Howl-O-Scream 2024 at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay: Guide to all haunted houses, scare zones
Howl-O-Scream 2024 at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay features a new Wonderland-themed haunted house and other spooks. We have the information you need to plan your visit.
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The time is near for Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay in Florida, celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. This event takes place on select nights from Sept. 6 – Nov. 2, 2024. Below, you will find all the information needed to have a spooky time at Busch Gardens’ seasonal Halloween event.
For the 25th anniversary, Howl-O-Scream will feature five haunted houses, eight scare zones, and new entertainment offerings designed to make guests jump in fear.
Haunted houses
This year’s event features some returning, new, and reimagined haunted houses.
New: ‘Shadows of Wonderland’
Since this is a new haunted house for 2024, we do not know very much about it. Still, Busch Gardens has educated us a bit in preparation for experiencing this house.
Based on that information, guests will venture into the fantasy land of Wonderland. However, “Shadows of Wonderland” will not play out like a children’s book. This house builds on the idea that years of torment by the Queen of Hearts have changed those classic characters. They’re also upset that Alice left them. Guests will confront this distorted reality and face a vengeful Queen who wants Alice and you gone.
‘D.H. Baggum’s Circus of Fear’
Returning from last year, “D.H. Baggum’s Circus of Fear” promises to take guests within a circus midway like never seen before (except, well, last year). As Busch Gardens states, guests should prepare to step right up to see the most horrifying spectacle ever witnessed. D.H. Baggum’s collection of grotesque creatures will be seen within this haunted house. Oh, by the way, the circus midway also acts like a hunting ground. D.H. Baggum stalks the unsuspecting, snatching them away for his evil purposes.
‘Stranglewood Estate’
Another returning house, “Stranglewood Estate,” can be experienced at this year’s Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. This house walkthrough takes visitors to a former luxurious mansion with a sinister past.
Stranglewood Estate has gone from a place of joy and excitement to a place of death and horror. Madame Stranglewood grew up on the estate. She had a bad reputation for servants simply going missing. Legends say she lured unsuspecting servants who disappointed her into a secret room in the basement, where she ended their lives, trapping their souls in eternal torment. Though Madame Stranglewood no longer walks in this realm, her ghost will happily take you on a tour of the estate.
‘The Forgotten: Uprising’
Fans of vampires have a Howl-O-Scream haunted house to enjoy this year. Returning for 2024, “The Forgotten: Uprising” takes guests on a journey to a time after the hunters attacked the vampires.
For this haunted house’s narrative, a year has passed since the hunters first confronted the slumbering vampire army. Still, victory for the hunters remains just out of their grasp. The vampires look to bite back, with guests being caught in the middle.
‘Witch of the Woods: Rise of the Coven’
“Witch of the Woods: Rise of the Coven” returns this year in a reimagined form for Howl-O-Scream Busch Gardens. According to Busch Gardens, an evil force has awakened in the woods, which guests can experience in this haunted house.
The Witch of the Woods, Seraphina, has summoned her coven and twisted the forest into a monstrous expression of her witchcraft. This leaves a trail of poisoned air, stagnant water, and withered life. Does it sound like fun? If so, this house is made for you.
Scare zones
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay’s Howl-O-Scream 2024 provides guests with eight scare zones. In honor of the 25th anniversary of Howl-O-Scream, five new scare zones will be haunted guests this year. These can be experienced throughout the theme park. Guests can stay in these areas as long as they like or walk through.
Returning scare zones for Howl-O-Scream 2024
Three scare zones return for this season. First up, “Sin City Zombies” combines the unique icons of Las Vegas with apocalyptic terror. We cannot recommend the wedding chapel here. However, the hotel off the Vegas Strip is a good spot for zombies.
The two other returning scare zones are:
- “Raven’s Mill: The Blood Harvest” — Guests enter the walls of a cornfield for a nightmarish time.
- “Beyond the Veil” — The dark fairies and orcs would love for guests to enjoy their sinister forest.
New scare zones for Howl-O-Scream 2024
Five new scare zones enhance this year’s Howl-O-Scream. These consist of some legends, bloody massacres, and a tribute to the 25 years of Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. They are:
- “Howl-O-Scream 25: Terror Through Time” — The past 25 years of Howl-O-Scream nightmares come to life in this scare zone.
- “Tree Lot Massacre” — Those who enjoy combining the holiday season will enjoy this scare zone taking place on a haunted Christmas tree farm on Christmas Eve.
- “Sawgrass Slaughter: Legend of the Skunk Ape” — So the story goes, camping in this area did not go well for many visitors. Guests should beware of the Skunk Ape.
- “Little Nightmares: Trick or Treat” — In this scare zone, we relive a tragic event that happened a few years ago on Halloween night when a group of children vanished. Every Halloween, they return, reliving their final trick-or-treat.
- “Ragnar’s Wrath” — This scare zone takes guests to the Norse legends. Feel Niflheim’s cold winds and smell the stench of death, warning of the potential horrors in this scare zone.
Live shows
Three spooky shows elevate and entertain guests for Howl-O-Scream 2024. One of these shows even allows guests to sing along.
Returning shows for Howl-O-Scream 2024
- “Scar-E-Oke” – Igor and Dr. Freakenstein host “Scar-E-Oke.” At this location, Gwazi Plaza guests can take turns at the mic to sing Halloween favorites.
- “Cirque X-Scream” – This spooky show features stunts. Based on previous years, we expect this show to have a few breathtaking moments. It takes place at the Stanleyville Theatre.
New show for Howl-O-Scream 2024: ‘The Reckoning’
Brand new for this year on the stage in the Dragon Fire’s Grill, guests can view “The Reckoning.” Guests watch good battle evil as a character named Lark meets the Gatekeeper in the fiery depths of Hell.
Food and drinks
Howl-O-Scream Busch Gardens Tampa Bay designed many food and beverage options for this year’s event. Some of the highlights are:
- Poison Apple – Rum, Monin Granny Smith Apple, Sour Mix
- Chocolate Insect Waffle Bowl – Vanilla soft serve ice cream and chocolate-covered insects with caramel sauce and chocolate sauce in a waffle cone bowl
- Ooey Gooey Mac & Cheese Fibula – Mac and cheese egg roll with bloody cheese sauce
Dates and tickets for Howl-O-Scream 2024 at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
Howl-O-Scream is an after-hours, separately ticketed event. The standard daytime admission ticket media will not gain guests’ entrance to this event. This ticket must be purchased separately. Howl-O-Scream starts each evening at 7 p.m., but guests with Howl-O-Scream tickets may enter the park as early as 5 p.m. on event nights.
Howl-O-Scream 2024 at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay runs on select nights. Those nights are:
- all Friday and Saturday evenings in September
- all nights Thursday through Sunday in October, as well as Oct. 31 (Halloween)
- Nov. 1 & 2
Single-night tickets for this event start at $49.99. Guests should expect the price of Howl-O-Scream to be higher on Saturday evenings than on other evenings. Also, please be advised that SeaWorld Orlando runs a Howl-O-Scream event. Guests should be careful to purchase tickets for the proper event.
Busch Gardens claims that Front Line Fear passes are the best way to access all five haunted houses. The Front-Line Fear Extreme pass provides access to all haunted houses in addition to providing front-of-line access to Busch Gardens’ 10 roller coasters. Front Line Fear passes start at $69.
In addition, special tours are sold for guests looking for an upgraded experience at Howl-O-Scream. The Howl-O-Scream Ultimate VIP Tour provides unlimited front-of-line access to haunted houses and rides, a complimentary meal at Dragon Fire Grill, private complimentary beverage locations, and free preferred parking. This exclusive tour starts at $299.99 per person, with a minimum of two people.
Howl-O-Scream guidelines for guests
Busch Gardens stresses that guests displaying harmful behavior will be removed from the theme park. Parental discretion is strongly advised, as Howl-O-Scream contains graphic and mature content that may not be suitable for children.
We also have bad news for those wishing to wear costumes to Howl-O-Scream. Costumes are not allowed.
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