Bands, Brew & BBQ Kicks Off Feb. 8 at Busch Gardens

TAMPA, Fla. (February 3, 2014) – Starting this Saturday, February 8, Bands, Brew & BBQ is back for its seventh straight year, and it’s bigger than ever!
Busch Gardens® Tampa’s smokin’ hot festival is filling every Saturday and Sunday, February 8 through March 9, with an unlimited sampling of more than 100 specialty and craft beers, saucy barbecue from the bay area’s most popular restaurants and live concerts from some of the biggest names in music.

The Gwazi Park stage sizzles with music throughout the day. Headline concerts start at 5 p.m. and the field will open at noon. The full concert area is free to guests and located just behind the Gwazi rollercoaster.

This year’s event kicks off with five time BMI Pop Award-winning artist Jason Derulo, who will be performing chart-topping hits like "Watcha Say," "In My Head," "Ridin' Solo," "Don't Wanna Go Home" and "It Girl."

On Sunday, Feb. 9, the opening weekend of Bands, Brew & BBQ rocks on with Rock-n-Roll Hall of Famer Dickey Betts and Great Southern, followed by The Marshall Tucker Band.

Guests can reserve the best seat in house for their favorite acts with the Bands, Brew & BBQ VIP Ticket. The VIP Ticket is $34.99 per person and includes priority reserved seating at center stage, plus an entrée platter and non-alcoholic beverage at any festival tent location OR an entrée, one side salad, side dish or dessert, and a regular-sized non-alcoholic beverage from any of Busch Gardens’ restaurants. The VIP ticket is available for sale at buschgardens.com and in park at the Adventure Outpost store, located at the front gate.

With more options than ever before, the expanded Beer Festival will feature more than 100 imported, domestic and craft beers. Select brews are available at each of the tents along the Bands, Brew & BBQ pathway, as well as in Gwazi Park.

For those looking to sample several of the specialty brews, unlimited sampling is available from noon to 5:30 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday with a Beer Festival Wristband. Wristbands are $30 per person (ages 21+), or two for $50 for active Busch Gardens Tampa Pass Members, and also include sampling privileges at the Desert Grill restaurant, Crown Colony pub, Garden Gate Café and Zambia Smokehouse.

The festival also serves up a savory series of food tents, with Outback Steakhouse, Smokey Bones Bar & Fire Grill, Penguin Pretzel Factory and local favorite Kojak’s House of Ribs, as well as a selection of Busch Gardens’ own barbecue favorites. Whether hungry for a sampler plate or a hearty platter, guests will have their choice of perfectly prepared chicken, beef, ribs, sides and more!

Can’t decide which performance to attend?  Buy a 2014 Fun Card so you can pay for a day and come back all year to catch them all! It’s the best value for again-and-again access to all of the exciting, big-name entertainment, amazing animal encounters, and world-class thrill rides Busch Gardens has to offer, including Falcon’s Fury™, North America’s tallest freestanding drop tower opening spring 2014. The 2014 Fun Card is valid from the date of purchase through Dec. 31, 2014 and is available online, by calling (888) 800-5447 or at the Busch Gardens’ front gate.

Event talent, dates, times and restaurant partners are subject to change and/or cancellation without notice. Performances are included with any daily admission or annual pass. Additional charges apply to all food and beverage items. Must be 21 years or older to purchase alcoholic beverages. Seating capacity is limited and is on a first-come, first-served basis.Visit buschgardens.com for more information.