As “Howl-O-Scream” comes around this year with all new haunting additions, take a moment to consider the dedication that goes into producing and constructing those 18 nights of terror and fun.

Preparation for this exhilarating event begins in June with the construction of the houses, which can take up to two months to build. Then in July 650 ‘scare actors’ are hired, and in September they begin rehearsing. Dedication to the production of “Howl-O-Scream” is a constant motif amongst any and all who contribute to the making of this haunted event.

  “Everyone from our senior park leadership, our president of the park Jim Dean, to every single person. I mean thousands, there’s a core group of 45 people who are working on “Howl-O-Scream” most of the year, but with all of our actors, with all the people that are sweeping, driving trams, running food stations, none of it could be done without them,” Ben Dewitt says, the entertainment project manager since 2008.

  One person that may not be thought of as someone that plays an integral part in creating some of the “Howl-O-Scream” magic, are the makeup artists. The artists are in charge of

transforming the scare actors into the chilling creatures they portray in “Howl-O-Scream”.

  Makeup artists have to take a lot of things into consideration when making the scare actors into their characters. It can get relatively hot in the actors costumes, causing them to work up quite a sweat, but the artists have this covered, by using effective makeup that prevents sweating.

 The makeup is usually alcohol based and is mostly applied by airbrush.

Another task the artist handles is the creation of the mask. This begins with making it from a sculpture and then it is made into a mask, and this process can take up to 40 hours.

“The success of this is in the detail,” DeWitt said, and he couldn’t be more accurate. The credit for making “Howl-O-Scream” into the horrifying event it is can go to many committed staffers, and workers. And they’re already preparing for next year “…I’m already thinking about 2016. How do we roll this event into the next year, and keep our successes and find our opportunities for growth.”

   The dedication and devotion of the staff working on “Howl-O-Scream” is immense, and all of this dedication has a goal. “I’ve challenged every single one of our team members, every one of our actors to be somebody’s story. My goal for “Howl-O-Scream” is for you to have a great time…But tomorrow when you’re at work, or at school, you’re telling the story about how you got your shirt scared off at “Howl-O-Scream” because one of actors were super passionate”

  So, when attending “Howl-O-Scream” take the time to appreciate what has been crafted for guests’ entertainment.