The Busch Gardens Food & Wine Festival Returns on March 11 with Festive Food and Drinks, Headlining Concerts, Plus the ALL-NEW World’s Fastest and Steepest Hybrid Roller Coaster, Iron Gwazi
Tampa’s premier spring festival returns on Friday, March 11 at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay’s Food & Wine Festival. With more than 20 NEW delicious dishes to pair with wines, craft brews and cocktails, park guests can explore a variety of flavors while enjoying a diverse concert lineup, including acts for all tastes. The Food & Wine Festival runs Fridays through Sundays from March 11 to May 22 and is included with admission to the park. New this year, guests can indulge in savory bites like Hawaiian BBQ pork with coconut jasmine rice and Flamin’ Hot Cheetos elote street corn. Complete with signature cocktails like the Iron Gwazi Fizz or frozen watermelon margaritas, a selection of more than 40 wines and beers, this year’s menu offers an endless variety of flavors to sip and savor. The Busch Gardens Food & Wine Festival includes non-alcoholic beverages such as the new Gwazi snow cones with unique flavors like black raspberry and cotton candy. Discover boundless combinations of food and drink selections with a Food & Wine Festival sampler. Guests can embark on their culinary journey with a 10-sample lanyard starting at only $65 or take it up a notch and with the fan favorite 15-sample lanyard for the best savings. Busch Gardens Pass Members get the VIP treatment and can purchase an exclusive Pass Member lanyard including 18 samples for the price of the 15-sample lanyard. Music Lineup Features Something for Every Taste The can’t miss Food & Wine Festival lineup features chart-topping musicians with genres of all tastes – from nostalgic bands to national headliners. Concert acts include Sean Paul, 3 Doors Down, Kansas, Air Supply, Gente De Zona, plus many more! Concerts are included in park admission. For the best seats in the house, reserved seating is strongly recommended and can be purchased online. See website for the complete lineup and latest updates. With chef-curated tastes, live concerts, plus all-new thrills like Iron Gwazi, there’s never been a better time to become a Pass Member. Annual Pass Members enjoy 12 months of visits with special benefits including exclusive access to Iron Gwazi now, plus free parking, free guest tickets, access to special VIP events, savings on merchandise and more! Annual Passes start as low as $13/month with no down payment. Restrictions apply. Plus, guests can pay for a day and play all year with a Busch Gardens Fun Card. For a limited time, a Busch Gardens Fun Card includes Adventure Island FREE. To view the full menu, concert lineup and other event details, guests can head to https://buschgardens.com/tampa/events/food-and-wine-festival/. As the park prepares for a thrilling spring season, it will also be hosting on-site hiring events February 24 – 26 and March 3 - 5. Eligible positions can receive up to a $1,500 sign-on bonus, in addition to existing perks like free tickets, flexible scheduling, after-hours ride events, and much more. Walk-ins welcome. To apply online, visit buschgardensjobs.com. Park begins 37th season on March 12 PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (Thursday, February 24, 2022) — Many Dollywood Parks & Resorts guests ask what happens during the winter months at the popular Pigeon Forge destination. For many employees across the company’s properties, the “off season” is anything but time off. With several projects occurring simultaneously this winter, a number of new sights will greet guests when the park opens to all season passholders March 11 for Season Passholder Day and March 12 for the general public. Yesterday, members of the media toured Dollywood, Dollywood’s Splash Country and the newest property in the company’s portfolio, the under-construction Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge & Resort. Eugene Naughton, The Dollywood Company President, led the tour and explained why the projects are crucial to maintaining the company’s growing reputation as a top national destination. “As the stature of Dollywood—and our area in general—continues to increase, our guests’ expectations elevate also,” said Naughton. “Last off season, we completed several projects that were designed to enhance the guest experience to a greater level. Additionally, we identified several other projects that we were able to complete during the 2021 operating season, like the reconstruction of Hickory House BBQ to maximize efficiencies and decrease wait times. “We selected a number of projects for this off season that we felt were crucial for the guest experience and for park infrastructure in general. Guests will start to notice the changes as soon as they drive onto the property. We’ve reconfigured our parking complex to better utilize the lots at both Dollywood and Dollywood’s Splash Country to provide a more efficient experience for guests as they enter our property.” The principal change guests will see is the swapping of the guest traffic lanes with the tram lanes, which removes previous points of intersection between the two. The multi-property parking complex now employs a one-way circuit which eliminates the two-way traffic pattern of the old parking lot layout. Also, the addition of two extra parking toll booths (four attendants), as well as more staging lanes for the toll booths, will result in a reduction of time spent waiting to enter the property. Other projects throughout the Dollywood theme park property include the renovation of Iron Horse Pizza (formerly known as Victoria’s Pizza) to include greater production capacity and more seating space for guests. The Emporium also receives a complete makeover, providing a modern shopping experience as guests look to find unique Dollywood keepsakes. As guests have continued to ask for more room to provide spacing in the park, two buildings have been removed to allow for wider walkways —the former Eagle Shop (part of the second phase of the Craftsman’s Valley widening project) and the former Christmas Cottage in Rivertown Junction. Additionally, the tunnel connecting lower Craftsman’s Valley to The Village has been removed, with the final result providing guests a location to spread out—perhaps while enjoying a loaf of cinnamon bread from the nearby Grist Mill—and have an up-close and unobstructed view of the Dollywood Express as it passes by. “As our park continues to expand, we must regularly address the areas of the park that have been here longer,” Naughton explained. “We put much thought into every project we undertake, considering guest appeal, current practicality and future lifespan to determine what takes precedence. We know the mine tunnel was a popular landmark for guests, but its removal was necessary at this time. We feel the new widened pathway will offer a great place to watch the Dollywood Express—which is one of our most popular attractions—as it leaves and returns to The Village. I hope we’ll have generations of guests who make fond memories in this area.” The construction projects are not limited to Dollywood theme park, however. Little Creek Falls, one of the first attractions guests may notice when visiting Dollywood’s Splash Country, is undergoing a makeover. When the park opens in May, the area will be transformed into a splash pad, making the area more accessible and able to provide years of play and fun for people of all abilities. Members of the media also visited the site of Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge & Resort as construction continues toward its slated opening in fall 2023. The first project in the 10-year, $500 million expansion plan announced in June 2021, HeartSong Lodge & Resort ushers in a new period of growth for The Dollywood Company. The 302-room, five-story resort will be a one-of-a-kind getaway that welcomes the outdoors in thanks to high ceilings, exposed beams and natural layered textures. Dollywood’s 37th season is one of excitement thanks to returning guest favorites, new experiences to enjoy and the fun of one of America’s best theme parks. Dollywood’s Flower & Food Festival presented by Covenant Health (April 22- June 5) delights guests with hundreds of thousands of brilliant flowers, truly bringing spring in the Smokies alive throughout the park. In 2022, this event blooms with even more fun and discovery around every corner, thanks to several new larger-than-life Mosaicultures floral sculptures. Returning guest-favorite Mosaicultures include the butterfly umbrella, various animal scenes and Dolly’s mother sewing together the Coat of Many Colors. Guests again are greeted by a stunning visual upon arrival, as hundreds of colorful umbrellas are suspended above Showstreet to create a dazzling “Umbrella Sky.” In addition to the beautiful flowers, a wide-selection of culinary creations abound to delight guests’ taste buds with a menu full of items inspired by spring in the Smokies. This event was named the inaugural winner of the IAPPA (International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions) Brass Ring Award for Best New Food and Beverage Festival or Special Event in 2021. Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Summer Celebration (June 18-Aug. 7) is a festive summertime event that features unique family experiences that can only be found in the heart of the Smokies. With extended operating hours each evening, families can ride Dollywood’s world-class roller coasters, including Lightning Rod and Wild Eagle all day and well into the night. After rave reviews following its debut in 2021, Dollywood’s Sweet Summer Nights—a first-of-its-kind within the industry—returns with a show that combines hundreds of high-tech drones with a world-class fireworks show to put an exclamation point on the evening. During the day, guests also can enjoy one of the most popular Dollywood shows of all time, Gazillion Bubble Show: Aurora. This awe-inspiring show promises to leave every child and child-at-heart with a smile on their face, thanks to “gazillions” of bubbles and guest interactions that make up every performance. New and unique elements throughout the park enhance the summer fun for guests with new decor elements like the all-new Kite Sky, unexpected splash and play elements, colorful kids play activities in The Village, a bubble foam party in Wilderness Pass, and an unparalleled and interactive art installation that invites guests to spin on life-size tops in Wildwood Grove. A family tradition for many families, Dollywood’s Harvest Festival presented by Humana (Sept. 23- Oct. 29) celebrates the beauty of fall in the Smokies with thousands of carved pumpkins, spirited performances from talented artists and the fun of Great Pumpkin LumiNights presented by Covenant Health. Great Pumpkin LumiNights, which previously has been named the best theme park harvest event in the world, features elaborate displays that create the picture-perfect photo op for families to enjoy. New in 2022, guests will have a hoot in Craftsman’s Valley as it transforms into Hoot Owl Hollow with owl-themed displays both in the park and suspended in the trees above. It has earned one of the industry’s highest awards—the Golden Ticket—for 13 years, and once guests enter the gates, they understand why Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas presented by Humana (Nov. 5, 2022- Jan. 1, 2023) is the perfect place to get in the Christmas spirit. Wander through the park’s more than five million holiday lights, enjoy the festive holiday performances and warm Christmas atmosphere or taste the holiday-themed food, and it is easy to see why it has become a family tradition for so many. With so much new to experience in 2022, it is the perfect season for a Dollywood season pass. To accommodate the ever-evolving needs of Dollywood guests, a new season pass structure featuring several new pass types has been created to allow more options for visitors to tailor their experience. The Dollywood Silver Season Pass starts at $149 and includes two Bring-a-Friend Free tickets and a discount on Dollywood lodging. For just $55 more, guests can opt for the Dollywood Gold Season Pass. The Gold Pass—which is priced $30 less than a 2021 Gold Season Pass—represents a tremendous value for guests thanks to Saturday Early Ride Time for the passholder, four Bring-A-Friend Free tickets, and discounts on dining, merchandise, and lodging. In addition, the Gold Pass provides free parking, various other discounts and access to special “Golden Events,” exclusive events just for Gold and Diamond passholders. Only the named passholder can receive the perks associated with each pass type. Diamond Season Passes, which provide a premium experience for guests, have already sold out for the 2022 season. Gold and Diamond Pass Holders can take advantage of another exciting new perk created for the 2022 season, Dollywood’s new daily “Golden Hours.” During the first hour of each operating day, Gold and Diamond Season Passes will operate just like TimeSaver passes, allowing the named passholder expedited boarding on Dollywood’s world-class rides and attractions. For more information about Dollywood’s 2022 season or season passes, please visit Dollywood.com or download the Dollywood app. -Dollywood2022- About Dollywood Parks & Resorts: A highly-awarded and widely-recognized leader in the amusement industry, The Dollywood Company consists of the 160-acre Dollywood theme park; the 35-acre Dollywood’s Splash Country; Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa; and Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Cabins. Currently under construction, Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge & Resort is scheduled for completion in 2023. As unique as its namesake and owner Dolly Parton, Dollywood is the 2010 Applause Award winner, the theme park industry’s highest accolade; winner of 45 Golden Ticket Awards; and recipient of 28 Brass Ring Awards for Live Entertainment (more than any other theme park in the world). The park is located near Great Smoky Mountains National Park and has been named a top-three U.S. theme park by USA Today on multiple occasions and a top-10 world theme park by TripAdvisor. Dollywood is open mid-March through early January and offers rides and attractions, shows and crafters authentic to the East Tennessee region. Dollywood’s Splash Country, recognized by the Travel Channel and TripAdvisor as one of the country’s most beautiful water parks, operates from mid-May to Labor Day. Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa, a favorite of USA Today voters and TripAdvisor reviewers, provides guests with spectacular mountain views and family-friendly amenities next door to Dollywood theme park and Dollywood’s Splash Country. Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Cabins offers luxurious cabin accommodations overlooking Dollywood. For more information, visit dollywood.com. Operating days and hours vary. New Cedar Point Experiences Announced; Winter Chill Out Guests Raise Over $78,000 for A Kid Again2/24/2022
SANDUSKY, Ohio (Feb. 24, 2022) – As Cedar Point continues to build upon its multi-day destination offerings and vision, the park is preparing for the upcoming season by introducing completely renovated and transformed hotel properties, new dining options and the implementation of new touchless transaction technology. Guests of this Saturday’s Winter Chill Out event will be among the first to see and learn about the park’s new additions. The sold out fundraising event features behind-the-scenes tours, special giveaways and the chance to walk through the park in the silence of winter. All ticket proceeds for Winter Chill Out are donated to A Kid Again, an organization that fosters hope, happiness and healing for families raising kids with life-threatening illnesses. Some of the new experiences coming to Cedar Point in 2022 include: Castaway Bay by Cedar Point Resorts Located just off of the Cedar Point Peninsula, the all-new Castaway Bay indoor waterpark hotel will debut. From exterior colors and styling to the carpets up to the ceiling, the finishing touches are being put on the entire resort, with new surprises for families to explore. On each floor, the themes of land, sea and air connect seamlessly to guest rooms, hallways and interior spaces. A cast of animal characters will be along for the adventure, including Gordy the sea turtle and his many friends. Throughout the resort, new dining options, new activities like mini bowling and the popular indoor waterpark, with its 10 attractions, will be perfect for young families. Castaway Bay is scheduled to open in May. For more information, guests can visit castawaybay.com. Sawmill Creek by Cedar Point Resorts Surrounded by 200 acres of woodlands and just a short 10-minute drive from Cedar Point, the all-new Sawmill Creek will welcome guests back this summer. Completely renovated and transformed, Sawmill Creek’s 239 guest rooms, 18-hole Tom Fazio-designed golf course, new dining experiences, Lake Erie marina, resort pool and 35,000 square feet of flexible indoor event space are all available for casual stays, family vacations, major events or a week-long retreat. Sawmill Creek is scheduled to open this summer. For more information, guests can visit sawmillcreekresort.com. Guests of Sawmill Creek and Castaway Bay enjoy the benefits of staying at a Cedar Point Resorts property, including Early Entry to Cedar Point and special ticket packages not found anywhere else. The Farmhouse Kitchen & Grill As Cedar Point continues to elevate the dining experience throughout the park, the new Farmhouse Kitchen & Grill is the latest addition to the dining lineup. Located in the heart of Frontier Town, it will serve a variety of hand-made options, including roasted corn ribs, house-made chili, char-roasted flank steak with chimichurri, roasted seasonal vegetables, hushpuppies, cast iron brownie a-la-mode and more. The Farmhouse Kitchen & Grill will also serve a rotating featured item prepared by the park’s culinary team. The new outdoor seating spaces surrounding The Farmhouse Kitchen & Grill will provide panoramic views of Frontier Town, with Maverick, Town Square, Mine Ride, Skyhawk and the shops of Frontier Town in the distance. A new stage will feature a variety of entertainment at select times throughout the summer. Derby Dogs & Coasters Drive-In With the thrill of racing on the historic Cedar Downs Racing Derby right next door, guests can celebrate victory with custom hot dog creations at the new Derby Dogs. The menu features a choice of jumbo or footlong all-beef hot dogs, a trio of mini hot dogs, or Italian sausage, with custom topping choices of bacon, onions, chili, sauerkraut, avocado halves, cole slaw, jalapenos, tomatoes, shredded cheeses and more. Over at Coasters Drive-In, one of the park’s most popular dining locations, an interior transformation will debut this season. Improved for enhanced speed of service, Coasters Drive-In will serve hand-made burgers, milkshakes and feature a toppings bar for a variety of custom combinations. Coasters Drive-In will also feature rotating sandwich and salad specials with a nod to the diner’s old school theme. Celebrate Cedar Point Parade & Spectacular Cedar Point’s legacy and history will be visually showcased in the Celebrate Cedar Point Parade & Spectacular. Featuring 12 massive floats that highlight landmarks or significant moments in the park’s history, the multi-sensory parade will travel up and down the Main Midway, pausing occasionally as characters and performers interact and dance with guests. In addition to the parade, a Cedar Point-sized party will take place in Celebration Plaza with an immersive stage show complete with live performers, special effects, vibrant costumes and larger-than-life pyrotechnics. The Celebrate Cedar Point Parade & Spectacular will run June 24 through Aug. 14. PEANUTS® @ The Point The former Snoopy® Boutique along the Main Midway will be reintroduced as PEANUTS @ The Point, a themed shopping spot featuring exclusive PEANUTS wearables, collectibles and park-exclusive PEANUTS merchandise. From sweatshirts to soft, plush iterations of the world’s most famous beagle, Snoopy, PEANUTS @ The Point will have something for every fan of the revered comic strip characters. Going Cashless This season, Cedar Point will be exclusively cashless for all transactions within the park and its surrounding properties. The cashless transactions are safe, quick and will significantly improve the guest experience at dining, retail and point-of-sale spots throughout the park. Guests who bring cash to the park can convert it into a prepaid debit card that can be used anywhere – not just inside the park – with no fees. For more information on Cedar Point’s cashless program, visit cedarpoint.com/cashless. Summer Events Return Kicking off the unofficial start to summer, Frontier Festival returns May 26 – June 19. This street festival in Frontier Town is a celebration of hope, health and harvest with live bands, games for the family, character entertainment and more than 20 hand-crafted menu items to taste. Craft brews, spiked seltzers and signature cocktails will complement the wide variety of Frontier Festival foods. Cedar Point Nights returns to the famous mile-long Cedar Point Beach July 29 – Aug. 21. The nighttime glow beach party features larger-than-life games, live entertainment and an immersive lakeside dining experience. Daily Tickets just $45 Right now, Cedar Point daily admission tickets are just $45 (plus applicable taxes and fees) when purchased online. Guests are encouraged to visit the Cedar Point website throughout the season, where the best price on daily park tickets will be found. However, the best value for an entire season of fun is the 2022 Cedar Point Gold Pass, offering admission to Cedar Point and Cedar Point Shores Waterpark, free parking, discounts, Early Entry and additional perks for just $135 (plus applicable taxes and fees). For more information on the 2022 season or to purchase tickets and Season Passes, guests should visit cedarpoint.com. Parks Pay Up to $18 Per Hour for Fun, Fast-Paced Jobs JACKSON, N.J. ─ February 23, 2022 ─ Six Flags Great Adventure will host a spring hiring event March 5 from 11 am to 7 pm in the Employment Center. Candidates can gain immediate interviews and land thrilling jobs in more than 10 diverse departments including rides, food service, animal education and lifeguarding in preparation for the Six Flags Wild Safari’s opening March 19, Six Flags Great Adventure’s opening April 2 and Six Flags Hurricane Harbor’s opening May 14. Availability & Eligibility:
How to Apply:
Fast-Tracked Hiring & Training:
For more information on Six Flags Great Adventure, Wild Safari and Hurricane Harbor, visit www.sixflags.com/greatadventure The festival features more than two dozen new boysenberry food and drink creations, an expansive selection of entertainment and fun activities for the whole family BUENA PARK, CA. – The Knott's Boysenberry Festival is our annual food-inspired event that celebrates the park's historic roots by highlighting the little berry that started it all, the boysenberry. Guests will have the opportunity to indulge in a tantalizing lineup of dishes ranging from savory foods with a boysenberry twist to one-of-a-kind specialty desserts and drinks that you can only find at Knott's Berry Farm during this time of the year. In addition to the numerous food and drink offerings, the Knott's Boysenberry Festival offers a wide selection of local crafters, live music, musical stage shows and fun activities for guests of all ages to enjoy. The Knott's Boysenberry Festival runs a full extra week this year starting March 18, operating daily through April 24, 2022. This year's event will introduce entirely new food offerings featuring a selection of more than two dozen food and drink items. A few new items to note include:
A great way to indulge in the new boysenberry food items during the festival is by purchasing a tasting card priced at $50 (or $45 for season pass holders). The tasting card will offer six tastings from a selection of 25 boysenberry-inspired dishes and drinks. A variety of signature boysenberry items will also be available for purchase a la carte. Tasting cards are available at Knotts.com or at the theme park. Guests can also create over 75 unique boysenberry-inspired creations with limited edition merchandise found throughout the park. This year's new merchandise includes a selection of packaged food items perfect for take-home souvenirs like the new boysenberry microbrew BBQ sauce, boysenberry crème brulé coffee, boysenberry brownie cookies, boysenberry pepper bacon spread and boysenberry balsamic grilling glaze. The Berry Market, located in the California Marketplace, also features signature boysenberry items like the refreshing boysenberry sarsaparilla and our classic jams and preserves. Unique boysenberry-inspired artisan products will also be available at the Boysenberry Festival Craft Fair returning with 30 local craft vendors. Each crafter features its own boysenberry-themed items. Knott's Boysenberry Festival also offers endless entertainment throughout the park. From musical performances to fun interactive games, there is something for every member of the family to enjoy. Guests are invited to join Snoopy, Charlie Brown and the entire Peanuts Gang in the musical stage show Snoopy's Boysenberry Jamboree! The show is sure to have families dancing and singing along at the Calico Mine Stage
The Boysenberry Festival is included with admission to Knott's Berry Farm or with a special Knott's Hotel Boysenberry Package that includes overnight accommodations steps from the park, a tasting card, parking and more. Additional costs apply for food tasting experiences within the event. Knott's will have extended hours on select days March 18 – April 24, allowing guests extra time to take advantage of the limited-time offerings. The best way to savor every day of the Knott's Boysenberry Festival and all of the other Seasons of Fun is with a 2022 Season Pass! Get unlimited visits, food and merchandise discounts, plus so much more! For more information about Knott's Berry Farm, please visit knotts.com or download the Knott's Berry Farm app for your smartphone. Join the conversation using the hashtag #BoysenberryFestival About Knott’s Berry Farm and Cedar Fair Entertainment Company: What began as a roadside berry stand and chicken dinner restaurant in the 1920s has evolved into Knott’s Berry Farm, one of Southern California’s most popular theme park destinations combining world-class thrill rides with traditional family favorite attractions and entertainment. Knott’s is also home to Knott’s Soak City Water Park, Knott’s Marketplace, and the full-service Knott’s Berry Farm Hotel. Knott’s Berry Farm is owned and operated by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company (NYSE: FUN), one of the largest regional amusement-resort operators in the world, is a publicly traded partnership headquartered in Sandusky, Ohio. Focused on its mission to make people happy by providing fun, immersive and memorable experiences, the Company owns and operates 11 amusement parks, four outdoor water parks, an indoor water park and resort accommodations totaling more than 2,300 rooms and more than 600 luxury RV sites. Its parks are located in Ohio, California, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Missouri, Michigan, Texas and Toronto, Ontario. It also operates an additional theme park in California under a management contract. |
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