Busch Gardens Tampa Bay celebrates 25 years of Howl-O-Scream with all new haunted houses, scare zones and more

The park is celebrating the milestone with 10 new spooky haunted houses and scare zones.

click to enlarge Beyond the Veil at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay's Howl-O-Scream - Photo via Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
Photo via Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
Beyond the Veil at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay's Howl-O-Scream
Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens is turning 25.

This afternoon, the local theme park announced this year's almost entirely new spooky lineup for the 25th anniversary of the annual Halloween-themed bash, which runs on select nights from Sept. 6-Nov. 2 after 7 p.m.

To mark the big milestone, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is debuting five all new haunted houses and five all new scare zones, plus new entertainment options around the park.

According to the theme park, here's what's new for Howl-O-Scream 2024:
- NEW! Shadows of Wonderland: Step back into Wonderland, but not as you remember it. This warped dreamscape has come from years of torment under the Queen of Hearts' reign of terror. Once playful characters have become bitter shadows, their anger fueled by Alice's abandonment. Now, you must confront this distorted reality and face a vengeful Queen who wants both Alice (and you) gone.

- NEW! Howl-O-Scream 25: Terror Through Time: Enter the Architect's twisted gallery of horror, where the past 25 years of Howl-O-Scream nightmares come to life.

- NEW! Tree Lot Massacre: The once-festive Evergreen Acres Christmas Tree Farm hides a dark secret. Whispers tell of a Christmas Eve massacre, where disgruntled farmhand Silas Evergreen sought revenge.

- NEW! Sawgrass Slaughter: Legend of the Skunk Ape: Venture into the depths of the Everglades, where decay and a pungent, musky odor fill the air.

- NEW! Little Nightmares: Trick or Treat: Years ago, on Halloween night, a group of children vanished. Every Halloween they return, reliving their final trick-or-treat.

- NEW! Ragnar’s Wrath: The icy winds of Niflheim howl as you approach a charred Viking longhouse, its stench of death is a prelude to the horrors within.

-EERIE ENHANCEMENTS! Witch of the Woods: Rise of the Coven: The Witch of the Woods, Seraphina, fueled by vengeance and dark magic, has finally summoned her coven – Brand, the Fire Bringer, and Kael, the Storm Caller. Together, they have twisted the once-serene forest into a grotesque reflection of their power, leaving behind a trail of poisoned air, stagnant water, and withered life.
Live entertainment is always a big part of Howl-O-Scream and like every year, the park will host some spooky entertainment, including a new show called "The Reckoning," the return of "Cirque X-Scream" at the Stanleyville Theater, and the Scar-E-Oke karaoke experience over at Gwazi Plaza.

Tickets to Howl-O-Scream start at $34.99, and are on sale now. For more info on tickets and Howl-O-Scream announcements, visit buschgardens.com.

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Colin Wolf

Colin Wolf has been working with weekly newspapers since 2007 and has been the Digital Editor for Creative Loafing Tampa since 2019. He is also the Director of Digital Content Strategy for CL's parent company, Chava Communications.
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