Prepare for screams of terror at Busch Gardens Howl-O-Scream

As the evening draws in after a fun-filled day of up-close animal encounters and awesome rides at Busch Gardens, prepare for screams of terror, rather than joy, to fill the air! For 19 fearsome select nights between 21st September and 28th October, the annual Howl-O-Scream event returns with some old favourites as well as new scary attractions to terrify and thrill you in equal measure!

Billed as Tampa’s Number One haunted attraction, the separately-ticketed Howl-O-Scream made its debut in 2000 after replacing the smaller Spooky Safari event which was aimed at a younger age group. Today’s Howl-O-Scream has come a long way from it’s humble origins and is targeted at an adult audience, finding itself primarily competing with Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights, with plenty of blood, gore and violence to ramp up the scares. From 7:30pm to 1am the park is transformed into a gruesome realm filled with unspeakable terrors including horrifying haunted houses and scare zones with costumed characters, thrill rides and a live show, not to mention plenty of photo opportunities and games!

If you have planned a long day out, and have tickets for both Busch Gardens day entry, as well as Howl-O-Scream you don’t need to leave the park and re-enter, instead you can wait in the Stanleyville or Pantopia areas while the transition to the Halloween fun takes place.

Due to the nature of the event and its intense scares, although those under the age of 18 will be admitted to Howl-O-Scream, it isn’t recommended for under 13s, and there is no discounted rate available. Saying that, the ticket prices for Howl-O-Scream are cheaper than that of its closest direct rival, Halloween Horror Nights, so may be worth considering if you have a tight budget, or want to do both parks and get your Halloween horror fill, especially as Howl-O-Scream finishes before the 31st October. Unlike at some of the other parks around Florida, guests are also not permitted to wear Halloween costumes to Howl-O-Scream.

Howl-O-Scream haunted houses

New to this year’s Howl-O-Scream are two haunted houses – Simon’s Slaughterhouse and Insomnia. Do you dare to enter Simon’s Slaughterhouse? If you do, beware as you will have agreed to play Simon’s twisted games just by walking into his domain! Who knows what horrific terrors await you inside his gruesome abode… To reach this house you have to pass through the Meat Market scare zone, which, along with Simon’s Slaughterhouse, due to their gory nature aren’t recommended for guests under 17.

In Insomnia, a replacement for last year’s Zombie Containment Unit house, you will have to face your worst nightmares as you become a patient in a haunted asylum, where the doctors will force you to stay awake for their horrifying new treatment!

Even after you have escaped the asylum you won’t want to sleep in the deserted Motel Hell, one of the fan favourites that returns this year. Here the Sandman awaits your visit, ready to make your worst dreams become a reality, as the paranormal existence of the motel’s former owner remains a sinister presence.

Another returning house is The Black Spot, where you must flee from the hideout of the notorious blood thirsty pirate Saw Tooth Silas who has marked you for death with the Black Spot. Can you escape your fate or will you meet your doom in his domain?

The Louisiana Bayou is the setting for Death Water Bayou – the realm inhabited by the evil Voodoo Queen and her followers who use black magic to transform the unwary traveller into one of her minions. Do you dare to make your way into the swamps? If you do, make sure that you get away before you come under her spell!

Howl-O-Scream scare zones

As already mentioned, the gore-filled Meat Market is near to Simon’s Slaughterhouse, and is a returning scare zone, though this year it is bigger and better than ever! Watch out as you dodge hordes of roaming flesh-eating creatures who want nothing more than to feast on you! You’d better not let them catch you!

There are plenty of new scare zones to terrify you, all filled with the park’s costumed characters; celebrate the Day of the Dead over at the Día De Los Muertos zone as the spooky festival parade makes its way past you, before being driven to distraction at the Hell on Wheels area, where you will find your path blocked by a violent motorcycle gang in this post-Apocalyptic scare zone. Will you survive this hellish future?

If clowns are your worst nightmare then you might want to avoid Maniac Midway – where Sparky and his carnival companions want you to be part of the ‘scariest show on earth’; look out – there will be terrifying clowns searching the Pantopia area for the show’s newest stars, and you don’t want to be a part of their morbid attraction!

If your childhood memories haven’t already been ruined by these crazed clowns, then the Deadly Toys zone might do the trick! Watch out – lethal life-sized toys are on the rampage and no one is safe from their wrath.

Do you recall holidays camping and eating toasting marshmallows? A night under the stars getting back to nature might sound ideal, but certainly not at Camp DOA! Pitch your tents next to the swamp – but beware: nobody will be getting a good night’s sleep as the mutants rise from the haunted marsh!

Other Howl-O-Scream attractions

DarkHeart’s Games of Skill over in Pantopia makes a welcome return this year. There’s sure to be something for everyone to enjoy with a range of classic and modern carnival games, and if you don’t win anything you can always pick up some souvenirs from Howl-O-Scream’s Shop of Horrors, including themed T-shirts, to remember your day!

The Fiends Show is also back; a dance and music extravaganza on stage at the Stanleyville Theater with a spooky twist! Take the chance to sit down and be entertained before heading back out into the park to ride the roller coasters.

Busch Gardens’ most popular rides including Cobra’s Curse, Cheetah Hunt, Falcon’s Fury, SheiKra, Kumba and Montu are set to be open during the Howl-O-Scream event, and dependent on the weather, some of the water rides and other attractions may also be available. To add to the Halloween spirit you will find yourself accompanied on these thrilling rides by some gruesome spectres – which are bound to make for some extreme screams, and great photos!

For some exclusive photo opportunities this year, as well as those that you take while making your way around the park, Busch Gardens have set out details of where to find their character actors:

• Harlequin Hotties can be found clowning about by DarkHeart's Games of Skill
• *The Butcherettes* will be terrifying guests near to the Meat Market
• Voodoo Girls will be weaving their magic by Adventure Photo
• Naughty Nurses from the Fiends Show will be raising pulses by the Stanleyville Theater.

Howl-O-Scream dining and VIP tours

If the thought of all this frightful fun is making you hungry or thirsty, you might want to pay a visit to the bars and beer tents featuring shot girls and Howl-O-Scream signature drinks, or even attend the Fright Feast buffet. Don’t forget to take ID if you are planning on enjoying drinks in the bars and pubs though! The buffet is an added upgrade to your ticket, costing from $29.99 per person (excluding tax and service fees) dependent on the night that you wish to book. For your money you get an all-you-can-eat mains and desserts buffet, an exclusive preview of the Fiends show, plus early and front-of the-line access to the haunted houses until 8:30pm. If this is of interest you will need to book ahead of the event, as spaces will be limited.

There are a few other upgrades that you might be interested in booking if you are a Halloween fan, including private guided VIP Tours – the Ultimate version of which lasts for seven hours and includes the Fright Feast dining and, among other extras, complimentary drinks at locations around the park.

All tickets are available to book through the Busch Gardens website.

All in all, Howl-O-Scream promises to provide plenty of pulse-pounding scares that are not for the faint of heart! With a range of rides, attractions, haunted houses and scare zones all at a comparatively low entry price, it is certainly a Halloween event that you should check out if you get the chance. If you do attend we’d love to hear how you got on!