While we await details on 2023’s Beer Fest at SeaWorld Orlando, please enjoy 2021’s information.
SeaWorld Orlando is known for having festivals almost year-round. One of our favorites here at Orlando Informer is the annual end-of-summer Craft Beer Festival. When this event rolls around each year, we know fall, football, and festivities are just around the corner.
This event is included with park admission, and typically occurs for four to five weeks, starting sometime in August and concluding in September. Here’s everything you need to know about experiencing the SeaWorld 2021 Craft Beer Festival.
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What is the Craft Beer Festival at SeaWorld Orlando?
If you didn’t catch it in the name, the main draw of Beer Fest is the drinks. Beer Fest is an annual festival included with park admission at SeaWorld Orlando. This year, the festival will host over 100 craft beers, wine, seltzers, and cocktails, with select stations pairing more than 20 food items with their beverages. Of course, entertainment will also be provided throughout the park to keep the party going.
When is the Craft Beer Festival at SeaWorld Orlando?
August 5– September 5, 2022
Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays (and Labor Day)
Fridays – 3:00 PM – park close
Weekend days (and Labor Day) – 11:30AM – park close
Although the dates might make it seem like this happens in the fall, keep in mind that this is Florida, home of the endless summer. You can check out our page on Orlando weather to see what to expect upon arrival. When you get here, you’ll want a nice cold one.
SeaWorld Orlando Craft Beer Festival 2021 Stations
The stations marked with an asterisk (*) offer food options as well as beverages.
- Yuengling (Pottsville, PA) Welcome Center
- Big Storm Brewing Co. (Orlando, FL) at Seafire Grill
- South Beach Brewing (Miami, FL) & Suncreek Brewery (Clermont, FL) at Flamecraft Bar
- Ivanhoe Park Brewing Co. (Ivanhoe Park, FL) & Crooked Can Brewing Co. (Winter Garden, FL)
- Vermont Cider Co. at Café de Mar* (Middlebury, VT)
- Brews & Chews featuring Funky Buddha Brewery* (Oakland Park, FL)
- JDub’s Brewing Co. (Sarasota, FL) at Voyager’s Smokehouse
- Wicked Weed Brewing* (Asheville, NC)
- Persimmon Hollow Brewing Co. (Deland, FL) at Lakeside Grill
- Kraft Heinz & Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.* (Chico, CA)
- Cigar City Snacks* (Tampa, FL)
- Woodford Reserve Bourbon (Versailles, KY) The Bar at Sharks Underwater Grill
- Jack Daniel’s (Lynchburg, TN) Whiskey Hut
- Sam Adams (Boston, MA) Boston Brewery Best Bites*
- Orange Blossom Brewing Co. (Orlando, FL) & Sailfish Brewing (Fort Pierce) at Waterway Bar
- Florida Ave. Brewing Co. (Tampa, FL) & 3 Daughters Brewing at Mama’s Pretzel Kitchen*
- New Holland Brewing* (Holland, MI)
- Beer Garden featuring Tito’s Handmade Vodka (Austin, TX) & Motorworks Brewing (Orlando, FL)
- Elysian Brewing at Glacier Bar (Seattle, WA)
- Alcatraz Brewing Co. at Captain Pete’s Island Hot Dogs* (Palm Coast, FL)
How much does Beer Fest at SeaWorld Orlando cost?
Access to Beer Fest at SeaWorld Orlando is included with the price of admission, and guests can participate as much or as little in the festivities as they see fit. If that menu looks good to you, you’re not alone. Luckily, guests have the option to purchase a sampling lanyard so you can get a good bang for your buck. With your lanyard, you can go around to any of the festival stations and get a sample-sized taste of food or drink. It’s a decent deal – a lanyard for 12 samples costs only $65 ($5.40 per sample), and a lanyard for 8 samples costs $50 ($6.25 per sample). Using a lanyard is a great way to be sure you get to taste everything you want to before getting too full, or having one too many. If you decide that you don’t want to use all your tastings, that’s okay too. Your lanyard is valid at any festival station throughout the duration of Beer Fest.
SeaWorld Orlando Craft Beer Festival Dinner Series
One of the coolest things about SeaWorld’s Craft Beer Festival is that they put on separately-ticketed dining experiences, so while you can enjoy Beer Fest with park admission, you will need to splurge a little to participate in their Dinner Series. That being said, you do not need park admission to enjoy this particular event, which even gives you limited park access.
SeaWorld Park Daytime Admission – Beer Fest and full park access, no dining experience
Dinner Series Ticket – Dining experience and limited park access after dinner
Depending on the night you go, Dinner Series tickets are either $109 plus tax or $129 plus tax per guest. Each dinner ticket will give guests access to a private, four-course dining experience at the incredibly unique Sharks Underwater Grill. The event takes place in the private Reef Room of Sharks Underwater Grill, and guests will enjoy their dinner while listening to a guest speaker (from the featured brewery or distillery) and be able to mingle with other attendees throughout the night.
While the individual menu will change depending on which brewery or distillery is being featured, the schedule will always be as follows:
4:30 – 6:30 Event window
4:30 – 5:00 Check in and reception cocktail featuring brewery selected offerings
5:00 – 6:30 Four-course dinner with accompanying beverage pairings and presentation by brewery or distillery representatives.
Guests are welcome to enjoy the park after their dinner. SeaWorld typically stays open until 9 pm on weekend nights, making this a great value, especially if you want to see the park after the crowds have gone for the night.
Dinner Series Brewery and Distillery Representatives
September 4 – Persimmon Hollow Brewing Co. – Orlando, FL
September 5 – Alcatraz Brewing – Lakeland, FL
September 12 – Woodford Reserve Bourbon – Versailles, KY
September 17 – Cigar City Brewing – Tampa, FL
September 18 – Yuengling – Pottsville, PA
September 19 – Jack Daniels – Lynchburg, TN
What else can I do at SeaWorld Orlando?
SeaWorld Orlando is a park that boasts six big rides and a number of smaller attractions. Mako, Manta, Kraken, Infinity Falls and Journey to Atlantis are all rides that will take even the most stalwart coaster lover to task. SeaWorld Orlando was also recently voted best theme park in the USA Today 10Best poll, with Mako winning best roller coaster in the same poll.
No matter what your age is, the sheer number of animals that call SeaWorld Orlando home will put a smile on your face. From seeing Orcas up close in beautiful encounters to being able to feed and touch stingrays in the Stingray Lagoon, SeaWorld is a park that shows how interconnected we all are.
Little ones will likely find their favorite spot in the park to be Sesame Street Land. A complete recreation of the place where the air is sweet, this part of the park is the perfect place to take your tot on a hot summer day. Here, younger guests can enjoy a splash pad, tyke-sized rides, and grab a treat from Mr. Hooper’s store.
For a full overview of SeaWorld Orlando and everything it has to offer, check out our guide page. Even better, we hope you’ll come enjoy Beer Fest and check everything out for yourself. Until then – cheers!