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Busch Gardens hosting Pokemon Go event on July 24

Posted at 7:54 AM, Jul 21, 2016
and last updated 2016-07-21 07:54:47-04

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – Busch Gardens Williamsburg has announced they will be hosting a “Lure-A-Thon” at the park on July 24 and are encouraging Pokemon fans to visit the park to try and “catch ’em all!”

*Park admission is required to attend.

The  park says they’ll be deploying lures on Pokestops in the park from 1 – 7 p.m. Lures are items in the game that are placed on Pokestops to attract nearby Pokemon.

Busch Gardens Williamsburg has 52 Pokestops and three gyms, making the park a perfect place to hunt!

However, the park does want you to be aware of some rules before coming to the park:

1. Catch ‘em all…but not on rides. Please don’t use your phone or any device while on any of the park’s coasters and rides. You might lose your phone or worse, end up causing a safety hazard for others. Don’t worry – there’ll be other chances to catch that Pidgeotto.

2. Our Pokéstops may look different in real life. Some areas of the park have changed since the user-submitted photos/pins were created. For instance, the Pledge Plaque Pokestop – that plaque no longer exists. Don’t rely on the photos or names to find your next destination.

3. Stay on track. Or rather, stay on the track. All Pokéstops should be accessible from guest areas. Do not enter any fenced or gated areas, including “employee-only” or “ride restricted” areas to search for Pokémon or to access Pokéstops (or for anything else, really). Those barriers are there for a reason – the safety of our guests, team members and animals.

4. Refuel and recharge. The game is notoriously draining on your phone’s battery and walking around the park in the hot sun can be physically draining. Take breaks, sit in the shade and drink plenty of water. Or pop into Brauhaus Craft Bier Room to grab a pint (or a delicious cheese plate) and recharge your phone at one of the free charging stations inside.

5. Be aware of your surroundings at all times. Yes, it says this on the game’s loading screen, but it’s worth repeating. This keeps you from accidentally wandering somewhere you shouldn’t (See #3), running into things and helps you enjoy the natural beauty of the park. Please also be aware and be courteous of those around you: don’t cut people off when walking, stop suddenly in front of someone or obstruct pathways. Remember, they paid to get into the park just as you did and they deserve to have an equally great (if Pokémon-free) experience.

6. Remember that it’s just a game. It’s a competitive game, which is part of what makes it so much fun, but it’s still just a game. Server issues, battery drains, lack of Pokémon, huffing and puffing up the Grimm’s Landing bridge after finding the Rhine River Pokéstops and getting beaten at the gym for the umpteenth time can all be really frustrating. If you got outside, breathed in fresh air, basked in the sunshine and had a little fun with your fellow trainers, then it was a good day.