Hair-raising scares and frightening sights await guests at Busch Gardens’ upcoming Howl-O-Scream.
Five haunted houses, six “terror-tories” and four different shows have been promised by the theme park to instill fear in visitors — so much so that the park recommends not bringing children in after 6 p.m. beginning on Sept. 6.
Howl-O-Scream — now in its 25th year — will take place on select days through Nov. 3. In addition to the evening haunted houses and shows, the park’s classic roller coasters will be available. New this year will be a 5K on Sept. 29.
There are also two new haunted houses, two new “terror-tories,” one new show and new elements “with menacing scares and more screams than ever before,” according to Busch Gardens Williamsburg. Members can get a sneak peak at one of the revamped haunted houses this weekend.
“Virginia’s premier Halloween event takes screams to the extreme with new, startling scares throughout the park,” Busch Gardens said in a news release, “leaving no tale of terror left unturned.”
Haunted houses
Some love them and some absolutely despise them, but clowns are back with a new haunted house called Clown Town, which according to the park, includes clowns cast out of Festa Italia because they were “too terrifying.”
“Now, shunned and vengeful, these twisted jesters have forged their own dark domain — Clown Town. In their eerie enclave, they are the rulers of all, and their whims dictate who will escape … and who will remain trapped in their demented circus … for all eternity.”
Another new haunted house is Monster Manor, described by Busch Gardens as a “chilling laboratory” where an evil doctor “is bringing his dark arts into grotesque reality. … Here, the boundaries of humanity are torn apart, and the screams of his abominations echo through the night.”
Haunted houses Lost Mines, Death Water Bayou and KILLarney DIEner are all back and have been revamped.
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Scare zones
There are six scare zones or “terror-tories” this year, including a new one called The Bash in the France section of the park. Here, Howl-O-Scream characters from years past will celebrate the 25th anniversary “for a night of ghastly revelry.”
Also new is Stalker Street in the New France area of the park, featuring sinister scarecrows that stalk the streets. Four previous “terror-tories” are returning: Ripper Row in England, Fest-Evil and Gorgon Gardens in Italy and Scary Tale Road in Germany.
For those little ones who do venture into the park after 6 p.m., special “no boo” necklaces are available for sale, although a scare-free time is not guaranteed.
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Shows
An all-new Fiends show — Fiends: The FREAKquel — comes to the Abbey Stone Theatre with Transylvania’s Doctor Freakenstein and a Hollywood-style blockbuster about his life.
“With the help of his trusted sidekick Igor, the Doctor invites each of his iconic fiends — Wolfman, Drac, The Bride, and the Creature of the Black Lagoon — to join his filmmaking festivities in a pop-culture centric song and dance extravaganza,” according to Busch Gardens.
Returning shows includes Monster Stomp on Ripper Row, which opens Sept. 26, along with the singing contest Phantoms of the Festhaus in Germany and the brass quartet Skeletones in Fest Italia.
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For the kids
On Saturdays and Sundays from Sept. 21 through Nov. 3, kids (ages 9 and under) are invited to dress up for Halloween Spooktacular. The daytime not-so-spooky fun in the Sesame Street area includes family friendly rides, a haze maze, a scavenger hunt, trick-or-treating, shows, a costume parade and a Halloween dance party.
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What else?
Food and drinks will be available throughout the park, including at six themed “BOOze bars.” There are also photo opportunities, Howl-O-Scream merchandise and, on Sept. 29, the first annual Fiends Frenzy 5K, for which participants are encouraged to dress up in their spookiest attire. Registration is available at buschgardens.com/williamsburg/events/fiends-frenzy-run.
This Saturday through Monday, members can get a look at the revamped KILLarney DIEner haunted house before it opens for Howl-O-Scream.
For more about Howl-O-Scream, including days and times, visit buschgardens.com/williamsburg. Generally, Howl-O-Scream is open Fridays through Sundays, with more days added after Sept. 26.
Sam Schaffer, samuel.schaffer@virginiamedia.com
