May Weekends At Busch Gardens Include New Experiences

From Busch Gardens: Busch Gardens Tampa Bay continues its 60th anniversary celebration with 52 weeks of events including the return of fan-favorite experiences and NEW offerings in the month of May. From exclusive pass member ride time on Tigris – Florida’s tallest launch coaster, Sesame Street Kids’ Weekends, and animal encounters, there is something for everyone to enjoy:

NEW! Pass Member Exclusive Ride time on Tigris: Saturdays & Sundays, May 4-12

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay’s newest roller coaster, Tigris, is now open. For the first two weekends in May, Pass Members are invited to exclusively enjoy the thrill of Tigris, including a 150-foot skyward surge, forward and backward launches, and an inverted heartline roll, before the park opens.

NEW! Cinco De Mayo Celebration: Saturday & Sunday, May 4 & 5

Park guests can head to the Stanleyville region of the park to enjoy a DJ party zone including festive dancing, food and beverages. Guests 21 and older can stop by the Garden Gate Café or Kettle Corn in Pantopia for two free beers, featuring Corona® for Cinco de Mayo weekend.

Sesame Street Safari of Fun Kids’ Weekends: Saturdays & Sundays, May 4-19

Busch Gardens is celebrating Sesame Street’s 50th Anniversary with spring weekend events and a new friend! Meet Julia, a sweet and curious 4-year-old girl with autism, who recently joined her friends Elmo and Abby Cadabby at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. Guests can meet Julia and friends in our all-new area, AbbyCadabby’s Garden, located on the pathway to Sesame Street Safari of Fun.

Also NEW this year, families can enjoy build-your-own ice cream sundaes at the Sesame Kids’ Pavilion. For $6.99 per person, guests can choose from vanilla, chocolate, strawberry or pineapple soft serve as the base of their creation with a number of favorite toppings available.

Created with children in mind, each weekend offers interactive entertainment and activities. From character dance parties to scavenger hunts, there is something for the whole family to enjoy. In addition, each weekend is themed to fan-favorite characters:

Elmo Weekend, May 4 & 5: Guests can help Elmo and his pet goldfish, Dorothy, find her friends as they make their way through the Busch Gardens’ Sesame Street Safari of Fun play area and discover treasures along their way!

Rubber Duckie Weekend, May 11 & 12: Join the search for Ernie’s favorite rubber duckie! Guests will experience all Sesame Street Safari of Fun has to offer while spending quality time with Bert and Ernie!

Cookie Monster Weekend, May 18 & 19: Look for cookies among the flowers with the one and only Cookie Monster and his closest friends. Guests can enjoy arts and crafts and more during this special family-friendly weekend.

Guy Harvey Weekend: Saturday & Sunday, May 11 - 12

Guests will have the chance to meet world-renowned artist and conservationist Guy Harvey through autograph sessions and meet and greets on Saturday, May 11 and Sunday, May 12. In addition, Guy Harvey will host a special Conservation Connections session highlighting his partnership with SeaWorld Parks and his conservation efforts.

Pass Member Exclusive! Meet and Greet with Guy Harvey

On Sunday May 12, Busch Gardens Pass Members can participate in an exclusive meet-and-greet from 9 to 10 am at the Xcursions gift shop and enjoy a 20% discount on Guy Harvey merchandise.

Jack Hanna Weekend: Saturday & Sunday, May 18 - 19

Join “Jungle Jack” Hanna at Busch Gardens® Tampa Bay for one-of-a-kind shows, autograph signings, special meet-and-greets, and more! The internationally-known animal expert will share animal facts and his travel tales throughout the day at Stanleyville Theater. The daily shows are included with park admission.

Tails and Tales Cocktail Hour

Guests can book more time with Jack Hanna at an exclusive cocktail hour complete with autographs, photo opportunities and animal ambassadors. The night ends with Jack Hanna sharing stories and his animal expertise. The Tails and Tales experience costs $99.99 - Pass Member discounts are available.

VIP Meet and Greet with Jack Hanna

For the ultimate Jack Hanna fan, guests can book a VIP Meet and Greet with Jack including up-close encounters with animal ambassadors. VIPs will also receive a commemorative photo, autograph and reserved seating to the Jack Hanna show. The VIP Meet and Greet costs $34.99 - Pass Member discounts are available.