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Busch Gardens Williamsburg announces new show, new ride, new summer night event

By Robert Niles
Published: January 28, 2010 at 10:32 PM
Here's Busch Gardens Williamsburg's GM John Reilly, announcing a new ride and two new shows at the park, which will open for the season on March 26, 2010.

The new ride is Europe in the Air, a new simulator ride that replaces Corkscrew Hill and features, as the name implies, a high-definition aerial tour of Europe's top landmarks.

The new shows are a night-time show called "IllumiNights: A Busch Gardens Encore." (Wow, did someone go to Epcot?) According to the park's press release, "Different areas of the park will celebrate IllumiNights in its own way, culminating in a park-wide pyrotechnics extravaganza." IllumiNights opens in June.

The second new show is a replacement for Emerald Beat. The as-yet-unnamed show will again feature Irish dancing and music. (FWIW, I didn't know that Emerald Beat was closing, and, uh, this just screwed up the Best Live Show bracket for the Best Theme Park Attraction Tournament. Emerald Beat was going to be the number two seed in that bracket. My bad.)

(Hat tip to TPI reader Jason Jackson for first posting the video.)

Readers' Opinions

From James Rao on January 29, 2010 at 5:08 AM
Double whammy (triple if you count losing BBW last fall): I liked both Corkscrew Hill (most underrated attraction in the park) and Emerald Beat (one of the best theme park shows I have witnessed). BGW is on a roll when it comes to removing attractions I really like. What's next? Replace Apollo's Chariot with a Boomerang?

The IllumiNights deal sounds kind of interesting, and with each section of the park celebrating differently, repeat attendance is required to see the whole show. Very clever.

From 205.152.67.36 on January 29, 2010 at 6:33 AM
I'll kind of miss Corkscrew Hill. It was pretty corn, but fun. I certainly hope the new ride will be much smoother than CH. Getting bucked on a horse for 20 seconds wasn't good for the ol' lumbar area.

Emerald Beat was a great show, very sad to see that go, but I guess they rotate their shows every few years so it was a given.

Pyrotechnics is a winner. Can't wait for that.

Oh yeah, if you didn't know, both Busch Gardens are now on Google street maps. Search for busch gardens and when it comes up on the map, drag the little man in the upper left corner over to BG on the map and you'll get a 360 panoramic view of different parts of the park. Very cool.

From 70.161.124.85 on January 29, 2010 at 8:09 AM
All that stuff sounds great but when is Busch Gardens going to get a new Roller coaster. I hope they are making a wood coaster and a steal one.
From Ray Schroeder on January 29, 2010 at 11:22 AM
Europe in the Air... Mmmmmm. Can we say Soarin.
From Joshua Counsil on January 29, 2010 at 12:52 PM
Also in the works are a test dummy ride through Ferrari's automotive proving grounds, a simulation of the Sputnik 1 launch, a "Make a Memory" stone engraving station at the park's entrance, a scientific gadget exhibit titled "Euroventions", and a replica of the Lowther Hill geodesic dome.
From Robert Niles on January 29, 2010 at 5:25 PM
+1 Joshua

Who's the European equivalent of Ellen DeGeneres?

From Christopher Combs on January 30, 2010 at 10:29 AM
2 of these 3 attractions are complete rip-offs from epcot. wtf man? i have lost a litttle respect for busch. they think no one would notice the too similar name and ride descriptions
From 86.40.60.80 on February 2, 2010 at 9:54 AM
I am devastated that the Emerald Beat show is not comming back as it was the best attraction at the park.I really feel like they are making a big mistake!!But i have heard they are returning to Williamsburg to put on a World Class Performance and new show sometime this yr!(not at Busch Gardens)I will keep you posted!watch this space!!

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