Howl-o-Scream is a Halloween festival at Busch Gardens that takes place every year in Tampa, offering a night of thrill and horror. The event runs from Sept. 5 to Nov. 1 and attracts tourists from all over Florida. Visitors can explore the many experiences, roller coasters, scare zones and live shows.
This year’s lineup features five experiences: four haunted houses—Raven’s Mill: Lambs to the Slaughter, Stranglewood Estate, Shadows of Wonderland and D.H. Baggum’s Circus of Fear and—the brand-new M.A.R.S. experience.
“The haunted houses are my favorite part of Howl-O-Scream because it’s a once-a-year experience and they are very fun to go through,” said Tristan Sears, a junior. “I like that the lines don’t take too long to get through and that every year there is a new selection of houses, which makes the wait more exciting. I am most excited for the Raven’s Mill house because I did it last year, and I liked the atmosphere of it.”
In addition to the haunted houses, several scare zones are scattered throughout the park. This year introduces three new ones: The Pestilence, Breadcrumbs to Nowhere and The Murders at Buckshot Ridge. Returning favorites include Sawgrass Slaughter, Legend of the Skunk Ape and Ragnar’s Wrath.
“I like going through the scare zones the most because there are no lines,” said Brooke Cohen, a junior. “They keep the excitement while walking between rides and houses, which I love. I am super excited to try The Pestilence scare zone because it is new this year, and I’m excited to see the costumes.”
Several of Busch Gardens’ roller coasters operate throughout the night, including Iron Gwazi, Phoenix Rising, Tigris, Cheetah Hunt and fan favorite SheiKra. Scare actors occasionally interact with guests—whether in the queue or by joining them on the rides—adding to the thrill.
For coaster enthusiasts, the energy of Howl-O-Scream brings an extra layer of excitement to the experience.
“My favorite part about Howl-O-Scream is the rides. I love the thrill and excitement when on a rollercoaster,” junior Ila Oliver said. “My favorite ride is Iron Gwazi because I like the anticipation of waiting for the big drop. I like that the rides are year-round at Busch Gardens, but the energy during the Halloween season is unmatched.”
Busch Gardens also offers orange pumpkin necklaces along with other themed accessories guests can wear to signal they prefer a lower level of fright, allowing them to enjoy the Halloween atmosphere at their own pace with less intense interactions.