Busch Gardens Tampa Mardi Gras – A Festival of Flavor & Fun

Get ready to let the good times roll! Mardi Gras at Busch Gardens Tampa is here to spice things up, infusing the park with the vibrant spirit of Bourbon Street. Running on select dates until March 3, this year’s event is a dazzling explosion of flavors, fun, and music. From tantalizing culinary treats to lively characters, a shower of beads, and the soul-stirring rhythms of a genuine brass band, there’s a world of excitement for everyone. 

Dive into the heart of the celebration with us as we explore the most thrilling highlights of Mardi Gras at Busch Gardens!

Mardi Gras Food & Drink

Mardi Gras isn’t just a party; it’s a culinary journey! At the heart of Busch Gardens Tampa’s celebration lies a smorgasbord of New Orleans delicacies. Imagine wandering through an aromatic maze of food and drink cabins, each beckoning with the promise of authentic Southern flavors. Here, you can indulge in classic favorites like rich gumbo, spicy jambalaya, fluffy beignets, and hearty po’boy sandwiches. But that’s not all – this year’s festival introduces an exciting lineup of new treats and beverages, each offering a taste of the Big Easy’s legendary cuisine. Ready your appetites for a feast that’s as vibrant and lively as Mardi Gras itself! Here are some of our favorites: 

• Louisiana Hot Shrimp –  New Orleans spiced shrip served with cheddar grit cake
• Cajun BBQ Short Ribs – Sow roasted BBQ beef short ribs, served with corn puree
• Crepe Stand – Serving Crepes Suzette (French crepes with caramel sauce, orange slices and soft serve ice cream) and Chicory and Chocolate Crepes (French crepes, chocolate infused with coffee and soft serve ice cream)
• Raspberry French 75 – Gin, Prosecco, Monin Blue Raspberry, citrus juice
• Blackened Chicken Slider -Blackened chicken, spicy bread & butter pickles, lettuce, tomato, served on a Brioche bun

We sampled the jambalaya (one of our favorite dishes at this event), bananas foster beignets, Crepes Suzette, as well as the new Raspberry French 75 beverage, and everything was absolutely delicious! We also loved how the food was served on nice-looking sturdy plates instead of cardboard boats. It’s the little details like these that we love to see.

As usual, sampler lanyards are available for purchase in 5 and 10 punch increments. We always highly recommend purchasing a sampler lanyard as you can really get a lot of bang for your buck on the more expensive food and drink items.

Mardi Gras Entertainment

The food and drink isn’t the only thing at Mardi Gras. There are also many festive characters available for meet and greets with guests throughout the day. There is also a small parade multiple times a day that travels through the festival area, an authentic brass band bringing the exciting sounds New Orleans Jazz, and of course…. BEADS!

Mardi Gras isn’t the only thing happening at Busch Gardens right now. Multiple projects are underway to bring more fun to the park. Let’s take a quick look at what’s going on!

Kangaloom Refurbishment

The kangaroo and wallaby area, Kangaloom, is getting a makeover, which will provide guests with an even better experience meeting these adorable critters from Down Under.

Skyride Update

The wait is almost over… after being closed for an extended period of time, Busch Gardens has announced the Skyride will be reopening to guests on February 2nd! The buckets have received a fresh coat of paint, and ride testing was taking place on the day of our visit. The ride station near Jungala has received new signage as well.

Phoenix Rising Update

Construction of the newest addition to Busch Gardens’ thrilling coaster family, Phoenix Rising, is well underway. Vertical construction has yet to begin, but the coaster track is on-site and ready to go once the ground-clearing work is finished. This inverted family-style coaster will have a height requirement of 42 inches and will feature an on-board sound system with a custom soundtrack created especially for the ride. Phoenix Rising is currently on track to open in Spring 2024.

Around The Park

Lets’s take a quick look around the rest of the park before wrapping things up today.

Let The Good Times Roll

Busch Gardens Tampa Mardi Gras was an unforgettable day filled with joy, music, and culinary delights. Busch Gardens Tampa has once again proven that it’s not just about thrilling rides but also about creating immersive, festive seasonal experiences. So, whether you come for the beads, the beats, or the bites, Busch Gardens Tampa’s Mardi Gras perfectly captures the spirit of New Orleans. Until next time, keep the party spirit alive and let the good times continue to roll!

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