Busch Gardens kicks off Bands, Brew & BBQ this weekend with Jason Derulo

Busch Gardens Tampa is bringing back Bands, Brew & BBQ for its seventh straight year with plenty of food, drinks, and music.

The annual festival happens every Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 8 through March 9, with an unlimited sampling of more than 100 specialty and craft beers, saucy barbecue from the bay area’s most popular restaurants and live concerts from some of the biggest names in music.

The Gwazi Park stage hosts music throughout the day, with headline concerts starting at 5 p.m. and the field opening at noon. The full concert area is free to guests and located just behind the Gwazi rollercoaster. This year’s event kicks off Feb. 8 with five time BMI Pop Award-winning artist Jason Derulo. Then on Feb. 9, Rock-n-Roll Hall of Famer Dickey Betts and Great Southern perform followed by The Marshall Tucker Band. Performers for future weekends haven’t been announced.

With more options than ever before, the expanded Beer Festival will feature more than 100 imported, domestic and craft beers. Select brews are available at each of the tents along the Bands, Brew & BBQ pathway, as well as in Gwazi Park.

For those looking to sample several of the specialty brews, unlimited sampling is available from noon to 5:30 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday with a Beer Festival Wristband. Wristbands are $30 per person (ages 21+), or two for $50 for active Busch Gardens Tampa Pass Members, and also include sampling privileges at the Desert Grill restaurant, Crown Colony pub, Garden Gate Café and Zambia Smokehouse.

The festival also serves up a series of food tents with Outback Steakhouse, Smokey Bones Bar & Fire Grill, Penguin Pretzel Factory and Kojak’s House of Ribs, as well as a selection of Busch Gardens’ own barbecue favorites. Whether hungry for a sampler plate or a hearty platter, guests will have their choice of perfectly prepared chicken, beef, ribs, sides and more.

Guests can reserve the best seats in house for their favorite acts with the Bands, Brew & BBQ VIP Ticket. The VIP Ticket is $34.99 per person and includes priority reserved seating at center stage, plus an entrée platter and non-alcoholic beverage at any festival tent location or an entrée, one side salad, side dish or dessert, and a regular-sized non-alcoholic beverage from any of Busch Gardens’ restaurants. The VIP ticket is available for sale at BuschGardens.com and in park at the Adventure Outpost store, located at the front gate.

Event talent, dates, times and restaurant partners are subject to change and/or cancellation without notice. Performances are included with any daily admission or annual pass. Seating capacity is limited and is on a first-come, first-served basis. Additional charges apply to all food and beverage items. Must be 21 years or older to purchase alcoholic beverages. Visit BuschGardens.com for more information.