
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, November 18, 1993                   TAG: 9311180147
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: associated press
DATELINE: WILLIAMSBURG                                LENGTH: Short

BUSCH GARDENS TO END CONCERT SERIES

The Busch Gardens theme park plans to end its summer celebrity concert series next year, which over the years has brought in dozens of big-time singers.

Instead, Busch Gardens plans a series of longer-running shows, like ice shows or variety shows, spokeswoman Cindy Sarko said Tuesday. The acts would run for about a month each.

This year's performers included the Oak Ridge Boys, pop star Jon Secada, the Chipmunks and country music star Billy Dean.

Sarko said a crunch in the concert business led in part to the decision to cancel the series. While Busch Gardens has not had problems with ticket sales, concert sales in general have been down in recent years, leading many performers to cancel shows, she said.

by CNB