Haunted Halloween Guide to Howl-O-Scream in Williamsburg, Virginia
Howl-O-Scream turns 20 this year, so you can expect plenty of scares to keep you on your toes. It’s a new era of terror and the scares are EVERYWHERE. Take a look below for the fun and creepy Halloween offerings we have this year. We’re just dying to see you.
The Haunting Hour
Jack is back, and he’s bringing his terrifying creatures with him! Each night of Howl-O-Scream at 5:45 pm outside of Das Festhaus, our haunting horde of scare actors will be let loose to cause mayhem.
Scare Zones
These immersive terror-tories are located throughout the park and take over an entire village of Busch Gardens. There are no lines for this experience, but anticipate lots of startles and scares as you pass through to the next Howl-O-Scream adventure.
• Ripper Row – England
• Fools’ Court – France
• Axe Alley – New France
• Garden of the Souls – Italy
• Sideshow Square – Festa Italia
Haunted Houses
Make your way through one (or all) of seven themed haunted houses full of scares and intricate story lines. This year we have three new mazes: Demented Dimensions, The Vault: XX and Dystopia. Will you survive a night of this new era of terror?
If you’re starting in Ripper Row (England) and move counter-clockwise around the park, here are the locations where you can enter the haunted mazes.
• Cornered – Located to the right of Das Festhaus in Oktoberfest
• FrostBite – Located inside NewKastle in Oktoberfest
• Demented Dimensions – Entrance located near Jack's Nightcap, just past the carousel
• The Vault: XX– Located behind Das Festhaus, near the Black Forest picnic area
• Lumberhack – Entrance located to the left of Das Festhaus,near the bumper cars
• Circo Sinistro – Located in Sideshow Square, just past The Trade Wind in Festa Italia
• Dystopia – Entrance located at Escape from Pompeii queue, just past Italy and before Sesame Street Forest of Fun
Get a Quick Queue Unlimited* online or at the park for all-day unlimited priority access to select rides and all seven haunted houses. Plus receive additional extras. See “More Details” on the product for more information.
Control Lab at Inoculation Station
Does Halloween bring out your mischievous side? If so, you’ll love assisting the Doctor in his lab at Castle O’Sullivan in Ireland. Buy a token* and choose which haunted house you want to be a part of.
When the victim of your choice is in view, flip the switch and activate the scare then watch them jump out of their skin!
Party Zones
Heart beats and pulses aren’t the type of rhythms these DJs are throwing. If you’re looking to get your swerve on, head on over to Fools’ Court (France) for a Halloween party full of dancing and music.
Escape Room Experiences
While our escape rooms* are available to do during the day, add to the creepy factor by waiting until the sun goes down. Will you be able to solve the clues in time? Choose from Jack's Nightmare Room (New for 2018) or Case of the Haunted Hotel (with new tricks and riddles to solve).
Halloween Bars
During Howl-O-Scream, we add a few bars to our everyday selection of beverages.
• Cobblestone Ale & Spirits – Located in Ripper Row (England)
• Inoculation Station – Located across from Abbeystone Theatre (Ireland)
• Chaos Cocktails – Located near Fools' Court (France)
• Jack's Nightcap – Located in Vampire Point (Germany)
• Last Call: XX – Located in front of Das Festhaus (Germany)
• Restless Spirits – Located near Marco Polo's Marketplace (Italy)
All provide specialty drinks* to enjoy during your night of fright. There are trash cans placed throughout the queue lines, so grab a beverage and a snack to enjoy during your wait at a haunted house.
Rides & Coasters
Never underestimate an evening coaster ride. During Howl-O-Scream, there’s more variety within the park and lines for the coasters tend to be shorter. Oh, beware the creatures of the night are on the prowl and you may find yourself with a new coaster companion.
What was your favorite Halloween scare at Busch Gardens? Share your story with us on social media using #ShareMyBGWStory @BuschGardensVA
Note: By using the hashtag #ShareMyBGWStory, you are granting Busch Gardens Williamsburg the right to use any content in connection with your submission through social media channels to Busch Gardens Williamsburg for use on one or more of its website and/or social media accounts. Please see the Content License Agreement and Publicity Release for more information.
* These experiences are an additional fee and are not included with admission. Must be 21 years of age to purchase or consume alcoholic beverages. Proof of age with valid ID is required.