Make the most of your Busch Gardens Williamsburg visit this Fall by enjoying Howl-O-Scream with these activities & things to do at Busch.
Ultimate Guide to the Best Time Ever at the Busch Gardens Howl-O-Scream!
Voted one of the top 3 “Best Theme Park Halloween Events” in the 2021 USA Today Readers’ Choice awards.
Three NEW haunted houses, two NEW terror-tories and two NEW shows make for a night of screams never to be forgotten, while returning Howl-O-Scream icons welcome back the bravest of Howl-O-Scream fans.
| LOCATION | DATES |
| Busch Gardens Williamsburg 1 Busch Gardens Blvd Williamsburg, VA 23185 | September 10 – October 31 Most Thursdays – Sundays 6:00PM – 11:00PM |
Busch Gardens Howl-O-Scream | Facebook | (757) 229-4386
THE LINEUP
Spend Halloween in Williamsburg, VA at Busch Gardens from SEPT 10 through OCTOBER 31. Get thrills and scares from rides to haunted houses, beer stations to scary stories, and party zones to dance away the night.
This year at Busch Gardens Williamsburg’s Howl-O-Scream event will include:
Five Haunted Houses (3 NEW!)- Four Terror-Tories (2 NEW!)
- Four live Shows (2 NEW!)
- Four Booze Bars (1 NEW!)
- Two Party Zones
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
- There are absolutely no costumes allowed in the park for the general public.
- Parental discretion is advised after 6:00 PM, as this year’s event contains amplified scares that are not recommended for children.
UPDATED HOWL-O-SCREAM BAG POLICY
To help ensure all guests and Ambassadors have a safe and enjoyable Howl-O-Scream experience, bags will not be permitted with entry after 4 p.m. effective this Friday, Sept. 24 through Oct. 31.
Wristlets and small packs measuring less than 8”x 5” are permitted and subject to security inspection.
RIDES OPEN DURING HOWL-O-SCREAM BUSCH GARDENS WILLIAMSBURG, VA
Here’s the official listing of rides open for Howl-O-Scream for all of your thrill seekers. These are subject to change based on weather, conditions, maintenance and staffing.
We’re had pretty good luck with rides being open and lines being relatively manageable.
Coasters
- GRIFFON
- APOLLO’S CHARIOT
- FINNEGAN’S FLYER
- INVADR
- VERBOLTEN
- LOCH NESS MONSTER
- TEMPESTO
- ALPENGEIST
Family Rides
- THE BATTERING RAM
- TURKISH DELIGHT (Tea cups)
- THE TRADE WIND
- LE CATAPULT
- DER WIRBELWIND (Swings)
- KINDER KARUSSEL (Carousel)
- DER AUTOBAHN (Bumper cars)
QUICK QUEUE
Want to skip the lines? You’ll have two options with Quick Queue to skip ahead during Howl-O-Scream. You can purchase the pass head of time online or once you get to the park.
If you love riding coasters, it’s well worth the price. Given that HowlOScream is in the evenings and the day is shortened, I recommend the 1 time per ride as you may not have time to use up multiple runs per coaster.
- Once per ride: $29.99
- Unlimited on most coasters: $99
HOWL-O-SCREAM Collector Pins
2021 Howl-O-Scream pins will be available for purchase starting Friday, Sept. 10 at the Felt & Feather shop in England. You can collect these pins, with a new design, each year.
HOWL-O-SCREAM PARTY ZONES
NEW to Howl-O-Scream in 2021, the party zones are raging, open air dance clubs located in France and Festa Italia.
France – A Queen’s duty is never done – even after death. Revel with the bourgeoisie like it’s 1793!
Festa Italia – The circus is in town and you have a front row seat to this Ringmaster’s melodic machinations. Party with the clowns ‘til the moon goes down!
HOWL-O-SCREAM SHOWS
- PHANTOMS OF THE FESTHAUS
- This isn’t your typical singing contest. Join the living audience as your favorite ghouls take on spooky hits, and the winner is put to vote. The more spirited the audience is, the more exciting the competition is.
- SKELETONES
- These lively musicians and singers leaves nothing but bones on Il Teatro di San Marco located in San Marco Italy. Take a break from the scares with this spooky ensemble.
- JACK IS BACK
- The popular disco dance celebration returns to Ireland village with pumpkins, scarecrows & Howl-O-Scream’s leading character, Jack.
- MONSTER STOMP ON RIPPER ROW
- This modern rock and rhythm spectacular features Jack the Ripper like you’ve never seen him before. Electrifying percussion, dynamic dance and sensational singing return to Globe Theatre stage in a pulse-pounding revue. Monster Stomp on Ripper Row opens Oct 1.
HOWL-O-SCREAM HAUNTED HOUSES
There are 5 haunted houses at Busch Gardens Williamsburg this fall, let’s check them out.
CIRCO SINOSTRO
No one knows when or where the tents will rise, but all who see them are drawn to find out what lies inside Circo Sinistro at Busch Gardens Williamsburg’s Howl-O-Scream. This haunted house is not of this world and not of this time – but beware, what you see, you soon will be.
DYSTOPIA
A new world order has risen and you have a choice- join or be forgotten. In a futuristic post-apocalyptic world, a new world order has risen.
KILLARNEY DINER
What say, Daddy-O? Word around town is that something landed in the forest right behind our favorite sock hop. Will you make it through your meal before becoming the flavor of tomorrow’s blue plate special?
NEVERMORE
An unearthly plague ravages the land. You cry out for help, and the nobility turns a deaf ear. You perish in the streets, and the nobility turns a blind eye. You are reborn, and the nobility is silent forevermore. Welcome to the gothic nightmare of Prospero, last heir to the House of Usher – inspired by the works of Edgar Allan Poe.
WITCH OF THE WOODS
A returning favorite: Legend tells of the Witch of the Woods, who descended upon the ancient village and wreaked havoc. Nobody alive has seen her, but if you’re brave enough to travel the woods at night, it’s said that you can hear her chanting & crying out to the skies. Those who give in to her control become her disciples, and those who don’t…inevitably meet the same fate. But this is only a story, right?
BOOZE BARS
Stop by one of the four themed BOOze bars located throughout the park for liquid courage to tackle your greatest fears. Become the mastermind behind the scares at the interactive Control Bar, where guests can initiate scares in different villages and houses with the push of a button.
New! Back Alley Bar – Located in England
Returning Favorite! Control Bar – Located in Ireland
Returning Favorite! Restless Spirits – Located in Italy Gardens
Returning Favorite! Last Call – Located in Oktoberfest
HOWL-O-SCREAM FOR THE KIDS
A SESAME STREET HALLOWEEN EVENT
The Count’s Spooktacular!
Every Sat. & Sun., Sept. 25 – Oct. 31
| LOCATION | DATES |
| Sesame Street® Forest of Fun™ | Sept. 25 – Oct. 31 Sat. & Sun 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
A weekend filled with family-friendly fun with a scavenger hunt, largest trick-or-treating EVER, costume dance parties, arts & crafts, a hay maze, & more! Every weekend during the scary season.
**This is the only exception to the NO COSTUMES RULE. Children 9 and under attending during the daytime hours (until 5PM) may dress up for trick or treating.
Special Weekend Events for KIDS
| MONSTERS & FAIRIES WEEKEND | SEPT. 25 & 26 |
| SUPER GROVER WEEKEND | OCT. 2 & 3 |
| PIRATE PARTY | OCT. 9 & 10 |
| ROSITA’S HALLOWEEN FIESTA | OCT. 16 & 17 |
| COOKIE MONSTER WEEKEND | OCT. 23 & 24 |
| ELMO’S PUMPKIN PARTY | OCT. 30 & 31 |
BUSCH GARDENS DEALS & DISCOUNTS
Grab one of these killer deals to spend your Halloween at Busch
| SPOOKTACULAR KID’S TICKET | AGES 3 – 9 | SAVE 50% ON KID’S DAYTIME ADMISSION |
| 2-DAY TICKET | Enjoy two days* at Busch Gardens thru Oct. 31 – Add All-Day Dining for just $25/day – Children under 3 enter for free |
| 2022 FUN CARD – UNLIMITED VISITS! | Enjoy unlimited visits to Busch Gardens Williamsburg Jan. 8 – Sept. 5, 2022. – Plus, get now thru 2021 Howl-O-Scream FREE. – Add Water Country USA for less than $20 more. |
| DATE-SPECIFIC TICKET LIMITED-TIME OFFER: SAVE UP TO 50% | Visit Busch Gardens on selected Howl-O-Scream dates – Add All-Day Dining for just $30 more – Howl-O-Scream is select nights Sept. 10 – Oct. 31 – Children under 3 enter for free |
| 3-DAY TICKET | Enjoy three days* at Busch Gardens thru Oct. 31 – Add All-Day Dining for just $25/day – Children under 3 enter for free |
SHOPPING DURING HOWL O SCREAM
The following shops are currently available:
- Emporium
- Felt & Feather
- Emerald Isle Gifts
- Pot O’ Gold Toy Shop
- Tweedside Gifts
- Trapper Dave’s General Store
- La Belle Maison
- Acadia Traders
- Caribou Pottery
- German Gifts
- Der Marktplatz
- Festhaus Gifts
- Bella Casa Gifts
- Tempesto Shop
- Arcade & Games
- Abbey Cadabby’s Treasure Trove
DINING DURING HOWL O SCREAM
These are the dining options currently open at Busch Gardens Williamsburg.
- GROGAN’S IRISH PUB
- GERMAN PRETZELS & BEER
- DAS FESTHAUS
- LES FRITES
- SQUIRE’S GRILLE
- TRAPPER’S SMOKEHOUSE
Are you scared or excited? We hope this review helped you decide to enjoy Howl-O-Scream with your family this season.
