Mardi Gras 2021 at Busch Gardens Williamsburg
Busch Gardens Williamsburg is now a year-round park! They are currently hosting their first-ever Mardi Gras event. The limited-capacity runs January 29 through February 28, and my visit was on Sunday, January 30, from 11 AM - 3 PM.
Here's a quick summary:
Parking - They were directing all traffic to preferred parking at 11 AM! There was no wait at the gate, and it was easy to find a parking spot. I used my Platinum Pass to get “free” parking.
Entering the Park - Guests are instructed to remove hats and glasses before entering the temperature screening tent. But, there weren’t any people scanning your temperature in the tent? Unless there’s some technology I don’t know about, I don’t think my temperature was taken. Security was easy, however, I was randomly stopped shortly after passing security by a team member who asked if I had a knife. It was my set of bamboo cutlery that I primarily use at Epcot festivals.
Rides - Due to cold temperatures, only some flat rides were operating. Finnegan’s Flyer and all of the coasters were not operating. I believe it has to be above 40 degrees for coasters to run safely.
Health and Safety - Due to low crowds, everything seemed very safe. Mask compliance was very good; I only noticed some guests that were walking and drinking or eating.
Festival Food Items - The overall food quality is excellent. You can buy a 5 or 10-punch tasting card in the park or online. My top food and drink recommendations: beignets, spiked Mexican hot chocolate, and shrimp and grits (but get them early in the reservation since they could be overcooked like mine were!).
Entertainment - I didn’t know what to expect with the live entertainers, but these made the festival! There are drummers (“Samba Carnival”), a jazz band that performs with stilt walkers and ribbon dancers, the comedic jugglers inside Das Festhaus, and a “Mardi Party” DJ that performs in the evening hours.
Animals - I saw Clydesdale horses, bald eagles, and wolves!
Overall, even with most rides not operating, Mardi Gras is an awesome event at Busch Gardens Williamsburg! If you want to do the rides, make sure the temperatures are at least above 40 degrees.
Check out our event overview on YouTube:
