“Summer Nights” is here and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is celebrating! Recently, we visited the theme park, thanks to Busch Gardens, to get a taste of summer and to see what all the buzz is about! Check out our review below!
Food/Drinks:
When entering the “Summer Nights” portion of Busch Gardens near Iron Gwazi, there were several booths with menus featuring the speciality foods, drinks, and even adult beverages offered during the event. There were a few booths open outside of the festival area and some scattered around the park, as well as The Giraffe Bar. Checking a few of the booths before the festival area and before enjoying their firework show, the stations were closed. However, when you walk into the field to find your seat for their nighttime firework show, they did have a small concession stand with popcorn, churros, cotton candy, and bottled beverages.
Decorations/Environment:
While the whole park wasn’t decorated for the event with lights and signs, the festival pathway had beautiful lights and stars strung up in the trees, and they lit the way for guests to reach the field where the nighttime spectacular was held. It added life to the area, and helped guests feel that “Summer Nights” glow. Also, while exploring around the theme park, there were music booths and several colorful costumed dancers, who were inviting every one to join in on the dancing and music! The environment felt adventurous, fun, and liberating!
Rides:
While enjoying everything that “Summer Nights” has to offer, don’t forget about the thrilling rides! It never gets old, both SheiKra and Cheetah Hunt had to be on the agenda during our time enjoying “Summer Nights.” Guests can purchase the Quick Queue to get through the lines more quickly, which can make the experience more pleasant. First, we rode front row during SheiKra and our heart rate was off the charts! You can see all the other festivities during the event while you travel up into the air on the towering roller-coster. The suspense, the drops, the twists and turns can all be enjoyed.
Next up on the agenda was Cheetah Hunt, and you’ll feel like a Cheetah yourself when the ride launches you, with more surprises in store while you enjoy the adventure. Busch Gardens is well known for their rollercoasters and thrill rides, and they did not disappoint.
Additionally, Busch Gardens had an array of lights on rides once the sun started to go down. There were plenty of lights shining on the brand new Iron Gwazi, which is still in the works and has not yet opened.
Pre-Party Before Fireworks:
Before the fireworks began, guests can enjoy a pre-party in the field to get them revved up and excited for the show! It includes dancers on stage with music from all genres and times, glowing costumes and props including glowing wings and umbrellas, and glow items that are available for purchase so everyone can go with the glow! They encouraged anyone to get up and join the dancers, and we couldn’t help but join them! It was a perfect pre-party to prep us for their nighttime firework display!
“Spark: A Nighttime Spectacular”:
Onto the main event! We have to say, they weren’t wrong when they called it a “spectacular!” It was quite a sight to see, so if you come to “Summer Nights,” this is a can’t miss! The music, pyrotechnics, water, and fire (yes, even fire) display worked together perfectly, with songs from Fall Out Boy and The Greatest Showman soundtrack, to name a few. It’s a huge crowd-pleaser, and guests will be blown away by the imaginative and creative minds at work for this show! The approximately 10 minute light display was truly magnificent, and it’s a perfect way to end the night, with about 30 minutes left to enjoy the rest of the park before it closes.
Check out this video below to check out all there is to offer!
Make sure to check out Busch Gardens Tampa Bay’s “Summer Nights,” now until September 6! Thank you again to Busch Gardens for inviting us out for their media event.