Well, as September grew closer Busch Gardens Williamsburg has started getting ready for the Fall. This is the time of year the park has Howl-o-Scream on the weekends. This year was different though. New information pertaining to Howl-o-Scream was scarce and the only things known about Howl-o-Scream was small updates on the parks official Facebook.
As the end of August was near, fans visited the Howl-o-Scream website in order to see the scares that will be there this year. Instead of scares they got an “Under Destruction” notice. The site was not updated until just recently. The currently updated site features a interactive map, descriptions of all the scares, tickets, and the hours. This year scarezones were not directly put out. The theme being “The Scare is Everywhere” and “No Place is Safe” scare zones seem to be no longer needed. Scare zones are still in use by the park however you have to read around the haunted house descriptions for area information which will give the you scare zone information, as follows:
The Banbury Market, England
Expect the unexpected in England. Bear witness to a dark funeral complete with ghostly city dwellers and disturbing stalking creatures that lurk overhead. Guests strolling through this creepy setting should stop in The Banbury Market where the frightful-fun continues with themed surprises for friends and family.
Killarney, Ireland
The normally picturesque Irish countryside and exotic landscaping of Jack Hanna’s Wild Reserve have undergone a frightening transformation. Hundreds of pumpkins have taken over Ireland, and the Wild Reserve has been invaded by creepy, long-legged creatures that descend from above.
Aquitaine, France
Swarms of rats are plaguing a French village and are leaving the skeletons of their victims to rot. The creatures flow out from the French catacombs, crawling overhead and climbing on buildings. Guests should watch their step through this village or they may be the next skeleton. More frightful-fun awaits just around the corner.
New France, France
New France has become a fog filled run-down logging camp, where things lie in wait for guests.
Rhinefeld, Germany
Drained of humanity, Rhinefeld cautions guests to keep out. Visitors should heed the warning signs that vampires are lurking in the darkness. Proceed with caution to the decrepit and desolate village of Oktoberfest, home to an all-new Howl-O-Scream store inside Der Marktplatz.
Pompeii Crossing, Italy
Sounds of cackling and heckling laughter fill the air as guests approach the bewitched and bewildered Italian town. Mummy-lined pathways, fog and haunting music warn guests to think twice before passing Pompeii.
The site gives the name and description of all the Haunted houses for this year as well. The haunted houses are the exact same as last year, with maybe a few minor changes to each one.
Catacombs
Located: Royal Palace Theater, France Rated: 5 pumpkins
Through a ruined cemetery filled with statues lies a tunnel that leads to an underground city. Its history is more terrifying than that of France’s worst revolutions. Deep within these tunnels lie mile after mile of bones—the final resting place for those who are buried here. But all is not as quiet as it appears. As guests venture forth into the dank, dripping corridors of rat infested remains, the voices of the dead begin to speak, and some have taken shape.
Review from last year: This was a very good haunted house, that did startle and scare many people. I believe it was not as scary as five pumpkins, but I do not recommend it for any children younger than thirteen that do not like being scared.
Bitten
Located: Festhaus Park, Germany Rated: 5 pumpkins
Suspicion, darkness and mind-numbing fear surround the “Bitten” house which is set in Eastern Europe in the late 1800s. Full of legends and lore of vampires and the undead that preyed on the innocent, this manor sits by the road upon which all travelers must pass and never return.
Review from last year: This haunted house was very fun and had lots of surprises that you would not expect. It certainly does draw a crowd, the line is usually very long and I recommend showing up early. This is about vampires however Edward fans will not see any shiny vampires here.
Harvest Hollow
Located: Festhaus Park, Germany Rated: 5 pumpkins
A journey through the “Harvest Hollow” is a journey into guests’ wildest nightmares. Undead creatures haunt the fields, searching for victims of these supernatural predators lurking in these towns. Through seemingly endless paths they rise up, hungry for their revenge.
Review from last year: This is more of an outdoor maze than a haunted house but it is still scary. The entrance is right at the exit of Bitten so you can just flow right on in or skip Bitten and continue into Harvest Hallow. It is a scary maze and it fits a scarecrow/farming theme very well.
Hunted
Located: Festhaus Park, Germany Rated: 5 pumpkins
In 17-century Germany lies a hunter’s cabin situated in the darkest corner of a forested valley. The cabin, home to a family of werewolf hunters, has long been hidden to the world. Now it lies in shambles and only bloody clues will tell the truth of what has happened.
Review from last year: This haunted house is behind Bitten and in the middle of Harvest Hallow. You have to go through harvest Hallow to get to hunted, but this it is alright because once you finish Bitten you can flow right into Harvest Hallow and into Hunted. This is a very well themed haunted house, and is mainly about werewolves however Jacob fans may not find these wolves so attracting.
Cursed
Located: Festa Italia, Italy Rated: 5 pumpkins
Between the borders of legend and reality lie the cursed, loathsome creatures whose fate was determined by the witches of the woods. Into a depthless abyss, through a cracked cave wall where the veil of consciousness is at its thinnest, these beings lie in wait. Those brave enough to enter will leave cursed.
Review from last year: This is a very easy going maze. It starts you with very strong strobe lights but as you go through you realize it is a city of witches that look forward to scaring you. It ends with strong strobe lights, but unless you have a strobe light problem most people can handle this maze, except for children around ten that do not find joy in being scared.
Revenge of Pompeii
Located: Next to Sesame Street in Italy Rated: 4 pumpkins
An old expedition camp lies abandoned in the ruins of Pompeii. All those working have gone missing. It is said that a storm of ash descended upon the camp, like that of the eruption. Only it wasn’t an ash storm. The beings of those frozen in time are walking – their ashy re-animated corpses are wreaking havoc. As a new team arrives to continue the exploration, the beings that still haunt Pompeii will have their revenge.
Review from last year: This is a very ongoing haunted house that is simply always here every year because of location. the haunted house remains set-up through out the year in a warehouse under the water ride. There is a more kid-friendly version of this house before 5:30 pm and after 6 pm it turns into a darker house.
You may have noticed the one haunted house missing from last year was Cavern of Darkness. Last year, Cavern of Darkness was used as a placeholder while they worked on putting in Europe in the Air. Now that Europe in the Air is operational there is no need to have Cavern of Darkness, and if they did have it, they would have to re-design the haunted house to fit the new simulators that took the place of the seating for Corkscrew Hill.
I would like to bring up shows next. Just as the haunted houses they are the same.
The Counts Halloween Spooktacular
Location: Sesame Street Castle Rated: 1pumpkin
Stroll over to Sesame Street Forest of Fun for a great family-friendly experience at Prince Elmo’s Castle. This 10-minute show stars Count Von Count and his Sesame Street pals in a Halloween spectacular featuring dancing, singing and music. Everyone’s favorite Sesame Street characters will perform in their very own Halloween costumes. Following the show, Count Von Count and the rest of the gang will be in the Sesame Street Forest of Fun for special photo opportunities and hugs for the young and the young at heart.
Review from last year: I haven’t seen this show but it is obviously meant for kids and for those who do not like scary things.
Jack is Back
Location: Killarny, Ireland Rated: 2 pumpkins
A party procession of carved creatures invades the village of Ireland to pay homage to Jack-of-the-Lantern. Join Jack as he entertains park guests during this dancing party that will make everyone “boo”-gy.
Review from last year: This show is just like the Sesame Street one, meaning it is not scary and is for people who just like to party during the Halloween season.
Monster Stomp Revamped
Location: Abbeystone Theater, Ireland Rated: 4 pumpkins
Experience the revamping of a classic – vampires have come to the monster stomp party, and they are dying to have a good time. Witches, mummies, skeletons and beasts join them in Busch Gardens’ high-powered musical “rockstravaganza.” This show contains adult themes. Parental supervision is advised.
Review from last year: The show is not a really scary one. It is mostly rated 4 pumpkins because it is a show for mature teens and up. Very interesting characters dancing to very popular music. Fun for almost the whole family.
Frankenrock
Located: Festhaus, Germany Rated: 4 pumpkins
Frankenstein and his band mates have created the ultimate super group of monsters – and they intend to rock. Join Frank and his monster rockers as they “rock da haus” in this high energy rock-n-roll show.
Review from last year: I saw parts of this show, it is nothing scary it just isn’t suited for much younger children but it is definitely a family-friendly show.
Movies of the Macabre
Location: Il Teatro di San Marco, Italy Rated: 2 pumpkins
Watch classic black-and-white horror movies projected on the big screen in II Teatro di San Marco. Served up in a film-festival motif with a hanging screen, guests will enjoy these classic movies while dining. It’s a fun experience for the whole family that evokes a mood of frightening fun.
Review from last year: This is a family-friendly thing, it isn’t scary. It is just black and white movies of the classical scary movies that are widely known such as Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde, the original. Very educational and fun.
There are kid related things instead of actual scares that have been mentioned above, most are 1-2 pumpkins rating.
I covered all the scares and shows, I hope you find the reviews helpful as well as all other information and I hope you enjoy you Howl-o-Scream 2010. Howl-o-Scream runs from the 24th of September to Halloween every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
