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Busch Gardens Mardi Gras Party Kicks Off This Weekend

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We don’t need any extra excuses to go enjoy a day or night at Busch Gardens, but if you need one, go this weekend to celebrate Mardi Gras.

It’s Busch Garden’s Mardi Gras, and you won’t be disappointed! The “Big Easy” experience is yours to enjoy right here in Tampa.  It’s happening on January 13th and runs through March 3. Let’s talk about the entertainment. If you don’t want to hop on a plane and travel all the way to New Orleans and hit Bourbon Street for jazz and dancing, this is your best alternative option. You’ll hear live jazz, watch parades, grab some beads, and let’s not forget about the food.

Would you like to try a litte crawfish etouffee? Cajun sausage? How about a shrimp po’ boy? Do you have a sweet tooth? Nothing says Mardi Gras like beignets. My favorite Bourbon Street treat has got to be crepes. You’ll find all of this rich food to indulge in at Busch Gardens.

Hmmm? I feel like I’m forgetting something that makes Mardi Gras a party. Oh, that’s right! The beverages! Try a Hurricane, handcrafted Mardi Gras style. Then you’ll really feel like you are right on Bourbon Street.  If you’re not a fan of the Mardi Gras classic drink, try Busch Gardens specialty drink. It’s called “Throw Me Some Beads” punch, and more.

But may I give you a little warning? Don’t overdo it with all the food and beverages and then decide to go on the coasters. I mean nothing beats the roller coasters at Busch Gardens. They are the best. But maybe check out the animal safari, rather than the Iron Gwazi.

You can take part in all this Mardi Gras fun with a Food & Beverage Sampler Lanyard. You can go for either the 5, 10, or 12-time Lanyard. (The 12-item one is available for pass members.)

If you’d like to buy tickets and attend, click here.

 

Roxanne is a co-host on the MJ Morning Show and host of Middays on Q105 in Tampa Bay. She also hosts segments on The Current, which features local feel-good stories and health and wellness segments, and airs on five of the six Tampa-based Beasley Media Group stations. Roxanne has conducted hundreds of interviews, from athletes to Oscar winners, including Matt Damon, Christian Bale, and Chadwick Boseman. She also specializes in media training, having worked with clients in the NFL, NBA and WWE for television, in print, and online. Roxanne is a published author and will be releasing a thriller novel in 2024. Her favorite thing in the world is being with her two daughters and husband. As a content creator for Q105, Roxanne writes about family activities in the Tampa Bay area, as well as reviews for local restaurants and travel.

5 New Things To Look Forward To In Tampa In 2024

It’s time to close the chapter to 2023 and look forward to the next year. Luckily for us in Tampa, there’s a lot to be excited about in 2024. Be on the lookout for these new businesses and experiences in Tampa Bay next year.

Champa Bay seems to be growing and expanding more and more each year. So many new places and experiences popped up in 2023, and it was hard to keep track. We discovered a bunch of new restaurants, hotels, and adventures that opened up this past year. 2024 might be even better! We get to look forward to new restaurants and bars, roller coasters, and so many big acts playing Tampa venues (just to name a few). With the help of Creative Loafing and That’s So Tampa, we made a list of 5 things to look forward to in Tampa in 2024

Related: 7 New Restaurants That Opened In Tampa This Year

To help make this list, we got some of our inspiration from Creative Loafing. They told us 20 new restaurants to look out for in 2024. A couple of them made our list, but you can check out the full list here. But we wanted to expand more on things to get excited about in Tampa for next year.

2023 in review:

Tampa had a lot of growth in 2023, leaving us excited for what’s to come. This year we said “hello” to many new businesses and attractions including the tallest rooftop bar in Tampa, new restaurants with Michelin-star chefs, changes to our favorite theme park, and more. We also said “goodbye” to some of our favorite businesses and athletes who got traded to other teams (like Pat Maroon on the Tampa Bay Lightning and Ji-man Choi on the Rays).

Thinking of moving to Tampa in 2024?

One of the great things about Tampa is it’s constantly changing for the better. But that also means it’s becoming a really competitive market for those looking to move here. One thing we can count on with all of these new additions of 5-star restaurants and new affordable and luxury housing is that more people will surely be packing their things and heading to the Tampa Bay area. If you plan on making the move next year, check out some of our realistic advise before making the move.

Here are 5 new things to look forward to in Tampa for 2024

  • New Restaurants

    We’ve already told you about some of the new places we’re excited to see open in 2024. Coffee enthusiasts can get excited for a famous west coast coffee chain to open in Tampa next year. Dutch Bros coffee will be coming to the Ballast Point sometime in 2024. Learn more about that here.

    Water street will continue to grow with the highly anticipated Italian-inspired restaurant Ash opening in the early spring. The Edition will also be gaining a new cocktail lounge called Alter Ego. This spot will offer an energetic vibe with a curated musical experience.

    A few of Tampa’s staple restaurants will be opening second locations across the bridge in St. Pete. Now there will be an Olivia and Forbici in the burg!

    A brown coffee and green energy drink outside of a Dutch Bros Coffee shop.

    Dutch Bros drinks outside of a location.

     

  • More Fun At Busch Gardens and Adventure Island

    Tampa’s favorite theme parks are also making some changes in 2024. Phoenix Rising is a new family-friendly coaster coming to Busch Gardens in the spring of 2024 in the Pantopia area of the park.

    Adventure Island is also adding a new interactive splash and play area opening in Spring of 2024. Castaway Falls is the ideal play and relax spot for kids of all ages.

     

  • New Encounters At ZooTampa

    Earlier this year ZooTampa announced a $125 million expansion with multiple new habitats. First up on the expansion is the Stingray in-water experience. The Wallaroo are is also being reimagined as Australia with new rides, expanded splash pad, new restaurant and bar and even a wallaby encounter! You can also now reserve your encounter with a clouded leopard where you can witness a training session with the beautiful cat!

     

     

  • Gas Worx Development In Ybor

    Gas Worx is going to be one of the biggest developments in Tampa. The first 317-unit apartment development within Gas Worx is scheduled to be completed in early Spring 2024! Gas Worx will certainly enhance Ybor and make a better connection to Downtown.

  • Concerts, Concerts, Concerts

    There have already been so many awesome concerts announced for 2024. Billy Joel & Sting, Morgan Wallen, Madonna, Bad Bunny, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and more!

     

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