Busch Gardens Tampa Bay - What's New, Events, Refurbishments & Closures August 2023

Check out all the latest news from Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, including special events, ride closures and more.

Welcome to another month of special events, closures and refurbishments at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.

We know it can be difficult to keep up to date with what's happening at the theme parks, and that's why we produce this monthly update, so you can enjoy all that's new and happening, together with helping you avoid any disappointment when you arrive at the parks and your favorite ride is closed for refurbishment!

In July, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is alive with the limited time Summer Nights, featuring shows, firework, free beer and more!

Read on for all the details.

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

Summer Nights

Now - August 6, 2023

Great News! Summer Nights is back at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay for 2023.

As the sun goes down, the party heats up with extended park hours every night, themed party zones throughout the park, electrifying entertainment, and fireworks on select days during Summer Nights including special 4th of July Fireworks!

Summer Nights Highlights

Cirque Electric

Back by popular demand, this revamped acrobatic show brings all-new music to the Stanleyville Theater for the summer! Witness the extraordinary talent of cirque-style performers undertaking edge-of-your-seat feats alongside an electric ensemble of dancers.

Gwazi Beats

You won’t want to miss this atmospheric show returning for summer! With a combination of drums, dancers, and stilt walkers, this pulse-pounding display of music and dance will leave you wanting more.

Icons

New for 2023, step into the world of musical icons with a new review show at Dragon Fire Grill. Featuring live performances of fan-favorite hits inspired by musical legends, this show will have guests singing and dancing in their seat. Icons starts June 11th.

Turn It Up! Remix

This popular award-winning ice show returns to the Moroccan Palace Theater with beloved original and all-new routines. Talented skaters, stunning video and projection elements demonstrate the power and beauty of living life to the fullest.

Summer Nights Fireworks Spectacular

As the sun goes down, the park lights up with a dazzling display of colors and sound.

From jaw-dropping colors to intricate patterns, the Summer Nights Fireworks Spectacular, presented by Bad Boy Mowers, will leave guests in awe.

With the perfect music to accompany the show, it's an unforgettable experience that will make it a summer night to remember.

Don't miss this dazzling show every Friday and Saturday plus Memorial Day Weekend & July 2nd, 3rd, and 4th on the Festival Field.

Bier Fest

Now - September 4, 2024

Beer lovers rejoice as Bier Fest is back Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.

Park guests can toast delicious brews and soar on epic thrill rides at Busch Gardens’ beer-inspired food festival as a slice of Bavaria returns to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay now through Sept. 4, including Labor Day.

This hugely popular event, now in its sixth consecutive year, allows guests to sip, sample and savor classic German flavors while enjoying tunes from rising local artists.

This year guests can raise a stein to 15 newly created menu items inspired by classic German flavors and 60 brews from regions near and far.

Pair pub-inspired bites with a new local craft brew or enjoy a fan favorite from international and domestic breweries. Whether you like IPAs, stouts, porters, lagers, sours or ciders, the beer selection at Bier Fest has something for every taste.

We will have the full menu soon, but for now, new items on the menu includes Braised Pork Shank, Bratwurst on a Pretzel Roll with Spicy Mustard, and Chicken Schnitzel with Brown Butter Spätzle.

As in previous years, guests can purchase a sampler lanyard, which can be redeemed for any food or beverage item offered throughout the festival.

Pass Members will be able to sip and savor more samples for less. Get 15 punches for the price of 12 with this pass member exclusive.

Once again Bier Fest will feature live music. Make a toast while tapping your toes to the sounds of live local bands performing throughout the event!

Enjoy live music every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Coke Canopy.

Bier Fest is included with park admission. Food & Beverage available at an additional cost.

Passport To Summer

Now - August 6, 2023

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is rewarding Pass Members simply for visiting the park this summer, and the more you visit the park the more free perks you will receive, it's a win-win for sure!!

Pass Members who visit the theme park between 2 and 20 times between now and August 6, qualify for various parks including free drinks and popcorn, free animal encounters, and a free all-day dining pass, all for visiting the theme park multiple times over the summer, and as soon as you collect enough vouchers, you can redeem then for a free perk!

At the park use the self-service kiosks where pass members can log in and receive a Passport visitation voucher. Once enough vouchers are collected, they can be redeemed for a reward.

The top reward for 20 visits is an invitation to the parks exclusive Passport to Summer Party on August 18 from 8 - 10 pm, which will feature exclusive ride time on Serengeti Flyer, Iron Gwazi, Gwazi Flyers, Cheetah Hunt, Cobra’s Curse, and Montu—plus free popcorn, soda, and more!

Passport to Summer Rewards

2 Visits - FREE Fountain Soda & Bag of Popcorn

5 Visits - One-time RESERVED SEATING at Cirque Electric or Turn it up! Remix

8 Visits - One FREE Animal Encounter / Animal Tour

(select from Lory Landing Feeding, Aldabra Tortoise Insider Tour, Animal Ambassador Insider Tour, Animal Care Center Behind the Scenes Tour)

15 Visits - One FREE All-Day Dining

20 Visits - Invitation to Passport to Summer Party

Adventure Island Water Park

With temperatures sizzling in August its the perfect time to cool off in Busch Gardens Tampa Bay's awesome water park Adventure Island!

All-New Interactive Splash and Play Zone

Shaka-Laka Shores, located in the heart of Adventure Island, features 25 play elements and a central kid-friendly play structure bound to entertain and engage even the youngest of guests. The newest addition also includes a variety of interactive aquatic components, all within a zero-depth area - ideal for smaller kids - as well as additional shaded sections.

Sand Serpent Permanently Closed

After 19 years, Sand Serpent permanently closed at the park on July 9 to make way for a new attractions.

Ride & Attraction Schedule Updates

The following areas and attractions are temporarily closed:

Skyride Upcoming closures for scheduled maintenance No scheduled maintenance for July

Serengeti Flyer

Don't miss Serengeti Flyer this July! Earlier this year Busch Gardens Tampa introduced a swinging new attraction for 2023, Serengeti Flyer which is the world’s tallest and fastest ride of its kind, a screamin’ swing.

With each swing, riders 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 features twin dueling arms that soar progressively higher reaching speeds of 68 mph and a maximum height of 135 feet at the ride’s peak.

Plus, now you can choose your Serengeti Flyer adventure? That's right, customize your ride-time to be milder or wilder! From park-open until 1 pm, go "mild" and see the breathtaking views of the Serengeti Plain WITHOUT the full height or speed of the ride, OR, go "wild" from 1.15 pm - Park Close while experiencing the max height and speed that Serengeti Flyer has to offer!

Howl-O-Scream At Busch Gardens Tampa

Select Nights, September 8 - October 31, 2023

Tampa’s premier Halloween event returns earlier than ever with new frights & scares taking over the entire park with haunted houses, scare zones, sinister shows and more.

Until October 31, unspeakable horror lives in every dark corner, including on Busch Gardens’ pulse-pounding thrill rides. Howl-O-Scream is bringing fear to the next level and once you’re in, there’s nothing to fear but everything...

Howl-O-Scream returns to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, on select nights from September 8 through until October 31, 2023, with the event taking over the entire park once again, expect haunted houses, scare zones, sinister shows and more.

This year's haunted houses include the return of Ms. Stranglewood, who is back for more haunts than ever before, and has something sinister waiting behind every corner.

Once a lively home filled with laughter and lavish parties is now filled with darkness and the spirit of evil. Welcome back to the Stranglewood Estate!

The Residence: Home For The Holidays, is also making a haunting return to Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay this spooky season... but things are definitely not as merry as they may seem!

The Residence: Home For The Holidays is a fan favorite house at Howl-O-Sceam, where merriment turns murderous at a suburban family home, and this year Christmas arrives earlier than ever at The Residence, with all-new horrors eager to be unwrapped, but will you survive this silent night.

This year's scare zone's include the all new Big Ed's Demolition Derby, which features a rather sinister Big Ed!

Step into the twisted and adrenaline-fueled world of Big Ed's Demolition Derby. He has pulled together some of the roughest, toughest, and meanest baddies from all over Howl-O-Scream and brought them here to compete— but there’s always room for some surprise guests. Step up and see how long you can survive and navigate this automotive nightmare.

Another scare zone is Sin City Zombies, another brand new scare zone for 2023.

On the outskirts of the Vegas strip lies a small town that is home to some of the best entertainers to ever live, and is overrun by zombies who run rampant.

Try your luck and hope your number wins because this is one town you don’t want to lose in.

A new haunted house this year is D.H. Baggums, Circus of Fear.

Come one, come all, to the most terrifying show you’ve ever seen! D.H. Baggum brings you all his monstrosities that are sure to make your spine tingle and your blood run cold!

As unsuspecting patrons walked the midway, D.H. would capture them and take them backstage to carry out his evil plan. as you wander the midway, watch out for D.H. and his crew. don’t get distracted by the magic— you might just be the next FREAK to take the stage!

Howl-O-Scream is intended for a mature audience. This event contains intense adult content such as violence, gore, and blood. Oh yes it does...

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