October 2009

URL: http://www.tampabay.com

TAMPA — Ending a 50-year run, the brewers of Anheuser-Busch beers on Wednesday sold Busch Gardens Africa in Tampa along with nine other theme parks including SeaWorld to a New York private equity fund.

URL: http://www.themeparkinsider.com/

Busch Entertainment Corp., owner of the SeaWorld and Busch Gardens theme parks, announced this morning that it had completed a deal to be bought by the Blackstone Group - the world's largest private equity group, for $2.3 billion in cash, plus up to $400 million in additional considerations.

I'll be speaking with BEC chief Jim Atchison in just a few minutes and will update soon.

URL: http://sdentertainer.com

Halloween seemed to just pop up out of nowhere this season, but do not fear! SD Entertainer is here with the latest and greatest events for this spooky Halloween season. Whether you are looking for a place to bring the kids, or a party so you can wear your fantastically innovative costume on the dance floor, San Diego is a busy portal for October events.

Looking to begin your Halloween celebration a bit earlier than the 31st?

URL: http://travel.latimes.com

October marks the return of the annual death match between Halloween Haunt at Knott’s Berry Farm and Hollywood Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood for the blood-splattered title of best Halloween theme park event in Southern California.

URL: http://themeparkinsider.com

Busch Gardens Williamsburg has been in the Halloween business for over 10 years now, and it seems that they’re hitting their stride this year with numerous intense mazes, scare zones throughout the park, and several high energy live shows. We had an opportunity to visit the park early in the Halloween season this year, and will provide a full rundown of all of this year’s Howl-O-Scream attractions.

URL: http://travelwithkids.about.com

Every weekend in October, families with little kids can put on silly costumes and head to Halloween fun at Sesame Place – a 14-acre theme park in Langorne PA, dedicated to kids who love the Sesame Street tv show. (Actually, costumes are optional.)

URL: http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com

There's a bonus to this year's Spooktacular at SeaWorld Orlando: Abby Cadabby's Halloween Adventure. The Sesame Street/Muppet character is the hostess of a pinkish-purplish temporary attraction set on the stage area of Bayside Stadium, right where they filmed Wheel of Fortune.