Photo: Busch Gardens Williamsburg
Despite worldwide restrictions and new-to-all-of-us regulations due to COVID-19, Busch Gardens was able to open for some special events this summer. Coasters and Craft Brews took place around mid-summer. The most recent is a smaller scale version of the very popular Food and Wine Festival.
Taste of Busch Gardens is a limited capacity event (only 1,000 people are allowed to be in the park). Several of the park’s rides and villages are open for guests to sip, savor and soar. While the event is not as extensive as during “normal” times, it does offer a lot of choices, several past favorites and some new tastes.
There are 10 food and beverage kiosks located around the park. Ireland, The Scotland, England, France, New France, Rhinefeld and Oktoberfest villages are open. Not all of the dining locations are open, but most of the stores in each area are open.
Here’s a quick peek at some of the food and beverage selections.
Best of Food and Wine Festival (Ireland)
Mushi-Gyoza
This Japanese dumpling is in the top two for me. The citrus ponzu sauce is delicious and really makes the whole meal.
Chef’s Choice (New France)
Jerk Chicken Slider
Churrasco
The Old Country Fries (France)
Italian Frites
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed these fries. Rich red sauce and lots of mozzarella … what’s not to love?
Beignets
These fluffy squares of goodness were my favorite. Yes, you’ll have powdered sugar all over yourself. Grab some napkins and go for it!
Cannoli
Brew Bar (Grogan’s Pub in Ireland)
Sangria Garden (France)
Le Scoot
The following rides are open:
- Finnegan’s Flyer Screamin’ Swing
- Griffon
- InvadR
- Alpengeist
- Verbolten
- Der Wirblewind
- Le Scoot
- Kinder Karussel
Taste of Busch Gardens is open on select days and times from September 2–27, 2020.
- Wednesdays and Thursdays: 5–9 p.m.
- Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays: 11 a.m.–3 p.m. and 5–9 p.m.
Tickets are $44.99 for weekday park entrance. Weekends are $49.99. The food and beverage items (sample-size portions) are at an additional charge. Purchase tickets by visiting the park’s website.
Taste of Busch Gardens is included for season passholders, though you still need to make a reservation on the park website. Kids age three and under don’t need a ticket or a reservation.
Busch Gardens COVID-19 Rules and Regulations
I was really impressed by the park’s enhanced health and safety procedures and protocols. Rides are routinely sanitized, and there is more distance between each rider. Masks are required. Temperature checks are done before entering the gates. There are “relaxation zones” throughout the park where you can remove your mask (while still be socially distant, of course).
Of course, I was most impressed by the super delicious food choices. As always, Busch Gardens has done a great job of putting together a successful event in a fairly short amount of time (and with all the extra-ness of these times we’re in).
So, if you haven’t been to the park yet, get yourself on out there! This Sunday, September 27, is the last day of the Taste of Busch Gardens event.
