Action-Packed Year Awaits at Busch Gardens Williamsburg

Bursting at the seams with exciting rides, events and attractions, this upcoming season promises to be the most action-packed year in the history of Busch Gardens Williamsburg and Water Country USA.

The Vikings are taking over this spring as Busch Gardens Williamsburg debuts InvadR, the park’s first wooden coaster. InvadR will contain nine airtime hills, a 74 foot drop, and a maximum speed of 50 miles per hour. It is the world’s first crowd sourced roller coaster! Take a virtual ride now!

Things are shaping up nice with the new wooden roller coaster as construction is right on schedule. Check out this section of track that’s already finished.

InvadR is the first wooden roller coaster to be constructed at Busch Gardens Virginia. It’s also the fist coaster to added to the Busch Gardens lineup since Tempesto, which was opened in 2015.

This past August, Busch Gardens Williamsburg was honored with an award for being “World’s Most Beautiful Amusement Park” for the 26th consecutive year!

Busch Gardens Williamsburg opens March 25 with InvadR following in April. Their water park, Water Country USA kicks off its season on May 20.

FAMILY FUN DURING SPRING INTO FUN
Families with young children will find special reasons to visit during Spring into Fun, starting in March. The live show “Elmo Rocks!” returns to the Globe Theatre for a limited run. Youngsters can meet their favorite furry friends, including Cookie Monster, Elmo and Abby Cadabby at Sesame Street Forest of Fun.

Celebrity guests will bring special fun for families this spring. The KIDsiderate Concert Series returns in May, with musical performances by Choo Choo Soul with Genevieve and more. Families can experience the wild side of Busch Gardens and learn about the importance of wildlife conservation when animal expert Jack Hanna brings his animals to the park March 25 – 26.

Busch Gardens also will debut a new show in Das Festhaus on March 31. The yet-to-be-named show will feature traditional German music and dances, with a modern twist, offering diners a fun Oktoberfest experience every day.

NEW TASTES AND COOL NIGHTTIME FUN THIS SUMMER
Summer kicks off with the Busch Gardens Food & Wine Festival, which will take place weekends from May 26 – July 2. Tantalizing new food and beverage options abound throughout the festival, including the addition of India as a new kiosk.

In July and August, Busch Gardens becomes a cooler place after dark during Summer Nights. Special entertainment, culinary experiences and a fun nighttime atmosphere will give guests a new reason to visit during summer evenings.

Summer Saturdays will be even more special with the Summer Nights Concerts, featuring popular rock, pop, country and contemporary Christian performers live under the stars in the Royal Palace Theatre. Confirmed acts include 38 Special, Josh Turner, MercyMe, Jeremy Camp and Rend Collective, with additional names to be announced. Concerts are free with park admission.

Two special shows also join the Summer Nights line-up. Britmania, a new musical revue featuring British hits from the 1960s to today, debuts June 30, and will be performed throughout the day in the Globe Theatre. All For One returns for its second season with new action and adventure. The swashbuckling tale of the Three Musketeers runs nightly in the Royal Palace Theatre from June 30 through Sept. 3, except for concert Saturdays.

Guests can spend a hot summer day in a fun and refreshing way at Water Country USA, Virginia’s largest water park. The park offers fun for the entire family with a retro surf theme, resort-style amenities and more than 40 state-of-the-art water rides and attractions.

Celebrate Independence Day at Busch Gardens with two days of fireworks July 3 – 4. The pyrotechnic displays will illuminate the skies with a kaleidoscope of colors. Guests can find their favorite spot in the park to watch the show.

GREAT FALL EVENTS
The area’s best Oktoberfest celebration returns in September. Raise a glass to toast the end of summer with a variety of craft beers from around the globe at Bier Fest, which will run select dates Sept. 1 – 17.

Fear abounds in the fall during Howl-O-Scream The park becomes a seriously scary place in the evenings, starting September 23. New this year, the park will stay open until midnight on select dates and expand to two Thursdays in October.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and friends will return to Busch Gardens Christmas Town, starting November 24, with new experiences for families to enjoy the holiday spirit and more lights than any holiday event in the nation.

BEST DEALS OF THE YEAR
Busch Gardens has brought back two special online-only offers for guests to experience all of the action this spring and summer.

Buy a Busch Gardens Fun Card and get Water Country USA for free with the 2-Park Fun Card deal, which can be purchased online through March 31. The Fun Card will be good for unlimited visits to both parks through September 10.

The 2-Park Preschool Pass also makes it affordable to take young children to both parks. This limited-time, online-only offer, allows children ages 3 to 5 to enjoy free unlimited admission to both parks through September 10. Parents must register online by May 31 and be Virginia residents.