Our Sinister Guide to SeaWorld San Diego Howl-O-Scream 2026

Are you thrilled by the idea of encountering cursed clowns, circus freaks, extraterrestrials, mad scientists, demented toys, vampires and scary sea creatures? If so, then we have the place for you. For about 25 nights of the fall season, SeaWorld San Diego transforms into a living nightmare of terror and frightful fun. This event is only for adults and brave teens ages 13 and up. There is a treat if you buy early. You'll save a scary amount of money! If you are looking for family-friendly Halloween fun, then take the tadpoles to the daytime Halloween Spooktacular instead for trick-or-treating, costumes, shows, exhibits and more fun. Then get a babysitter for the little ones and prepare to jump out of your skin as the monsters emerge at SeaWorld San Diego Howl-O-Scream.

Hop To

• Overview
• Dates & Tickets
• Park Plan
• Haunted Houses
• Scare Zones
• Entertainment
• Rides
• Food & Merchandise
• Tips

Overview of SeaWorld San Diego Howl-O-Scream

Since Halloween 2021, SeaWorld San Diego has been on the map for adult nighttime Halloween frights. SeaWorld San Diego Howl-O-Scream invites you to face your fears in haunted houses, scare zones, roaming haunts, devilish dance parties and a monstrous live show. Take on more thrills during a nighttime coaster ride in the dark and sip sinister cocktails at haunted bars. It's all waiting for you at SeaWorld San Diego Howl-O-Scream.

This entire event is a little less dark and scary than some of the other nighttime SoCal Halloween haunts. If you are nervous about going, you can purchase a "No Boo" necklace. People who do not want to be bothered in scare zones can wear it. But keep in mind that Howl-O-Scream scare zones have much fewer scare actors than the other scare events, so the scares are less intense. It's also the most affordable event, which makes it a great starter event for teens or people new to scary theme park events and those feeling the pinch of rising ticket prices. (And you can save even more with tickets the earlier you buy! In fact there is a flash sale in spring 2025!) But the theming is still very much for older frogs, so we do not recommend bringing the tadpoles under 13.

SeaWorld says the event contains intense adult content and intends it to be an adult event. But children under 18 are admitted. Refunds are not given if the event is too scary for your tadpoles, unfrogtunately.

We've unearthed the important details for the 2026 event. More to come soon. Tickets are on sale now. Let's hop into the 2026 details and go over the spooky fun we experienced at a past year's event.

SeaWorld San Diego Howl-O-Scream Dates and Tickets

Dates

Howl-O-Scream takes place on select sinister nights between Sept. 11 and Oct. 31, 2026. It mostly falls on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights with Thursdays and Sundays in October.

Here are the 2026 Howl-O-Scream dates:

• Sept. 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26 and 27 
• Oct. 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17, 18, 12, 23, 24, 25, 29, 30 and 31 

Here are the event hours for 2026:

Hours

• Friday & Saturday: 7 p.m. to 12 a.m.
• Thursday & Sunday: 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Even though the event kicks off at 7 p.m., you can enter as early as 6 p.m. If you are already in the park as a daytime visitor, on nights when the park closes later than 5 p.m., you can enter through rentals starting at 6 p.m.

Best Dates to Attend

The best dates to attend will vary based on your schedule. The least crowded nights are typically Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays early in the season (and they are the least expensive as well). Crowds pick up as Halloween approaches and on Friday and Saturday nights. But it's a late-night event so if you have school or work early the next morning, you might want to reconsider your selected date. Buy your dated ticket early through Undercover Tourist.

Howl-O-Scream 2026 takes place on select dates Sept. 11 through Oct. 31, 2026 Any-night tickets are on sale now!

Howl-O-Scream Tickets

Howl-O-Scream is a separately ticketed event. Fun cards, annual passes and regular daytime tickets are not valid during this event. Save time and money by purchasing tickets in advance. You can buy authorized tickets through Undercover Tourist! Ribbit! Tickets are on sale now. The earlier you purchase, the cheaper the price.

These are the tickets currently available for purchase from Undercover Tourist (check back as more options may appear as the event gets closer):

• Single-Night, Dated Ticket from Undercover Tourist (save up to $53!)

Buy early for the best price. Prices go up as the season progresses. Buy early to save. Go straight to the gate with these tickets.

All Undercover Tourist SeaWorld tickets come with FREE $20 Dining Dollars promo codes. You can use these codes to save 15% on gift cards for United Parks (SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, Discovery Cove, or Sesame Place gift cards) or Disney gift cards (and other gift cards.

Special Experiences 

You can add Evil Upgrades to your tickets through SeaWorld directly. These do not include admission.

Available now:

• Front Line Fear — One-time front-of-the-line access to five houses. Prices vary per night.
• Front Line Fear Extreme — One-time front-of-the-line access to five houses plus Emperor, Electric Eel and Arctic Rescue.

Possibly available later:

• Front Line Fear Unlimited — Unlimited front-of-the-line access to five houses plus Emperor, Electric Eel and Arctic Rescue.
• Howl-O-Scream VIP Terror Tour — Includes a private VIP tour guide, unlimited Front-of-Line to mazes and rides, one meal and drink tickets, reserved seating at Monster Stop, Up-Close Parking and admission to Howl-O-Scream.

Buy early as prices can creep up over time.

SeaWorld San Diego Howl-O-Scream Park Plan

Howl-O-Scream usually consists of five haunted houses, eight scare zones, three thrill rides, six bars, one killer show and four vile vignettes. Our three- to four-hour party night flew by like we were being chased by thirsty vampires. You'll want a plan to do it all. Here are two important details to note:

Consult an event map. We used a paper map the night we visited but you might use an online map. The area of the event is to the right when facing the front gates from the parking lot. None of the animal exhibits are open during the event.

Get Front Line Fear to skip the lines. If rides are important to you, get the Front Line Extreme. On opening night, crowds tend to be low, but that will likely change as the season progresses.

SeaWorld San Diego Howl-O-Scream Haunted Houses

Howl-O-Scream is home to five haunted houses. In general, the haunted houses feel more open and more lit than you'd find at other events, so if you are claustrophobic or not a fan of the dark, this may be a more comfortable event for you. Every house has a secret speakeasy. Follow @howloscreamsd stories on Insta for the code words before you visit! You can find the event map here.

Here were the 2025 houses (some may return for 2026):

3D Maze: Circus of the Damned

An evil ringmaster seeks to return his cursed Circus of the Damned to its former glory with new performers. Is it you he seeks? Can you escape the big top and condemned circus freaks before you’re forced to become one of them? Being located near the front of the event, this is a great house to hit at the end of the night.

But there is a twist this year! The carnival has been turned upside down, showcasing the distorted and surreal in a new way! Navigate lifelike 3D elements with special 3D glasses to escape the evil ringmaster Avoid his condemned crew to escape the big top before you’re forced to join the Circus of the Damned! The 3D effect is fun.

Heightened Horror: Area 64: Alien Outbreak

You've heard the rumors and conspiracy theories about Area 64. You set out to explore on your own via a hole in the fence. The darkness and decay are not what you expected though. Watch out for lethal security, mad scientists and terrifying extraterrestrials on the loose.

This year, the aliens are back, and they’re seeking REVENGE! This year’s Area 64: Alien Outbreak has been escalated to a full-scale invasion! Evade lethal security, mad scientists and terrifying extraterrestrials who refuse to be contained!

This maze has a hidden speakeasy in it! Follow @howloscreamsd stories on Instagram for the code word before you visit! We had to enter this maze three times before we found the hidden entrance and said the code word.

Reimagined Terro: Death Water Bayou Awakening

A Mardi Gras night takes a wrong turn when you get cursed by bayou witches and are lured into a haunted graveyard. Can you escape the dark waters of your nightmares Dark magic drags you into the swamp, where ancient rituals awaken a ravenous demon. Can you escape the curse? Or will you become the next feast for Death Water Bayou? We always love the detail and effects inside this house.

NEW HORRIFIC RESIDENTS: Nightmare Experiment Sweet DreamzZz

Sunny Meadows was once considered a wellness center. But now it's a testing ground for a volatile sleep aid with sickening side effects.

Can you avoid being the latest test subject? Other guests face vivid hallucinations, explosive rage and worse. Will you survive the experiment, or become its next casualty? Avoid demented doctors and escape being a lab rat. You do not want to check into this horrific hospital.

Just a note that if you've spent time in a mental hospital or had a traumatic hospitalization, this house could trigger feelings of panic, so you might want to take that into consideration. There is a themed bar, AmBARlance, just outside the exit. This house, like Circus of the Damned, is located near the entrance/exit so it's a great house to catch before the end of the night.

ENHANCED SCARES: Simon’s Slaughterhouse

It's a sick game of Simon says “DIE!” This year, brand-new sensory effects will have you screaming around every corner.

What could possibly go wrong in an abandoned meat-packing plant with a twisted past? Uh, oh! You are about to find out! Navigate through the bloody corridors, meat-hooked mortals and screeching buzz saws of the meat-processing plant to avoid the butcher’s blades. Expect this to be the bloodiest and goriest house of the night. We do not recommend this bloody maze for vegans and people bothered by dedications of cruelty to animals.

SeaWorld San Diego Howl-O-Scream Scare Zones

Howl-O-Scream terrifies guests in eight scare zones. There is no place to hide!

These were the scare zones for 2025:

(New!) Overgrowth

A disturbed botanist with a knack for genetic mutation has unleashed monstrous plants on people who pass through the deep woods. Can you find a safe path through the flora? Or will the horrors sprouting from a derelict greenhouse drag you screaming into the darkness?

Terrors of the Deep

The salty sea air is fouled by the stench of rotting fish. What's that? A distant bell tolls. Here, at the water’s edge, deadly sea beasts and unnatural horrors emerge from the depths to terrorize the unsuspecting fishermen who call the docks home. 

Ripper Row

Have you heard the news? The infamous murderer Jack The Ripper is terrorizing the streets of Ripper Row. Everyone is on edge, distrustful and all too willing to accost strangers if it means staying alive. Save yourself!

Red Mood Revelry

A once quiet commune deep in the woods has morphed into a bloodthirsty cabal of vampires, celebrating the arrival of the blood moon. It's time to feast on all those who are drawn in by the sounds of a party.

All Hallow's Harvest

Step into a blighted farmland where there's nowhere to hide from the cursed scarecrows who intend to harvest your body and soul to feed their own dark desires. Be wary and watch your back.

Carnival of Chaos

You thought you survived the Circus of the Damned House, but it looks like some of the sinister carnies and sideshow clowns are determined to find you. Rumor has it they'll kill to make it big time. It's located in front of the Circus of the Damned house. You can check the schedule for a list of circus acts to entertain you. This zone had the most scare actors, but they we more entertaining than scary in our opinion.

Graveyard

You cannot keep some evils buried forever. Some of this cemetery’s long-term guests are dying to meet you. Sounds like a thriller night.

Deadly Toys

These dummies are not like the dolls you grew up with. Wanna play? Nope. Too bad. You are their plaything now, and they'll decide when the fun ends. We loved the makeup, costumes and unpredictable interactions with these fun scare actors.

SeaWorld San Diego Howl-O-Scream Entertainment

There will be entertainment, along with some Vile Vignettes.

Opening SCAREmony

This completely reimagined stage show opens the event with a frightening master of ceremonies summoning nightmarish creatures to prepare you for a night of screams, scares and terror.

Monster Stomp

Witness the menace and mystery of Jack the Ripper in a modern rock and rhythm spectacular. It has electric choreography, live singers and explosive percussions to get your heart pounding. It's located at Nautilus Amphitheater. We enjoyed the talented dancers and musicians in this heart-stomping show! Plus, it gives you a chance to sit and rest.

Enjoy performances and magicians at Carnival of Chaos.

Vile Vignettes

Keep a watchful eye out for spooky moments in these four Vile Vignettes. You can find the times in the SeaWorld San Diego app as well as on signs by the small stages where these small performances take place.

(New!) Dolly Delightful

Dolly Delightful is absolutely perfect in every way. She’s never even been out of her box (allegedly). She’s better than you, and she knows it. But she has an attitude 10x her box price. If you approach her, do not turn your back on her. Dolly has quite the temper, you know, and an appetite for dismembering any limbs that get too close to the "Try Me" button on her box.

(New!) Summon the Spirits

A paranormal researcher with a questionable educational background has arrived on the scene in Ripper Row, and they've brought apprentices. They are trying to contact a victim of Jack the Ripper in the afterlife to learn the killer’s true identity. Watch out. Summoning spirits often comes with unintended consequences...

Misfortune

What does the future have in store? Step into the fortune teller’s tent if you’re brave enough. But fair warning, you might not like what you hear as she spins tales of woe and anguish.

Dark Magic

A sadistic magician in the Carnival of Chaos has some tricks up his sleeve. Explore Dark Magic all night long in this magic show.

Rides Open During SeaWorld San Diego Howl-O-Scream

Take a terrifying ride in the dark on:

• Electric Eel
• Emperor
• Arctic Rescue

We also saw the Tentacle Twirl swings open during the event.

Rides are subject to weather.

SeaWorld San Diego Howl-O-Scream Food and Merchandise

Slip into sinister cocktail bars around the park. Yes, let your guard down and relax. That's just what the monsters are waiting for. These hangouts are themed to houses and scare zones.

Here are the six cocktail bars that offered a splash of fear in 2025:

• (New!) Coffin 1380
• The Cracked Cauldron
• Bloodthirsty
• LaBARatory
• Big Top Drinks
• (New!) Toybox

Speakeasies in Mazes

We were able to enter a secret speakeasy in the middle of three different mazes last year. In 2025, every house has one! You can get the password off Instagram stories that day @howloscreamsd. The hard part is finding the hidden door in each maze!

In addition to themed drinks, there are Jell-O shot syringes, blood bags (if those sweet drinks are your type), mocktails and more.

When you get hungry, hop by the food stands for bites, mocktails, cotton, candy and chips.

SeaWorld San Diego Howl-O-Scream Tips

Here are some terrifyingly hopful tips to make it a night you can't froget:

• Purchasing dated tickets through Undercover Tourist in advance.
• The night is short. Arrive early to avoid getting stuck in line.
• Leave the tadpoles at home. They will enjoy the daytime events at Halloween Spooktacular instead.
• Wear good walking shoes.
• Follow the bag rules: Bags measuring larger than 8" x 5", including purses and backpacks, are NOT permitted through the Howl-O-Scream entrance. Exceptions may be made for medically necessary items after proper inspection. Carry any item required for medical reasons in a clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bag not to exceed the size of 12" x 6 " x 12".
• Stay hydrated.
• Dress for the weather. Some fall nights can be sweltering while others get chilly. Dress in layers and get a locker if you do not wish to carry items with you.
• No costumes.
• Follow the rules — no touching the scare actors, sets or props. No horseplay or pushing.
• Get a No Boo necklace if you want to be left alone in scare zones. They do not work in the mazes.
• Eat before you arrive.
• Do not bring open beverages or food into the attractions.
• Skip the lines with a Front Line Fear pass.
• Lock all bags or loose items in a locker before riding.
• Bring credit cards or debit cards for shopping, drinks and food. SeaWorld is cashless.
• No ECVs are allowed in houses. Guests must transfer to a manual wheelchair.
• No flashlights, laser pointers, photography flashes or filming with lights in houses. Flash photography is not allowed at the event and can hurt the scare actors.
• To get in the speakeasies, follow @howlocreamsd the day of your visit to find out the password. In the mazes with speakeasies, look for hidden doorways with a hooded guard. Say the password to gain entrance. They are tricky to spot!

Do you think you are brave enough to survive SeaWorld San Diego Howl-O-Scream? Your trusted froggy friends are selling the same Howl-O-Scream tickets. No tricks.

Related: How to Have Spooktacular Halloween Fun at SeaWorld San Diego

Related: Our Ghoulish Guide to Howl-O-Scream at SeaWorld Orlando

Keep hopping!