Busch Gardens Williamsburg Howl-O-Scream 2024

Attraction Lineup​

Haunted Houses​

1. Clown Town [New] (Festhaus Parking Lot)
2. Monster Manor [New] (Germany Event Pavilion)
3. Lost Mines: Bloodstone [Updated] (Beneath Escape from Pompeii)
4. Death Water Bayou: Morte [Updated] (Behind Roman Rapids)
5. KILLarney DIEner: Condemned [Updated] (Killarney Simulator Building)

Terror-Tories​

1. The Bash [New] (Aquitaine)
2. Stalker Street [New] (New France)
3. Fest-Evil [Returning] (Festa Italia)
4. Gorgon Gardens [Returning] (Da Vinci's Garden of Inventions)
5. Scary Tale Road [Returning] (Rhinefield)
6. Ripper Row [Returning] (Banbury Cross)

Shows​

1. Fiends: The FREAKquel [New] (Abbey Stone Theatre)
2. Monster Stomp on Ripper Row [Returning] (Globe Theatre)
3. Phantoms of the Festhaus [Returning] (Das Festhaus)
4. Skeletones [Returning] (Il Teatro di San Marco)

Official Website​

Howl-O-Scream: Virginia Halloween Event | Busch Gardens Williamsburg

The spirit of Halloween is unleashed at Howl-O-Scream! Find haunted houses, escape rooms, scare zones, live shows & roller coasters if you dare.

buschgardens.com

 

[WrierSiamang152]

One of my biggest issues with the event is the music and overall lack of immersion. Multiple sections of the park were playing metal and hard rock music as if those genres equate to being "scary" and there was straight up EDM in the line (just a maze of turnstiles in a parking lot) for Clown Town.

What kind of metal/hard rock? Cuz now this is peaking my interest being a diehard metal fan.

 

[MrBradferd]

One of my biggest issues with the event is the music and overall lack of immersion. Multiple sections of the park were playing metal and hard rock music as if those genres equate to being "scary" and there was straight up EDM in the line (just a maze of turnstiles in a parking lot) for Clown Town.

I mean HHN has played dancy music. And i remember back in 2007 and 2008 HHN they played a ton of like disturbed and stuff in the parks and stuff too. They had the weekend playing too when his maze was around. I don't think its that big of a deal aslong as its fitting for the area and aslong as its not some random tayloy swift or something.

 

[Coolguy15]

What kind of metal/hard rock? Cuz now this is peaking my interest being a diehard metal fan.

In Oktoberfest they play Breaking Benjamin, SOAD, etc. I love rock too so that's one of the areas I love being in.

 

[Beaumont]

I love Scary Tale Road but it needs more characters. There is so much room for characters. They should add Goldilocks and the Three Bears or Puss in Boots or lesser-known Grimm tales such as The Three Army Surgeons.

 

[Coolguy15]

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[sotomexx]

Ok, so honest question. Does this mean my wife and I can watch Fiends while my 14yo and 10yo wait to ride DarKoaster?

 

[horsesboy]

Ok, so honest question. Does this mean my wife and I can watch Fiends while my 14yo and 10yo wait to ride DarKoaster?

Yes you have to be in the park not with them the whole visit.

 

[cricket]

They are taking this seriously!

 

[MrBradferd]

Holy shit. Thats gonna cause a big backup I assume. Gonna be alot of young pissed off people when they get dropped off later thinking theyre gonna get in LOL hope they got security ready

 

[Mike541x]

First off, thanks to everyone here who suggested visiting on a Friday around this time of the year. This was my first time at Howl-O-Scream in 11 years. While I didn't do any houses, I thought the event was still pretty fun. Now maybe my memory isn't the best but I can definitely see a drop off in quality since my last visit in 2013 as it felt like there was more scare actors and scare zones throughout the park at that time compared to now. Stalker Street was my favorite area followed by Scary Tale Road. I did enjoy a lot of the decorations as well but it definitely felt slightly downgraded compared to previous years. Also I know its been years and it will never happen for understandable reasons but I'd love to see the train (Transylvania Express) make a comeback.

Crowds weren't too bad either, lines for the rides were very minimal. Most importantly didn't see any obnoxious teenagers either, everyone was well behaved and having a great time. Chaperone policy may or may not have played a role but I did notice JCC police with security in certain parts of the park so I know that helped quite a bit. Overall it was great time. As usual I'm visiting theme parks on my own but I met and made some friends last night and we had a blast.

 

[horsesboy]

New security ID and pre screening lines for busy nights. It has been reported to me that 99% of the staff manning this are low level staff members volunteering for OT and many are teens.

 

[ceno8yte]

I was a bit nervous going in due to all of the bad things I've heard and the fact that tonight is an "off" night, but honestly? It's one of the best HoS we've had in years. I'm too exhausted to give any cohesive thoughts, but it was great.

I also got 18 donuts for the price of 6 at M. Sweets, which was a nice way to end the night. (Asked for 12 -> Got an extra 6 free because it was the end of the night and they wanted them gone -> Guy ringing me up misheard the amount and only charged me for 6)

 

[netdvn]

I did the event twice already. Once during opening weekend and once last weekend.

Pros:
The park's usual habit of slowly adding decorations was in full force. Opening weekend felt really sparse, but I'm glad the park finally added more in the coming weeks.

Clown Town and Monster Manor are alright for new mazes. I'm just glad we're getting new stuff.

The actors are pretty strong in the existing mazes and scare zones. No real complaints about them at all.

The roving chainsaw horde is really fun, even if its luck of the draw finding them. The park should do that more often.

Fiends is amazing. I'm so glad they brought it back. Its the perfect mix between Tampa's show and the old Williamsburg show. IDK if its as good as Fiends a couple years ago, but its definitely a must-watch and I might even go out of my way to see it.

One of the bungee scares is finally back. Now we need the other one back. Same with seeing old staples like the spider bridge, the big pumpkin and the headless horseman hearse.

Cons:
Staffing. The maze actors are strong but there's a lot of dead room. This seems to be a problem every year though.

Decor - I really miss seeing the theming mazes like Bitten and Catacombs had. This year definitely felt a little tired with the newer mazes not having as much to see, but I feel this is a trend that's been happening for a long time now.

Ripper Row is getting tired. I get that its an easy theme that suits the land its in, but I feel we need something new for the 25th.

Not having Monster Stomp is a bummer, but it'll be there on my next visit to the park.

Overall not the worst I've seen, but definitely not the best. This year has been pretty ok so far. I'll be going to Haunt Sunday to see how that compares. I can't wait!

 

[cornered17]

What’s everyone’s ranking of the houses this year in order? Here’s mine:
1. Monster Manor
2. Killarney Diner: Infested
3. Clown Town
4. Lost Mines: Bloodstone
5. Death Water Bayou: Morte

 

[Nicole]

Is number 1 best or worst?

 

[Zachary]

Meh Tier: Mines, Diner, Death Water, Clown Town
Monster Manor Tier: Monster Manor

 

[cornered17]

Is number 1 best or worst?

I know it’s a hot take but I think monster manor was the best.

 

[RollyCoaster]

They could have just used 3% of the 3% surcharge profits in 2024 and made a house that more than 3% would actually rave about (in a good way).

Monster Manor Tier is now mandatory on all future house reviews FYI. It’s somewhere in the forum rules you just have to keep looking.

 

[Nicole]

Similar to the Tempesto Panini tier?

 

[Mwe BGW]

Tons of new and returning props this week! Love to see Killarney back to normal with the fiends props, unfortunately the Dr. freakenstien experiment banner is still missing.