Still not scared?
By Times Staff Writer
Published October 20, 2003
R.L. Stine's Haunted Lighthouse 4-D attraction, which opened in May at Busch Gardens in Tampa, is a featured part of the attraction's Howl-O-Scream event this Halloween. The 750-seat theater, resembling a typical stadium-seating multiplex, is rigged with speakers and sprays to give more oomph to the 22-minute, 3-D movie based on Stine's Goosebumps series of books for kids. Several Tampa Bay area haunt fests are slated for Halloween. Most of them will run through Oct. 31.
Pirate Island
Great Explorations: The Children's Museum hosts a Halloween event with haunted graveyard, scary storytelling and other "spooky" activities. 6-9 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and Oct. 30-31, 1925 Fourth St. N (next to Sunken Gardens), St. Petersburg. $10 adults, $8.50 children. (727) 821-8992.
Sort-A-Spooky Days and Nights
Kid City, the Children's Museum of Tampa, re-creates Washington Irving's Sleepy Hollow as "Spooky Hollow," complete with characters Ichabod Crane, Katrina Van Tassel and the Headless Horseman. With trick-or-treat costume parade, themed games and crafts, and decorated buildings. 5-8 p.m. Friday and Oct. 31 (with costume parade at 7 p.m.); also 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday (costume parades at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.). 7550 N Boulevard. $6.75, or $2 for museum members. (813) 935-8441.
Wild and Wicked Nights at Weeki Wachee
The attraction celebrates Halloween with a new, live Underwater Spooktacular performance, haunted forest, costume and scream contests for children, mermaid graveyard, creatures of the night and magic shows, candy and more. 7-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Weeki Wachee Springs, U.S. 19 and SR 50 in Weeki Wachee. $8.95 adults, $6.95 for ages 3-10. Pre-registration available, (352) 596-2062.
Haunted Horse-A-Ween
Choose a haunted hayride or a nonscary one for little ones; also pony rides and horseback riding, carnival games and a guided walk in the woods. Bring hotdogs and marshmallows to roast on a bonfire or purchase a hamburger and drink on site. 6-10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, ongoing through Nov. 1, the Breeze Horseback Riding Ranch, 7514 Gardner Road, Tampa (off Sheldon Road between Gunn Highway and Linebaugh Avenue). $3 hayride; $2 nonscary ride, pony ride or guided walk; 50 cents for games; $20 horseback riding. (813) 264-1919.
"Foreboden" Haunted House
"The Final Scream," annual haunted house to benefit "Ghouls" (Girls) Inc. of Pinellas returns to ParkSide Mall. Ongoing 6-10 p.m. Friday, noon-10 p.m. Saturday and 1-6 p.m. Sunday, through Oct. 31 (with extended hours on Halloween). Upper level at ParkSide Mall (outside JCPenney), U.S. 19 and Park Boulevard, Pinellas Park. $5 adults, $3 kids age 12 and under. (727) 544-6230.
Haunted Mansion
15,000-square-foot "spooktacular" at the Pinellas Expo Center, with the Fountain of Blood, Henchman's Cemetery, the Come to Life Mausoleum and other Halloween horrors. Benefits the Boys & Girls Clubs of Pinellas County. 7-10:30 p.m. Thursday, 7 p.m.-1 a.m. Friday-Saturday, 6-10 p.m. Sunday and 7-10:30 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, through Oct. 31 at the expo center, 10601 U.S. 19 N, Pinellas Park. $8 adults, $6 for ages 6-12, free for ages 5 and under. (727) 572-7100.
Howl-O-Scream
Busch Gardens is transformed after closing time with six haunted houses with state-of-the-art special effects, five scare zones, six roller coasters in the dark, music by DJ and Halloween-themed entertainment. Parental discretion strongly advised; not recommended for small children. Continues Thursday-Saturday and Oct.30-Nov. 1. Hours: 7:30 p.m.-2 a.m. Friday-Saturday and 7:30 p.m.-1 a.m. Thursday. $49.95 general admission. Passport members: $19.95 during nonpeak nights and $29.95 (peak nights). In-park upgrades available. 3605 Bougainvillea Ave., Tampa. Call toll-free 1-888-800-5447 or www.buschgardens.com
- Information from Times files was used in this report.
