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Howl-O-Scream

Unspeakable horror lives in every dark corner, including on Busch Gardens’ pulse-pounding thrill rides.

Get ready to enter a nightmarish realm of terror with the return of The Dark Side of the Gardens at Tampa Bay’s most terrifying Halloween event. Busch Gardens® Howl-O- Scream® transforms the park into a spinetingling web of horror where darkness lurks behind every corner. Experience our all-new haunted house, Anaconda: Fear Has No Escape, two new sinister scare zones, the return of fan-favorite show, Fiends, and more terrifying experiences that are guaranteed to give you a bloody good time.

Howl-O-Scream® at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay takes fear to the next level. Once you enter, there’s nothing left to fear… except everything.

BE AMONG THE FIRST TO SCREAM.

*Event dates and details subject to change and/or cancellation without prior notice. Howl-O-Scream is intended for a mature audience. This event contains intense adult content such as violence, gore, and blood. Howl-O-Scream is a separately-ticketed night event. No costumes are allowed.

Select Nights

Separately Ticketed Event

Event Type

Halloween Festival
Event Date

September 11 to October 31
Event Hours

7 PM to park close
Event Price

Separately ticketed event

Terrifying New Experiences

Dark Side of the Gardens returns this year to Howl-O-Scream!

We begin our story with Chapter Three... What was once a seedling has grown into a tree. Deep underground from the roots will emerge; an army of pure evil ready to resurge. Just one last soul is all it will take, for monsters to rise and dark reign to retake. Dark Side of the Gardens returns to Howl-O-Scream. Are you ready to handle this next era of pain?

From Screen to Screams

Anaconda: Fear Has No Escape slithers into Howl-O-Scream in an all-new haunted house. A film crew came to remake Anaconda. They never made it back. Follow the trail they left behind and discover what drove them into the darkness. Plus, experience 5 other horrifying, haunted houses designed to push your fear to the limit.

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Fiends Returns!

Back by popular demand, Fiends! Resurrected returns to Howl-O-Scream! Join Dr. Freakenstein and his “affectionate” assistant Igor as they use their newest evil invention to throw the most infamous Halloween party of the year. This pop-culture-centric, adult - themed show returns with brand-new music, monsters and surprises.

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All-New Scare Zones

Enter three all-new scare zones where the unexpected lurks around every corner. At Mr. Gleam’s Auto Spa, a mysterious cleaning solution has a ghastly cost. In Rootbound, The Grimherd emerges from the reopened graves to drag victims into the darkness and at The Punchline: Riot, a night of bad jokes and crazed clowns spirals into a full-blown riot where the last laugh is always on you.

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Fear Foto Immersive Experience

Step directly inside a scene from Howl-O-Scream with our all-new immersive Fear Photo op. Get the chance to experience three terrifying scenes and have these haunting moments captured on camera for all of eternity. But patrons beware, these haunting scenes tend to come to life.

Madame Mary's Red Rum Social

The Red Rum Social was once a thriving speakeasy run by legend Madame Mary. To most guests, it appeared to be an elevated jazz club, but behind the façade, forbidden dealings happened in hidden chambers below. Followers drawn in by Madame Mary's deceptive promises helped conceal her true desire for bloodlust, and as the decades moved on, the club was frozen in time. Now the doors have opened once again, and Howl-O-Scream guests get a chance to step into a revival of the Roaring Twenties. This immersive bar experience allows patrons to say cheers like never before, and step directly into the world that has fed Madame Mary and kept her secrets buried for centuries.

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Event Details

6 Horrifying Haunted Houses

Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens crosses into dangerous territory with the introduction of the all-new haunted house Anaconda, where guests are sent deep into the Amazon to search for a missing film crew, which quickly turns into a fight for survival. Guests can also revisit returning houses with a fresh, new twist, including Stranglewood Estate: RePossessed, Circus of Fear: Killer Encore, and Shadows of Wonderland: Reign of Madness. In addition, fan-favorites Raven’s Mill and M.A.R.S. are returning with blood-curdling scares hidden in the shadows.

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6 Scare Zones & Unpredictable Horde

The scares are everywhere at Howl-O-Scream, with ALL-NEW! scare zones and returning favorites bringing fresh frights to every corner of the park. Experience the terror of Mr. Gleam’s Auto Spa, Rootbound and The Punchline: Riot, where sinister new stories unleash unexpected scares. Plus, returning scare zones feature all-new storylines, giving guests new twists, terrifying encounters and reasons to experience them again. With unpredictable roaming horde, The Dead-End Kids lurking, horror awaits around every twist and turn.

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2 Sinister Shows

Get ready for thrills, laughs and jaw-dropping entertainment with the return of FIENDS and Cirque X-Scream, featuring ALL-NEW acts! Watch as Cirque X-Scream takes guests to the edge of their seats with exhilarating stunts, including breathtaking trampoline tricks, aerial performances and more.

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Pulse-Pounding Thrills

With exhilarating coasters and thrilling attractions, guests can take on their favorite rides in the dark between the frights and scares of Howl-O-Scream. Feel the adrenaline surge as you brave towering drops, high-speed launches, and heart-pounding twists all under the cover of night.

Fright Feast

Howl-O-Scream 2026

Enjoy a delicious sinister buffet in TreeTop Kitchen from 6:00-7:00 PM with creepy characters, frightful flavors and a hauntingly fun atmosphere that will only be available at Fright Feast! All Fright Feast guests will receive Front-of-the-Line access to select Haunted Houses from 7:00–8:00 PM.

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Drinks available at the all-new Blood Bar

BOOze & Bites

Enjoy one of our many themed bars throughout the park for liquid courage and a sinister snack to tackle your greatest fears. At the Madame Mary's Red Rum Social a one-of-a-kind immersive experience, where patrons are guaranteed a bloody good time.

• NEW! Forsaken Bar & The Fallen Photo Op - Near Serengeti Flyer

• NEW! Nurse’s Nightcap - Dragonfire Grill

• NEW! Dark Side of the Gardens - Canopy Plaza

• NEW! Madame Mary's Red Rum Social Bar & Photo Op - Moroccan Palace Plaza

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Sinister Shopping

From frightfully fashionable apparel to haunting home goods, our The Shop of Horrors at Marrakesh Market offer an array of gifts to help you relive the thrills of Howl-O-Scream long after your terror-filled evening has ended.

Make sure to grab your 2026 Howl-O-Scream No Boo Necklace to keep the scares away!

Available at Emporium, Shop of Horrors, and Painted Camel.

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Howl-O-Scream

Unspeakable horror lives in every dark corner, including on Busch Gardens’ pulse-pounding thrill rides.

Terrifying New Experiences

Dark Side of the Gardens returns this year to Howl-O-Scream!

From Screen to Screams

Fiends Returns!

All-New Scare Zones

Fear Foto Immersive Experience

Madame Mary's Red Rum Social

Event Details

6 Horrifying Haunted Houses

6 Scare Zones & Unpredictable Horde

2 Sinister Shows

Pulse-Pounding Thrills

Fright Feast

BOOze & Bites

Sinister Shopping

Stay Up To Date On Howl-O-Scream News

Busch Gardens Howl-O-Scream 2026 Map

2026 Map

Howl-O-Scream in Tampa Bay FAQs

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