Yesterday, we told you how Busch Gardens Tampa is staging its annual Howl-O-Scream Halloween event this year. Today, let's head up the coast to look at what's coming for the season at Busch Gardens Williamsburg in Virginia.
The park announced today that Busch Gardens Halloween Harvest will run on select days from October 1 through November 1. As with previous Busch Gardens Williamsburg events during the pandemic, this limited-capacity, reservation-only event will run in four-hour blocks. Your options are Thursdays from 5-9pm; Fridays, Sundays and Columbus Day from 11am-3pm or 5–9pm; and Saturdays from 10am-2pm, 3-7pm, or 8pm-midnight.
"Fall is a perfect time to visit the park and we're thrilled to offer another limited-capacity special event that will showcase new villages and attractions we have not offered yet this year along with the greatest of Halloween experiences for all ages," Busch Gardens Williamsburg President Kevin Lembke said. "We will continue operating with enhanced health and safety measures and have created an event that safely delivers a compelling combination of exciting coasters and rides, seasonal food and drinks, and Halloween experiences for kids and adults."
The coasters running for the Halloween Harvest will be Apollo's Chariot, Loch Ness Monster, Tempesto, and Verbolten, while Finnegan's Flyer and several other flat rides also will be available, including the Sesame Street Forest of Fun for the kids.
Experiences will differ depending upon which time slot you book. If you're in the park between 11am and 3pm, kids can participate in trick or treating. But from 5pm to 9pm, the park will set ghouls and goblins loose to roam the event.
Beyond the rides, the pumpkin scavenger hunt, the fall and Halloween decor, you can stuff your face during the four hours you have in the park. Themed food and drink specials will be available throughout the park for visitors who purchase a tasting card. Food options include Marco Polo's Marketplace, with Italian and Asian entrees, Greek salads, and roast beef sandwiches; Vesuvius Grill, with Ruben Sliders, Meatballs, and Frozen Lemonade; and Best of Food & Wine Festival, with a Shrimp Po'boy, Fish and Chips, Cheddar Hushpuppies, Frozen Dirty Shirley, and Ginger Limeade.
For drinks, there will be Jack's Night Cap, serving Bloody Sangria, Green Demons, wine, syringes and test tube shots; Frost Bar, with the Vampire Bite, Bahummy Mummy, Bloody Daiquiris, Creepy Coladas, and Boozy Pineapple Float; and The Brew Bar, serving a variety of beers including Spaten Oktoberfest.
Tickets start at $49.99, with an admission and five-item tasting card combo starting at $73.99. The 10-item card combo starts at $93.99. Tickets and reservations will be available on the Busch Gardens website stating Friday at 11am Eastern time.
The state of Virginia has limited crowd sizes at commercial events due to the pandemic, which has prevented theme parks from resuming normal operations. However, Busch Gardens has been staging reduced-capacity timed events such as this in order to open the park on a limited basis.
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