Tampa’s premier spring festival returns on Saturday, February 29 at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay’s Food & Wine Festival. With more than 35 delicious dishes to pair with over 100 wines, craft brews, and cocktails, park guests can explore a variety of flavors while enjoying a diverse concert line-up, including acts for all tastes. The 6th Annual Food & Wine Festival runs weekends from February 29 to April 26 and is included with admission to the park. The festival area and booths open at noon on event days.

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Concerts

The Food & Wine Festival line-up reflects musical genres of all tastes. Concerts are included with any park admission, but fans can book the ultimate festival experience with an exclusive VIP package available for each act, including reserved concert seating and a Sampler Lanyard. Concert headliners include:

• Saturday, February 29 – Collective Soul (7 p.m)
• Sunday, March 1 – The Commodores (6 p.m.)
• Saturday, March 7 – Chase Bryant  & Danielle Bradbery (5:30 p.m.)
• Sunday, March 8 – Rachel Platten (6 p.m.)
• Saturday, March 14 – Ezra Ray Hart (7 p.m.)
• Sunday, March 15 – Three Dog Night (6 p.m.)
• Saturday, March 21 – LOCASH (7 p.m.)
• Sunday, March 22 – Fitz & The Tantrums (6 p.m.)
• Saturday, March 28 – Home Free (7 p.m.)
• Sunday, March 29 – Taking Back Sunday (6 p.m.)
• Saturday, April 4 – Third Eye Blind (7 p.m.)
• Sunday, April 5 – KC & The Sunshine Band (6 p.m.)
• Saturday, April 11 – 38 Special (7 p.m.)
• Sunday, April 12 – Micah Tyler & Austin French (5:30 p.m.)
• Saturday, April 18 – Lee Brice (7 p.m.)
• Sunday, April 19 – Clint Black (6 p.m.)
• Saturday, April 25 – El Gran Combo (7 p.m.)
• Sunday, April 26 – Toad the Wet Sprocket & The Verve Pipe (5:30 p.m.)

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VIP Seating

Concerts are included with your valid Busch Gardens Tampa admission, and there is free bleacher style seating and plenty of standing & sitting room in the back of Gwazi Field on the grassy hillside. If you want to sit front and center for your favorite act, you’ll have to purchase one of the VIP Seating Packages.

Each VIP Seating Package includes a guaranteed spot within one of the two VIP sections in front of center stage. VIP Section 1 is the closest, with VIP Section 2 immediately behind it. Both sections offer the same metal bleacher seating as the disabled access and general seating on either side but is fenced off and accessible only through a special VIP entrance.

Pricing for the VIP Seating Package depends on the artist and demand. It’s worth noting that each package includes a 5 Sampler Lanyard (a $32 value) which is good at any of the festival’s booths for food or drink items (including alcoholic beverages). VIP Section 1 prices start at $39.99 and VIP Section 2 prices start at $34.99.

A few reminders and notes about the VIP Seating Packages. Remember to make sure you have the correct date selected when you’re buying your VIP package, and also remember that price does NOT include admission to the park. Having a VIP Seating Package entitles you to a seat within your selected section, but does not guarantee you a specific seat. If you want to be in the very first row at center stage, you’ll still have to show up early and claim your spot. VIP seating often sells out for the more popular acts in advance, so don’t wait until the day of the concert to buy if you’re sure you want it.


New for 2020, guests who plan on seeing multiple concerts and wanting premium seating can purchase an Unlimited VIP Seating Package, which is good for all 18 shows. These are available in very limited quantities and are $299 for VIP Section 1 and $199 for VIP Section 2. Unlike the individual concert VIP Seating Packages, the Unlimited version does not include a sampler lanyard.

To purchase your VIP Seating Package, visit the park’s website. Pass member discount of 10% applies to the packages.

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