Howl-O-Scream Williamsburg 2022

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

Attraction Lineup​

Haunted Houses​

1. Inferno [New] - Location: Pompeii (?)
2. Death Water Bayou [New] - Location: Festa Field
3. Nevermore Chapter 2 [New] (Updated & Relocated) - Location: Drachen Fire Station Building (?)
4. Witch of the Woods [Returning] - Location: Oktoberfest Woods Maze
5. KILLarney Diner [Returning] - Location: Ireland Simulator

Terror-Tories™​

1. Dead A-head [New] - Location: France
2. Gorgon Gardens [New] - Location: Italy Gardens
3. Scary Tale Road [New] - Location: Rhinefield
4. Meat Market [Returning] - Location: New France
5. Ripper Row [Returning] - Location: England

+ Roaming Hack Pack [Returning] - Location: Where you least expect it​

Shows​

1. Jack is Back [Returning] - Location: Ireland
2. Phantoms of the Festhaus [Returning] - Location: Festhaus
3. Skeletones [Returning] - Location: San Marco
4. Monster Stomp® on Ripper Row [Returning] - Location: Globe Theatre

+ ZomBeats [Returning] - Location: France?​

Party Zones​

1. DJ Marie Antoinette Party Zone [New] - Location: France
2. DJ Masquerade Party Zone [New] - Location: Festa Italia

(These are listed as new, but seem to be in the same areas as the party zones in 2021)

BOOze Bars​

1. Stone-Cold Spirits [New] - Location: Italy Gardens
2. Pete's Provisions [New] - Location: New France
3. Back Alley Bar - Location: England
4. Jack's Nightcap - Location: Ireland
5. Frost Bar - Location: Oktoberfest
6. BarKastle Spirits - Location: Oktoberfest

 

[ludmarco]

I never even considered people getting upset over a setting in “Hell.” @Mushroom brings up a good point about Dante, and couldn‘t the park also just argue that it’s no different then the Underworld setting of Greek and Roman mythology? Most high schools teach the mythology, to my knowledge.

 

[Icer]

"Argue" to who though? If someone wants to get offended by it, they will. Doesn't matter how rational a potential explanation could be.

Read: The Sesame Incident

 

[Zachary]

"we are all children of satan"

That's legitimately hilarious. I think I'd upgrade my pass a tier at whichever park tells me this at their Halloween event.

 

[CoasterTalkBob]

That's legitimately hilarious. I think I'd upgrade my pass a tier at whichever park tells me this at their Halloween event.

In some contexts I'd probably have the same reaction but the context it was used in just..... yea, I didn't like it. I still go to Haunt every now and then but I avoid being anywhere near the kick off show (and I never did mazes/houses cause it's not really my thing).

I never even considered people getting upset over a setting in “Hell.” @Mushroom brings up a good point about Dante, and couldn‘t the park also just argue that it’s no different then the Underworld setting of Greek and Roman mythology? Most high schools teach the mythology, to my knowledge.

I don't think anything like that even bugs me...... and I think if it does then Haunt probably isn't for you. I supposed some could say the same about the children of satan thing but honestly I feel like that's something that people in the "cross section" are more likely to be bugged by. Honestly heard 2 other people near me (different groups) talking about not liking it.....

 

[ManitobaMoose]

Typically, how crowded are Howl-O-Scream weekends in September? We are trying to go on a Sunday next month but don't know what to expect.

 

[Icer]

Typically nowhere near as bad. Saturdays are always going to be crowded, but September is typically way less crowded than the mid October weekends. What will probably work the best in your favor though is going on a Sunday, as it is FAR less crowded on Sundays than Friday or Saturday nights. You should have absolutely no issues with crowds going on a Sunday in September.

 

[Nibbins]

Typically, how crowded are Howl-O-Scream weekends in September? We are trying to go on a Sunday next month but don't know what to expect.

Early Howl-o-scream is usually very light attendance.

 

[MeariK]

I mean, sure, some overly Bible-thumping types might raise concerns though tbf the entire spooky season usually doesn't sit right with them so it's not like they're likely to be a core audience anyways.

Disney World used to have a ride in Fantasy Land where you died and ended up in Hell. Heck, that same ride is still in Disneyland. I don't remember there being outrage and protests. If the maze is inspired by Dante's inferno.. that's not the Bible per se...

 

[Jonesta6]

That's Mr. Toad's Wild Ride!

But my point still stands, if your religious beliefs prevent you from enjoying any depiction of hell or related afterlife scenarios then any related activities during a Halloween themed event is probably not your thing, making you not the event's target audience - doesn't matter if you're actively protesting it or trying to convert others to your beliefs or not.

 

[CoasterTalkBob]

That's Mr. Toad's Wild Ride!

But my point still stands, if your religious beliefs prevent you from enjoying any depiction of hell or related afterlife scenarios then any related activities during a Halloween themed event is probably not your thing, making you not the event's target audience - doesn't matter if you're actively protesting it or trying to convert others to your beliefs or not.

I don't know that that is fair to say. I'd be willing to bet a very large percentage of the people that go to Haunt would identify as Christian.... I honestly wouldn't be surprised if that number was around 50%. I think there is a serious misconception about Christianity that happens with all of the Abraham religions (and likely others) where there are extremists that become the poster children in the public eye. In regards to those that identify as Christian that attend Haunt and similar events I think most of the event is viewed as just that -- a made up event..... At the same time, I think there is a line that can be crossed that will make many of those people feel uncomfortable and I think that line can vary between people. I don't think it's any different than different people being ok riding some roller coasters and not others. You can't just drop everyone with a specific tag in the same box and expect that their behavior will all be identical.

 

[Jonesta6]

I don't know that that is fair to say. I'd be willing to bet a very large percentage of the people that go to Haunt would identify as Christian.... I honestly wouldn't be surprised if that number was around 50%. I think there is a serious misconception about Christianity that happens with all of the Abraham religions (and likely others) where there are extremists that become the poster children in the public eye. In regards to those that identify as Christian that attend Haunt and similar events I think most of the event is viewed as just that -- a made up event..... At the same time, I think there is a line that can be crossed that will make many of those people feel uncomfortable and I think that line can vary between people. I don't think it's any different than different people being ok riding some roller coasters and not others. You can't just drop everyone with a specific tag in the same box and expect that their behavior will all be identical.

You're making an extra logical leap - perhaps focusing on my original phrasing of Bible-thumping, which in retrospect doesn't help frame my argument as well as another choice of words.

I did not say all Christians (though the reference to the Bible implied only Christianity and not all religion in general, not what I was going for but concede that it's a logical conclusion) inherently are opposed to depictions of hell, an afterlife in general, or Halloween.

I was more going for the few extremists that exist in any religion (and the extremely few that are non-religious) that do take issue with such things are not the target audience of the event anyways. That's also not saying they definitely won't attend, but more their perception of the event is inherently biased against it.

 

[Beaumont]

The storybook characters whom I strongly predict will be appearing in Scary Tale Road in Rhinefield are Cinderella, Frog Prince, Hansel and Gretel, Pied Piper of Hamelin, Rapunzel, Red Riding Hood, Snow White, Three Little Pigs, and Town Musicians of Bremen

 

[ludmarco]

The storybook characters whom I strongly predict will be appearing in Scary Tale Road in Rhinefield are Cinderella, Frog Prince, Hansel and Gretel, Pied Piper of Hamelin, Rapunzel, Red Riding Hood, Snow White, Three Little Pigs, and Town Musicians of Bremen

I would love to see what they do with the three little pigs! Didn’t they use that retired fairy tale haunted house in Vault recently? I wouldn’t be surprised if they recycle costumes from that for this terrortory

 

[Beaumont]

I would love to see what they do with the three little pigs! Didn’t they use that retired fairy tale haunted house in Vault recently? I wouldn’t be surprised if they recycle costumes from that for this terrortory

I am sure that Scary Tale Road will recycle costumes and props from Tormented Tales

 

[ijerngvidsnvk]

This morning they had actors out in full costume handing out fliers near the security check, two from Meat Market and one from Ripper it looked like

 

[Nibbins]

kinda /s , but my little one definitely would not have appreciated that.

 

[warfelg]

I honestly find this really trashy.

 

[Beaumont]

I honestly find this really trashy.

Please explain your answer?

 

[ijerngvidsnvk]

kinda /s , but my little one definitely would not have appreciated that.

I don't agree with people when they get upset with gore during a Halloween event, but I guess I could see it here. Actors were being nice and all but there was a toddler behind me that was spooked by it.

 

[CoasterTalkBob]

I don't agree with people when they get upset with gore during a Halloween event, but I guess I could see it here. Actors were being nice and all but there was a toddler behind me that was spooked by it.

My niece and nephew have started to come out the phase but if I had taken them to a park a couple years ago and this happened there is a good chance we would be nearly forced to leave the park. If there was one creepy character unexpectedly then the entire park is now potentially filled with creepy characters and the anxiety that they would have been experiencing would have made it a crappy day even if we did manage to convince them to stay in the park.