Howl-O-Scream is an annual Halloween seasonal event that occurs during the month of October at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Busch Gardens Williamsburg, SeaWorld San Antonio, and as of recently began at SeaWorld Orlando and SeaWorld San Diego. The parks remain operational during the day and transition to Howl-O-Scream at night. The event features haunted houses, "scare zones", and live entertainment. The event at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay in Tampa, Florida primarily competes with Universal Studios' Halloween Horror Nights, both of which are known for their grotesque and macabre-themed haunted houses and scare zones. Howl-O-Scream contains intense adult content such as violence, gore and blood and sexual innuendo. As such, it is not intended for children. While this event is intended for adults only, individuals under the age of 18 are admitted to the event, however, the event is not recommended for children under the age of 13. History The event takes place during select nights in October, typically on the weekends. The event focuses on haunted houses, "scare zones," and shows that pertain to a particular theme. The haunted houses are enclosed areas with specific storylines and highly themed decor. Typically, they lead guests through a somewhat claustrophobic maze with various features designed to startle, confuse or disquiet those who enter by using a combination of strobe lights, fog machines and other accessories of this sort. Scare zones are similar to haunted houses, except they are set in outdoor areas along the main paths. Scare zones also feature a specific theme and contain objects typically used in haunted houses: people dressed up as creatures pertaining to the theme, fog machines, strobe lights, and other decor such as damaged boxes, broken street lights, and similar accoutrements that also pertain to the theme. The shows are similar in structure to the standard stage shows shown at Busch Gardens, however they have a Halloween setting and feature dark humor, grotesque scenery and sexual innuendo. Howl-O-Scream was not the first Halloween event at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. One year prior to Howl-O-Scream's debut in the year 2000, the park featured a PG-13 Halloween attraction called Spooky Safari. It had such attractions as an outdoor sprawling haunted experience called "Haunted Jungle Trail", a pyrotechnic/magic show, a pumpkin patch, hayrides, and face-painting for the children. Event summaries Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Busch Gardens Williamsburg SeaWorld San Antonio Haunted house locations Busch Gardens Tampa Bay The following