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

 

[Beaumont]

Scary Tale Road

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[Mushroom]

Scary Tale Road

Source: bgwphotofan

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Damn, those poor actors have been given next to nothing to work with. The only props seem to be that tiny little straw house and the equally small gingerbread house. Nowhere to hide, no scenery to play off of. They're just stuck wandering back and forth in the middle of that regular old Rhinefeld path all night.

Remember how many elaborate props and hiding spaces BGW's scare zones used to have? (warning: TPR link) The paths used to be lined with crates, shacks, and full-sized sets that actors could hide behind, jump out of, and use to their advantage in whatever way they wanted. They also made the zones more immersive than just the "normal park paths with actors and different music and lights" we see today. Nowadays, beyond a few miniaturized sets thrown to the side of the pathway, BGW seems content to just plop their actors onto a path and hope that's enough.

 

[Nicole]

When I walked through there on opening night, they were doing a great job without a ton of hiding places. Especially because the space is so narrow and contained and the boundaries are so clear, the actors were able to interact with many people. They weren't relying on jump scares, of course, but they were menacing. Even though it was the first day, they all stayed in character, drawing on their fairy tales to threaten guests, and it felt like the most dynamic scare zone I had experienced at BGW in a while.

While I do not think this formula is particularly effective in larger, more open spaces, I think it is great for atmospheric scares in tight spaces like that path.

I'd add that there are props in places, just not throughout.

 

[phurst]

Wow, that really brings home just how far things have declined. When it's a little less each year, it's hard to recognize just how much has changed (and not for the better) until you see something like that TPR link.

 

[Beaumont]

I strongly agree that the German village of Scary Tale Road needs more props and scenery for its theme. Maybe the hideaway speakeasy could be storybook-themed? I also think it would be awesome if the clock tower building was transformed into a haunted Grimm castle.

 

[Zachary]

The scary thing is that Scary Tale Road has far more effort put into it than any of the other terrortories this year sans Meat Market.

People have been saying the park atmospherics and decorations are bad. They are REALLY bad.

 

[horsesboy]

The scary thing is that Scary Tale Road has far more effort put into it than any of the other terrortories this year sans Meat Market.

People have been saying the park atmospherics and decorations are bad. They are REALLY bad.

Don't look for any improvements either I have been informed they are already moving on to Christmas town prep.

 

[Beaumont]

Fun fact: At 6:00 PM, every scare zone at Howl-O-Scream has an opening skit.

 

[Coasternerd]

Fun fact: At 6:00 PM, every scare zone at Howl-O-Scream has an opening skit.

I believe it. When meat market scare squad comes out it’s just a horde of people so having some kind of skit honestly makes sense.

 

[GoHokies87]

How have crowds been? Tampa has had spotty forecasts and been dead the first weekend.

 

[WDWRLD]

I can only speak for opening night which traditionally is packed…..however it was empty. Longest line we saw was diner about 6:15 and that if I remember correctly was 12 minutes. We easily did all houses scare zones and Festhaus show. Honestly the longest wait of the night was the single food line they had at Festhaus which was 30 minutes.

 

[Zachary]

Didn't stay for Howl-O-Scream on Saturday, but crowds in the park were HEAVY by mid-afternoon. Friday crowd looked pretty healthy to me too.

 

[Beaumont]

What types of international food does Howl-O-Scream usually offer?

 

[RollyCoaster]

5 percentioso surchargios

 

[Zachary]

What types of international food does Howl-O-Scream usually offer?

Howl-O-Scream isn't an international event...

Though it has been reduced substantially over the last handful of years, you can still find a few specialty Halloween food items throughout the park—donuts, Meat Market's Show Grill menu, etc.

 

[Beaumont]

Howl-O-Scream isn't an international event...

Though it has been reduced substantially over the last handful of years, you can still find a few specialty Halloween food items throughout the park—donuts, Meat Market's Show Grill menu, etc.

What I meant by my question was that Busch Gardens Williamsburg has areas based on different countries and thus they have foods from the countries that are represented in the park.

 

[Nicole]

Since COVID, the park hasn’t been opening all of its eateries. So, the variety of dishes varies. That said, it is an overstatement to assert that even with everything open every hamlet has country-specific food. You can see the types of food that could be available in this sub-forum:

Eateries

Discuss Busch Gardens Williamsburg's various eateries

parkfans.net

 

[Diamond Dave]

How have crowds been? Tampa has had spotty forecasts and been dead the first weekend.

Dead, last Sunday, no pun intended.

 

[Mushroom]

Group question for anyone familiar with Jack the Pumpkinhead: Does this guy have a backstory? Is he based on a character from Irish folklore?

View attachment 27647

I came across some old HOS photos and found this pic from 2004 which has the exact answer to your questions — Jack’s backstory and his roots in Irish folklore!

Source: AmusementPics.com. As a side note, I recommend checking out the link if you get the chance — they have a fantastic archive of old HOS photos from 2003 to 2011. Some amazing stuff in there.

 

[Icer]

Isn't that still in the park? Not the same banner, but a banner with his backstory?