Busch Gardens Tampa Bourbon & BBQ: Why You Must Visit This New Festival

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If you are like my family and you love theme parks and festivals, then you’ll be excited to learn that Busch Gardens Tampa Bay has a brand new festival!  This brand new event is called Bourbon and BBQ.  It begins this Friday, on July 17, 2024, and runs through September 2, 2024.  It takes place on weekends (Friday through Sunday) as well as Labor Day.

So, what can you expect at this event?  Well, clearly, bourbon and bbq.  But it’s more than just.  We’ll go over some of what you can expect – and you’ll soon learn why you must visit this event!  And of course, because we are Green Vacation Deals, we’ll also tell you how you can save money on tickets!

Drinks

But yes, this event does include bourbon.  As well as other drinks.  Here is a drink menu for the event, divided up by the location you can find the drink.

The Bourbon Barn

Craft Cocktails

• Blackberry Smash: Tasty blackberry puree combined with Buffalo Trace Bourbon
• Corazon Margarita: Corazon Tequila aged specifically for Busch Gardens Tampa Bay in only single Blanton’s Bourbon Barrels
• Traveller Lemonade: Delicious, sweetened lemonade with Traveller Whiskey
• Hibiscus Vodka Mule: Fresh Hibiscus with Wheatley Vodka

Signature Flight

• 4 handcrafted cocktails presented by Buffalo Trace Distillery

Bottled Beer

• Heineken
• Yuengling
• Michelob Ultra

Whiskey Rye

Craft Cocktails

• Blackberry Whiskey Mule
• Watermelon Smash
• The Tea

Non-Alcoholic Drinks

• Coca-cola products
• Smart Water

Full Proof

Craft Cocktails

• Whiskey Sour
• Gold Rush

Beer

• Golden Road Mango Cart
• Coppertail Free Dive

Non-Alcoholic Drinks

• Coca-cola products
• Smart Water

Wood Barrel

Craft Cocktails

• Whiskey Sour
• Watermelon Smash

Beer

• Michelob Ultra
• Yuengling

Non-Alcoholic Drinks

• Coca-cola products
• Smart Water

Cask & Barrel

Craft Cocktails

• Whiskey Smash

Beer

• Blue Moon
• Southern Belle
• Keel Farms Creamsicle

Non-Alcoholic Drinks

• Coca-cola products
• Smart Water

Single Barrel

Beer

• Three Daughters Bleach Blonde
• Keel Farm Watermelon Cider
• Magnanimous Juice Lord
• Hidden Springs Orange Crush

Non-Alcoholic Drinks

• Coca-cola products
• Smart Water

Springs Taproom

• Red Sangria

Food

But of course, there is BBQ too, as well as other food.  Here is a menu for the food:

Whiskey Rye

• Apple Smoked Pork: Apple Brined Pulled Pork topped with a sweet & spicy bourbon BBQ sauce, served with brown sugar baked beans.
• Slow Smoked Beef Chuck: Dry Rubbed Beef Chuck that’s slow cooked & tossed in a Florida-style BBQ sauce, served with a peach-infused cole slaw.
• Pecan Pie: Old fashioned pecan pie.

Cask & Barrel

• Beef Brisket: Chopped Brisket tossed in a key lime ketchup BBQ sauce with a hint of habanero, laid on top of mac & cheese.

• Smoked Chicken: Dry Rubbed Chicken Thighs glazed in a mustard BBQ sauce & served with a creamy house-made potato salad.

Full Proof

• Smoked Salmon: House-smoked salmon over jasmine rice topped with Bulgogi BBQ sauce & sriracha honey drizzle

• Lamb Shank: Tender lamb shank that has been slow-cooked with maple wood & placed on top of buttery red mashed potatoes then finished with a rich dark molasses BBQ sauce.

Single Barrel

Wood Barrel

• Lamb Ribs: Bourbon-brined lamb ribs slow-smoked with a side of sweet cream cornbread & mustard BBQ sauce.

• Smoked Heirloom Tomato Salad: Local heirloom tomatoes that are cold smoked & placed on a bed of mixed greens & then finished with an aged balsamic glaze.

Springs Taproom

• Smoked Chicken Sandwich: Pulled Smoked Chicken topped with peach habanero BBQ sauce on a potato roll & served with Ms. Vicky’s Jalapeno Potato Chips

Concerts

But here’s where the event extends beyond just bourbon and BBQ.  There are concerts performed by local artists throughout the event!  These live concerts take place at the Bourbon & BBQ Coke Canopy Stage.

Here is the schedule of concerts:

• Luna and the Warriors

  • Friday, July 19, 2024

  • Saturday, July 20, 2024

  • Sunday, July 28, 2024
  • Friday, August 9, 2024
  • Friday, August 23, 2024
  • Saturday, August 24, 2024
  • Friday, August 30, 2024
• K-Luv & the United Funk Foundation
  • Sunday, July 21, 2024
  • Friday, August 16, 2024
  • Sunday, August 25, 2024
• Brady Lee
  • Friday, July 26, 2024
  • Saturday, July 27, 2024
• The Rundown
  • Friday, August 2, 2024
  • Saturday, August 3, 2024
  • Sunday, August 4, 2024
• Stella Beat
  • Saturday, August 10, 2024
  • Saturday, August 17, 2024
  • Sunday, August 18, 2024
  • Saturday, August 31, 2024
• Crossfire Creek Band
  • Sunday, August 11, 2024
  • Sunday, September 1, 2024
  • Monday, September 2, 2024

Busch Gardens Discount Tickets

A great thing about the Bourbon and BBQ event is that it is included in admission to Busch Gardens.  And a great thing about that is that tickets to Busch Gardens are currently on sale!  You can save up to 50% on Busch Gardens tickets as part of their summer sale.  So buy your tickets now so you can attend Bourbon and BBQ this summer!