SeaWorld San Diego’s Howl-O-Scream is back for its sixth year, running September 11 through October 31 with its biggest lineup yet: six haunted houses, including two brand-new builds and four returning crowd-pleasers.
The headline new addition is Area 64: MOTHERSHIP, a prequel to the fan-favorite Area 64: Alien Outbreak and the most ambitious construction in the event’s history — an 80-foot-long, 16-foot-tall crashed mothership façade built entirely from scratch by SeaWorld San Diego’s in-house entertainment team. The second new house hasn’t been fully unveiled yet; organizers are keeping it mysterious, promising it will “reveal itself from the murky depths of Mission Bay in a few short weeks.” Returning houses include Circus of the Damned 3D, Simon’s Slaughterhouse, Deathwater Bayou: Awakening, and Nightmare Experiment: Sweet DreamzZz.
Alongside the haunted houses, the event brings new scare zones, live performances, themed bars, and hidden speakeasies. During the current Sinister Sale, tickets start at $33.99 — up to 65% off — at seaworld.com/san-diego/events/howl-o-scream/. All Sinister Sale tickets are valid on any event night from September 11 to October 31, 2026.
