One of the things we toadally love about SeaWorld Orlando is that there is always something to celebrate! Its sister park, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, also hosts a variety of fun events year-round. Whether you visit SeaWorld Orlando or Busch Gardens Tampa, chances are there is a fun event hoppening at the parks! The SeaWorld Orlando events bring special entertainment, splashing good fun and seasonal food and drink to the aquatic theme park. The same goes for the safari-themed Busch Gardens. Plus, after terrifying guests at Busch Gardens for over 20 years, Howl-O-Scream brought its inaugural haunts to SeaWorld Orlando in 2021 to begin a terrifying tradition. With that said, let's look at all the SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens Tampa events for 2022!
Most of the events are included in the cost of admission, although some activities (and food and beverage) cost extra. The only exception is Howl-O-Scream, which is a separately ticketed event at Busch Gardens Tampa and SeaWorld Orlando. Single-day tickets are date-specific and can be purchased online in advance. If you happen to have a Fun Card or annual pass, most of these special events are included with your pass. (Psst ... you can save money when you purchase discount SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay tickets through Undercover Tourist!)
Hop over to our SeaWorld Orlando reopening post for all of the important details you'll need to know before safely visiting the SeaWorld Florida parks. Let's dive in!
The Full Lineup of SeaWorld Orlando Events in 2022
Viva La Musica — Weekends from May 14 to 22, 2022
This family-friendly event is a celebration of Latin culture through musical entertainment and authentic cuisine.
Electric Ocean — Fridays through Sundays from May 27 to Sept. 5, 2022 & Memorial Day & Labor Day
As the summer sun sets, the night comes to life with colorful lights. The ocean comes to life with bioluminescent lighting, dancing and musical entertainment, putting guests all aglow. Find out about the special shows, fireworks and other entertainment from this year's event in our glowing guide to SeaWorld Orlando’s Electric Ocean.
Guy Harvey Weekend — June 18 to 19, 2022
Join artist, scientist, diver, angler, conservationist and explorer Guy Harvey for meet-and-greets, autographs and photo opportunities within the Guy Harvey store located in the Waterfront.
Fourth of July — July 1 to 4, 2022
Join SeaWorld for a weekend-long special event celebrating America’s Independence Day. We celebrated the 4th of July at SeaWorld in 2020 and did so again in 2021. Watch SeaWorld light up the sky with fireworks in Tad’s video from 2020 on our YouTube Channel.
Craft Beer Festival — Fridays through Sundays Aug. 5 to Sept. 5, 2022 & Labor Day
Get hopped up on hops with over 100 craft beers. Taste beers from breweries across Florida, as well as a few domestic craft favorites. In 2021, Flora and I loved the ciders at Vermont Cider Co. at Café de Mar whereas the tadpoles devoured the deliciously sweet cheesecake cones! With 20 booths scattered across the park, there's truly something for every type of taste bud.
Howl-O-Scream — Select Nights from Sept. 9 to Oct. 31, 2022
Something evil rose from the lake at SeaWorld Orlando. In 2021, Howl-O-Scream haunted guests for the first time in Orlando over 27 nights! If you dare, experience the chills and thrills of haunted houses, scare zones and roaming haunts. Need a break? Watch a raucous, high-energy musical show, let loose at a dance party or ride SeaWorld's popular coaster, Mako, at night.
SeaWorld Halloween Spooktacular — Weekends from Sept. 10 to Oct. 31, 2022
At SeaWorld Halloween Spooktacular, your tadpoles can wear costumes, boogie at special dance parties, enjoy a spooky story, meet characters and trick or treat for candy. It's our tadpoles' favorite SeaWorld Orlando event of the year!
Sesame Street Kids' Weekend — Nov. 5 to 6, 2022
During Sesame Street Kids' Weekend, enjoy hands-on activities, dance parties, photo opportunities with characters and much more throughout this family-friendly celebration.
SeaWorld Christmas Celebration — Nov. 11 to Dec. 31, 2022
Get in the holiday spirit with a warm-weather winter wonderland at SeaWorld Orlando’s Christmas Celebration. The park is merrily decorated with a sea of trees that light up to music on the water and over 3 million sparkling lights around the park.
Catch holiday entertainment at this SeaWorld Orlando event. Sesame Street friends sing and dance as they celebrate the sunny days of Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa in a returning stage show and a returning parade. Throughout the day, talented acts take to the Nautilus Theater stage to bring the spirit of the season to life and once the sun sets, skaters dazzle and delight in a show-stopping, ice skating extravaganza. Plus there are opportunities to meet Santa, as well as Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Bumble!
How can we froget the food?! You can feast on many scrumptious holiday dishes and Christmas treats from food booths around the park. Sip flavored and frozen hot chocolate and adult beverages such as seasonal craft brews and hot toddys. Discover culinary delights such as lobster mac and cheese bowls, Christmas dinner stacks, cheesecake cones and so much more.
The Full Lineup of Busch Gardens Tampa Events in 2022
From Mardi Gras to the holidays, Busch Gardens Tampa has an exciting year filled with festive and fun events planned out. Here's a full list of this year's events.
Food and Wine Festival — March 11 to May 22, 2022
Busch Gardens Tampa's annual Food and Wine Festival returns with a delicious menu of food and drinks. Sip and munch on sweet and savory samples, and enjoy local musical talent throughout the open-air festival.
Viva La Música — Weekends from May 13 to 22, 2022
Dance to the hottest music, sample fiery flavors and more during Busch Gardens' newest Latin celebration.
Busch Gardens Summer Celebration — Weekends from May 27 to Aug. 7, 2022
Celebrate summer throughout the day and night during this all-new seasonal event. Find out about the special shows, fireworks and other entertainment that took place during summer last year in our sensational guide to Busch Gardens' Summer Nights.
Guy Harvey Weekend — June 11 to 12, 2022
Meet Guy Harvey and learn about his dedication to conservation and his passion for marine wildlife. Purchase Guy Harvey maintains and merchandise for him to sign at the Xcursions gift shop. Autographs & photos will be available at select times throughout the day.
Bier Fest — Weekends from Aug. 12 to Sept. 5, 2022
Now, this is my kind of festival! Similar to SeaWorld Orlando's Craft Beer Festival, Bier Fest features seasonal brew offerings and beer-inspired recipes. Mommy Frog loved the refreshing tropical mimosa and the gourmet fresh-baked, whiskey-infused cupcakes at Xcursions. I enjoyed the mix of flavors in the Impossible burger slider from Brews & Chews and the deliciously all-American homemade apple pie cider at the Jack Daniels Whiskey Hut. Our festival favorite, though, had to be the spice-less version of the Mangonada Cocktail Explosion at Barley & Cream for its presentation and booze-filled bottom.
We highly recommend purchasing a sampler lanyard! Each lanyard allows you to sample either eight or 12 different items, depending on which one you buy. While the drink portions may be smaller, you end up saving not just a bunch of money, but some room in your stomach as well. There are 20 different booths scattered around the park and each one of them has something worth trying. We can't wait to see what Busch Gardens cooks up this year!
Howl-O-Scream — Select Nights from Sept. 9 to Oct. 31, 2022
If you prefer the thrills and tricks over the treats of the spooky season, you'll love Busch Gardens Tampa's Halloween event, Howl-O-Scream. The bravest of frogs face a number of specially themed haunted houses and scare zones scattered throughout the park on select nights. Additionally, you can hop on any of the thrilling roller coasters at night, or catch the signature stage show, Fiends, filled with adult humor. For these reasons, Howl-O-Scream is not recommended for young tadpoles. Catch a glimpse at all of the frightful fun that Flora and I had during the event in our Howl-O-Scream guide.
Busch Gardens Spooktacular — Weekends from Sept. 10 to Oct. 30, 2022
Celebrate Halloween with trick-or-treating and more during this all-new, family-friendly event.
Busch Gardens Christmas Town — Nov. 13, 2022, to Jan. 2, 2023
Christmas lights? Check. Festive food? Check. Lots of fun holiday entertainment? Check! Celebrate the holidays at Busch Gardens Tampa's Christmas Town event. The park is decorated with dazzling Christmas lights in every land, including an entire tunnel's worth of flashing lights. Special guests, including Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Santa Claus, spread holiday cheer. Find hot chocolate, warm chocolate chip cookies and all of the seasonal flavors at Christmas Town Village. Tune into the special entertainment, ranging from carolers in the Three Kings Journey show to ice skaters starring in Christmas on Ice. Top off a jolly good night with a special fireworks show! Find out more details in our ho-ho-hoppin' Christmas Town guide.
We are so frogcited about the upcoming Busch Gardens Tampa and SeaWorld Orlando events. Fun is hoppening all year long! Keep hopping back for specific dates, details and updates as these events approach.
Don't froget that all of this fun is included with general park admission, so buy our discounted SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens Tampa tickets for your frog squad now and hop on down to experience some events! Which event are you hopping to experience? Let us know in the comments section below.
Related: All of the ~Splashin'~ Details on SeaWorld Orlando's Reopening Procedures
Keep hopping!
