festivities by challenging Florida’s top thrill rides, like our newest family thrill ride, Cobra’s Curse™, and North America’s tallest freestanding drop tower, Falcon’s Fury®. Plus, fireworks will illuminate the sky at 9:30 p.m., in Gwazi Park right after the rock-fueled acrobatics show, Kinetix.

Guests can enjoy extended hours for Summer Nights at Busch Gardens from June 24 to August 7. The park will stay open until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays and close at 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday.

Experience all the thrills this summer with an Annual Pass, which includes unlimited admission with no blockout dates, free parking, special deals and discounts, and much more! It’s the best value for Florida residents and it starts at just $14 per month with EZpay.

For more information, visit buschgardenstampa.com. Or, be the first to know about new events, special deals and future announcements by following the park’s blog at BuschGardensTampaBlog.com, or “Like” the Busch Gardens Facebook page and follow @buschgardens on Twitter and Instagram.

 

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Busch Gardens Tampa Howl-O-Scream 2016 Tickets Available Now

Tampa Bay’s Premier Halloween Event Returns to Busch Gardens with an Evil Encore for 21 Select Nights

 

This fall at Busch Gardens Tampa, Howl-O-Scream returns with an Evil Encore that everyone is dying to see for 21 select terrifying nights from September 23 through October 30, 2016.

With tormenting surprises and unexpected terrors around every corner, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay makes escaping nearly impossible. Plus, roaming hoards, horrific haunted houses, chilling live shows and the chance to challenge Florida’s top thrill rides in the dark, including the all-new Cobra’s Curse™, will have guests spinning and screaming all night.

httpv://youtu.be/aJ-NOrw2DQY

Freaky Preview returns this year and will open Howl-O-Scream 2016 on Friday, Sept. 23 and Saturday, Sept. 24.  The event then runs Thursday through Sunday nights, Sept. 29 – Oct. 30. Operating event hours are 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Get your tickets early and save on a single terrifying night at Howl-O-Scream 2016. For a limited time with the Summer Deal, any single-day admission is $45, and includes early access to the park starting at 5 p.m. Plus, Busch Gardens Pass Members receive a limited-time exclusive discount on any single-day admission for only $35 and new this year for $50, Pass Members can get two visits to Howl-O-Scream 2016. *Restrictions apply

 

Howl-O-Scream 2016 is a separate-ticketed night event. No costumes are allowed. Stay tuned to HowlOScream.com for the latest terrifying details, or call 1-888-800-5447 for more information.

Join the conversation by using #EvilEncore and follow Busch Gardens Tampa on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube to learn about promotions and insider information first.   

 

Howl-O-Scream is intended for a mature audience. This year’s event contains intense adult content such as violence, gore and blood.

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Busch Gardens Tampa Releases 2016 Food & Wine Festival Menu #CorksAndCoasters

New Culinary Creations and Expanded Beverage Lineup

 

The annual Busch Gardens Tampa Food & Wine Festival returns this spring featuring sensational new culinary creations including a menu of more than 35 delectable dishes designed specifically for the event; an expanded line up of more than 120 wines, craft brews and cocktails; and performances from chart-topping musical artists including Andy Grammer, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Meat Loaf, The All-American Rejects, O.A.R, Gente de Zona and many more.

The Festival takes place on weekends March 5 through April 24, and is included with park admission. For a limited time, as a special incentive for those who plan early, guests who buy a 2016 Fun Card to Busch Gardens also will receive a FREE 2016 Adventure Island^® Fun Card.

2016 Food & Wine Festival New Additions:

In addition to new food and beverage options, the Food & Wine Festival also offers new ways for guests to savor the event:

NEW! Food Sampler

Guests with exclusive interests in culinary offerings can purchase the all-new Food Sampler, which includes any five food samples of choice throughout the Festival and starts at $24.99.

NEW! Wine by the Bottle

This year, guests can take home a part of the Food & Wine Festival with wine available for purchase by the bottle in select merchandise locations throughout the park.

The Food & Wine Festival spices up the menu with more than 15 all-new dishes, including duck tacos, lobster ravioli, truffle fries and almond coconut truffles. Plus, Festival classics like bacon mac & cheese and the griddled cheese cake sandwich are back by popular demand.

The Festival features 11 different culinary cabins that guests can experience throughout the park, each with its own special menu:

NEW! Artisan Eats:

Artisan Eats introduces sophisticated flavors crafted to treat guests’ appetites, including truffle fries, shrimp & grits and pan-fried bread pudding with Nutella^®-mascarpone drizzle.

NEW! Garden Gate Cafe:

Garden Gate Café joins the Festival this year with pheasant sausage flatbread topped with filet de pomodoro and tuna poke. 

Gourmet Lodge:

The exotic flavors of Gourmet Lodge feature smoked beef brisket, pickled shrimp over couscous salad and a guest-favorite griddled cheese cake sandwich.

Savory Tavern:

The rich flavors of Savory Tavern tempt taste buds with coconut shrimp cigars, espresso flan, and a goat cheese polenta cake topped with olives and tomatoes.

Chef’s Plantation:

Chef’s Plantation is home to hearty flavors, including pan-seared salmon cakes, beef short ribs and duck tacos with sweet chili sauce.

Coast to Coast Cookery:

Tastes of the land and sea come together at Coast to Coast Cookery, featuring green peppercorn-seared hangar steak, bacon-wrapped prawns and chilled smoked chicken with apples, sundried cranberries and walnut quinoa. 

Field House Eatery:

The Field House Eatery is the Festival’s biggest location, offering pan-seared diver scallops and lamb chops with tabouleh and tatziki sauce.

Southern Station:

Southern Station tantalizes taste buds with all-new bison sliders, pan-fried cod over fennel risotto, roasted pork belly with red pepper jam, and venison chili with roasted corn, black beans and lime sour cream.

Comfort Kitchen:

The Comfort Kitchen fuses classics like the famous bacon mac & cheese with contemporary elegant eats like lobster ravioli over tomato basil sauce.

Light Fare Canteen:

The Light Fare Canteen freshens the palate with returning favorites like scallop ceviche, a potato and goat cheese tart, and a perfect cheese plate to accompany a glass of wine.

Blazin’ Bistro:

Blazin’ Bistro breaks out the grill for island-inspired cuisine, featuring jerk chicken sliders, roasted cauliflower hummus and a refreshing vanilla Cigar City Maduro^® ice cream float with caramel.

Food and beverage is not included with park admission and is available for an extra fee. Guests must be 21 years of age or older to consume alcoholic beverages. For more information, visit buschgardens.com.

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Christmas Town Upgrades at Busch Gardens Tampa Brings Even More Holiday Cheer

Christmas Town™ transforms Busch Gardens^® into a holiday wonderland of Christmastime entertainment, and the best way to unwrap the cheer is with all-new exclusive experiences that you and your family will treasure forever.

NEW! Holly Jolly Christmas Party

‘Tis the season for a Holly Jolly Christmas Party where spectacular Yuletide celebrations await. Mrs. Claus and her elves join you for dinner with a delicious all-you-care-to-eat pizza and salad buffet at the Garden Gate Café. The party keeps going with fun holiday activities, including writing a letter to Santa, decorating decadent cupcakes and singing classic Christmas carols.

 NEW! Christmas Town™ VIP Experience

Unwrap all the magic of the holidays during the Christmas Town VIP Experience, a three-hour-long guided tour that is sure to make your Christmastime memories even more merry and bright. This ultimate experience is complete with:

• Front-of-the-line access to Santa’s House presented by Coca-Cola^®, where the Claus family invites you into their North Pole home as the elves prepare for Christmas. There, Santa will take a break from his busy holiday schedule to meet and take photos with in his private study.
• An exclusive up-close encounter with Busch Gardens’ African penguins.
• Fun holiday activities at the Holly Jolly Christmas Party, including writing a letter to Santa, decorating decadent cupcakes and singing classic Christmas carols.
• Delicious pizza and salad buffet hosted by Mrs. Claus and her elves at Garden Gate Café, or a holiday feast at the Crown Colony Restaurantfor an additional fee.
• VIP seating to Christmas On Ice, where Yuletide melodies, deadline-driven elves and the big man himself come together to celebrate the many wonders of Christmas during this holiday spectacular.
• Commemorative photo with Santa Claus and refillable hot chocolate mug.

For more information about these exclusive experiences, visit ChristmasTown.com for pricing and reservations. Christmas Town is included with any annual pass, Fun Card or daily admission to the park.

The 2016 Fun Card is available for purchase now. With the 2016 Fun Card, guests pay for one day and get all of 2016 free. Plus, guests who purchase their 2016 Fun Card now can also visit Busch Gardens for the remainder of 2015 for no additional cost, including the popular Christmas Town™ event.

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Busch Gardens Tampa Releases New Cobra’s Curse Details

Family Spin Coaster Opens 2016; More Details Revealed To Residents and Industry Fans

Busch Gardens Tampa provided additional details about the latest thrill ride project coming in 2016, including a detailed model revealed at the International Amusement Parks and Attractions show in Orlando. Cobra’s Curse will be the only ride of its kind in the world: a family roller coaster with freely spinning ride vehicles and a 70-foot vertical lift.

httpv://youtu.be/DXbuWIoRXJQ

As a special incentive for Florida residents, the new details were revealed as the park is promoting a special offer for advance purchases of the 2016 Fun Card. For the price of a single-day admission, guests who purchase their 2016 Fun Card now also will receive the rest of 2015 free.

“Busch Gardens Tampa is Florida’s thrill ride leader,” said Brian Morrow, Busch Gardens’ attraction creative designer. “And, with Cobra’s Curse, we’re expanding the family thrill ride offerings. The multi-directional spins on Cobra’s Curse will provide excitement and fun for guests of all ages.” 

Additional facts on Busch Gardens Tampa Cobra’s Curse:

1. A unique move on Cobra’s Curse is the “outward-banked turn” that puts riders perilously close to the jaws of the monstrous, 80-foot-tall statue of the snake king Venymyss.

2. Instead of a gradual lift hill, more typical of a traditional coaster, each train is instead lifted vertically, to a height of 70 feet, and the top of the ancient temple.

3. During the three-and-a-half-minute ride, the coaster trains speed along at 40 mph, spinning backward, forward and then freely.

4. Guests will experience a new spin with each ride. Each train spins randomly, with frequency and direction determined by the rider weight distribution.

5. The ride’s setting is a modern day dig site in Egypt, where archeologists have uncovered the legendary temple of the snake king, Venymyss. The ride’s air-conditioned queue line provides a welcome break from the Egyptian heat.

 

 

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Christmas Town will take place 20 selects dates between November 27 through December 31.  New this year, the cheer keeps going until 10 p.m. every event night. The event is included with park admission.

Christmas Town creates beautiful family traditions for guests as Busch Gardens is transformed into a holiday wonderland with more than a million twinkling lights, Christmas entertainment, live music, festive treats, and holiday shopping.

The park will be filled with cheery surprises including Santa’s House presented by Coca-Cola®, where guests can meet the big man himself as he takes a break from his busy holiday schedule to take photos with families in his private study.

Christmas Town is included with any Annual Pass, Fun Card or daily admission to Busch Gardens. For more information, visit buschgardenstampa.com.

For groups looking to book unique holiday parties, there also are magnificent Christmas Town packages. For details, call the Busch Gardens Events Team at 813-987-5523.

Be the first to know about new events, special deals and future announcements by following the park’s blog at BuschGardensTampaBlog.com, or “Like” the Busch Gardens Facebook page, and follow @buschgardens on Twitter and Instagram.

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