Virginia Catholic Day at Busch Gardens

Saturday 10-05-2024

All Day

Register Here!

Initial Communication

 

What is Virginia Catholic Day at Busch Gardens?

We invite families, youth ministries, and young adult groups from around the Diocese to Busch Gardens for a day of fun and fellowship. The day includes admission to the park, Sunday Vigil Mass, and dinner as a Diocese.

 

What is the schedule of the day (Saturday, October 5, 2024)?

10:00 am          Busch Gardens opens, pick-up tickets near the front entrance

12:00 pm          Ticket pickup ends

3:30 pm            Celebration of Sunday Vigil Mass at Abbey Stone Theatre at Busch Gardens

5:30 pm            Diocesan all-you-can eat dinner buffet at the Black Forest Pavilion opens

6:30 pm            Diocesan dinner buffet closes

11:00 pm          Busch Gardens closes.

Note: At 6 pm the park begins their Howl-O-Scream event, parental discretion is advised.

 

Who should attend the Virginia Catholic Day?

This event is open to all youth, families, and young adults from around the Diocese.  You can register as either a group, a family or an individual.

 

What are some of the logistics for me to be aware of?

  • All ticket purchases will be made online through our online registration system.
  • All tickets will be picked up onsite on Saturday, October 5, 2024, at Busch Gardens front entrance near kiosks.
  • All individuals who purchase tickets for the all-you-can-eat dinner will have a wrist band. The wrist band will get individuals into the all-you-can eat dinner.
  • Howl-O-Scream begins around 6:00 pm and may not be suitable for children under the age of 13.
  • The all-you-can eat buffet dinner will have vegetarian and gluten free options available for people who request those in the online registration system.

 

What are the costs?

There are three options available to all individuals this year to choose from which include:

  1. All-inclusive ($79 per individual): Includes admission to the park (including Howl-O-Scream), Sunday Vigil Mass, and All-You-Can Eat Dinner Buffet
  1. Single-Day Admission Ticket ($53 per individual): Includes admission to the park (including Howl-O-Scream) and Sunday Vigil Mass
  1. All-You Can Eat Dinner Buffet ONLY ($26 per individual): Includes Sunday Vigil Mass, and All-You-Can Eat Dinner Buffet. This option does not include admission to the park. Attendees must provide their own ticket/pass to the park to take advantage of this option.

 

IMPORTANT NOTES:

  • Any individual can enter the park without purchasing tickets through the Diocese. In addition, the Sunday Vigil Mass does NOT require ticketing or a cost.
  • There is a $5 late fee per ticket purchased after Sunday, September 15, 2024, at 11:59pm. We will not take purchases over the phone or email; they must be processed using the online system.
  • There is no fee for substitutions.
  • There are no refunds after Sunday, September 15, 2024, at 11:59pm.

 

How do I register and what are the registration deadlines?

All registrations must occur online. Visit www.evangelizerichmond.org to register. Registration opens in April.

If you are registering a parish group, you need to know the parish name, parish contact, on-site coordinator, on-site coordinator contact information and the number of tickets for each option.  We do not need to collect individual names during registration or on-site.  A youth minister, DRE, or other member of the parish staff would be the most likely person to register in this fashion.

If you are coming to Busch Gardens as an individual, family, or group not connected to a parish, then you would need to have the name and contact information for the individual who is picking up tickets and serving as the on-site point of contact.

All payments are due prior to receiving your tickets on Saturday, October 5, 2024. Payment can be made online via credit card as part of the registration process, by sending a check to our office, or you can also pay on site with check or credit card.

 

How do I get my tickets?

Tickets are not mailed to each parish or to families or individuals. Instead:

  • Groups that registered as a parish group will have the parish coordinator pick up all the tickets for his/her parish from our Office for Evangelization table near ticket sales, prior to the turn-styles to enter the park. Please only send the parish coordinator to the table and have the rest of your group wait together.
  • Individuals and families who registered unconnected to a larger group will pick up their tickets directly from our Office for Evangelization table near ticket sales, prior to the turn-styles to enter the park.

Ticket pick up will be available from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm.  Any tickets not picked up by noon will be turned into the Busch Gardens Will Call office.  We will not release tickets to individuals who registered as part of a parish group without prior authorization, in writing, from the parish coordinator.

 

Will marketing and promotional materials be available for my parish?

Posters will be sent to each parish and school for your use. One poster will have blanks for you to write in your own prices (if you are charging additional fees for transportation OR subsidizing the cost of the day).

 

Where do I go for questions or additional support?

For all questions or support, contact Office for Evangelization via email ([email protected]) or phone (804-622-5159). On the day of the event, you may contact our office directly at 804-622-5159.