Bier Fest will run August 16 to September 2 on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Labor Day.
Busch Gardens Williamsburg Bier Fest Brews & BBQ 2024
- Thread starter Nicole
- Start date
The August rewards now lists it as 1 free sample per WEEKEND not per visit like in the past.
We are expecting this same change to be implemented to next yesrs f&w event too.
Also why have we gotten all the details about this yesrs howl-o-scream but no details about beirfest. Like wtf
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So, I guess they have moved away from an Oktoberfest themed event. So much for celebrating park history.
I’ve changed the thread title. And thanks to @tursiops for catching the change.
I am pasting the description exactly as it appears on-line:
I’ve changed the thread title. And thanks to @tursiops for catching the change.
I am pasting the description exactly as it appears on-line:
Seaworld started this event in Orlando and it has PACKED the park on the event days.
So disappointing. Properly thrown Oktoberfest events are so much fun.
The husband and I were both pleasantly surprised by this event this weekend.... We were up in the Williamsburg area on Sunday so we planned on just running to the park for a few minutes to get our Halloscream Quick Queues. We had a lot to do in Williamsburg, so we didn't want to stay very long at the park. On the way up, I looked at the Member Rewards website and saw we got BG Bucks and 2 free samples each this weekend. We decided to redeem these benefits as well since we had never been to this event before. Well, 3 hours later...... We used our samples, purchased a sample card, tried some very good food and drinks, and even got a few rides in. The park wasn't very crowded, so that was nice. The food was pretty good and the event was nice. On the level with a scaled back Food and Wine Festival. The cocktails and craft brews were also pretty good. I'm not a big beer fan, but my husband really enjoyed some of the craft beer offerings the park had.
We are planning a possible trip back for Labor Day Weekend and will definitely come back next year for at least one weekend.
We are planning a possible trip back for Labor Day Weekend and will definitely come back next year for at least one weekend.
The food was quite good, at least of the items not sold out. I was surprised at how quickly booths ran out of items. Now, if they could just the rides running for the whole day. Overall I was pleased with the event yesterday.
We are glad to see the lack of alcohol in the park. Previous years there were stalls everywhere trying to sell overpriced beer and little to no food options. This event is finally taking a page out of f&w offering us both food and alcohol while using the booths and other locations already themed inside the park while not to take away from the themeing of the park not standing out like a swore thumb. Also we really like the sample card option for this event, however we feel the price of $70 for 10 samples is to much if used solely on food. After tax it was like $82. But if used solely on the beer it's an incredible deal. We would like to see the park sell a food samples card only; maybe for $60 - 10 samples and have this sample card of $70 be solely for alcohol.
Also we are surprised OctoberZest is not operating for this event nor any other beirfest shows we've had in the past. Also we'd love to see this event last a few weeks longer. Maybe merge/overlap this event with summer of Wonder. Maybe have it Start 2 weeks prior to summer event ending and have it overlap hos by 1 week.
All of the food options we very good however we would like to state that once again most if not all have extreme issues with consistency. Rather it be with the number of items in a sample we received or how under/over cooked it was. Likewise we don't understand how a vegetable kabobs cost $6.99. Some things need their prices re-evaluated to make more sense.
We are still incredibly satisfied with this new event, and understand it could use some improvements which could come in following years and really look forward to seeing this event return again next year.
Also we are surprised OctoberZest is not operating for this event nor any other beirfest shows we've had in the past. Also we'd love to see this event last a few weeks longer. Maybe merge/overlap this event with summer of Wonder. Maybe have it Start 2 weeks prior to summer event ending and have it overlap hos by 1 week.
All of the food options we very good however we would like to state that once again most if not all have extreme issues with consistency. Rather it be with the number of items in a sample we received or how under/over cooked it was. Likewise we don't understand how a vegetable kabobs cost $6.99. Some things need their prices re-evaluated to make more sense.
We are still incredibly satisfied with this new event, and understand it could use some improvements which could come in following years and really look forward to seeing this event return again next year.
Agreed. I only had the chicken wings and turkey salad on Sunday, but I thought they were both pretty good! Park was well staffed and pleasant. Regular park vibes with decent food and generous membership rewards are a good combo.
Still confounded how they don't find a way to keep Oktoberzest going for this. You cannot run a solo pianist in the Festhaus during Bierfest.
Still confounded how they don't find a way to keep Oktoberzest going for this. You cannot run a solo pianist in the Festhaus during Bierfest.
To be fair, there is an entire land always themed to an Oktoberfest event.
I have never been a fan of them re-branding the entire park to a certain culture's event. Not that BBQ fits much better anyhow. There isn't really a great way for them to stay true to theme with these park-wide events considering the budget/effort they put towards it.
Which is a really good argument against park-wide, low-budget events.
Then don’t “cheaply” germanize this by using the German spelling IMO.
FWIW IMO just because they have an Oktoberfest themed land doesn’t preclude them from doing a proper Oktoberfest all over the park.
Business-wise though, they are a great thing. Personal grievances aside from ruining the atmosphere/immersion, events drive sales, so I get why they do it. Just would be a nice win win if they at least attempted to have a country by country spin on the overall event. Like if they did it more based off a holiday that country has at that time of year, though I understand "European Early Spring Holidays" is less marketable than "St. Patrick's Day Celebration"
Not to disparage The Abbey Taverns, but I felt they were out-of-place in the Festhaus this past weekend. I know that they got displaced due to Wolph playing in Ireland. Bierfest would have been a great opportunity to bring back the Ompah Band. They could have easily played on the stage while it was being modified. It is a German Hall which needs German music. All that would be needed is a singer, trumpet, trombone and an accordion. No extensive choreography. The Abbey Taverns could have been relocated to the stage in France.
Totally agree, however, it is our understanding that the park had contracts with local artists to come and preform on the stage in the Festhaus during this new event. And never showed up. Hopefully next year the park will have better luck at securing contracts with live performers.
Awkward spot for the park. Breach of contract (depending on if they paid any retaining fee) going on if the artists decided not to show. Cant really legally go after them because in the future if they want to do more of that because no one will trust them. But now there’s artists that know they could skip out easily.
Off of this - I do like the idea of a more park wide Oktoberfest going on. In the Festhaus they should lock in one Ompah Band for the entire time. The create some temporary areas in each hamlet where country specific beers and influence BBQ is served, have artists that fit the feel of the hamlet (like folk/celtic band in COS, Sinatra impersonator in Festa). Maybe longer engagements for artists would make them want to come.