5 Terrific Tips for Surviving Busch Gardens Howl-O-Scream with Kids

Last updated: August 2026 for the current Howl-O-Scream season.

For over 25 years, Busch Gardens has held its super popular Howl-O-Scream event, one of the best Halloween events on the East Coast! Andt this popular Halloween event is back in full force for Halloween 2026!

Click here to buy discounted tickets to Busch Gardens Williamsburg in Virginia. Or invest in a Busch Gardens Williamsburg Fun Card that allows you unlimited visits through Halloween starting NOW through November 1st, 2026, and then again between February 12th and September 6th, 2027. Buying Busch Gardens tickets in advance saves time and money over purchasing tickets at the gates! Good news for your wallet — Howl-O-Scream is included with your regular park admission this year, so there’s no separate haunt ticket to buy on top of it. Howl-O-Scream event starts at 6:00 p.m. each day.

Howl-O-Scream 2026 Quick Facts

• Dates: Select nights, September 11 – November 1, 2026 (mostly Thursday through Sunday — check the official calendar for exact nights)
• Hours: Howl-O-Scream kicks off at 6:00 p.m. nightly; daytime park hours vary by date
• Admission: Included with regular park admission — no separate Howl-O-Scream ticket needed
• What’s included: 5 haunted houses (a 6th is still to be announced), Terror-Tories™ scare zones, 4 live shows, and 6 themed BOOze bars
• Costumes: Not permitted for guests during nighttime Howl-O-Scream (little ones CAN dress up at the daytime Count’s Spooktacular — more on that below!)
• Chaperone policy: Guests 15 and under must be with a chaperone 21+ after 4 p.m.

All of the park’s 9 villages inspired by six European countries will be available to guests. Your entry ticket includes access to five haunted houses, including two brand-new-for-2026 haunts: Anaconda: Dead on Arrival and Fright at the Museum (opening September 25th)!

This year’s haunted house lineup pairs those two all-new houses with returning favorites Clown Town, Werewolves: Wolf’s Revenge, and Bloodshot. Plus, with Terror-Tories™ ALL NEW — Viper Valley and Witch’s Way — alongside returning favorites Disgrotesque, Wicked Wunderland, and Ripper Row.

There will also be six themed BOOze bars this year. NEW! Last Drop is in Italy, and the Howl-O-Wine Bar is a new stop in France. Returning favorites include Stone-Cold Spirits in Italy Gardens; Frost Bar and BarKastle Spirits, both in Oktoberfest; and The Crow’s Nest in New France. Can’t wait to see what new drink concoctions show up at each one this year!

Busch Gardens Williamsburg Howl-O-Scream runs select nights, mostly Thursday through Sunday, from September 11th through November 1st, 2026. Hours vary by date, so be sure to check their website for the exact schedule and information about their commitment to guest health and safety!

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is also hosting its own Howl-O-Scream event. One thing to know if you’re comparing the two: in Tampa (like Orlando and San Diego), Howl-O-Scream is a separate hard ticket on top of park admission, while here in Williamsburg it’s included with your regular admission. While our post is based on our experience at Williamsburg, many of the main haunts share DNA across both parks!

**Get discount Busch Gardens Williamsburg tickets through our exclusive discount theme park ticket link. Click here for Busch Gardens Tampa discount tickets! **

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Darla Slade (@funfitnessfam)

Below are our tips based on our Howl-O-Scream experience, updated for the 2026 season.

Tip #1 for Surviving Busch Gardens Howl-O-Scream with Kids: Visit during the Count’s Spooktacular

Visit during The Count’s Spooktacular. This daytime event is held Saturdays and Sundays from September 19th through November 1st, 2026, at the Sesame Street Forest of Fun.

Children 9 and under can dress in Halloween costumes and trick-or-treat. Look for the trick-or-treat trail winding through the Wild Reserve, with several fun Halloween candy stations along the way.

There’s also special Halloween entertainment during the event, including the interactive Countdown to Halloween show, the Monster Mayhem Game Show, and a Furry Friends Halloween Dance Party — plus a hay maze and Halloween scavenger hunt the little ones will love!

**Insider tip: The very first Howl-O-Scream weekend (September 11-13) is before Count’s Spooktacular kicks off. If your crew wants the daytime, not-too-spooky version, plan your visit for September 19th or later.

Tip #2 for Surviving Busch Gardens Howl-O-Scream with Kids: Hit the rides early

Busch Gardens warns parents that the park may be too scary for young children after 6 p.m. Since we have two scaredy cats, we decided to do all the children’s ride areas first. The biggest children’s attraction areas, Land of the Dragons and Sesame Street Forest of Fun, close at 5 p.m. We like to start at the Forest of Fun and work our way counter-clockwise through the park’s countries.

Just past the Sesame Street Forest of Fun, Italy has Elephant Run, Little Balloons, and Little Gliders for little ones. After that, you’ll be in Oktoberfest where you’ll find swings and bumper cars. Then, on to Germany where you’ll find classic amusement park rides such as airplanes and a carousel.

Land of the Dragons comes up right after the carousel and has a cute treehouse and ropes for kids to explore, plus several rides geared to little dragons.

Now that you’ve hit most of the kids’ rides, you may want to double back to Das Festhaus in Oktoberfest to grab some food, a drink from the wide assortment at the Brauhaus or one of the BOOze bars nearby like Frost Bar or BarKastle Spirits, and watch a show in Das Festhaus beer hall.

Tip #3 for Surviving Busch Gardens Howl-O-Scream with Kids: Enjoy the sights

After your time in Oktoberfest and Germany, make your way past DarKoaster and Alpengeist and spend some time on the bridge watching the coasters and Le Scoot log flume drop. We had a fun time browsing the shops in New France (a.k.a. Canada) and buying some maple leaf cookies.

If you still have time before dark, you can walk through the aviary, visit the wolves, and the eagles before you land in Ireland.

Tip #4 for Surviving Busch Gardens Howl-O-Scream with Kids: Take in the shows

The Howl-O-Scream show lineup got a refresh for 2026 — two of our old favorites moved on and two new productions took their place. Here’s a rundown of the four shows and their scare factor for kids, where we have one:

Undead Diva – Italy Pavilion (outdoor)

ALL-NEW for 2026! Vita Von Vault returns from the dead for a high-energy, haunted whodunit filled with mystery and killer vocals, as she tries to figure out which member of her undead band poisoned her. Reserved seating is available for a small fee if you want a guaranteed close-up spot.

** Scare factor: New this year — we haven’t caught it in person yet, so check back for our rating after we visit!

Skeletones In Your Closet

A returning favorite with a new name and a lighthearted spin — the Skeletones aren’t here to scare you, just to rock away the evening. This is a great, campy indoor show if your crew needs a break from the heat (or the cold, depending on when you visit)!

** Scare factor: 1

Fiends

Returning for 2026 — Dr. Freakenstein is riding the fame of his movie debut and sets his sights on his next diabolical plan using an intergalactic teleportation tube. It’s campy sci-fi horror rather than jump-scare horror. However, there are some scantily-clad nurses and several adult-themed jokes so be aware of the mature themes that may or may not go over your kids’ heads!

** Scare factor: 7

Monster Stomp on Ripper Row

Our favorite show of Howl-O-Scream, back again for 2026 (opening September 24th)! No matter which season you visit Busch Gardens, shows out of this theater never disappoint with high-quality theatrical music and dance. This modern rock and rhythm spectacular features Jack the Ripper like you’ve never seen him before, complete with glow-in-the-dark bones and aerial skeleton disco acts.

This theater is right near the park exit, so we usually watch this show last and then head out. It’s a very large theater so seating should not be an issue, but arrive early for the best seats.

** Scare factor: 8

**Insider theme park tip: Go for the middle line for food. Everyone always tends to go into the first line so the second section moves more quickly!

Skip the line + save! Order your discount Busch Gardens tickets from Undercover Tourist for the best prices. –Undercover Tourist also offers discount tickets for Disney World, Universal, Sea World, Legoland + more!

Tip #5 for Surviving Busch Gardens Howl-O-Scream with Kids: Embrace your inner child!

If you have enough adults with you, take turns popping into the Haunted Houses. This year, there are five haunted attractions to explore…if you dare!

There are also Terror-tories sprinkled throughout the park’s themed lands. Below is a list so you can steer clear if you have your kids in tow after dark or you are not a petrified parent!

• ALL NEW! Viper Valley: A once-lively festival honoring the legends of the Amazon, now overrun with slithering snakes ready to strike around every twist and turn.

• ALL NEW! Witch’s Way: Beneath its cursed canopy, evil witches and ancient crones command the enchanted woods — lose your way, and the forest may claim you forever.

• Disgrotesque (France): Demonic glamour meets infernal nightlife in this cabaret-inspired fever dream of disco balls and towering skulls.

• Wicked Wunderland (Germany): Holiday cheer curdles into festive fear in this twisted alpine village, where the shadow of Krampus looms large.

• Ripper Row: Don’t roam Whitechapel after dark—murder, mayhem, and mistaken identities lurk in every shadow!

We didn’t have a sitter on hand, so we couldn’t explore the indoor haunts. However, we did stroll down one of the terror-tories. The kids did get creeped out, but it was worth the laugh. If your kids get spooked, duck into a shop or restaurant because the Scare Squad cannot follow you in there. Also worth knowing: costumes aren’t allowed on guests during nighttime Howl-O-Scream, so save the little ones’ costumes for Count’s Spooktacular during the day.

If you need a place to stay while you’re visiting Busch Gardens Williamsburg, we highly recommend the SpringHill Suites. For larger families or longer stays, check out Marriott Manor Club at Ford’s Colony!

Click here to find more fun things to do in Williamsburg, Virginia!

Frequently Asked Questions About Busch Gardens Williamsburg Howl-O-Scream 2026

When is Howl-O-Scream 2026 at Busch Gardens Williamsburg?
Howl-O-Scream runs select nights, mostly Thursday through Sunday, from September 11th through November 1st, 2026. It starts at 6 p.m. each event night.

Is Howl-O-Scream included with regular Busch Gardens Williamsburg admission?
Yes! Unlike some of the other United Parks locations, Howl-O-Scream at Williamsburg is included with your regular park admission — you don’t need to buy a separate haunt ticket.

Is Busch Gardens Howl-O-Scream too scary for little kids?
Busch Gardens itself says the park may not be suitable for young children after 6 p.m., once Howl-O-Scream’s amplified scares kick in. If you have littles, visit during the day (ideally on a Count’s Spooktacular weekend) and plan to head out before dark, or stick to Tips #1-3 above.

Can kids wear Halloween costumes at Busch Gardens during Howl-O-Scream?
Not after Howl-O-Scream begins — costumes aren’t permitted on guests during the nighttime event. Kids 9 and under CAN dress up during the daytime Count’s Spooktacular, held Saturdays and Sundays, September 19th through November 1st, 2026.

What are the new haunted houses at Howl-O-Scream 2026?
The two all-new houses for 2026 are Anaconda: Dead on Arrival and Fright at the Museum (opening September 25th), joining returning favorites Clown Town, Werewolves: Wolf’s Revenge, and Bloodshot.

Is there a daytime, kid-friendly Halloween event at Busch Gardens Williamsburg?
Yes — The Count’s Spooktacular runs Saturdays and Sundays, September 19th through November 1st, 2026, at the Sesame Street Forest of Fun, with trick-or-treating, shows, a hay maze, and photo ops for kids 9 and under.

Click here to subscribe for travel news, fitness tips and exclusive deals from FunFitnessFamily.com!

* This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure for more information *