Food & Entertainment Guide: Busch Gardens Tampa Food and Wine Festival for 2022

Theme park food festivals are all the rage, and Busch Gardens Tampa is one of the leaders of the pack with their annual Food and Wine Festival. The popular event returns again for 2022 with its longest run yet, kicking off on March 11 and running through May 22.

This year’s Food and Wine Festival includes over 90 chef and mixologist food and drink items inspired by cultures from around the world.

The popular weekend concert series also returns, with a staggering 22 concerts over 11 weekends. Admission to both the Food and Wine Festival and concerts are included with regular park admission. VIP seating for the concerts is available at an additional cost.

And if food, drink and music isn’t enough, March 11 is also the official opening date of Iron Gwazi! I got to take on this new beast of a coaster during a media preview and it absolutely blew me away!

FIRST LOOK: Iron Gwazi Awakens at Busch Gardens Tampa!

Let’s start by taking a look at the food that will be available. New this year, guests can indulge in savory bites like Hawaiian BBQ pork with coconut jasmine rice and Flamin’ Hot Cheetos elote street corn. Complimenting your meal are 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 also includes non-alcoholic beverages such as the new Gwazi snow cones with unique flavors like black raspberry and cotton candy.

Once again, sampler lanyards will be available for purchase in 10 and 15 punch increments. Passholders can purchase an 18 punch lanyard for the price of a 15 punch. We definitely recommend purchasing a lanyard as you can get a lot of bang for your buck. We suggest using your punches for the higher priced menu items and using cash for non-alcoholic beverages to get the most value out of your card.

Busch Gardens Food and Wine Festival Booths

Let’s take a quick look at what each food and beverage booth will offer: 

Coaster Cocktails

• • Iron Gwazi Fizz – Hendrick’s Gin, Lavender, Lemonade, Grenadine, Blue Curacao, Soda
  • Hybrid Heat – Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Fire, Disaronno, Coca-Cola
  • The 91° Drop – Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Melon Liqueur, Triple Sec, Lemonade

Napa Nook

• • Dark Chocolate Truffle Tart – Wild Raspberries, Whipped Topping
  • Ca’ Momi Chardonnay
  • Oberon Merlot
  • Scattered Peaks Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Chardon Brut
  • Mumm Sparkling Rose

Seasonally Inspired

• • Impossible Mini Avocado Slider – With Smashed Avocado, Roasted Garlic Aioli on a Brioche Bun
  • Sour Orange Glazed Burnt Ends Pork Belly Bites – With Sweet Plantains, Toasted Sesame & Scallions
  • Toasted Coconut Lemon Cheesecake Mousse with Mint & Blueberries

Southern Kitchen

• • Braised Rib Slider – Served on a Jalapeno Cheddar Corn Muffin with Jack Daniels Whiskey Brown Sugar BBQ Sauce, B&B Pickles, & Fried Onions
  • Cajun Garlic Shrimp & Grits – With Smoked Cheddar & Tasso Ham
  • Bavarian Fruit Punch Trifle – With Vanilla Cake, Banana Pudding, Pineapple, Wild Cherries, Toasted Coconut and Whipped Topping

Vino Vidi Vici

• • La Perlina Moscato
  • Borgo Scopeto Chianti
  • Allegrini Valpolicella
  • Peroni Italian Beer

All American Eats

• • Game Time!!! Mini Bison Cheeseburger – With Wild Blackberry Preserve, Pinot Noir Caramelized Onions & Midnight Blue
  • Creamy Lobster White Cheddar KRAFT Mac ‘n’ Cheese – With Lobster Bisque & Lobster
  • 24K Double Chocolate Whoopie Pie – Marshmallow Cream, Chocolate Drizzle, Chocolate Pearls

Springs Creamery

• • Brownie Fundae!!! – With Madagascar Vanilla Ice Cream, Chocolate Fudge, Caramel, Whipped Topping, Shaved Chocolate & Macerated Cherries
  • Chocolate Cookie Waffle Cone – With Oreo Cookie Crumbs, Chocolate Drizzle, Sprinkles & Whipped Topping
  • Sangria Float – With Madagascar Vanilla Ice Cream, Club Soda, Brandy Cherries & Edible Flowers

West Coast Catch

• • Flamin’ Hot Cheetos Elote Street Corn – with Avocado Lime Crema, Tajin & Cotija
  • Harvest Chipotle BBQ Shrimp Tacos – with Creamy Ranch Slaw, Pipian Sauce & Cotija
  • Orange Flan

Pepin Garden (Garden Gate Cafe)

And, of course, a park previously owned by a beer company has plenty of adult beverages: 

• • Bud Light
  • Corona
  • Michelob Ultra
  • Estrella Damm
  • TBBC Reef Donkey APA
  • 3 Daughters Beach Blonde Ale
  • Piña Colada – Flor De Caña Rum, Coconut Créme, Pineapple
  • Strawberry Daiquiri – Flor De Cana Rum, Fresh Strawberries
  • Tampa Vice – Flor De Caña Rum, Blend of Piña Colada & Daiquiri
  • Frozen Watermelon Margarita – Milagro Tequila, Watermelon, Lime
  • Frozen Stingray – Tito’s Handmade Texas Vodka, Melon Liqueur, Pineapple, Coconut, Lime

Tastings

Bourbons:

• • Elijah Craig
  • Angels Envy
  • Horse Solider
  • Ammunition

Wine Flight:

• • Ca’Momi Chardonnay
  • Notorious Pink Grenache Rose
  • Intercept Pinot Noir
  • 3 Finger Jack Rum Barrel Aged Red Blend

Xcursions Cupcakes

• • Black Berry Pinot Noir
  • Orange Creamsicle
  • Strawberry Short Cake
  • Havana (Guava & Cream Cheese)

NOLA Sweets

• • Bourbon Pecan Pie – With Sea Salt Caramel Drizzle & Whipped Topping
  • Banana Foster Beignets – With Bourbon Chocolate Sauce & Whipped Topping (we LOVED this offering during the Mardi Gras event and glad to see it stick around for Food and Wine)

Hurricanes

• • Frozen Traditional Hurricane
  • Iced Traditional Hurricane
  • Mango Passionfruit Hurricane

NOLA Eats

• • Beer Battered Shrimp Po’Boy – With Lettuce & Lemon Cajun Remoulade
  • Buffalo Chicken Po’boy – With Lettuce, Blue Cheese & Ranch Dressing
  • Jockamo Juicy IPA
  • Smoked Bloody Mary

Yuengling Butchery

• • Urban Duck Fries – With Duck Confit, Parmesan Cheese, Fresh Herbs & Roasted Garlic Aioli
  • New Hawaiian BBQ Pulled Pork – With Coconut Jasmine Rice, Pineapple Serrano Relish & Cilantro
  • Yuengling beer
  • Yuengling Flight Light Lager

Gwazi Field Spirits

• • Puffin Punch – Tito’s Vodka, Watermelon Juice, Lavender Syrup, Lime
  • Monkey Around – Monkey Shoulder Whiskey, Amaretto, Coconut Cream, Pineapple & Orange Juices
  • Honey Bee Hurricane – Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum, Passion Fruit Puree, Monin Hibiscus syrup, Lemon
  • Montu Margarita – Milagro Tequila, Monin Blueberry Syrup, Pineapple Juice, Citrus Sour
  • Lion’s Lemonade – Hendrick’s Gin, Lemonade, Sparkling Water

Busch Gardens Food and Wine Festival Entertainment

This year’s concert lineup features acts ranging from nostalgic bands to national headliners – there’s a little something for all musical tastes! Let’s take a look at who will be performing.

• March 11 – Sean Paul
• March 12 – American Authors

• March 13 – Boyce Avenue
• March 26 – Scott Stapp
• March 27 – The Purple Xperience: Prince Tribute

• April 2 – Rodney Atkins
• April 3 – Air Supply

• April 9 – Coming Soon
• April 10- Chris Janson
• April 16 – Fleetwood Max: Fleetwood Mac Tribute
• April 17 – Hotel California: Eagles Tribute
• April 23 – Kansas
• April 24 – Clint Black

• April 30 – 3 Doors Down
• May 1 – Fab Four: The Ultimate Tribute (Beatles tribute)

• May 6 – Latin Explosion: Selena, Santana & Gloria Estefan Tribute
• May 7 – Jenny and the Mexicats
• May 8 – Grupo Cañaveral de Humberto Pabón
• May 14 – Jerry Riveria
• May 15 – Gente de Zona
• May 21 – Coming Soon
• May 22 – Tito Nieves

Have a great festival season everyone. For a look at some of the other park offerings we’ve been profiling this season, be sure to check out the following: 

EPCOT Flower And Garden Festival Food Guide 2022!

https://www.micechat.com/314139-disney-california-adventure-food-wine-festival-2022/

https://www.micechat.com/315027-knotts-boysenberry-festival-2022-preview/