The 2020 edition of Busch Gardens Tampa Bay’s Howl-O-Scream will feature 10 scare zones around the park, making up for the lack of houses due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Four of the 10 scare zones will be new to Howl-O-Scream fans. These include the werewolf-themed “Lycan Landing,” walking through a cemetery in “The Shortcut,” dealing with prison inmates in “The Escape,” and the self-explanatory “The Junkyard.”
The rest of the scare zone lineup will consist of returning favorites like “Maniac Midway” and “Deadly Toys.” Reservations must be in advance to attend the event to allow for physical distancing and face masks — not costume masks — will be required.
“Designed to scare safely, the creative production team has consulted with medical experts to modify this year’s zone designs with a physical distancing focus, as well as enhanced health and safety measures, while staying true to the terrifying experience fans crave,” Busch Gardens said in a press release.
The event will also feature the Fiends stage show, held outdoors at the park’s Festival Field Stage, along with the park’s roller coasters.
Howl-O-Scream 2020 is one of the few hard-ticket Halloween theme park events being held this year amid the pandemic. Among the events canceled elsewhere were Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Disney World, Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando and Universal Hollywood, and Knott’s Scary Farm.
Other socially-distanced haunts have popped up to fill the void in Central Florida, including two drive-thru events: one called The Haunted Road, with tickets starting at $15 per person, and Scream n’ Stream, whose prices start at $53 per vehicle, with proceeds going to benefit a local food bank.
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