This year we ventured to Tampa to check out the original Howl-O-Scream! We visited Howl-O-Scream Orlando last year and you can check out my article about that event here.
Now onto Busch Gardens Tampa Bay! We had a wonderful time and even though we went on a Sunday fairly close to Halloween (we went on October 22nd), we got through all the houses and scare zones within 2 hours.
This is a separately ticketed event and occurs on select nights starting at 7pm. This year the event runs from September 8th through October 31st. For tickets and even more information check out Busch Garden’s website.
Arriving to the Event
The Howl-O-Scream event definitely did not seem as organized as Halloween Horror Nights, but you are able to get into the park early with your Howl-O-Scream ticket. We arrived to the park around 5pm, the park officially closed at 6pm and Howl-O-Scream started at 7pm. We were a bit confused on the time in between the park closing and Howl-O-Scream starting and as far as I can tell, you should just choose a house and wait from them to open the line up. There were not designated holding areas beyond the house lines that we could find.
We ended up waiting for Stranglewood Estate. The house did not open until 7pm, but it sounds like some houses may open early. However, it was very unclear and I would probably just assume most of the houses did not open until the event start at 7pm.
Haunted Houses
Howl-O-Scream Busch Gardens has 5 haunted houses. They send you into the houses in smaller groups, so you end up getting a lot more scares and interaction with the scare actors. Overall, we really enjoyed the houses and here are my rankings for 2023. The beginning description is from Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and then I have included my thoughts on the house!
1) The Residence: Home for the Holidays – The Residence: Home For The Holidays, is making a haunting return— but things are definitely not as merry as they may seem.
Thoughts: I love Christmas so combining Halloween and Christmas was a definite hit for me! This one was very gory, but I loved the combination of horror and the holidays.
2) Stranglewood Estate – Ms. Stranglewood is back for more haunts and has something sinister waiting behind every corner. Once a lively home filled with laughter and lavish parties is now filled with darkness and the spirit of evil. Welcome back to the Stranglewood Estate.
Thoughts: The eerie and historical vibe in this house was fabulous. The scare actors were perfect, and the set was beautiful. This was the first house we went in, and it definitely set the bar really high!
3) D.H. Baggum’s Circus of Fear – Come one, come all, to the most terrifying show you’ve ever seen. D.H. Baggum brings you all his monstrosities that are sure to make your spine tingle and your blood run cold!
Thoughts: Great circus theming and the scare actors were once again fabulous! There were lots of characters to come across and many of them were also speaking to you. The set design was great and I for sure felt like I was visiting a circus.
4) The Forgotten: Uprising – A year has passed, and lately more and more people have been going missing. The great battle has begun, and the only way to survive is to be brave, fearless, and survive the Night.
Thoughts: This one was something. My friend and I got out and both looked at each other with a confused face. The house gave off kind of a sex-dungeon vibe, but at the same time a kind of post-apocalyptic vibe. It was very different than any other haunted house I have seen, and the scare actors were great.
5) Witch of the Woods – The Witch is back, and just as wicked as ever. Curiosity has brought many travelers into this dark forest, but only bone-chilling stories and dying screams make their way out. With each step deeper into the woods, the prospect of survival quickly fades as demonic disciples hunt wandering intruders through their abandoned village.
Thoughts: I also enjoyed this house, but it was a bit more boring than the others. You spent a while walking through trees and then inside it was a bit bland. There were not many scare actors that we came across in this house either. I would want to give this house another try before criticizing it too much as it does have a lot of potential!
Scare Zones
In addition to the five haunted houses, Busch Gardens also has six different scare zones to walk through. Here are my rankings of them for 2023:
1) The Junkyard
This scare zone was amazing! I was in awe with how much work was put into it. It is off the normal walking path so definitely go out of your way to check out this zone. There were lots of huge set pieces and so much to look at. So impressive!
2) Beyond the Veil
I loved the glow in this scare zone and there were also some unique scares included. The colors were really pretty and the scare actors were doing a great job.
3) Raven’s Mill
This scare zone definitely got me good and I would say it was the scariest zone. Chainsaws included in this one, which are my least favorite part of Halloween. The zone had the perfect creepy vibe and the scare actors were fantastic.
4) Sin City Zombies
Zombies and sin city? What more could you ask for? This one was a lot of fun and all the zombies were playing their part really well. I wish there had been a bit more Vegas infused throughout the zone, but you could definitely tell what it was supposed to be and I enjoyed walking through it.
5) Big Ed’s Demolition Derby
I will admit, not my favorite theme so that is probably one reason I ranked it a bit lower. The scare zone was fairly small and there was not a whole lot to it. However, the scare actors were great!
6) The Shortcut
To be completely honest, for some reason I cannot remember this scare zone. I know we walked through every single one, but even after re-reading the description I can’t picture this zone. It sounds really great, but I guess it was not a favorite as I can’t seem to remember it. Really trying hard to conjure up an image!
Shows and Entertainment
There are 2 shows, karaoke and a DJ stage at the event. The two shows are: Cirque X-Scream and The Rolling Bones. There is also a small stage where you can choose a song and sing karaoke! We really enjoyed listening to some of the performances and we loved seeing people having so much fun. There is also an area with a DJ and dance floor where you can get your moves on or just grab a drink and enjoy the music.
Food and Drink
We did not try any of the food and drink at the event, but there were a fair number of booths set-up. We wished there was an easier place to see what each booth had and if there were any themed snacks, but the map did not include menu items and we could not find it in the app either.
Overall Experience
Overall, I was impressed with the event! The scare actors were very interactive and going through the houses in smaller groups means you get a lot more scares. The themes were greatly varied and most of the zones & houses were well thought out.
Before the event officially started, but the park was closed we were a bit confused on where we should go. We waited for Strangle Wood Estate, but the line did not open until 6:15pm or so. Some of the houses and scare zones were a bit tricky to find, but we eventually found them all.
I would definitely attend this event again! The houses and scare zones do not change out as much as they do at Halloween Horror Nights, but it seems as though they change them enough to encourage you to come back each year.
If you are a passholder, I highly recommend taking advantage of the pass member sales that usually happen early in the season as you can get some really good deals on tickets!
Happy Travels! ~ Colette