summer nights at busch gardens

Summer Nights Returns to Busch Gardens!

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One of our favorite summertime events, Busch Gardens Summer Nights, is back and complete with new shows, fireworks, extended hours, and more!  Through August 11, here's what you can look forward to:

  • The spectacular Summer Nights Fireworks Spectacular
  • Parkwide entertainment with an all-new show and returning favorites
  • Free beer! Complimentary beer samples are available for guests 21+ through July 27
  • Nostalgic eats during Red, White, and Brews.
  • Rides like Serengeti Flyer and Iron Gwazi, the world’s fastest and steepest hybrid coaster, offer an entirely different thrill after dark. PLUS, experience the all-new Phoenix Rising coaster, debuting this summer.

Returning Favorites at Summer Nights

Several of our favorite iconic Busch Gardens' shows are back! Throughout the day, you can check out exciting entertainment that the whole family will love, including the return of Cirque Electric and Gwazi Beats. We love the variety of Cirque Electric – from the dancers to the incredible jugglers, and jaw-dropping stunt acts! It's definitely one of the most unique shows in the park (and a definite must-see, in our opinion).

After riding Iron Gwazi, use your adrenaline to dance to Gwazi Beats. Located just outside the ride, it combines drums, dancers, and stilt-walkers in a pulse-pounding display of music and dance.

cirque electric
Cirque Electric at Summer Nights

Head over to the Dragon Fire Grill for Icons, where you can step into the world of musical icons! This captivating show features live performances of fan-favorite hits inspired by musical legends and will have you singing and dancing in your seat!

Also back this year is Busch Gardens' Summer Nights Elite VIP Tour. Whether you're an animal enthusiasts or coaster fanatic, an experienced Busch Gardens guide will map out a personalized and unforgettable day just for you. In this private, guided tour, you'll be provided the VIP treatment from front-of-the-line access on Florida's favorite thrill rides, to up-close animal encounters and feeding opportunities, and lunch at fan-favorite restaurants.

As the sun goes down, the park lights up with a dazzling display of colors and sound with the return of Summer Nights Fireworks Spectacular. From jaw-dropping colors to intricate patterns, the Summer Nights Fireworks Spectacular is definitely worth sticking around for! Don't miss this dazzling show every Friday and Saturday plus July 4th on the Festival Field.

If you're in line for your favorite ride just before the fireworks start, don't fret. We promise you it's just as cool to be on top of a roller coaster while the fireworks light up the sky around you! Just an FYI – because of its proximity of Festival Field, Iron Gwazi will not operate during the show.

NEW at Summer Nights

Beat the heat with Rhythm of Nature, a brand-new ice show in the Moroccan Palace Theater. Embark on a spellbinding ice adventure following the journey of Dakari, a brave young hero, as they journey into a magical dream realm to uncover the wonders of the animal kingdom and embrace their destiny.

Cool off With Nostalgic Eats and Free Beer

New this summer, indulge in Busch Gardens' Red, White, and Brews menu filled with all-new culinary creations inspired by the nostalgia of summer through July 7.

Menu items include:

  • Grilled Beef Kabobs
  • Fire Roasted Corn on the Cob
  • Sloppy Joe Dogs
  • Hushpuppy Dogs
  • Mini BBQ Pork Wings
  • Chicken & Waffles
  • Pulled Smoke Chicken Slider
  • Walking Pork Tacos
  • Mac & Cheese Egg Rolls
  • BBQ Chicken
  • Strawberry Crepes
  • Chocolate Chip Cookie Ice Cream Sandwich
  • Blueberry Crepes

There will also be snacks like soft pretzels, caramel popcorn, and cotton candy.

red, white, and brews at busch gardens
Red, White, and Brews at Busch Gardens

Free Beer is Back!

Free beer has returned to Busch Gardens! Through July 27, Pass Members 21+ can enjoy two free seven-ounce beers per visit to the park, and all other guests can enjoy one free seven-ounce beer per visit to the park. The complimentary drafts will pour out at Orang Cafe, located in the Jungala area of the park from 10:30 a.m. to one hour prior to park closure.

We also love the Springs Taproom. This is a great laidback spot to take a break and enjoy beer, cocktails, mocktails, and snacks. You’ll find the Springs Taproom in the former Hospitality House which has been totally renovated to blend its history with a modern twist. It's become one of our favorite spots to take a break and relax while the kids have fun watching the fish splash around in the newly refurbished pond out front.

Summer Nights Returns to Busch Gardens!
Cool off in the new Springs Taproom

Coming Soon to Busch Gardens – The NEW Phoenix Rising Coaster

Busch Gardens is putting the finishing touches on its next coaster, which is set to debut this summer! Phoenix Rising is an all-new family-friendly coaster unlike anything the park has done before. This “in-between” coaster gives guests the same thrills as the other coasters in the park but without the intensity of some of its larger rides. Unlike some of the bigger coasters at the park, this one will not feature any direct inversions – just twists, turns, AND onboard audio! The ride will soar 44 miles per hour over Pantopia and the Serengeti Plain and will have several different elements that will make it stand out, from the family-friendly aspect to the innovative technology not yet seen in any other coaster at the park.

Rise Up! Phoenix Rising is Set to Soar into Busch Gardens This Summer cover

Make the Most of Your Summer at Busch Gardens

We highly recommend downloading the free Busch Gardens app before you go! You can check wait times and showtimes, purchase dining deals and Quick Queues, and see a digital map of the park. It's especially handy to see which lines have longer wait times before standing in a long line with little ones. With the return of world-class entertainment and exctiting thrill rides like Serengeti Flyer, there’s never been a better time to become a Pass Member.

Through August 11, Pass Members can enjoy even more fun with the new Passport to Summer. The more times you visit, the more rewards you'll get! Once you reach 20 visits, you'll get an exclusive invite to the Passport to Summer Party in late August (date TBD) where you'll enjoy exclusive ride times on your favorite coasters and more!

Annual Pass Members enjoy 12 months of visits with special benefits including exclusive access to the Pass Member Lounge opening later this summer, plus free parking, free guest tickets, access to special VIP events, savings on merchandise and more! Annual Passes start as low as $15.75/month with no down payment. Restrictions apply.