Howl-O-Scream Archives - On the Go in MCO

Busch Gardens Howl-O-Scream 2022

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Howl-O-Scream 2020

Busch Gardens Howl-O-Scream returns in full force, taking over the entire park with haunted houses, scare zones, sinister shows, and more.

Unspeakable horror lives in every dark corner, including on Busch Gardens’ pulse-pounding thrill rides. Howl-O-Scream is bringing fear to the next level, and once you’re in, there’s nothing to fear but everything.

Howl-O-Scream 2022 is a separately-ticketed night event that takes place on select evenings from September 9 to October 31, 2022.

Busch Gardens Howl-O-Scream 2022

Haunted Houses

Dark minds have been brewing new ways to terrify those brave enough to enter our sinister haunted houses with new unsuspecting scares.

Stranglewood Estate

Every town has its share of ghost stories—and this one is no different. Once a lively home filled with laughter and lavish parties is now filled with darkness and the spirit of evil. Welcome to the Stranglewood Estate.

Death Water Bayou: Blood Moon – The Final Phase

The werewolves are clawing their way back in, and the blood moon is in its final phase. Beware all who enter the inescapable fate of the Death Water Bayou.

The Residence: Home for the Holidays

Merriment turns murderous at this suburban family home. Christmas arrives earlier than ever this year at The Residence, and all-new horrors are eager to be unwrapped. Holidays are best when spent with loved ones, but there’s no guarantee you’ll survive this silent night.

The Forgotten

Victims will be drawn into a hidden world beyond the rubble and rocks of an unsuspecting quarry, where dark secrets lurk in the shadows. Will those who enter return to the world of the living, or are they destined to become the newest minion of the Forgotten army?

Witch of the Woods

Something wicked this way haunts…an ominous legend summons you with her inescapable curse. Curiosity has brought many travelers into this dark forest, but only bone-chilling stories & dying screams make their way out.

Scare Zones & Unpredictable Hordes

The scares are everywhere as new terrors lurk in every corner of the park. Experience screams & frights at any moment as you make your way through several scare zones. Plus, with roaming hordes, the horror awaits at every twist and turn.

NEW! Ravens Mill

Scarecrow in the Corn Fields Busch Gardens Howl-O-Scream 2022

Within the walls of the cornfield lies a horrific nightmare you cannot awaken. The scarecrows of Raven’s Mill are ready for you…

NEW! Beyond the Veil

Beyond the Veil Busch Gardens Howl-O-Scream 2022

Along the Nairobi Path lies the depths of a dark forest. Beware of the fairies and orcs as you stroll through this organic forest.

The Junkyard

You’ll find more than spare parts as you rummage through this surly scrap site. Will you make it out in one piece or be devoured by the haunted rubble?

In the Shadows

Eerie legends and cryptid creatures passed down through centuries of ghost stories have gathered in the woods, turning wary skeptics into doomed believers.

Skeleton Crew

Rising from their watery grave, shipwrecked pirates seek to plunder the world of the living, taking all lost souls as their bounty.

The Shortcut

Cutting through the cemetery may seem easy, except when the corpses rise from the ground only to drag you back into their graves with them.

Voodoo

Driven out of the bayou by ravenous werewolves, the witch doctors now practice their dark magic on you as they pursue their twisted revenge through ancient curses.

Hidden Scare Zone & Roaming Hordes

Beware of the hidden zone and roaming hordes…just when you think you know what’s coming, untold horrors lurk in the darkness awaiting your arrival.

Sinister Shows

Don’t miss our spirited productions that are said to be “worth dying for.”

At the raunchy monster dance party, Fiends will return to its outdoor venue for more devilish antics from Dr. Freakenstein and his gang of ghouls.

Plus, all-new event entertainment comes to life during this year’s event.

50/50: Choose Your Fate

Busch Gardens Howl-O-Scream 2022 50 50 Fate Show

No matter your choice— he wins, and you lose. Join the game show host as he decides your fate and experience the fright of a lifetime.

Fiends

These captivating creatures of the night will infect you with dance fever and keep your pulse pounding with their raucous dance party.

The Rolling Bones

The live performance of this skeleton band lights up Dragon Fire Grill with epic covers of classic rock anthems.

Cirque X-Scream

Cirque X-Scream features exhilarating acts and stunts, including trampoline tricks and aerial performances.

Pulse-Pounding Attractions

With exhilarating coasters and thrilling attractions, guests can take on their favorite rides in the dark in between the frights and scares of Howl-O-Scream.

Bring your fears to new heights on Iron Gwazi & SheiKra, then let the adrenaline rush as you launch into the shadows of Cheetah Hunt & Tigris.

NEW! Iron Gwazi

Experience North America’s tallest and the world’s fast and steepest hybrid coaster.

Crash Test Clowns

Buckle up for an extra bumpy ride where the road rage from your fellow travelers includes a monstrous appetite for human brains.

SheiKra

200 feet from the sky, 90° straight down – ride this extreme roller coaster if you dare.

Cheetah Hunt

Race through Busch Gardens on this thrilling triple-launch roller coaster.

Tigris

Catapult through an exhilarating array of looping twists with forward & backward motion.

Cobras Curse

Come face-to-fang on this immersive, one-of-a-kind spinning roller coaster.

Falcons Fury

Drop 300 feet face-down on this freestanding drop tower.

Kumba

Experience the roar of the legendary steel coaster, Kumba.

Montu

Challenge yourself to seven intense inversions on this award-winning coaster.

Scorpion

Twist and turn with a 360° vertical loop and 50 miles per hour speeds.

SandSerpent

Zip, zoom & climb through the air on this “wild-mouse” style coaster.

For more information and to purchase Busch Gardens Howl-O-Scream tickets, visit the official website.

Busch Gardens Howl-O-Scream is intended for a mature audience.

This event contains intense adult content such as violence, gore, and blood. No costumes are allowed.

Howl-O-Scream 2022 at SeaWorld Orlando

Howl-O-Scream is coming back with vengeance this year at SeaWorld Orlando as the park just revealed a bigger and more terrifying line-up for 2022, featuring all-new houses, scare zones, shows, and bars that will make guests scream in fright. When night falls, things take an ominous turn as a cast of creepy characters emerge from the depths and lure guests into worlds of horror.

Guests must evade angry haunts as they rampage through scare zones or seek shelter indoors, only to find they have entered a house of horrors.

They can deepen the thrill with a chilling nighttime ride on Mako, Manta, Infinity Falls, or the park’s newest thrill ride, Ice Breaker.

Guests can quench their thirst for fear at a fiendishly interactive bar or feel the monstrous electricity of a live show.

Howl-O-Scream 2022 features more haunted houses, more scare zones, more coasters, and more unexpected frights than the Inaugural Fear—making it a can’t-miss experience for haunt fans and thrill-seekers alike.

SeaWorld Orlando’s Howl-O-Scream runs select nights from September 9 to October 31.

Howl-O-Scream 2022 at SeaWorld Orlando

SeaWorld Orlando Howl-O-Scream Halloween 2021 Houses

More Horrifying Houses:

Guests at Howl-O-Scream will be immersed in terror as they hear every bloodcurdling shriek and feel every spine-tingling terror upon entering any of the houses at this year’s haunt.

They may encounter Scratch, a siren with a thirst for blood as they race to escape her clutches in the All-New “Blood Beckoning,” or they may find themselves a permanent part of a ship crew, driven mad by cursed treasure in the All-New “Siren of the Seas,” Re-imagined houses “Captain’s Revenge—Drowned in Darkness” and “Dead Vines-Root of all Evil,” will frighten even the most daring and fan-favorite returning house, “Beneath the Ice” will chill guests to the bone.

SeaWorld Orlando Howl-O-Scream Halloween 2021 Scare

More Spine-Chilling Scare Zones:

Nowhere is safe from horror at Howl-O-Scream 2022. Guests must make their way through immersive scare zones that will test the limits of their bravery.

They can try to run from icy, subhuman walkers in an Arctic wasteland, wander through a sea of restless souls or find themselves captive by the voodoo of the backwater bayous. A terrifying number of All-New Scare Zones join Howl-O-Scream 2022 as“Terrors of the Deep,” “Sea of Fear,”“Cut Throat Cove,” and “Captive Cargo” join the re-imagined “Frozen Terror” and returning “Deadly Ambush” and“Witchcraft Bayou.”

SeaWorld Orlando Howl-O-Scream Halloween 2021 Sirens — SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

More Sinister Shows:

The Howl-O-Scream experience would not be complete without SeaWorld’s darkly entertaining, high-energy shows like the haunting “Siren’s Song”.

Guests can hear a famed explorer’s tales of tracking sirens in the All-New “Lurking in the Depths” or be mesmerized watching a pulse-pounding musical performance starring the one and only Jack the Ripper in the award-winning “Monster Stomp.”

More Bewitching Bars:

While there is no true escape from the terror, this year’s haunt features several themed interactive bar experiences that may not provide a respite from guests’ fears but are sure to quench their thirsts for adventure.

Each bewitching bar features specialty creepy cocktails for thirsty thrill-seekers. Guests can check out the All-New “Allura’s on the Rocks,” but be careful not to look directly at the host, who can turn people to stone with one glance. Guests may notice her recent victims nearby. Others may prefer to hear the tales of the mythical monsters at “Longshoremen’s Tavern,” grab a frosty cold one at“Tormented,” answer the call at “Siren’s Last Call,” or pick their poison at “Poison Grotto.”

Howl-O-Scream is intended for a mature audience. This event contains intense adult content such as violence, gore, and blood. Howl-O-Scream 2022 is a separately-ticketed night event. No costumes are allowed.

Tickets for SeaWorld Orlando’s Howl-O-Scream, on select nights from September 9 to October 31, are available now!

Halloween Spooktacular Returns to SeaWorld Orlando

SeaWorld Orlando Halloween Spooktacular 2021

Halloween Spooktacular is back at SeaWorld Orlando with candy, costumes, your favorite Sesame Street friends, and plenty of spooky surprises.

SeaWorld Orlando Halloween Spooktacular is a daytime event that runs weekends from September 18 to October 31^st, making it the perfect place for families to celebrate Halloween!

Kid’s will enjoy trick-or-treating, colorful characters, spooky stories, and a Halloween dance party to moments with furry friends like Count von Count, Elmo, Cookie Monster, and more.

The best treat of all? SeaWorld Orlando’s Halloween Spooktacular is included with your theme park admission!

Halloween Spooktacular Family Fun

Trick-or-Treat Trail

Find waves of Halloween fun when your costumed youngsters trick-or-treat for ghoulish goodies.

Each candy station on our trick-or-treat trail features an assortment of favorites including Tootsie Rolls, Smarties, and Airheads to name a few.

Halloween Dance Party

Children can join a cast of silly characters for a Halloween Dance Party where they participate in line-dancing favorites as music and fun fill the air along the Trick-or-Treat Trail.

Meet a Mermaid

Meet friendly Halloween mermaids each event day in this immersive experience along the Trick-or-Treat Trail.

Reusable Bags

To trick-or-treat along the SeaWorld trail a bag is required, and guests can find an assortment of reusable bags available for purchase at the entrance of the Trick-or-Treat Trail for a special souvenir.

Show off your Costume

All guests are welcome to dress up in costumes.

Please note that guests who are ages 13 and older may not wear costume masks or hoods, and all costumes are subject to the normal dress code for the park.

In addition, face painting is not permitted on any guests unless it is done by park artists.

When the Sun Goes Down a New Terror Surfaces

Howl-O-Scream has washed ashore at SeaWorld Orlando, and this time, the fear is everywhere. Experience the family fun by day and the bone-chilling terror by night.

Find out more here.

For more information about SeaWorld Orlando’s Halloween Celebrationa and Halloween in the Parks follow @onthegoinmco on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube!

Howl-O-Scream Orlando: New Details Revealed

SeaWorld Orlando has announced the first details of 2021 Howl-O-Scream and launched a Sinister Sale with up to 70% off on tickets for a limited time.

Let’s look at the newly announced Howl-O-Scream SeaWorld Announcements!

HAUNTEDED HOUSE: DEAD VINES

Something is stirring among the trees. A shiver runs down your spine as you creep forward, one timid step at a time. Is this jungle alive…or undead? There’s an ominous force at work here, a merciless mistress of ivy and evil. She’s poisoned these woods with an all-consuming appetite for visitors like you. Keep moving and find a way out before it’s too late. You don’t want to end up dead on the vine.

SCAREZONES AND ROAMING HAUNTS: WITCHCRAFT BAYOU

The cult is growing, and the lure is powerful. It’s hazardous to pass through this backwater bayou, but there’s no way around. Voodoo and witchcraft aren’t real, right? Tell that to the zealous worshippers trying to shackle you with their spells. They won’t rest until your soul belongs to her too. Stay alert, or the dark magic will drag you down.

THEMED BAR EXPERIENCE: POISON GROTTO

What’s your poison? Unwind with a refreshing concoction and explore the enticing atmosphere of this unearthly lounge. It’s a fleeting escape from the deadly vines and savage servants nearby. Just be sure to keep your eyes open and pay proper respect to the one who invited you in. You’re her guest here, and she’s always watching.

Howl-O-Scream is a separately ticketed event. Guests who hurry and act now can save up to 70% off on tickets to Howl-O-Scream Orlando. Right now, tickets start at only $29.99 during the Sinister Sale but prices will go up after July 25!

Howl-O-Scream is intended for a mature audience. This event contains intense adult content such as violence, gore, and blood. Howl-O-Scream 2021 is a separately-ticketed night event. No costumes are allowed.

Howl-O-Scream joins the park’s already impressive fall line-up of events including the return of family-friendly Halloween Spooktacular, included with park admission, which boasts daytime trick or treating for kids of all ages. Spooky fun for the entire family with Spooktacular during the day and terrifying thrills by night with the launch of Howl-O-Scream make SeaWorld Orlando the place to be this Halloween season.

For more information about SeaWorld Orlando’s Howl-O-Scream and Halloween around the Parks follow @onthegoinmco on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube!

Howl-O-Scream Returns to Haunt Busch Gardens

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Howl-O-Scream 2021

Fear returns in its most immersive form, as guests are invited back inside iconic haunted houses, including two ALL-NEW horror-filled houses at Busch Gardens Howl-O-Scream, Tampa Bay’s BIGGEST haunt event.

Creeping closer each day, Howl-O-Scream returns to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay with a hair-raising, skin-crawling celebration of ghoulish delights, including:

Two ALL-NEW Haunted Houses: Dark minds have been brewing new ways to terrify those brave enough to enter two all new original experiences.
Three Returning Houses with Reimagined Nightmares: Three fan-favorite frights will come back from the dead to consume guests with fear in new ways.
Eight Scare Zones, plus three unpredictable hordes: The scares are everywhere including an unmarked zone and new terrors lurking in every corner of the park.
Fan-Favorite “Fiends!” returns to the Festival Field Stage: The raunchy monster dance party will return to its spacious outdoor venue for more devilish antics from Dr. Freakenstein and his gang of ghouls.
“The Rolling Bones” light up the stage at Dragon Fire Grill: As guests fuel up on a pre-fear feast, the live performance of this skeleton band lights up Dragon Fire Grill with epic covers of classic rock anthems.

Tickets to Howl-O-Scream are available now, including exclusive discounts for Fun Card and Annual Pass Members at the lowest prices of the year.

Fans of fear can sign up for emails at HowlOScream.com to be the first to receive news of more dark details on new houses, experiences and more coming to Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.

Howl-O-Scream is intended for a mature audience. This event contains intense adult content such as violence, gore, and blood.

Howl-O-Scream 2021 is a separately ticketed nighttime event. No costumes are allowed.

Howl-O-Scream Comes to SeaWorld Orlando

A visit to SeaWorld Orlando will turn frightful on select evenings this fall when the park unleashes the ALL-NEW Howl-O-Scream. Guests will evade roaming haunts rampaging through scare zones and seek shelter indoors, only to find they have entered a house of horrors. Adventuresome guests can deepen the thrills with terrifying coaster rides in the dark, quench their thirst for fear at a fiendishly interactive bar and feel the monstrous electricity of a live show.

The separate-ticketed event goes on sale today including exclusive discounts for Annual Pass Members, with the lowest prices of the year for what promises to be an immediate fan-favorite terrifying Halloween event taking place with 27 fright-filled nights of haunted houses, scare zones, and terrifying shows on select nights Friday, September 10 through Sunday, October 31 from 7 p.m. to as late as 2 a.m.

Howl-O-Scream joins the park’s already impressive fall line-up of events including the return of family-friendly Halloween Spooktacular which boasts daytime trick or treating for kids of all ages. Spooky fun for the entire family with Spooktacular during the day and terrifying thrills by night with the launch of Howl-O-Scream make SeaWorld Orlando the place to be this Halloween season.

“SeaWorld Orlando fans love our extensive event line-up which includes a special event taking place every weekend of the year. Adding Howl-O-Scream to the calendar provides the missing element of a fright-filled Halloween event that we know our guests will welcome. With this addition, we become the only theme park in Orlando to offer both a daytime family-friendly Halloween and a nighttime horror Halloween for thrill seekers,” says SeaWorld Orlando Park President Kyle Miller. “We are very excited to announce Howl-O-Scream today and look forward to sharing all of the amazing details of the event over the next few months.”

Howl-O-Scream SeaWorld Orlando Elements:

Haunted Houses: Hear every bloodcurdling shriek. Feel every spine-tingling terror. Get ready for the haunted houses of SeaWorld’s Howl-O-Scream. There’s no turning back as guests brave dark passageways and round dimly lit corners, hoping they can avoid what’s lurking in the depths. The legends are true, the fear is real, and the only way out is through the fear.

Scare Zones and Roaming Haunts: There are no safe zones. There are no places to hide. The scares are everywhere, and the roaming haunts never weaken. Get ready for immersive terror at every turn during SeaWorld’s Howl-O-Scream. Guests should stay alert and be prepared for anything, because you never know what’s waiting up ahead (or creeping up behind you).

Frightful Shows:Even amid so much mayhem, the show must go on. Duck inside and be mesmerized by a raucous, high-energy musical dance show. Or discover who’s behind all the terror washing over the park at an outdoor show complete with special effects. Guests will also find DJs and party zones that are perfect for a dance break between frights.

Monster Coasters in the Dark and Haunting Experiences: It wouldn’t be a SeaWorld visit without a ride or two, but it wouldn’t be Howl-O-Scream without a dose of nighttime terror. Guests up to the challenge are invited to ride their favorite attractions in the dark. Meanwhile, sinister interactive surprises await at their favorite bar haunts. Keep watching to see how this once-peaceful park transforms with fear after nightfall.

Fans of fear can sign-up at www.HowlOScream.com/Orlando to be the first to receive more dark details on new houses, experiences and more coming to Howl-O-Scream at SeaWorld Orlando as additional gruesome details are announced.

Fans can feed their appetite for fear by following Howl-O-Scream on Facebook, Instagram at Twitter at the links below:

Twitter: @howloscreamorl – Link: https://twitter.com/howloscreamorl
Instagram: @howloscreamorlando – Link: https://www.instagram.com/howloscreamorlando/
Facebook: @howloscreamorlando—Link: https://www.facebook.com/howloscreamorlando

Howl-O-Scream is intended for a mature audience. This event contains intense adult content such as violence, gore, and blood. Howl-O-Scream 2021 is a separately-ticketed night event. No costumes are allowed.

Howl-O-Scream 2020 at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay officially got their Halloween season started with the return of Howl-O-Scream this weekend, and we were excited that it still brought the spirit of the season with plenty of scares.

The first thing we noticed when we arrived at the park was the numerous health and safety updates. Much like the other theme parks of Central Florida, all guests entering the park are required to pass a temperature check and wear face coverings, and social distancing markers were placed throughout the park to encourage safety while waiting for rides and shows.

This year Howl-O-Scream features 10 new terrifying scare zones as well as the return of the “Fiends” show staged in an outdoor stage.

While all of the scare zones were outside, two of them, The Junkyard and The Shortcut were staged like the traditional houses where guests queued up and walked through individually. All the scare actors were situated away from the guests or were wearing facial coverings themed to their costumes.

The first scare zone/haunted house we ventured through was The Junkyard. Although it was outside, the theme and design were excellent, providing the best scares of the night. Parties were staggered well allowing time to interact with the scare actors and get the most jumps possible.

Next to the Junkyard is the entrance to the Fiends show. This is a Howl-O-Scream must see this year as they have taken it to a large outdoor stage. It is bigger and better than ever featuring great music, dancing, and all of the characters you have come to love. Guests can see it twice each nigh at 8:30 pm and 10:00 pm.

Passed The Junkyard was the creepiest scare zone of all, Little Nightmares. Staged on the dark trail alongside Sesame Place, Little Nightmares doesn’t have any jump scares or knockers, but does a solid job unsettling your soul as you walk through.

The second scare zone/haunted house is The Shortcut. Although somewhat shorter than The Junkyard, this house had more a detailed set and much scarier visuals.

Just passed The Shortcut, you unwittingly venture into danger when you stumble among carnivorous campers in Lycan Landing. Here, the only happy campers are the werewolves feasting on the poor souls who enter their campground.

After surviving the Lycan Landing you have to pass through the evil clowns and carnies in the Maniac Midway.

Next comes the terrifying toys come to life in Deadly Toys.

After you have made it this far you find yourself in a town overrun by criminals in The Escape

The final zone you come across is not a scare zone at all, but a celebration of the Día de Muertos. This colorfully decorated area features music, dancing, and characters celebrating the Day of the Dead. It is a wonderful way to end your trip around Busch Gardens Howl-O-Scream.

Howl-O-Scream Scare Zone Announced

This year’s modified Howl-O-Scream event will include ten terrifying scare zones throughout Busch Gardens Tampa Bay’s expansive 335-acre park, including four all NEW zones.

Designed to scare safely, the creative production team has consulted with medical experts to modify this year’s zone designs with a physical distancing focus, as well as enhanced health and safety measures, while staying true to the terrifying experience fans crave.

With significantly limited capacity to create plenty of open space, guests will experience the heart-pounding fear of NEW horrors as they dash between thrilling rollercoasters and the fan-favorite Fiends show every Friday through Sunday from September 25-November 1, 2020.

ALL-NEW 2020 Howl-O-Scream Scare Zones with Limited Capacity

Howl-O-Scream 2020 Halloween Busch Gardens Tampa Bay — Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

NEW: Lycan Landing: It’s always a full moon at this campground and the park rangers can’t hear you scream. When the campfires burn out, will you escape the glowing eyes leering through the trees or will you share their cursed fate?

NEW: The Shortcut: Cutting through the cemetery may seem like an easy way out, except when the corpses rise from the ground to invite you into their graves

NEW: The Junkyard: You’ll find more than spare parts as you explore this surly scrap site. Will you make it out in one piece or be devoured by the haunted rubble?

NEW: The Escape: In this treacherous realm, chaos reigns and rules are made to be broken. The escaped inmates of Grey Echo Penitentiary seek their own twisted form of justice and they’re ready to deliver your sentence.

These four all-new scare zones join a collection of returning fan-favorites. The complete list of frights, reservations, and more are available now at www.HowlOScream.com.

Guests are strongly encouraged to make reservations early as reservations are required and space is limited each night.

**On Your Way to Fiends, Enjoy a Taste of Bier Fest During Howl-O-Scream:**

As guests roam between zones and coasters, they can enjoy select favorites from the Bier Fest menu available throughout the night.

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Bierfest 2020 Howl-O-Scream Halloween

Delicious drinks and dishes from favorite culinary cabins are the perfect grab-and-go accompaniment as guests head to the Festival Field for the fan-favorite Fiends show starring Dr. Freakenstein and his frightful entourage, on its largest stage ever!

Bench seating will be arranged in a physically distant manner to ensure there is plenty of space for a limited number of guests to enjoy each performance.

Best Way to Play: Buy Early and Save!

In addition to enhancing the park’s already strict health and safety measures, park capacity will be significantly limited for guests to enjoy Howl-O-Scream.

Reservations are limited each night, so guests are encouraged to buy their tickets now at an advanced rate for a discounted gate price and make their reservations at www.HowlOScream.com.

Additionally, Pass Members and Fun Card holders enjoy exclusive discounts for Howl-O-Scream.

Additional Expanded Health and Safety Measures:

For general admission and special events including Howl-O-Scream, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is committed to the health and safety of our guests, employees, and the animals in our care.

The park has worked diligently with state and local health experts, outside consultants, and attraction industry leaders to enhance our already strict health, safety and cleanliness standards.

These protocols and guidelines will be modified based on evolving industry standards and methodologies, public health, and governmental directives, and advancing scientific knowledge on the transmissibility of COVID-19.

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is excited to continue to provide our guests with fun and memorable experiences while addressing important health and safety needs during this time.

For detailed information about the measures that guests can expect when visiting the park, including key operational changes, visit buschgardens.com/tampa/safety.

Howl-O-Scream is intended for a mature audience. This event contains intense adult content such as violence, gore, and blood. Howl-O-Scream 2020 is a separately-ticketed night event. Protective Face Coverings are required, but no costumes are allowed.

Halloween in the Theme Parks 2020

Halloween in the theme parks of Central Florida may look different this year, but they are creating safe and spooky fun for the entire family to enjoy.

Fall into Fun at the Magic Kingdom

Halloween 2020 — Kent Phillips, photographer

Until October 31st, Walt Disney World is inviting guests to experience Fall Fun at the Magic Kingdom Park. During the celebration Fall decorations will line Main Street U.S.A., beloved characters will pop-up throughout their park in their Halloween costumes, special treats will be served up, slightly spooky merchandise will be available, and PhotoPass photographers will be snapping special pictures. Best of all? Guests of all ages are invited to wear their Halloween costumes to the park to be a part of the festivities.

SeaWorld Spooktacular

SeaWorld Orlando is hosting an ocean of safe Halloween fun for the whole family during Halloween Spooktacular weekends until November 1st. While this is an annual event, this year the modified daytime event, guests can safely explore the slightly spooky trick-or-treat trail, meet silly Halloween characters with physical distancing protocols in place, and much more during this safe, family-friendly event. SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular is included in admission to SeaWorld Orlando.

Halloween Horror Nights Tribute Store at Universal Studios Florida

The spirit of Halloween Horror Nights carries on in Universal Studios Florida’s Tribute Store. This spooky shopping experiences dares guests to brave Frankenstein’s Lab, step into Jack the Clown’s Carnival, party with the ‘ghost with the most’ Bettlejuice, and enjoy creepy specialty beverages and treats. The themed rooms, spooky sounds, and exclusive merchandise will have Halloween Horror Nights fans feeling festively eerie. While you are in the Tribute Store, make sure to keep an eye out for past Halloween Horror Nights Easter Eggs.

Brick or Treat at LEGOLAND Florida

LEGOLAND Florida is filling October weekends with spooky, kooky fun for the entire family! During Brick or Treat, included with admission to the park, guests will enjoy neighborhood-style trick-or-treating, seasonal shows, exclusive Halloween LEGO characters, and LEGO themed activities with fun prizes. It’s important to note that all character and performer interactions will be staged using generous spacing, of six feet or more, and elevated platforms and during trick-or-treating model citizens will be practicing social distancing while wearing face coverings (masks and/or face shields) and gloves.

Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

Howl-O-Scream is returning for its 21st year at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay with frights Friday and Saturday nights until November 1st. Created in consult with medical experts, significantly limited crowds will experience the heart-pounding fear of unexpected horrors including freakishly fun themed open-air scare zones throughout the 335-acre park and a new outdoor venue for the fan-favorite Fiends show. In addition to the frights, Howl-O-Scream guests can enjoy the thrill of the park’s coasters at night. It is important to note that Howl-O-Scream is intended for a more mature audience, as the event contains intense adult content such as violence, gore, and blood. Guests will also be required to wear protective face coverings and costumes are not allowed to be worn. Howl-O-Scream is a separately ticketed event, and reservations for the event are required.

You can find more information about theme park news and tips by subscribing to our YouTube Channel and following @onthegoinmco on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

Pumpkins in July? Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Is Growing “The Dark Side Of The Gardens” for Halloween

When It Comes to Creating “The Dark Side Of The Gardens” for Halloween,
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay’s Horticulture Team has to Start Early

TAMPA, Fla. (July 2012) – As Busch Gardens began preparations earlier this year to transform the park into “The Dark Side of the Gardens” for its 13^th annual Howl-O-Scream event this fall, the horticulture team realized that they faced a challenge: It’s hard to find heirloom pumpkins and winter squash in Tampa in October.

Their solution? To research seeds and plant their own heirloom pumpkin patch. Heirloom pumpkins are the antique varieties of fruits and vegetables not normally found in mainstream produce markets. Heirlooms often feature unusual shapes, unexpected colors, plus a very flavorful flesh. Busch Gardens’ crop of pumpkins is destined not for pies, however, but for the delight of park guests who will be ready for the cooler temperatures and Halloween fun that pumpkin season signals.

BG Pumpkin Tree — Pumpkins growing on a tree at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay!

“Last year was our first try at pumpkin farming which ended in miserable results due to heavy rains,” said Busch Gardens’ Director of Horticulture, Joe Parr. “This year, we started in February with raised beds of rich compost made right here at the park with zoo and landscaping debris, and are watering with a water-conserving drip irrigation system.”

It must be working: The pumpkin experiment has yielded more than 60 fruits so far, much to the excitement of the proud gardeners who coaxed the vines from seeds by hand-pollinating the flowers with cotton swabs… and who are now sharing their office with piles of pumpkins.

BG Pumpkin Office — Some examples of the different varieties of pumpkins they have grown at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.

Pumpkins are all American members of the squash family and have been cultivated for more than 5,000 years. When Columbus discovered America, he found the native people growing a variety of pumpkin which would come to be named Seminole. Busch Gardens’ pumpkin patch features the Seminole, as well as La Estrellas, a tropical pumpkin hybrid from the University of Florida. Both thrive in Florida’s heat and humidity. Parr’s team is also growing Rouge Vif d’Etampes (also known as the “Cinderella pumpkin”,) tiny Jack-Be-Littles, warty, dark-green Marina di Chioggias, the 50- to 60-pound“Big Max,” and even a “Pumpkin Tree,” which is actually a rare orange eggplant with tiny, ribbed fruits.

The challenge now will be to keep the ripe fruits looking their best until September when autumn harvest displays appear in the park for both day guests and Howl-O-Scream visitors to enjoy. If properly stored, pumpkins can last up to a year in Florida.

BG Pumpkin Team — A member of the Busch Gardens Tampa Bay horticulture team with one of their many pumpkins!

“As the summer temperatures soar,” says Parr, “it’s nice to think that October’s chill and pumpkins are coming soon.”Follow us for more updates: