Amusement park season is hitting its stride across the region, and the timing couldn’t be better. The summer stretch—peak season for the area’s top parks—is well underway, and families have three good reasons to fill up the gas tank.
Within a few hours’ drive of the Washington, D.C. area, Kings Dominion, Busch Gardens Williamsburg, and Hersheypark have each rolled out fresh attractions, shows, and nighttime spectacles for the 2026 season. From a reimagined coaster with a menacing new twist to drone-lit skies and a splash-filled new corner of a water park, here is what’s worth the trip.
Kings Dominion Lights Up the Night
About two hours south of D.C. in Doswell, Virginia
Kings Dominion is leaning hard into after-dark entertainment this year. The park’s headline addition is the Drone & Fireworks Spectacular: Ignite the Night, a new evening show pairing synchronized drones with a burst of pyrotechnics. It runs Fridays through Sundays, through August 9.
The daytime lineup has plenty to offer, too. The SPLASH! Water Parade also runs through August 9, Tuesday through Sunday, while the Bands in Residence program brings live music to the park daily through August 16.
For coaster enthusiasts, the biggest buzz is still around Rapterra. Having debuted last year as the world’s tallest and longest launched wing coaster, this massive ride remains a top draw, launching riders at 65 mph in just four seconds.
📌 Know Before You Go: For families traveling with teens, keep in mind that Kings Dominion enforces a chaperone policy. All guests ages 15 and under must be accompanied by a chaperone who is at least 21 years old with a valid ID to enter or remain in the park after 4:00 p.m.
Busch Gardens Williamsburg Takes a Dark Turn
Roughly three hours south of D.C. in Williamsburg, Virginia
Busch Gardens has reimagined one of its most popular rides and packed its summer calendar with fresh entertainment.
The centerpiece is Verbolten: Forbidden Turn, a major 2026 reworking of the park’s beloved indoor-outdoor multi-launch coaster. This time, a charming drive through Germany’s Black Forest curdles into something sinister. New animatronics and special effects build a creeping sense of dread—signs appear where they shouldn’t, shadows shift on their own—before the ride sends riders plunging 88 feet toward the Rhine River.
The park’s Summer of Wonder campaign include exciting live entertainment and events:
- Across the Pond: Legends of the UK: A high-energy show celebrating British music from The Beatles to Adele, playing Wednesdays through Sundays until August 9.
- Kinetix: A New Generation: An acrobatic spectacle pairing aerialists and powerhouse vocalists at the Royal Palace Theatre, running Thursdays through Sundays at 8:15 p.m. through July 26.
- The Drone Show: Busch Gardens debuts its first-ever drone show this summer, sending more than 400 synchronized drones aloft Thursdays through Sundays at 9:00 p.m. through July 26.
🍻 Pro-Tip: To help beat the summer heat, Busch Gardens has brought back free beer through July 30. Members and pass holders (21+) can get one free 7-ounce pour per day, while all other of-age guests can purchase up to two 7-ounce pours for just 50 cents each.
Hersheypark Marks a Milestone
Roughly two and a half hours north of D.C. in Hershey, Pennsylvania
For families heading north into Pennsylvania, Hersheypark has added new ways to cool off during its historic 120th operating season. While the main amusement park has been open since spring, The Boardwalk water park is now open daily through September 7, showcasing two brand-new play zones that debuted this summer.
The freshest additions sit inside the water park, where two new play areas make their debut. The Inlet at Bayside Pier offers a shaded zone with water-spouting dolphins and fish, while The Island at Bayside Pier features 10-foot palm trees that tip buckets of water on guests below. Together, they bring 45 new aquatic elements to the existing Bayside Pier section.
On stage, the live music production “Sweet Land of Liberty: A Celebration of the American Songbook” runs daily through September 7, tracing the rock, pop, country, and soul anthems that shaped the nation. It headlines Hersheypark’s tribute to America’s 250th anniversary, a summer-long affair that includes fireworks on August 8.
Plan Your Summer
From a Black Forest gone wrong to a sky full of drones and a splash-ready new water zone, the 2026 season gives DC-area families plenty of reasons to hit the road. Pick your park, pack the sunscreen, and check each park’s schedule before you go — showtimes and dates are subject to change.
