The fun for thrill seekers in the Tampa Bay Area doesn’t end when summer does. Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is gearing up for fall with the imminent arrival of Howl-O-Scream. This Halloween-themed event is the ultimate destination for fright lovers.
While Busch Gardens is a family-friendly theme park, you may want to leave the kids home for Howl-O-Scream. This event has been taking place for twenty-five years and every year it gets bigger and better! Guests will enjoy a night of haunted houses, thrill rides, scare zones, and entertainment.
Many of the Busch Gardens Tampa Bay attractions will be open during Howl-O-Scream including the newest roller coaster: Phoenix Rising. You may have ridden thrill rides like Iron Gwazi and sheiKra during the day, but speeding down the steep drops in the dark is a whole other experience! Cheetah Hunt and Tigris will also be operating during the event.
Howl-O-Scream will have five different themed haunted houses. There are four returning favorites including D.H. Baggum’s Circus of Fear, Stranglewood Estate, The Forgotten: Uprising, and Witch of the Woods: Rise of the Coven. Joining them this year is a new house: Shadows of Wonderland, a spooky take on the classic Alice in Wonderland.
Similar to the haunted houses, there are eight different scare zones. These zones are situated adjacent to the haunted house area. Here guests will encounter costumed live actors and special effects.
Besides thrill rides and haunted houses, guests will be entertained at two different shows. Cirque X-Scream is a stunt show exclusive to the Howl-O-Scream event. Performers execute mouth-dropping stunts and acrobatic feats. The Reckoning is a new show where, according to the Busch Gardens website, guests will “join mortal Lark as she faces her ultimate judgment day in the fiery depths of Hell.” Each of these shows runs for approximately 30 minutes.
All of the screaming and scares will surely leave guests hungry. There are exclusive culinary items, not yet announced, which will be available for purchase. Be sure to check the website, as the menu will be added soon!
Howl-O-Scream takes place September 6 through November 2. While Halloween may feel like a long way out, now is the time to purchase your tickets if you want to get a deal. At the time of publishing, online tickets are on sale for $34.99-$54.99 for a one-night visit. This ticketed event is separate from regular park admission and prices will increase closer to opening.