Howl-O-Scream contains intense adult content such as violence, gore and blood and sexual innuendo.

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.

[clarification needed] Howl-O-Scream was not the first Halloween event at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.

[3] Blood Island Karver's Kradle: House of Dolls Dark Side of the Gardens Prey

Shows included a celebrity appearance by Butch Patrick of The Munsters and the mentalist, The Amazing Kreskin.

The 1961 Cadillac hearse from TV's Dr. Paul Bearer's Creature Feature shows was also on display.

In an effort to maintain its children's demographic, a "Monster Free Zone" was included, featuring face painting, arts and crafts and hay rides.

[3] In 2001, Howl-O-Scream added new haunted mazes, scare zones, and shows, and re-positioned the event toward an older teen and young adult demographic.

Hurricane Jeanne was the most damaging, causing a possible F1 tornado touchdown on the original building for the Corporate Nightmare haunted house, destroying it.

The hurricane itself also caused moderate damage to the props in the Garden of the Cursed and Agony Express scare zones.

Corporate Nightmare was moved to Tut's Tomb on the second night of the event, and the props in the two scare zones were rebuilt.

It involves a cast member dressed in plain clothes and seemingly snatched violently from the crowd.

A small fire started in the front of "The Hunted" haunted house one evening about halfway through the run.

The fire was traced to a guest's cigarette, put out carelessly on a burned prop couch in the opening hallway of the house.

The event icon for 2007, "The Death Jockey", had his exploits chronicled in comic book form on the HOS website.

The Alone haunted house is an added cost attraction, with the option for the guest to experience it alone or with up to three other people.