Busch Gardens Tampa Food & Wine Festival - Cheers to the Yummiest Event of the Season!

The Orlando Millennial was invited to attend Busch Gardens Tampa Bay’s Food & Wine Festival this year and it sure did not disappoint.  Just like the past few festivals, this one required a park reservation, social distancing, and masks.

Y’all, the food at each festival just keeps getting better.  I have been to Food & Wine at Busch Gardens before, but hands down, this one was THE BEST.  I thought Mardi Gras had the best food and drink- NOPE - this one did! Never have we at The Orlando Millennial eaten or drank so much while at one of the events - but we used THREE sampler cards.  Two 5 stamps, and one 12 stamp.  Yes… it’s true.  The drinks were wonderful and honestly, the festival area was empty as everyone was on the rides, which made it even better.

FAVORITE DRINKS: Hungry Elephant [Frozen] (Giraffe Bar), The Posh Puffin (Giraffe Bar), Chandon Sparkling Brut (Napa Nook), Main & Vine Blood Orange Mango (Vino, Vidi, Vici), Bud Light Seltzer Lemon Lime (#CorksandCoasters Draft House), and the grape Jell-O Shots (XCursions​) .

You MUST stop at the Giraffe Bar!

Every festival there are different flavor Jell-O shots. This event: Grape & Titos- So YUM!

FAVORITE FOODS: Fried Chicken & Biscuit Slider (Southern Kitchen), Lobster, White Cheddar KRAFT Mac ‘N’ Cheese (All American Eats by KraftHeinz), Drunken Shrimp Tostada *This is listed as beer battered but it is actually not fried* (West Coast Catch), Baileys Bliss Cupcake (XCursions), Hand Carved Espresso-Rubbed Tenderloin (Yuengling Butchery)

Hand Carved Espresso-Rubbed Tenderloin (Yuengling Butchery)

Lobster, White Cheddar KRAFT Mac ‘N’ Cheese (All American Eats by KraftHeinz)

Drunken Shrimp Tostada (West Coast Catch)

Fried Chicken & Biscuit Slider (Southern Kitchen)

As always, I highly recommend getting the sampler card.  This is a GREAT way to save some money.  The drinks will be smaller, but if you want to try a bunch, it's also a great way to do that while saving room in your belly and saving a penny - plus once you know what you love, you can then go back and grab a big one!  The food portions stay the same size, which is great.
There was tons of seating and tables for eating for this festival. My absolute favorite spot for sure though, was the #CorksandCoasters Draft House area.  It is a little hidden gem.  We sat there for about an hour or more.  Very peaceful in that area and close to drinks if needed.  Starting this weekend bands will be playing, so I’m sure it will change, but in the evening a live musician was playing, which also made it nice.

Busch Garden’s Food & Wine Festival will be taking place on weekends until April 25th.  It is included with park admission, but food and drinks are sold separately.  Park reservations are required, as are masks and social distancing.

I am a Busch Gardens blogger ambassador. In exchange for sharing upcoming information sometimes I receive complimentary admission to events. As always, all opinions are my own.