Busch Gardens Tampa Bay has given us a first look at their 2024 Food & Wine Festival concert and band line up. Featuring names like 38 Special, Sister Hazel, the Goo Goo Dolls, Starship ft. Mickey Thomas and more, this year’s 11 week event is almost ready to kick off.
The annual Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Food & Wine Festival will begin March 9. Happening each weekend until May 19, this music and food festival is included with park admission. Find your favorite upcoming artist, pick a weekend, and spend a day tasting snacks, jamming out and riding roller coasters.
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Concerts
- Goo Goo Dolls – March 9
- Starship ft. Mickey Thomas – March 10
- TBA – March 16
- Sister Hazel – March 17
- Taking Back Sunday – March 23
- TBA – March 24
- TBA – March 30
- TBA – March 31
- Owl City – April 6
- Grupo Niche – April 7
- Better than Ezra & Vertical Horizon – April 13
- Hoobastank – April 14
- Michael Ray – April 20
- Gavin DeGraw – April 21
- Andy Grammer – April 27
- Chris Lane – April 28
- Boys Like Girls – May 4
- 38 Special – May 5
- TBA – May 11
- TBA – May 12
- TBA – May 18
- TBA – May 19
Saving money on multiple trips as a Pass Member
There are still many weekends to be announced. But, for now, you can plan ahead for these artists as we await to see who else is joining the Food & Wine Festival lineup. For pass members and single day ticket holders, these concerts are included. If you plan on seeing more than one concert, it may save you money to buy a pass.
I personally am a Busch Gardens Tampa Bay pass member, and have been for many years. For a limited time, Busch Gardens is offering their second tier, Silver, pass at the same level as bronze. For $14.50 a month you can get free parking, unlimited park admission with no blockout dates, two free guest tickets and discounts. If you believe you will see more than one show, this could allow you and a friend or loved one to go together under your single pass (on select dates that the free guest ticket is allowed).
Being a pass member isn’t required to see the shows, but it is something to think about if you want to visit Busch Gardens more than once a year, or go to their other annual events.
VIP tours and reserved concert seating
If you want to take your music or coaster enjoyment to the next level, look into a private tour or specialty seating. Busch Gardens Tampa Bay has some of the most iconic roller coasters on Earth. Last year I really enjoyed their Roller Coaster Insider Tour (and I want to state that I paid for it myself on my own time). This experience gives you a behind-the-scenes look at ride operations and maintenance, as well as front-of-the-line ride access to some of their best coasters. The video above is the finale of the tour, a view of Montu seen while on the ride track itself.
If you are focusing on the tunes, there is an option. Starting at $55, the Food and Wine Festival VIP Seating Package grants you a great reserved seat for concert of your choice. You will also receive a one-time-use beverage certificate, access to the VIP bar and a private seating area.
While not at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, I did use their sister companies option last year with SeaWorld Orlando’s Summer Spectacular Concert Series. I was able to get my mom just two rows back from one of her favorite music groups, Little River Band. This extra fee for VIP was worth it, in my opinion, as we strolled in just 20 minutes before the show and had fantastic seats to a band she hadn’t seen in concert for 20+ years. In fact, as I am writing this article, we are already looking at options to take her to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay for 38 Special on May 5.
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is adding even more thrill to their lineup. Opening this spring, Phoenix Rising will be yet another family thrill option for the park. This suspended coaster will add the park’s first coaster with onboard audio, and another thrill option with a 42 inch height requirement. Not an ad, but it could be another reason to jump on that annual pass deal (pass members will get the first opportunity to ride before the general public).
