SeaWorld San Diego Announces Full 2022 Howl-O-Scream Details

SeaWorld San Diego, San Diego, CA

The last of the Southern California major haunted attractions has released all the information about its upcoming Halloween season! SeaWorld’s Howl-O-Scream event, which premiered last year, returns this year starting Friday, September 16, and will thrill guests with five haunted houses, six scare zones, two “scAREA’s” that appear to be immersive themed zones without the overt street monster jump scares, and a new live performance show and three themed bar areas.

SeaWorld’s Halloween events prior to last year were not on the same scale and intensity level as that of Knott’s or Universal, instead serving more family-friendly affairs. But Howl-O-Scream has been a fixture at Busch Gardens parks during the fall, and in an ever-competitive Southern California market, going to a more PG-13 level haunt offered a theme park haunt option that San Diego, in particular, didn’t quite have (though The Haunted Trail in Balboa Park, Scream Zone, and Disturbance by the Haunted Hotel offer ample scares in their own rights). Last year’s Howl-O-Scream was successful enough to prompt an expansion this year, and it should be great to see how the park builds on last year’s positives and improves upon debut year shortcomings.

(Photo courtesy of Sea World San Diego.)

From the press release:

SeaWorld San Diego Unveils Highly Anticipated, Terrifying New Additions to Nighttime Howl-O-Scream Event

• Two ALL-NEW haunted houses, one new and one newly reimagined scare zone, and two new scAREAs bring new nightmares to the event’s second year

• The event debuts an ALL-NEW heart-pounding marquee show sure to leave audiences terrifyingly entertained

• Three ALL-NEW themed bars throughout the event will serve dangerously delicious cocktail options

• San Diego’s premier Halloween nighttime event returns on select nights from September 16 through October 31

• Scary good savings with tickets available at fifty percent off for a limited time

SAN DIEGO, CA – SeaWorld San Diego today announced the highly-anticipated new additions to Howl-O-Scream, the park’s separately ticketed nighttime Halloween event for mature audiences. The event is bringing even more nightmares to life with terrifyingly NEW Circus of the Damned and Area 64: Alien Outbreak haunted houses, Carnival of Chaos and Vampire Underground scAREAs, and Clown Gauntlet and Sea of Souls scare zones. Howl-O-Scream will also debut Darkness Falls, an ALL-NEW spectacularly dark and heart-pounding entertaining live performance show, and three new themed bars serving paranormally delicious cocktails. 

San Diego’s premier Halloween nighttime event returns to SeaWorld San Diego on select nights from September 16 through October 31. Howl-O-Scream is geared towards a mature audience and attendees can expect the unexpected with these new offerings appearing alongside with terrifying fan favorites from last year.

(Photo courtesy of Sea World San Diego.)

Navigate Two ALL- NEW Horrifying Haunted Houses

Fans of fear are challenged to go through all five haunted houses and survive the howls and screams from within. New additions to the event this year include two ALL-NEW haunted houses that will provide Howl-O-Scream guests with unexpected dismay and horror to navigate as they hide from outsiders from beyond and come face-to-face with freakish and creepy characters.

In Circus of the Damned, guests will navigate what was once the greatest circus in the world before it collapsed under a power-hungry, evil ringmaster who cursed the circus and its performers for all eternity. Now seeking to restore his cursed circus to its former glory by cursing new performers, guests must escape the ringmaster and his condemned crew before it’s too late.

Darkness and decay set the stage for guests who enter Area 64: Alien Outbreak. After they sneak through the fence and enter an abandoned government installation, they’ll face lethal security, mad scientists, and terrifying extraterrestrials who refuse to be contained.

Guests will also find terrifying thrills and chills in the event’s three returning houses. Escape a deadly doctor and medical experiments gone wrong in Nightmare Experiment, Simon the Butcher and his knife-wielding crew at Simon’s Slaughterhouse, and the evil Swamp Witch and her vengeful spirits at Death Water Bayou.

Discover the Horrors of NEW Scare Zones and ScAREAs

With one ALL-NEW and one newly reimagined scare zones and two all-new scAREAs, guests will never know what immersive terror is lurking around every corner – or right behind them.

Guests will face their childhood nightmares in the Clown Gauntlet scare zone as they run from merciless clowns with chainsaws in hand. In the newly reimagined Sea of Souls zone, guests will encounter powerful, alluring sirens that will tempt them into a watery grave. 

(Photo courtesy of Sea World San Diego.)

Returning from last year, guests will also walk through pathways of creepy dolls at the Deadly Toys zone, undead evils at the Graveyard zone, a deadly legend at La Llorona zone and sinister monsters that lurk in the forest at The Hauntings zone.

New this year, guests can press their luck in the Carnival of Chaos scAREA and evade the disgruntled carnies sideshow clowns, and specialty performers who haunt the midway and would kill to make it to the big time. In the Vampire Underground scAREA, enter a nightclub where you can explore your deepest desires as humans and vampires peacefully co-exist… or can they? Attendees learn their fate while dancing amongst burlesque performers, incredible DJ’s and indulging in a sinfully delicious libation at the Blood Moon Bar.

(Photo courtesy of Sea World San Diego.)

Indulge in NEW Frightful Drinks and Entertainment

Three new themed bars, Toys N’ Tonic, Blood Moon Bar, and Big Top Drinks will be open throughout the park to serve guests dangerously delicious Halloween-themed drinks. They will join returning bars Simon’s Screamtorium, AmBARlance, and the Howl-O-Scream Bar, each located outside of the accompanying haunted house. 

(Photo courtesy of Sea World San Diego.)

The spectacularly dark and heart-pounding ALL-NEW live show, Darkness Falls is a chilling, suspenseful theatrical spectacle sure to haunt and thrill all who dare to take the ride. Mesmerizing performers and percussionists will lure guests into an intense journey through their wildest nightmares, while struggling with adversities and battles between good and evil!  

Scary Good Value on Tickets

Howl-O-Scream is a separately ticketed nighttime event and the fall frights are inching closer. Those ready to brave them all can purchase tickets in advance at the lowest price. Save over 50% with Howl-O-Scream tickets as low as $39.99. Prices will rise as the event nears, so don’t wait!

(Photo courtesy of Sea World San Diego.)

Family-Friendly Daytime Fun

For a more light-hearted Halloween experience fit for the entire family, SeaWorld’s Spooktacular is back for daytime fun on Saturdays and Sundays from September 17 through October 31. Candy, costumes, and spooky fun will fill the days with daylight trick-or-treating for kids of all ages around the park, hay maze fun, dressing up in costumes and joining in the fun at Spooktacular Costume Party plus much more. Spooktacular is included with regular park admission.

For more dreadful details follow Howl-O-Scream on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. For more information on Spooktacular and regular SeaWorld park hours, visit www.SeaWorldSanDiego.com.

Howl-O-Scream is intended for a mature audience. Howl-O-Scream 2022 is a separately ticketed nighttime event. No costumes are allowed.