In the heat of the Florida summer, sometimes it is hard to think of anything except for where and how you will escape the searing temperatures and occasional monsoonal rains. However, many fear fans also know that summertime is the time when theme parks start the slow trickle of information regarding their fall haunted events. The need for fresh blood is strong with many of the hardcore horror fans, and with each full moon, the anticipation grows stronger.
Of course, everyone has heard of the massive event that is Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights, and most of the reader’s of this site are probably very familiar with Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, but for anyone who is looking for great new scares, you should check out Howl-O-Scream! This fall, for 19 select nights, Howl-O-Scream returns to Busch Gardens Tampa with sinister surprises and unexpected terrors around every corner. Their theme is “Unearthed,” and they have been providing clues on social media about how this theme will be incorporated into Busch Gardens’ 300 acres of dark and creepy fun.
This year, the roaming hordes will return to the park, and hundreds of creatures will swarm in the streets, making escape nearly impossible. Odds are better than average that Dr. Freakenstein and his minions will once again provide a chilling live show that will get your pulse pounding, but hopefully not too hard or the Naughty Nurses won’t be able to drain you of your very life force! Florida’s top thrill rides in the dark, including North America’s tallest freestanding drop tower Falcon’s Fury™, will keep the screams coming all night long.
Unlike their “fiends” at Universal Orlando, many of the houses at Howl-O-Scream are holdovers from previous years. That way, the storyline can be expanded and perfected over time, as well as the fright level!
This year’s returning favorites are:
Zombie Containment Unit: An undead invasion leads to a containment failure in Z.C.U.15, leaving zombies in search of flesh. Armed with only a Z.E.D. (Zombie Eradication Device), you’re the next target, and it’s up to you to hold off an undead mob in this interactive zombie hunting experience.
Death Water Bayou: In the depths of the Bayou, the Voodoo Queen and her sadistic creatures transform wanderers into evil minions with dark magic. Descend into the swamps if you dare as you try to escape the evils that lurk in the shadows. Get out before you fall victim to her spell.
Zombie Mortuary: Lead by their queen, the zombies that infest this small town funeral home feed on the fresh flesh and brains of mortuary mourners to satisfy their insatiable hunger. Avoid the undead or you may find yourself six feet under.
The Basement: From Momma’s secret ingredient to Granny’s bone-ground flour, Momma’s Meats’ award-winning recipe has always been a family affair that’s only created in The BASEMENT. Escape the depths of The BASEMENT before becoming the secret ingredient! She always said it took blood, sweat and tears!
Circus of Superstition: You’ve tried to avoid black cats and sidewalk cracks, but all those years of bad luck have finally caught up with you! New demented fears make it impossible to survive the terrorizing surprises and startling scares that wait inside Circus of Superstition: The Last Laugh.
Freaky Preview returns for 2015 and will open Howl-O-Scream 2015 on Friday, Sept. 25 and Saturday, Sept. 26. The event then runs Thursday through Saturday nights, Oct. 1 – 31, and select Sunday nights, Oct. 18 and 25. Operating event hours are 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m.
For a limited time, get a Freaky Preview single-night admission (Sept. 25 & 26) for only $35, and any single-night admission from October 1 to 31 for only $45. Plus, Busch Gardens Pass Members receive a limited-time exclusive discount on any single-night admission to Howl-O-Scream 2015 for only $35.
Howl-O-Scream 2015 is a separate-ticketed night event. No costumes are allowed. Stay tuned to HowlOScream.com for the latest terrifying details, or call 1-888-800-5447 for more information.
You can join the conversation by using #EvilUnearthed and follow Howl-O-Scream on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube to learn about promotions and insider information first.
Any regular Howl-O-Screamers out there? We’d love to hear your stories about this unique Central Florida event.