Howl-O-Scream is the after-dark Halloween event at Busch Gardens Williamsburg in Virginia, running on select nights from September 11 through November 1, 2026. Five haunted houses, five scare zones and a lineup of horror-themed shows take over the park once the sun goes down, while the coasters keep running in the dark.
This guide covers the full 2026 calendar, every haunted house and scare zone, how much Quick Queue and other upgrades actually cost, the bag and re-entry rules that trip up first-timers, and what to do if you’re bringing teens instead of a date night crowd.
Quick Answer
Howl-O-Scream 2026 runs select nights from September 11 through November 1 at Busch Gardens Williamsburg, with scare content starting at 6 p.m. and running until park close. It’s included with regular park admission (no separate event ticket), aimed at teens and adults, and features 5 haunted houses, 5 scare zones (‘Terror-Tories’) and 4 shows, including two new zones, Viper Valley and Witch’s Way, and a new show, Undead Diva.
Howl-O-Scream 2026 dates and hours
The event spans roughly 30 select nights across September, October and the first day of November: Fridays through Sundays in September, most Thursdays through Sundays in October, plus Monday, October 12 and Sunday, November 1. It does not run every single night of the season, so always check the official calendar before you book a trip around a specific date.
Scare content begins at 6 p.m. and continues until park close, which generally falls between 10 and 11 p.m. depending on the night. Not every haunted house opens on day one: Fright at the Museum doesn’t open until September 25, so plan a later-season visit if you want everything running.
What’s new for 2026
Two of the five Terror-Tories are new this year: Viper Valley and Witch’s Way. A new entertainment piece, Undead Diva, joins the show lineup, alongside the returning fan-favorite Monster Stomp on Ripper Row. Fright at the Museum, a haunted house built around an archaeological dig gone wrong, is also new for 2026 and opens September 25, later than the rest of the event.
Haunted houses, scare zones and shows
The 2026 lineup has five haunted houses: Anaconda: Dead on Arrival (a film crew search in the Amazon that turns into a fight for survival), Fright at the Museum (an archaeological expedition gone wrong), Werewolves: The Wolf’s Revenge (hunters tracking a creature that escapes containment), Bloodshot (a vampire dive bar built into Pompeii ruins) and Clown Town (a demented circus run by exiled clowns).
The five Terror-Tories (scare zones) are Viper Valley and Witch’s Way (both new), plus returning zones Disgrotesque, Wicked Wunderland and Ripper Row. Rounding out the entertainment lineup is the new Undead Diva alongside returning favorites Monster Stomp on Ripper Row and Skeletones In Your Closet. The park’s coasters keep running after dark, and six BOOze bars are scattered through the event for the 21-and-up crowd.
Tickets, Quick Queue and prices
Howl-O-Scream is included with valid park admission, so you don’t need to buy a separate event ticket. Single-day, multi-day and season pass options are all sold through the park’s own ticketing page, and prices vary by date and how far in advance you buy, so check the official Busch Gardens Williamsburg tickets page for current rates before you book.
Because haunted house lines get long on busy nights, the park sells optional skip-the-line upgrades: Haunted House Quick Queue, Quick Queue Unlimited Plus (which also covers select rides), and a NO BOO necklace for guests who want to opt out of being scared by roaming performers. As of a Haunted Attraction Network guide updated in September 2026, those ran $89.99, $109.99 and $19.99 respectively, but Busch Gardens adjusts pricing through the season, so confirm current costs on the official Howl-O-Scream event page before you buy.
Planning your visit: bags, re-entry, chaperones and parking
Re-entry is not permitted after 8 p.m., so handle dinner breaks and parking-lot trips before then. Bags aren’t allowed in the park after 4 p.m., with exceptions for wristlets and fanny packs under 8 by 5 inches and medical or diaper bags up to 12 by 6 by 12 inches; guests who arrive before 4 p.m. can keep a normal bag for the rest of the day. Costumes are not permitted on guests of any age.
A chaperone policy applies after 4 p.m.: guests under 16 need to be accompanied by someone 21 or older, with a maximum of six minors per chaperone. This matters if you’re sending a group of teens in on their own, since security checks IDs at the gate.
Parking is a separate fee from admission, with standard and preferred/VIP tiers available; prices shift by date and are typically cheaper when booked online in advance. See the official Busch Gardens Williamsburg site for current parking rates and gate hours, since both can change through the Howl-O-Scream run.
Is it too scary for kids? Daytime alternative
Busch Gardens describes Howl-O-Scream’s content as intense, adult-oriented material, including violence, gore and blood, and says it isn’t intended for children. Guests under 18 may attend at a parent’s discretion, but most families with younger kids are better served by Halloween Spooktacular, a separate, lighter daytime event running Saturdays and Sundays from September 19 through November 1 with family-friendly Halloween activities rather than scares.
If the forecast looks rough on the night you’re planning to go, the park’s FAQ references a ‘Weather or Not Assurance’ policy; read its current terms on the official FAQ page before you decide to skip or reschedule a trip over rain.
Tips for the best night
Dress for cool evenings since most queues and scare zones are outdoors, and bring a layer even on warm September nights once the sun goes down. Weekday nights in October and the earliest nights in September tend to run calmer than Saturdays, though the park doesn’t publish official crowd forecasts, so treat that as a general pattern rather than a guarantee.
If a specific house, zone or show is the reason you’re going, double-check the operating calendar before you buy tickets, since Fright at the Museum doesn’t open until later in the run.
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Howl-O-Scream 2026 Busch Gardens Williamsburg FAQs
When does Howl-O-Scream 2026 start and end?
Howl-O-Scream 2026 runs September 11 through November 1 on select nights at Busch Gardens Williamsburg. Scare content starts at 6 p.m. and runs until park close, roughly 10 to 11 p.m.
Is Howl-O-Scream included with park admission?
Yes. A valid park admission ticket is all you need; there’s no separate Howl-O-Scream event ticket. Quick Queue and other skip-the-line upgrades are optional and cost extra.
How much is Quick Queue for Howl-O-Scream?
As of a September 2026 update, Haunted House Quick Queue was priced at $89.99 and Quick Queue Unlimited Plus at $109.99, with a NO BOO necklace at $19.99. Prices can change, so confirm current rates on the official Busch Gardens site before buying.
Is Howl-O-Scream too scary for kids?
The park says the event contains intense adult content like violence, gore and blood and isn’t intended for children. Guests under 18 may attend at a parent’s discretion; the milder Halloween Spooktacular runs daytime weekends for families.
What’s new at Howl-O-Scream 2026?
Two new scare zones, Viper Valley and Witch’s Way, plus a new haunted house, Fright at the Museum, and a new show, Undead Diva. Fright at the Museum opens September 25, later than the rest of the event. The fan-favorite show Monster Stomp on Ripper Row returns for 2026.
Do teens need a chaperone at Howl-O-Scream?
Yes, after 4 p.m. guests under 16 must be accompanied by someone 21 or older, with a limit of six minors per chaperone. Security checks IDs, so bring one if your group includes teens going without a parent.
What’s the bag and re-entry policy?
Bags aren’t allowed in the park after 4 p.m., except small wristlets/fanny packs under 8 by 5 inches and medical or diaper bags up to 12 by 6 by 12 inches. Re-entry isn’t permitted after 8 p.m., so finish any off-site breaks before then.
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