Universal Studios isn’t the only theme park welcoming classic horror franchises into its Halloween plans—Busch Gardens and SeaWorld are also joining in the thrills.
On Friday, the two theme park brands, which share the same parent company United Parks & Resorts, announced that their fall Howl-O-Scream events will feature haunted houses and other experiences inspired by two thriller franchises.
‘Anaconda’ grips Busch Gardens for Howl-O-Scream
At Busch Gardens, which has locations in Tampa, Florida and Williamsburg, Virginia, theme park guests attending the annual Howl-O-Scream event will come face to face with the king of snakes when “Anaconda” slithers in and takes residence at two new haunted houses.
This is the first time the Sony Pictures film has been integrated into a major theme park Halloween event, according to a press release from Busch Gardens.
At Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, theme park guests will brave Anaconda: Fear Has No Escape, while guests at Busch Gardens Williamsburg will encounter Anaconda: Dead on Arrival.
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Each haunted house at the respective parks will feature their own unique storylines that continue the legend of the film franchise, which first debuted in 1997 in a horror-thriller starring Jennifer Lopez and Ice Cube, and was recently resurrected in last year’s action-comedy of the same name starring Paul Rudd and Jack Black.
“Our fans are always looking for new and immersive scares and bringing ‘Anaconda’ to our Howl-O-Scream event elevates the experience at both Busch Gardens parks,” said Marc Swanson, CEO of United Parks & Resorts. “The addition of Anaconda, combined with all-new haunts and entertainment will solidify Howl-O-Scream’s spot as one of the nation’s top Halloween events.”
In addition to the new Anaconda-inspired experiences, Howl-O-Scream will feature additional haunted houses, as well as “immersive scare zones, sinister shows and nighttime rides on record-breaking coasters.”
Howl-O-Scream takes place on select nights beginning Sept. 11 through Nov. 1, 2026. Tickets and specific event dates can be found at BuschGardens.com.
‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’ puts its hook in at SeaWorld
While Busch Gardens guests do battle with the animal kingdom, visitors to SeaWorld theme parks face the murderous and vengeful Fisherman from the ’90s slasher classic “I Know What You Did Last Summer” franchise.
Like “Anaconda,” this is the first time the Sony Pictures franchise has been featured in a major Halloween event.
I Know What You Did Last Summer: The Final Catch is an interactive haunted house experience based on the original 1997 film starring Jennifer Love Hewitt, Freddie Prinze Jr. and Sarah Michelle Gellar, in which a group of friends are terrorized and picked off by a revenge-seeking pedestrian they’d left for dead following a terrible accident on a foggy summer night.
“Guests will wander through horrifying recreations of several unforgettable movie scenes and into the events that unfold during the original Southport massacre,” a news release from SeaWorld states. “Now, SeaWorld guests will become part of that terrifying story.”
Like Busch Gardens’ new Anaconda experiences, Swanson said the theme park company is continually looking to “raise the bar” on immersive entertainment, especially during its premier Howl-O-Scream events.
“This thrilling franchise has captivated horror fans for years with its suspense and terror,” Swanson said of the collaboration with the film and Sony Pictures. “Now our guests will step into that world, facing some of the same heart-pounding moments that made the film come alive.”
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Daring theme park guests can experience the new “I Know What You Did Last Summer” haunted house experience at SeaWorld locations in Orlando, San Diego and San Antonio, Texas.
Swanson described this year’s Howl-O-Scream events at both SeaWorld and Busch Gardens as the company’s “most ambitious yet.”
Howl-O-Scream at SeaWorld parks will take place from Sept. 11 through Oct. 31, 2026. Dates and tickets for each park can be found at SeaWorld.com.
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