A dramatic, low-light night photograph of a scare actor performing during Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay in Tampa, Florida. Lit by warm orange spotlighting against a dark wooden fence, a costumed figure stands centered while wearing a long-sleeved, blood-stained shirt and a tattered burlap mask with hanging frayed strands covering their face. The figure holds an index finger up to their lips in a "shh" hushing gesture, set against dark shadowy backgrounds and red accent lighting in the distance.Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay in Tampa, Florida. Credit: HowlOScream / Facebook

There are just 50 days until Halloween, but it’s never too early to shit your pants in a haunted house. Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay can help and has added a new scary maze to its offering in 2026 (but please don’t ask anyone there to wipe your ass).

“Anaconda: Fear Has No Escape”—complete with giant animatronic reptile heads—is new for longtime fans of the fall pastime, in addition to a pair of new scare zones and the “Fiends” live show. Six houses in total are there for guests along with many of the rides.

Howl-O-Scream happens select nights Sept. 11-Oct. 31 at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, and tickets start at $48.99.

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This article appears in September 03 – 09, 2026.

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Read his 2016 intro letter and disclosures from 2022 and 2021. Ray Roa started freelancing for Creative Loafing Tampa in January 2011 and was hired as music editor in August 2016. He became Editor-In-Chief…
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