WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (Aug. 17) – Busch Gardens Europe is putting the finishing touches on the park’s annual Howl-O-Scream event. Debuting Sept. 14, and continuing every Friday, Saturday and Sunday through Oct. 28, Howl-O-Scream haunts the European-themed park with new haunted houses, scare zones and themed shows. New this year is “The NeverAfter,” an entire village devoted to the macabre.

Loosely themed on the fables of the Brothers Grimm, The NeverAfter twists well-known tales into new nightmares during Busch Gardens’ fall spooktacular. The NeverAfter features two haunted mazes, Grimm Hollows: Deadtime Stories and Tormented Tales; and one scare zone, The Beaten Path.

“We’re elevating the park’s fright factor with The NeverAfter. The scares, startles and entire environment of this village are edgier than anything we’ve done before,” said Donnie Mills, executive vice president and general manager for Busch Gardens Europe. “Our guests wanted scarier attractions and we’ve balanced that with the need to remain family friendly. The result is the creation of a village in Festhaus Park, removed from main guest traffic, that scare-seekers will have to willingly enter to enjoy,” added Mills.

Grimm Hollows: Deadtime Stories is a macabre maze fictitiously based upon the childhood home of the Brothers Grimm. Setting the scene for their inspirational folklore, Grimm Hollows: Deadtime Stories takes a terrifying twist as guests traverse the rooms of Howl-O-Scream’s most horrifying haunted house. The second maze in The NeverAfter is Tormented Tales and it follows the evolution of the Brothers Grimm’s fairytales. Visitors walk through the “pages” of a fable maze that only Howl-O-Scream can conjure up. From forest witches and diabolical dwarfs to golden-haired tricksters and legendary villains, “readers” are stalked from page to page.

The only trail out of The NeverAfter is a new scare zone called The Beaten Path, a road where fairytale fiends guide guests along.

In order to adequately convey the scare level of The NeverAfter, the park has re-evaluated its pumpkin scare ratings to add a sixth pumpkin to the scoring system. All themed attractions within The NeverAfter will warrant the higher, six pumpkin rating.

“The NeverAfter is not suitable for guests under 17 years of age,” said Mills.

Playing at Busch Gardens Europe just got easier as the European-themed park offers guests a new, easy way to pay to play. For as little as $10 per month, guests can enjoy all the perks of playing in the park beginning now through 2008. The 12-month EZpay season pass program is only available now through November 30. With EZpay, guests can extend their payments over the course of a year. No interest. No catches. No kidding.

Guests can purchase a one or two park season pass by visiting buschgardens.com/va, calling 1-800-772-8886 or visiting any ticket window during scheduled operating days at Busch Gardens Europe or Water Country USA.

Busch Gardens Europe also is offering Front-of-the-Line passes for Howl-O-Scream. These passes provide guests with head-of-the-line privileges to the following Howl-O-Scream attractions: Griffon, The Big Bad Wolf, Corkscrew Hill, Curse of Pompeii and Curse of DarKastle. Passes may be purchased for $29 at the main gate, in certain locations throughout the park and online at buschgardens.com. Season pass members receive a $4 discount on the Front-of-Line pass.

Busch Gardens Europe’s alter ego of fright surfaces at nightfall. Howl-O-Scream attractions are included with park admission or a season pass. Not all Howl-O-Scream activities are suitable for children and parental discretion is advised. Ratings for each activity are posted at the attractions and on the show schedule. For more information, guests may call (800) 343-7946 or visit howl-o-scream.com.