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As we enter the light at the end of the tunnel of the pandemic, there are new possibilities on the horizon and businesses are ready to launch new projects. Busch Gardens Tampa Bay announced today that they will be opening a new bar at the theme park with an inside and outside concept that overlooks their Serengeti Plain called The Giraffe Bar.
This bar will come with exciting new options, such as craft cocktails, beers, and also wine that benefits conservation and environmental efforts all with a pandoramic view of all the animals at the theme park.
The indoor-outdoor concept is smart considering how the pandemic has reshaped the way businesses look at the future in case the nation finds itself embattled again with a virus in the future. The addition of air-conditioning is also critical considering how hot it can get in the summer while exploring the theme park.
The theme park also announced there will be televisions that will broadcast sports games which is probably a dream come true to all the sports fans out there who also want to take their families or kids out for a day. Not too shabby for “Champa Bay” that recently won both the Stanley Cup and the Super Bowl.
Food selections at the bar will include options such as shareable bites, with bourbon-glazed sticky wings, braised brisket mac and cheese, and smoked brisket-loaded French fries. For vegetarians there will be shareable items, such as loaded hummus and fresh oversized Bavarian soft pretzels with hopefully more options on the way.
The soft opening for The Giraffe Bar is planned for March 19th, 2021, with more food options hinted at in the future for the theme park as they aim to regain momentum as the COVID-19 pandemic begins to wind down.
Annual Food and Wine Festival Happening Now
Busch Gardens is also celebrating their annual Food and Wine Festival right now at the theme park through April 25th. The festival features over 110 items to sample, including 20+ new dishes, 50+ wine, beer and seltzers offerings for all tastes, as well as 20+ cocktails to choose from. A number of sampler lanyards are available for sale from the theme park to enjoy discounted food and drink items at the event.
Some new items on the menu at the festival include a Five-Spice Duck Lettuce Wraps with Asian Pear Slaw, Plum Sauce Drizzle, Lollipop Chicken Drum with Sticky Honey Whiskey Glaze, Korean BBQ Pork Ribs with Slow Roasted, BBQ Sauce, Daikon Slaw, and Hummingbird Donuts with Apple Cider Red Velvet Dough, Sweet Bourbon Caramel, Pecans.
New drinks at the festival include a Frozen Rum Mai Tai made with Cutwater Bali Hai Tiki Gold Rum, Triple Sec, Orgeat, Lime Juice and Frozen Hawaiian Pineapple Express with Ocean Organic Hawaiian Vodka, Pineapple, Mint, Lemon, and Honey. Some other creations include a Montu Margarita, Lion’s Lemonade, Monkey Around, Puffin Punch, and Stone Fruit Frosé.
Nationally recognized music acts are scheduled to perform at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay every Saturday in March and April during the Food and Wine Festival. Upcoming music acts include Parmalee, Dylan Scott, Sugar Ray, Sister Hazel, Tito Nieves, and more. VIP passes to the music acts are available for $39.99 and include reserved seating and a 5-item sampler lanyard as well as a private bar experience.
Reservations are currently required to the theme park in observance of COVID-19 protocols. Discounts are available for those that register on their website. Single day tickets are currently $89.99, while a 2-park fun card for Busch Gardens and Adventure Island is currently $114.99. Annual theme park passes are also available and start at $12 a month.
Find more information at buschgardens.com/tampa/events/food-and-wine-festival. Busch Gardens is located at 10165 McKinley Drive in Tampa near Interstate 75 Exit 65 and Interstate 275 Exit 50 just near the University of South Florida.
Photo Credit: Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
Carlos Eats 