Halloween Season In Busch Gardens
Last week I was vacationing down in Williamsburg, Virgina, home to one of the Busch Gardens. During the fall season, the park turns into a Halloween dream. Since it is my favorite time of the year, I decided to go and experience the event Howl-O-Scream. I have never been to the park during fall and have heard how wonderful the event is. Yet I kept an open mind to not let others sway my opinion. Over a course of a few days I visited and loved every second of it.
During the day it is a family fun environment, as usual. Then come 6 at night, the park turns into a scare and Halloween lovers playground. Each of the countries filled with themes helped by elaborate decorations, escape rooms, to 6 scare zones and 6 scare houses. Ireland was filled with pumpkins, cornstalks and scarecrows. This is also where towards the night you can find Jack, who to me was the main character of the event. You could not miss him with his pumpkin head running around trying to make you jump. Going into New France, you were met by Viking Norsemen chasing after you with axes. Germany had blood thirsty vampires and Italy was filled with carnival creatures and the dead walking in the gardens. One of my favorite areas was Scotland and England. It was transformed into Victorians times when Jack the Ripper and other creatures roamed the streets. The area is the entrance and exit to the park, so upon entering you are met with the all the Gothic decor and actors ready to scare you. It all definitely felt like I was glimpsing into different dark worlds that you find during the Halloween season.
One of the best aspects to the event, I would say is the entertainment and shows they have. There was one show that I did see multiple times, it was Monster Stomp on Ripper Row. It was phenomenal! The show is a musical that incorporated the Jack the Ripper story. All the performers were highly talented and you could tell loved to perform it for everyone. I do have to say the most entertaining part was the live percussionists. Seeing four men using all kinds of methods to create percussion sounds from clapping, stomping, and even hitting hammers and knives on a coffin was fascinating. If you think of a drum line, you should be able to imagine the scene the men presented during the performance. This show, in my opinion, is the best live performance I have ever seen anywhere.
Overall I enjoyed the experience thoroughly. For someone who is into all and everything creepy and scary, I was surprised with how well Busch Gardens runs the event. I do have to give them credit on how they make this Howl-O-Scream for all ages. During the day, they keep it as a light hearted harvest scene for little kids. Then at 5 they mention that they close all the children areas to give an hour for guest who get frightened easily, the ability to leave before transitioning fully into Howl-O-Scream. Yet I do have to say there were so many kids out after 5 and were not scared at all. I know I jumped quite a bit and there were 6 years old not even phased by the scare actors. Some even tried to scare the actors back, which was funny. If you want to have a great time in any September or October, I suggest going during Howl-O-Scream. It is worth the money you spend to go for the day. I know that in future years, I would love to go back to the amusement park for the event again.
On a side note, if you want to view the scare actors make up and costumes go to the park’s website and social media. I did not get photos of them because from being spooked and or laughing to hard I was afraid of dropping my phone. As an actor, I loved how they did all the make up, extra facial features and costumes. They all were done so well!
