Today, January 8th, is the first day for the Mardi Gras celebration at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. This special event returns this year with food, entertainment and more!
What’s Happening:
- The good times will roll at Busch Gardens as they kick off the Mardi Gras event, running on select dates from today, January 8th through March 6th.
- Get jazzed up with Mardi Gras-style live music and New Orleans-inspired entertainment. Catch some festival beads from strolling performers throughout the day, and get caught up in the fun as you dance through spacious walkways.
- Feast like kings and queens on classic Cajun cuisine as Busch Gardens brings the “Big Easy” to Tampa Bay. Tempt your taste buds with a signature shrimp po’ boy, hearty jambalaya and gumbo, or specialty sweets like iconic beignets. Handcrafted cocktail classics like Hurricanes join new signature drinks for a perfect pairing with the park’s carefully crafted culinary offering.
Among the entertainment offerings are:
- Mardi Gras Parade – The Bird Gardens come to life as entertainers, stilt walkers and musicians bring the Mardi Gras spirit to Tampa Bay during this lively parade.
- Bead Garden – What's Mardi Gras without beads? Stop by the Bead Garden for an opportunity to catch beads with your party.
Select times during event hours. Limited quantity of beads available. - Brass Band – Enjoy Bourbon street beats and jazz classics as the Brass Band gets the party started in the Bird Gardens.
- Live Local Music – Immerse yourself in the music of New Orleans as local musical groups bring zest to this flavorful event.
- Check the Busch Gardens daily schedule for showtimes.
- Multiple new and returning dining offerings are available to purchase. You can find the full list of speciality items on the Busch Gardens website.
- Both 5-item and 10-item food and beverage sampler lanyards can be purchased for $35 and $55, respectively.
- Below is a map with the locations of each Mardi Gras food booth:
- Enjoy a short clip of what you can expect during Busch Gardens Mardi Gras, shared by the park on their Twitter:
Busch Gardens Mardi Gras runs every weekend and on select additional dates through March 6th, 2022.