New Rides, New Menu, New Trading Pins: Busch Garden Celebrates 60

TAMPA, FL -- Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is starting its 60th anniversary celebration this weekend by debuting a new menu for the 2019 Food & Wine Festival and launching a pin-trading program.

Opening on March 16, the Food & Wine Festival returns with a new menu featuring more than 35 dishes inspired by regional cuisine around the country. Guests can sample more than 100 wines, craft brews and specialty cocktails while enjoying world-class concerts, including Daughtry, Justin Moore, El Gran Combo, Boyz II Men and Foreigner. Additionally, the park announced a performance for Stone Temple Pilots on Saturday, April 6.

Click here for the menu and full lineup.

Also as part of the park’s 60th anniversary, Busch Gardens is launching a new pin-trading program this week. With more than 150 pins now available in the park, guests can begin collecting and trading the pocket-sized souvenirs. From fan-favorite animals, attractions, and events to exclusive collections not sold in stores, guests can trade pins with employees as they explore the park.

Excitement is building with the eagerly anticipated spring opening of Tigris, Florida’s tallest launch coaster. With the recent arrival of the ride vehicles, testing for the new attraction will begin soon to prepare for opening day this spring.

“We’re moving quickly to open our ninth roller coaster, Tigris, with a 10th coaster already underway for next year,” said Stewart Clark, president of Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and Adventure Island. “This cadence of back-to-back new attractions is unprecedented for our park, and continues our legacy as Florida’s thrill ride leader.”

The buzz continues with more history in the making at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay as construction begins on a new hybrid coaster arriving in 2020. When it opens next year, the ride will become North America’s tallest hybrid, and the fastest, steepest hybrid coaster in the world.

Manufactured by Rocky Mountain Construction, the newest addition at Busch Gardens will be a wood and steel coaster design, featuring a maximum height of more than 200 feet tall. The ride will feature all-new thrill elements, as well as restored elements of Gwazi. Coaster enthusiasts can follow the progress of Tigris and the new 2020 attraction through the park’s social media channels and using #TakeOnTigris and #2020Rising.

Be the first to know about new events, special deals and future announcements by following Busch Gardens Tampa Bay’s blog and social media channels on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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