Summer Nights at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay!

Last Updated on June 13, 2026 by Janell

We received tickets to Summer Nights at Busch Gardens so we could share about it with everyone. It was a blast! All opinions are my own.

If you are looking for the perfect way to (sorta) beat the Florida heat and keep your teens entertained, check out Summer Nights at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.

I took my teenagers a couple of weeks ago, and it was an absolute blast. It can be tough to find activities that get a unanimous "this is so fun" from teens, but Busch Gardens was so fun for everyone. The park stays open late, and there is so much to do once the sun goes down.

A drone light show in the night sky forming the American flag above the Iron Gwazi roller coaster at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.

Here is everything you need to know about what's happening at the park this summer, plus a few incredible ticket deals you won't want to miss (including how to score completely FREE tickets!).

The Best Part: Wild Skies Drone & Fireworks Show

We were so impressed with the brand-new Wild Skies Drone Show. This year, Busch Gardens is celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States, and I know you will love it too.

Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night at the Festival Field near Gwazi, they put on a massive, dazzling drone light show that transitions into a spectacular fireworks finale. Watching the drones create intricate animations in the night sky to celebrate the anniversary was incredible, and my teens were totally impressed.

Drones forming the shape of the Statue of Liberty in the night sky during the Summer Nights celebration at Busch Gardens.

Make sure you check the daily entertainment schedule when you arrive so you don't miss the showtimes!

Nighttime Shows & Entertainment

Aside from the coasters, the summer entertainment lineup is stacked this year. A few things you’ll want to check out while you're there:

Cirque Electric: Back at the Stanleyville Theater, this is an incredible, edge-of-your-seat acrobatic show packed with crazy stunts, dancers, unicycles, and speed juggling.
Rhythm of Nature: If you need a break from the humidity, head into the AC for this gorgeous, magical journey on ice that follows a young hero through the animal kingdom.
Throwback Dance Parties: If you want to dance, they have a retro Beach Bash over at Gwazi Plaza and a 90s-style Boom Box Dance Party in Stanleyville Plaza complete with a live DJ and neon vibes.
Free Beer is Back! For the parents (21+), you can cool down with a complimentary 7 oz. pour of beer during your visit. If you are a Pass Member, you actually get two free beers daily!

A man and woman smiling in front of a colorful map of Clearwater and Tampa with a large yellow life preserver frame.

How to Get FREE Busch Gardens Tickets (The Tampa Bay Rays Deal!)

Calling all my local Tampa Bay friends: you can actually get FREE tickets to Busch Gardens thanks to the Tampa Bay Rays and Kane's Furniture!

Here is how the promotion works:

Whenever the Rays throw 10 or more strikeouts during a home game, a window opens up where you can claim 1 free ticket. You have to act fast—usually within 5 days of that specific high-strikeout game.

How to claim it:

Keep an eye on the Rays' home games. (Right now, there is a current window open until June 15th to claim tickets from a recent game, but they update the dates on the site every time a new 10+ strikeout home game happens!).
Go to the promotional link, fill out the quick form, and hit submit.
You will receive a voucher code in your email.
Take that voucher code to any Kane's Furniture showroom to redeem it for your actual ticket!

Note: You must be 18+ to redeem the voucher, but you can use this promo up to twice during the baseball season!

The Iron Gwazi wooden-steel hybrid roller coaster lit up with red, white, and blue lights at night while guests play with hula hoops in the foreground.

Military & Veterans Discounts

If you or someone in your family is a veteran or active-duty military member, Busch Gardens has an amazing Military Appreciation deal running right now.

Through the Busch Gardens Military Discount Page, veterans and active-duty service members can get discounted tickets (usually 50% off).

Tips for Your Trip

Stay Late: The coasters are more fun in the dark! Riding Iron Gwazi or Cheetah Hunt under the night sky is a completely different experience.
Download the App: It’s the easiest way to keep track of drone show times, ride wait times, and Cirque Electric show schedules.
Hydrate: Drink lots of water during the day so you have plenty of energy left to dance at the Boom Box party and close out the park with the fireworks. You can ask at any food stand for a free cup of water.

Summer Nights runs all the way through August 9th, so grab your tickets, grab your friends, and go make some summer memories!