Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
Haunted attraction · Tampa · Florida
Busch Gardens' after-dark Halloween takeover, billed as Tampa Bay's most terrifying event, fills the animal-and-coaster park with haunted houses and roaming scare zones on select nights. The 2026 run is September 11 through November 1; gates open at 5 p.m. and the frights start at 7.
Don’t miss
Plan your visit
Select nights, 7 p.m.; gates 5 p.m. Blockouts 9/5, 9/12, 9/19, 9/26, 10/3-10/24
Dates from the official announcement, checked August 20, 2026. Always confirm before you go.
Color nearby peaks: November 29–December 3
Color builds from November 17 · mostly bare by December 27
Sampled at Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay’s own coordinates and elevation (14 m) rather than a regional average.
Florida is sampled at 22 weather points, then moved 8 days later so the model agrees with 1 published peak date from explorefall.com. Against Florida's own climatology, the 2026 weather puts the peak 1 day earlier. How the forecast works
When to go to Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
You get about 23 days of color here, from the first turn through to roughly December 10. That runs roughly 3 days earlier than the rest of Florida.
It is in Tampa, close enough to reach without planning a drive around it.
Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay on the map
Drag the date slider to see when color reaches this corner of Florida, or tap a pin for that stop’s own peak window.
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Frequently asked
- When is Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay open in 2026?
- The 2026 season runs Sep 11 – Oct 31. Select nights, 7 p.m.; gates 5 p.m. Blockouts 9/5, 9/12, 9/19, 9/26, 10/3-10/24. Dates can shift, so check the official site before you go.
- When does Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay peak in 2026?
- Peak color is predicted for November 29–December 3 (best estimate December 1). Color starts around November 17 and is mostly bare by December 27.
- How do I get to Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay?
- Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is in Tampa. The closest city is Tampa, about 6 mi away (it's right in town). It's part of Florida's fall lineup.
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