Busch Gardens Williamsburg has announced their plans for 2021! A few of you have messaged me asking why I haven’t published the information yet. It’s because I wanted to take some time to get all the information from all the sources I could find and try to answer your question. Everything in here is a result of press releases, their website and their social media. I hope I can get most of your questions answered!
In happy new for the first time ever the park will be open year round. So those who enjoy the cold and the shorter lines can have a great time. Plus there is going to be King Cake!
What’s Happening With Tickets/Memberships in 2021
PreSchool Passes: If you have a child ages 3-5 you can go ahead and register them for the FREE Preschool Pass. They must be those ages when you register so if your child turns 6 soon DO NOT DELAY. You can click here to see all the information!
Fun Cards: According to social media 2020 Fun Cards have been extended for use until September 12. So if you grabbed a fun card last year it will let you into the park this year! If you want to grab a Fun Card you can see the information here.
Previous Membership Owners: If you had a membership before 2020 your membership has automatically been upgraded. If this is the first you are hearing of it check out my post here. They have said several times on social media that members will be hearing more from them soon.
Bring A Friend for Free Tickets for Membership Holders: According to social media “Your Member Friend for Free tickets will be able to be used starting with the Winter Weekends limited-capacity special event starting Jan. 15!”
Stein Club Memberships: If you bought a Stein Club Membership for 2020 it will be extended for 2021.
What’s New for 2021?
For the first time ever, Busch Gardens will open in January, February and early March for three ALL-NEW limited capacity outdoor special events, Winter Weekends, Mardi Gras & St. Patrick’s Day Celebration. And with the highly anticipated opening of the NEW Pantheon®, the world’s fastest multi-launch coaster, and a packed 2021 event line-up, Busch Gardens will be the place for all things fun, new, and safe in 2021.
Busch Gardens Winter Weekends (Jan 15 – 24) will offer guests a brand new, limited capacity special event featuring dazzling lights, thrilling rides, and inspiring wildlife experiences. Park-goers can celebrate the New Year in a winter wonderland of fun by strolling through villages filled with beautiful lights at night, braving the thrills of thirteen rides including three roller coasters and Sesame Street® Forest of Fun™, encountering unique animals not normally featured at the park, participating in special kid activities, and viewing a spectacular fireworks finale on Saturday evenings. Winter Weekends will be offered Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, Jan. 15 – 24, with day and evening sessions available. Reservations are required and admission is included for Membership, Annual Pass and Fun Card holders. Tickets start at $34.99.
- Stunning Lights at Night – guests can indulge in all things that sparkle with lights adorning eight charming villages. This is the perfect setting to soak in the crisp winter air and all the amazing attractions and entertainment throughout the park’s spacious grounds.
- Fireworks at Night – Saturday night skies ignite with a stunning firework display to cap off evening festivities.
- Animal Experiences – guests will be able to experience up-close encounters with physical distancing measures in place to learn about amazing animals like a capuchin monkey, baby kangaroo, gray fox, lemur, serval, crested porcupine, alligator, and much more. With dozens of different species, guests can connect with their wild side in a whole new way.
- Musical Entertainment – guests will be serenaded by contemporary and interactive musical performances from an a cappella group and Killarney trio.
- Culinary and Beverages – guests can embark on a flavor-filled journey to enjoy animal inspired sweet treats like zebra chocolate drizzled kettle corn, fun cocktails like a Moscow Mule and Salty Dog, a wide variety of specialty brews like Snakebite Stout, and delicious entrée favorites from Das Festhaus.
- For the Kids – a park-wide fur and feathers scavenger hunt will inspire kids to learn about animals and the impact they have on the environment.
If you are curious what a visit is like right now check out my Busch Gardens Williamsburg Covid Visit to see their safety measures.
Mardi Gras (Jan 29 – Feb 28) will have guests indulging in the New Orleans spirit as Busch Gardens lets the good times roll with this ALL-NEW limited capacity special event. Visitors will be transported to where the “Big Easy” meets big thrills as they explore eight decorated villages filled with mouthwatering Cajun food, cocktails, and immersive live entertainment and music. Thirteen roller coasters and attractions, including Sesame Street® Forest of Fun™ will also be available for guests to enjoy. Mardi Gras will be offered Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, Jan. 29 – Feb. 28. Reservations are required and will be available soon, and admission is included for Membership, Annual Pass and Fun Card holders.
- Entertainment – Mardi Gras entertainment is always colorful and dazzling, and the park will capture that carnival atmosphere with street entertainment including a New Orleans Jazz Band, interactive drum band, stilt walkers, comedic jugglers and more.
- Culinary and Beverages – a traditional carnival celebration is not complete without good eats and libations. Guests can start the party with classic NOLA fare, like Cajun sausage and grits and Gumbo, then unwind with a Hurricane cocktail or specialty beer from one of the park’s winter kegs. And no Mardi Gras party would be complete without a taste of popular sweet treats like hot and fresh beignets or the park’s unique take on the traditional king cake.
- Kid Activities – a park-wide masquerade scavenger hunt, activities where kids can decorate their own mask to take home and more surprises just for the little ones.
The New Ride
Pantheon will finally be opening in 2021 after looming over the park all of 2020 dying to be ridden. The world’s fastest multi-launch coaster has just been hanging out in the dark and it’s TIME to see it go! They have not released a date yet but my guess will be during the St. Patrick’s Day Celebration if the weather and circumstances cooperate.
What’s Coming Back?
St. Patrick’s Day Celebration– this should be pretty similar to what they have some the opening weekends each year. Usually there is a first day just for membership holders and then the rest is available to everyone. We will know more about this when reservations open up.
The Food and Wine Festival should be returning April 2nd through May 23rd on Friday, Saturday and Sundays. While they have not released information for this you an check out the Busch Gardens Food and Wine Festival- The Good, The Bad and the REALLY Nasty!
Summer Nights will be June 25th through July 29th. This is what they have done for two summers before. It involves lots of loud music, some strobe lights and smoke machines. While it’s fun it’s not a huge event.
Bier Fest is back July -30 through September 6th. This is also a step back to the normal. Bier Fest usually involves some fun food and lots of local beers as well as education seminars.
Howl-O-Scream will begin September 12th and end October 31st. I missed this so much. During the day they will have The Count’s Spectacular from September 25th through October 31st. If you want to check it out here is my What’s New at Busch Gardens Williamsburg Howl-O-Scream 2019!
Christmas Town will begin November 13th and end January 2nd. I get tingles on my spine just thinking this could happen again this year. If you haven’t been check out my Toll Booth Confusion, A Beautiful Maze, “Believe” I Can’t Believe and More from Christmas Town 2019!
Stay tuned because I am sure we will have more information!
