When the lights go down in Tampa, the freaks come out for Howl-O-Scream 2017! Check out our exclusive review of Howl-O-Scream 2017 here!
Halloween is one of my favorite times of the year! Kids are back in school, the temperatures go down and Halloween takes over the theme parks! I had the chance to check out Howl-O-Scream opening night to experience the 7 houses, 5 scare zones, 2 shows and unique food and drinks and wanted to share my thoughts… ok nightmares on the event!
Houses
There are two new houses this year to torment guests to Howl-O-Scream! First, Demented Dimensions is a house where rules and worlds are never the same. Constructed above a vortex of otherworldly energies, the abandoned Sterling Manor houses every door to unwanted worlds, creating a series of portals in Demented Dimensions. Every room and hallway holds a door to a different universe where rules of your world do not apply and escape is nearly impossible. For me, this was the most impressive house and my overall favorite for scares and scenes!
The second new house this year is Undead Arena: Live! In a post-apocalyptic world, survivors of the Great Conflict have been divided into The Worthy and The Unworthy. Now for sport, you are The Unworthy and the stars of a gruesome event at the Undead Arena: Live. Infested with Brain Eaters, this gauntlet is an almost impossible feat without the guarantee that your group will stay together. Upon entry to this house, you will have one of four choices for your fate! Make sure you choose wisely because every door you choose could be your last!
The other 5 houses, which have been updated, are returns from past years that include The Black Spot, Zombie Containment Unit 15, Death Water Bayou, Unearthed, and Motel Hell! The houses are the main attraction to Howl-O-Scream 2017 but there are a ton more entertainment and scares that await you!
Scare Zones
3 out of the 5 scare zones are new to Howl-O-Scream this year! Class Deceased, Carnie Camp, and the Meat Market are the new kids on the block and bring some frightfully fun scares to Busch Gardens! Returning this year are Wasteland and the Playground from years past to haunt your dreams at night! No one is safe from the terror and carnage of the scare zones!
Shows
Two shows this year for Howl-O-Scream 2017! The first is a returning hit, the Fiends Show! If you have never seen the show it blends monsters, rude humor, sexy dancers, modern jokes, and a ton of scares and laughs! I highly recommend this show and give you the advice to get there early because this show is always full!
New this year is Joshua Seth: Inside Your Mind! This show features mentalists and illusionists Josh Seth who pears into your mind to see your deepest and darkest thoughts! This show, which is located in the Dragon Fire Grill showcases some amazing mental feats which really leaves you wanting more! Due to the unique features of this show, each show is different which is great for repeat guests to Howl-O-Scream! I am usually not big fans of shows but both are must do’s for this year!
Rides
Yes, rides are open for Howl-O-Scream 2017!!! Enjoy some of your favorite rides in the dark including Cobra’s Curse, Cheetah Hunt, Falcon’s Fury, Montu, SheiKra & Kumba! If you are lucky (or unlucky) you could even have the chance to ride one of your favorite thrill rides with a creature straight out of your nightmares!
Food and Drinks
No event would be complete without food and drinks! Howl-O-Scream has some amazing food and drinks options this year for you to really expand your experience. Not so fast tho, some of the food options will leave you questioning your sanity such as the bowl of grasshoppers! Yes, we did try them and the only thing we can say is that we will never be the same again!
Needing some liquid encouragement to brave the houses? No worries, Howl-O-Scream has you covered with their 2 signature drinks including Embalming Fluid which is their take on a whiskey sour and Zombie Juice which is a fruit juice drink!
Lastly, I want to share my secret on how to experience all that I did in one night if you cannot come back to experience Howl-O-Scream 2017 multiple times! With Evil Upgrades such as Front Line Fear and VIP Tours, you can experience all 7 houses, 5 scare zones, 2 shows and some rides with ease! I highly suggest you experience the full effect of Howl-O-Scream this year with some awesomely evil upgrades!
Howl-O-Scream 2017 runs select nights from September 22nd until October 29th, 2017! To learn more about Howl-O-Scream 2017 and to book your nightmare click here to check out their official website!