Howl-O-Scream is back with a vengeance! In 2024, this haunting Halloween event will once again take over Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, promising its usual screams and shrieks all night long — and tickets are now on sale! With horrifying haunted houses and sinister scare zones, you'll be constantly looking over your shoulder. And don't miss all of the electrifying entertainment and the chance to hop on your favorite thrill rides in the dark.
Overview of Howl-O-Scream Tampa
Every year, Busch Gardens knocks it out of the park (or should I say graveyard?). Nowhere is safe in the haunted houses, as scares can come from all directions. The scare zones are also devilishly entertaining as the scare actors always use lots of creative improvisation for their interactions with guests. As always, the entertainment is also top-notch and the event even provides frogs with the opportunity to conquer their favorite coasters and thrill rides in the dark. If you're up for the frights, keep reading to learn all about Howl-O-Scream!
Howl-O-Scream Tampa 2024 Dates & Ticket Information
Busch Gardens' Howl-O-Scream is a separately ticketed event that runs on select nights from Sept. 6 to Nov. 2, 2024. The park typically closes to daytime guests at 6 p.m. before it turns into a place of terror from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and from 7 p.m. to midnight on Thursdays and Sundays. However, you may enter the park as early as 5 p.m. You'll receive a wristband, so team members will be able to know you're there for the event (and they may ask you to show it before entering certain sections of the park before it is cleared of daytime guests). Howl-O-Scream Tampa is taking place on the following dates:
- Sept. 6-7, 13-14, 20-21, 27-20
- Oct. 3-6, 10-13, 17-20, 24-31
- Nov. 1-2
Best Dates to Attend
In general, crowds are historically lighter on Thursdays and Sundays and gradually increase as it gets closer to Halloween. The best time to attend Howl-O-Scream is during the first few opening weeks of the event — luckily, tickets are valid on any event day! Advance pricing will not be available after 6 p.m. on the event night at the front gate. If you can't get enough of the scares, spring for the Unlimited Admission ticket which provides admission every night of the event!
Special Experiences
Maximize your fear by splurging on any of the four evil upgrades to have the most epic Halloween ever. Get single-use front-of-the-line access to five haunted houses of your choice with the Front Line Fear pass. Add on single-use front-of-the-line access to Falcon's Fury, Cheetah Hunt, SheiKra, Montu, Kumba, Cobra's Curse, Tigris, Iron Gwazi and the all-new Serengeti Flyer with the Front Line Fear Extreme Pass.
Curate your own eerie experience with the Ultimate VIP Tour, a customizable private tour that includes admission to Howl-O-Scream, unlimited front-of-the-line access to haunted houses and thrill rides, a complimentary dinner at Dragon Fire Grill, a private lounge, as well as select bars offering complimentary beverages, such as beer, water and soda, reserved seating for shows and complimentary preferred parking (subject to availability). You can also book a Behind the Scenes Tour where you'll learn what goes into the scares and see one of the iconic houses in a new light, with a unique photo opportunity. This tour also includes one-time priority access to one of the houses at night during the event! Daytime park admission is required for the Behind the Scenes Tour.
We'll be sure to update this blog once these spooktacular special appearances go on sale!
Howl-O-Scream Tampa Park Plan
Unless you splurged for a Front Line Fear pass, arrive at Busch Gardens at least 45 minutes before the event opens. There's a possibility the gates will open early — allowing you to knock out a house or two within the first hour alone!
While some certain zones are off to the side such as "The Junkyard" in Morocco, you do need to walk right through all of the others to get from Point A to Point B, so be sure to keep your guard up. Terror has been unleashed and no corner is safe.
Howl-O-Scream Tampa 2023 Haunted Houses
Are you brave enough to enter the haunted houses? You never know what specters and spooks could be lurking around every corner. While we wait for this year's line-up, here's a look at last year's otherworldly abodes.
NEW! D.H. Baggum's Circus of Fear
Step right up, ladies and gentlemen! Renowned ringleader D.H. Baggums has come to town with his truly terrifying troupe of freaks. Don't get distracted by the merriment and magic, though. The midway's a lot more menacing than it appears. Each place this sinister sideshow stops, unsuspecting patrons go missing. Does D.H. have some pernicious plan? Only one way to find out. Grab a ticket for the most grotesque show on earth.
As the only new house this year, D.H. Baggums has replaced the long-reigning Voodoo Queen and bloodthirsty bayou werewolves from the Death Water Bayou house (which you can see a nod to in The Junkyard scare zone!). Flora let out the loudest scream of the night in this house, thanks to a carefully placed carny and a loud honk of his horn.
Stranglewood Estate
Are you ready to return to the haunted halls of this sinister estate? Madame Gwendolyn is back to claim more unsuspecting souls who dare to enter this once lively home. Don't let the opulence and grandiosity fool you. Darkness and the spirit of evil now permeate through this menacing manor. Step into Ms. Stranglewood's secret basement room where her servants faced their untimely demise. If you're not careful, you may join them in the afterlife.
The house returns for its second year, and it's no less scary. Flora and I went through while it was still light outside, which made it much harder for our eyes to adjust — and so much more frightening.
The Residence: Home for the Holidays
The weather outside isn't the only thing that's frightful. The Clark family is back and celebrating the most wonderful time of the year the only way they know how — with gold, frankincense ... and murder. You're going to have to run as fast as the Gingerbread Man to escape this house of ho-ho-horrors. Scary Christmas to all, and to all, a good fright!
Witch of the Woods
The lengthiest house in Howl-O-Scream history is returning once again. You've heard tell of the dark magic that looms in this ominous forest where bone-chilling cackles make way to spine-tingling screams. Enter The Witch's demonic domain, if you dare, and do your best to escape her diabolical disciples who hunt down any invasive intruders. Once you set foot in their seemingly abandoned village, there's no going back. The wicked woodland has claimed you.
The Forgotten: Uprising
Beyond the rubble and rocks of an unsuspecting quarry and behind a hidden gutter entrance, the Forgotten army has lurked in the shadows. Dark secrets and urban legends make way for visceral fear when you come face-to-fangs with a swarm of starving vampires who have spent years plotting their vengeance against the humans. Lately, more and more travelers have gone missing. The ferocious battle has finally begun. Do you have what it takes to survive the night?
Howl-O-Scream 2023 Scare Zones
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is a large park that covers a lot of ground, which means plenty of space for the creatures of the night to scare you while you walk around. In 2023, brave frogs needed to venture through six sinister scare zones if they wanted to make their way around the park.
NEW! Sin City Zombies
Take a gamble for your life. Zombies have overrun the small town that lies on the outskirts of the Vegas strip. Are you ready to risk it all? We loved this new scare zone! You can even pose with an Elvis-wannabe zombie next to a blood-splattered "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" sign.
NEW! Big Ed's Demolition Derby
Talk about twisted metal. Big Ed has recruited Howl-O-Scream's roughest and toughest baddies to compete in this adrenaline-fueled automotive nightmare. That being said, he's always looking for fresh faces to step into the arena. See how long you can survive before getting rear-ended. Our favorite scare actors in this zone were the wickedly wacky inflatable tube men.
Ravens Mill
Ever get the feeling someone's stalking you? At Raven's Mill, that may very well be the case. Within the confines of the cursed cornfield lies a horrific nightmare you can't wake up from. Birds aren't the only thing these sinister scarecrows aim to terrify. With tight corners and sudden roars of chainsaws, this is the scariest zone, hands down.
Beyond the Veil
The fantasy creatures from our childhood fantasies are much more sinister than you could ever imagine. Do you have what it takes to go beyond the veil and face the dark fairies and orcs who reside there? You'll definitely need to go through this one twice if you arrive when it's still light outside, as the luminescent colors outshine the complete darkness. But don't let that fool you — maybe steer clear of the bushes.
The Junkyard
The loud clanging of baseball bats and metal cutters against scrap metal and spare parts soundtrack your stroll through this ominous junkyard. Think you can make it out in one piece, or is it off to the incinerator with you? For Howl-O-Scream fans, you may spot hidden Easter eggs from previous houses and scare zones from years past.
The Shortcut
What seems like a quick jaunt through the cemetery turns into a fight for your life as evil spirits, depraved demons and corrupted corpses rise from the dead — only to drag you back down to the underworld with them.
Howl-O-Scream Tampa 2023 Entertainment
We always have a blast cackling at all the eerie entertainment that haunts the Busch Gardens stages. Last year, we were deviously delighted to see two returning shows but also welcome some brand-new performances to Howl-O-Scream.
NEW! Rock The Grave
Experience this explosive, high-energy live stage show on the Festival Field that merges the epic worlds of alternative rock, classic rock and pop hits — including "Welcome to the Black Parade" by My Chemical Romance "Victorious" by Panic at the Disco, "Misery Business" by Paramore and a Taylor Swift medley — into a journey to find your inner rock spirit. Prepare to be bewitched, thrilled and thoroughly entertained as the Rock the Grave band, singers and dancers fuse haunting melodies and heart-pounding beats together with mind-blowing special effects — unleashing their spirit on you.
Cirque X-Scream
Head to the Stanleyville Theatre and watch in awe and amazement as talented acrobats and aerialists perform exhilarating acts and stunts that will leave you on the edge of your seat.
The Rolling Bones
Jam along to epic covers of classic rock anthems as this skeleton band lights up the night at Dragon Fire Grill.
NEW! Scare-E-Oke
Select a song, grab the mic and conquer your stage fright at this all-new karaoke experience at Gwazi Plaza. You even take home a commemorative photo to remember your petrifying performance!
Rides Open During Howl-O-Scream
Can’t get enough screams from the haunted houses and scare zones? Busch Gardens’ most popular thrill rides are open during the event, including the latest ride, Serengeti Flyer! Here’s a full list of the rides that will be available during last year's event:
- Tigris
- Cobra’s Curse
- Cheetah Hunt
- SheiKra
- Montu
- Kumba
- Scorpion
- Iron Gwazi
- NEW! Serengeti Flyer
In 2023, to end our night, we went on Iron Gwazi, which had a 25-minute wait. Most of the rides had minimal waits (not exceeding 30 minutes) throughout the night.
Howl-O-Scream Tampa 2023 Dining and Merchandise
Howl-O-Scream has food and drink booths around the park, along with four themed bars.
Some of the restaurants such as Zagora Cafe remain open as well. The event's infamous alcoholic shots in syringes return year after year, so you can use that liquid courage to fuel an adrenaline rush that's needed for the haunted houses and scare zones. At the Coke Canopy last year, we found the all-new Raveyard featuring electrifying music and specialty cocktails. We also found the Christmas Bar in Pantopia, Blood Bar in Stanleyville and Stranglewood Bar in Moroccan Palace.
Last year, we tried out an HHN-exclusive BBQ chicken slider, which had a spicy aioli sauce, from Zambia Smokehouse. Beware, scare actors from Raven's Mill can still come through this area. A scarecrow crept up behind Flora while she was enjoying her slider and made her jump from her seat.
You can also find event merchandise at Marrakesh Market and the Emporium, both located near the park's entrance. This is where you can peruse all of the event souvenirs, including T-shirts, baseball caps, shot glasses and more.
Howl-O-Scream Tampa 2023 Tips
Buy Tickets in Advance
Since Howl-O-Scream requires a separate ticket from regular park admission, purchase your tickets early online. Not only will this save you from waiting in line at the entrance, but you can also keep extra cash in your wallet (metaphorically speaking — Busch Gardens is now completely cashless). Additionally, you don’t want to wait in case the event sells out for the night.
Purchase Front Line Fear Passes to Skip the Lines
This year, Opening Night drew in few crowds, so we enjoyed shorter wait times for both houses and rides. For most of the night, our pass got us in within 5 minutes. However, as the season continues, Howl-O-Scream gets busier, particularly on weekends in October.
Luckily, you have the option to buy Front Line Fear passes (single-use, front-of-the-line access to five houses of your choice) or Front Line Fear Extreme passes (single-use, front-of-the-line access to five haunted houses and eight major thrill rides of your choice). We think it's well worth the investment, as the Front Line Fear lines are usually walk-ins or have significantly lower wait times. In the past, the longest express line we personally encountered was 30 minutes on a much busier Saturday night.
Avoid the Houses in Front of the Park First
Hop to the back of the park first. Stranglewood Estate house had a very long line early on in the night. And later on during the night, the houses in the back — The Residence and The Forgotten — had long lines. At the end of the night, circle back to Stranglewood Estate once the line goes down.
Splurge on Upgrades
If you really want a special night to remember, spring for the Ultimate VIP Tour. You get to create your own up to seven-hour experience with a private tour guide, exclusive experiences and unlimited access to the haunted houses and thrill rides. The cost (which starts at $249 per person; a minimum of two guests) includes admission and the private tour itself, unlimited front-of-the-line access to houses and rides, private complimentary beverage locations, complimentary dinner at Dragon Fire Grill and free preferred parking.
Leave the Tadpoles Behind
Based on the violence and gore, the event is targeted at adults. We always leave Lily and Tad behind with the grandfrogs! While there is no age restriction, we do not recommend it for tadpoles younger than 13.
Dress Appropriately
Despite the sun going down, the hot and humid Florida weather keeps September and October nights warm. Dress in clothes that allow you to stay cool, and opt for comfortable shoes. Check the weather, as you may need to bring a poncho along. Avoid wearing costumes or full-face masks. For the safety of the scare actors and other guests, costumes are not allowed.
Pay Attention in Scare Zones
I may be stating the obvious, but be aware of your surroundings as you walk through the scare zones. The scare actors like to get super close to you. But they will not touch you, and you should not touch them. Also, listen closely to what they have to say because they like to improvise. This year, multiple scare actors in different scare zones liked to creep up super close while we took photos, and asked if we got a good shot.
Be courteous of fellow guests too. You may have the gut instinct to run away at the sight of a clown, but you have to be careful not to bump into anyone else.
Pose for a Frightfully Fun Picture
The scare actors at Howl-O-Scream are delightfully interactive and are hoppy to pose for a photo with you! Just be wary of their dark magic.
Are you building up enough courage to go to Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay? If so, let us know what you're most excited about!
Related: The Frog Family's Wild Guide to Busch Gardens Tampa
Keep hopping!
