Hometown: Dan Dipiazzo's Plans for Your Summer Evenings

By Meredith Hornsby Thursday, March 18, 2010

Busch Gardens Europe and Water Country USA were my summer babysitters.  My Dad would drop me off at the front wooden gate on his way to work and pick me back up at that same spot eight hours later.

 

There were no cell phones, so he couldn’t text me every ten minutes to make sure I was okay; and I had just five dollars and fifty cents to buy a vanilla soft serve ice cream in a waffle cone with fresh strawberries and a corndog.

Those days are long gone, but Dan Dipiazzo, Vice President of Marketing of Busch Gardens Europe and Water Country USA, said the parks are adding even more features to make it just as fun for today’s visitors.

From June 28- August 22, Busch Gardens will be introducing Illumi Nights, an extension of park hours with concerts, parades, and more features in every country, all topped off with vibrant firework displays.

"This is a great reason to stay around once it gets dark," says Dan.

Meanwhile Ireland, celebrating its tenth year as a Busch Gardens country, will be opening a new motion-based ride called Europe in the Air, and the new show “Celtic Fire” in the Abbey Theater.

"Europe in the Air takes you over and around all of the famous sites of the park, and Celtic Fire integrates dance with singing to celebrate the Irish culture in a dynamic way," Dan told us.

Water Country USA is also keeping the party alive once the lights go down. Entering its 26th year, the park is starting Wipe Out Weekends, “evenings filled with music and a party atmosphere."

Even Christmas Town will be extended in 2010, remaining open through New Year's Eve.

"Families have made it a part of their holiday tradition," says Dan.

Dan worked in marketing for the Busch Entertainment Cooperation for 15 years in St. Louis before grabbing the opportunity to move to Williamsburg in 2007.

"I enjoy seeing the fruits of our labors, getting out in the park, seeing people having a great time," says Dan.