ORLANDO, Fla. — SeaWorld Orlando is preparing for one of its busiest stretches of the year with the return of its family-friendly Spooktacular event and the more intense Howl-O-Scream, designed to capture both daytime family traffic and nighttime thrill-seekers during Central Florida’s lucrative fall tourism season.
Spooktacular, included with regular admission, runs on select dates from Aug. 30 through Nov. 2, 2025, giving the park a two-month seasonal draw that bridges the late-summer and early holiday travel windows. SeaWorld officials expect the event to continue boosting attendance among families with young children by offering interactive trails, dance parties, character encounters, and allergy-friendly treat options.
New additions this year include the introduction of Spookley the Square Pumpkin, who will anchor a themed maze with an emphasis on inclusivity, as well as expanded trick-or-treat trails featuring 12 candy stations and branded reusable bags. These seasonal overlays are designed to create repeat visitation opportunities for annual passholders while adding limited-edition merchandise incentives.
Nighttime Event Targets Thrill Market
For the older demographic, Howl-O-Scream 2025 will operate on 28 nights between Sept. 5 and Nov. 1. Now in its fourth year in Orlando, the separately ticketed event adds three new haunted houses and a lineup of scare zones, shows, and themed bars that extend guest dwell time and in-park spending. Signature roller coasters such as Mako and Pipeline will operate after dark, integrating the park’s core attractions into the seasonal offering.
With Howl-O-Scream competing directly with Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights, the event underscores SeaWorld’s ongoing strategy to broaden its appeal beyond daytime family audiences and capture the lucrative adult Halloween tourism segment.
Year-Round Value Through Seasonal Passes
To convert seasonal attendance into sustained revenue, SeaWorld is promoting its 2026 Fun Card, priced at $143.99, which grants unlimited visits for the remainder of 2025 and all of 2026. The product is positioned to drive repeat visitation from both Florida residents and out-of-state tourists who time multiple trips around seasonal events.
Economic Impact
SeaWorld’s fall programming comes during a period when Orlando’s theme parks compete aggressively to maintain hotel occupancy and tourism momentum between the summer and holiday peaks. By offering daytime family content and nighttime thrill experiences under one brand, SeaWorld is aiming to maximize per-guest spending and broaden its seasonal market share in Central Florida’s $87 billion tourism economy.
