Category Archives: Busch Gardens

theDIBB > Busch Gardens

Mardi Gras returns to Busch Gardens

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay today announced the return of the park’s fan-favourite Mardi Gras event. Inspired by the vibrant colours and delectable flavours of New Orleans’ biggest celebration, Mardi Gras at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay will transport guests to a festive realm of bayou-inspired fanfare featuring Cajun-inspired culinary delights and spirited entertainment offerings for the entire family.

Mardi Gras returns to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay on select dates 14 Jan – 5 March 2023

Feast on Authentic Cajun Cuisine

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay has brought the “Big Easy” to Tampa Bay with Mardi Gras-inspired culinary offerings. Guests will be able to feast like kings and queens with classic New Orleans style offerings ranging from gumbo, jambalaya, beignets, and much more. Plus, let the good times flow with classic bayou-inspired cocktails including Hurricanes, Spiced Rum Sangria and an all-new “Throw Me Some Beads” punch. Some of the new food items are:

NEW! – Andouille Sausage Po’Boy
NEW! – Crawfish Etouffee
NEW! – Dirty Rice & Beans
NEW! – King Cake Donut
NEW! – Shrimp Creole

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theDIBB > Busch Gardens

Busch Gardens 2023 Event Line Up

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay just announced their exciting line-up of events for 2023, offering guests never-ending fun and entertainment options including one-of-a-kind seasonal festivities, a world-class line-up of concerts and events included with park admission and thrilling attractions such as the award-winning Iron Gwazi and the new Serengeti Flyer opening in Spring 2023.

Mardi Gras

January 14 – March 5 (select dates)

Inspired by the vibrant colours and delectable flavours of New Orleans’ biggest celebration, Mardi Gras at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay will transport guests to a festive realm of bayou inspired fanfare featuring Cajun inspired culinary delights, a lively parade with new festive characters, multicoloured beads, an authentic brass band playing live and spirited entertainment offerings for the entire family. Mardi Gras is included with daily park admission. Continue reading →

theDIBB > Busch Gardens

Christmas Town at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

Celebrating its tenth anniversary, Busch Gardens Christmas Town returns as the longest holiday celebration in the Tampa Bay area offering brand new experiences to celebrate the holidays and create memories to cherish for a lifetime.

Christmas Town joyfully bundles millions of twinkling lights, uplifting shows, iconic holiday light displays, culinary delights and award-winning attractions such Iron Gwazi every day from November 14 through to January 9. Running for 57 consecutive days, the beloved event is included with park admission.

Some of the all-new activities that make this year’s Christmas Town its biggest celebration yet include:

New! Holiday in the Sky – The evening sky comes to life with a colourful display of festive fireworks while an added spectacular water fountain show dances to the rhythm of a reimagined soundtrack with classic holiday tunes. Holiday in the Sky will take place on the Festival Field on select event nights.
New! A mesmerising and enchanting musical light and projection show will adorn the Serengeti Overlook building. Guests will not want to miss this spectacle, which will run daily every 15 minutes starting at 6 p.m.
New! Christmas with the Celts – A wonderful combination of Christmas Carols and Irish dance will captivate guests with the spirited and energetic entertainment of Christmas with the Celts. The renowned group of vocalists, musicians and dancers will perform live at Stanleyville Theater’s stage Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from December 16 through to December 25.
New! Land of the Sweets – At this sweet winter wonderland, guests will find the Sugar Plum ballerina stilt walker and her Cavalier soldier, the newest characters to join the Sugar Plum Princess in her magnificent new realm.
New! Right in the heart of Jungala, guests will be in awe with a new 32-foot-tall Christmas tree surrounded by a red and white winter wonderland.

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theDIBB > Busch Gardens

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Announces Serengeti Flyer

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay announced Serengeti Flyer as the park’s all-new 2023 attraction. Serengeti Flyer will be the world’s tallest and fastest ride of its kind, a screamin’ swing, upon opening in spring 2023.

With each swing, riders will soar higher and higher above Busch Gardens Tampa Bay’s expansive 65-acre Serengeti Plain while experiencing multiple negative-G moments before plunging back toward the Earth. Serengeti Flyer will feature twin duelling arms that soar progressively higher reaching speeds of 68 mph and a maximum height of 135 feet at the ride’s peak. Guests will be seated back-to-back in rows of 10 across two gondolas, allowing for 40 guests to experience the ride at once.

“Serengeti Flyer’s thrilling ride experience is bound to provide riders with a pulse-pounding encounter that can only be found at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay,” said Neal Thurman, Park President of Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. “We believe that Serengeti Flyer will be the perfect high-thrill addition to our world-class portfolio of attractions including Iron Gwazi, the Golden Ticket Award Winner for the Best New Roller Coaster in 2022.”

Serengeti Flyer will be the world’s tallest and fastest ride of its kind, a screamin’ swing, upon opening in spring 2023.
With each swing, riders will soar higher and higher above Busch Gardens Tampa Bay’s expansive 65-acre Serengeti Plain while experiencing multiple negative-G moments before plunging back toward the Earth.
Serengeti Flyer will feature twin dueling arms that soar progressively higher reaching speeds of 68 mph and a maximum height of 135 feet at the ride’s peak.
Guests will be seated back-to-back in rows of 10 across two gondolas, allowing for 40 guests to experience the ride at once.
Serengeti Flyer will feature a 48” height requirement, allowing for younger thrill seekers to experience the rush of Serengeti Flyer.

theDIBB > Busch Gardens

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Announce Opening Date of the Iron Gwazi Hybrid Coaster

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay will open Iron Gwazi, the world’s fastest and steepest hybrid coaster, on 11 March 2022.

Being North America’s tallest hybrid coaster, this ride takes thrills to new heights, plunging riders from a 206-foot-tall peak down a 91-degree drop and reaching top speeds of 76 miles per hour. Iron Gwazi is Busch Gardens’ tenth coaster and an exhilarating addition to the park’s collection of thrill rides. Riders will experience a dozen airtime moments, including three inversions, while racing along more than 4,000 feet of steel track. With a 48” height requirement, this invigorating attraction is a ride the whole family can conquer together.

“The incredible anticipation for Iron Gwazi is shared by both our guests and Ambassadors, and we are beyond excited to open this amazing coaster,” said Neal Thurman, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Park President. “Iron Gwazi diversifies our thrill ride portfolio and is an impressive addition to the Tampa skyline. Combining classic elements of a wooden coaster with a smooth, steel track will provide thrill seekers with an unforgettable experience.”

Manufactured by Rocky Mountain Construction, the newest addition at Busch Gardens is a wood and steel hybrid coaster design, combining the innovation of a steel coaster and the nostalgia of a wooden coaster. While elements of Gwazi, the classic wooden coaster, are integrated into the new ride, all-new thrill components and a reimagined track layout take Iron Gwazi to another level.