The lights are flickering on the midway once again—but these are not the kind of carnival thrills you’ll want to stick around for. D.H. Baggum’s Circus of Fear, a returning favorite, has officially been announced as the third haunted house for Howl-O-Scream Tampa 2025, and it’s as blood-curdling as ever.
Running select nights from September 5 through November 2, Busch Gardens’ iconic Halloween event is building a fearsome lineup of haunted houses, scare zones, and nighttime frights that transform the entire park into a living nightmare. With the circus back in full swing, the stakes are only getting higher—and the screams louder.
Haunted House Announcement: D.H. Baggum’s Circus of Fear
RETURNING FAVORITE
Step right up—if you dare.
D.H. Baggum’s Circus of Fear is no ordinary sideshow. It’s a grotesque gallery of mutated performers, mangled illusions, and distorted carnival dreams. Guests will walk through decaying big top tents, eerie funhouses, and a monster-infested midway where nothing is what it seems.
At the center of the terror is the sinister ringleader himself: D.H. Baggum, a twisted showman who doesn’t just entertain the crowd—he hunts them. Victims vanish without a trace, absorbed into his monstrous collection of freakish attractions, never to be seen again.
From murderous clowns to deformed beasts lurking behind circus curtains, this house is a relentless sensory assault designed to disorient and disturb. You may come for the show… but Baggum always ensures someone stays behind.
Current 2025 Howl-O-Scream Tampa Lineup
Haunted Houses:
- Stranglewood Estate (Returning)
A decaying manor haunted by the malevolent Madame Stranglewood and the souls of her victims. - Shadows of Wonderland (New)
A nightmarish twist on a childhood classic, where Wonderland has rotted into madness under the Queen of Hearts. - D.H. Baggum’s Circus of Fear (Returning)
A horrifying carnival of twisted performers and sinister intentions, hosted by the deadly D.H. Baggum.
Scare Zones:
- Sawgrass Slaughter: Legend of the Skunk Ape (Returning)
A swamp-drenched nightmare in the Everglades, where Florida’s legendary Skunk Ape stalks its prey.
What to Expect at Howl-O-Scream 2025
Each fall, Howl-O-Scream Tampa turns the lush grounds of Busch Gardens into a labyrinth of terror, featuring:
- Multiple haunted houses that explore original, immersive horror themes.
- Terrifying scare zones crawling with creatures and atmospheric storytelling.
- Roaming hordes that strike without warning.
- Sinister live shows that entertain and unnerve.
- Florida’s most thrilling coasters, like Iron Gwazi, SheiKra, and Cheetah Hunt, all racing through the darkness.
This year’s lineup is shaping up to be one of the most intense yet, and there’s still more to be revealed.
For the latest news, house reveals, and Halloween coverage, stay tuned to CoasterMedia’s Halloween Guide—your one-stop source for updates on Howl-O-Scream Tampa and haunted attractions across the country.
Howl-O-Scream Tampa runs select nights from September 5 through November 2, 2025.
The circus is calling… will you answer?
