Howling and screaming at Busch Gardens

I won a chance to attend the "Bleedup" (like a Tweetup, only it's bloody because it's Halloween and blood is scary) at Busch Gardens last night, a special event in conjunction with their annual Howl-O-Scream event that was open exclusively to contest winners from Twitter and Facebook. Howl-O-Scream is always one of my favorite annual events but this was something else entirely. For starters, Busch Gardens really went out of their way to hook us up! We received the following:

• Complimentary admission to Howl-O-Scream
• Access to Club enVy, a new 21 and up party area
• Front of the line passes for the haunted houses
• Photo opportunities with Ms. Vayne and her models
• Complimentary parking
• And a backpack full of all kinds of swag

Here are some photos...

This is The Up and Coming Author displaying some of the items we received.

Here's a shot of our passes. The Front Line Fear pass allows you to cut the lines at the haunted houses. There's also one available that includes roller coasters. This is such an awesome perk that it can not be expressed in human language and I am unable to write in grunts, whistles and clicks so all I can tell you is if you go, you must get yourself one of these. You can buy them in advance here or once you're at the park. Coincidentally (or not), they have kiosks selling them right at the end of all the maddeningly long lines. Seriously, treat yourself. You'll be glad you did. Absolutely worth it.

The lovely Carolyn of Busch Gardens: Once bitten, never shy.

Ooh, haunted giraffes! Almost as scary as the real thing!

Asbestos, the host and hype man for Club enVy. The club is a welcome addition to Howl-O-Scream in that it's a place to relax and have adult beverages which was an element that had been absent previously.

This is Tiffany, and she is the most purely evil being we encountered all evening. She kept bringing by these platters of meatballs and I kept having to eat them. She was like Jason and Freddy Krueger and the Terminator in that nothing would stop her relentless serving, even my half-hearted and mostly non-verbalized protests. I...still see her in my nightmares (sob, whimper, whine).

Entertainment at Club enVy. Even more yummy than meatballs.

This is Ms. Vayne and her entourage of vampire/models. Now personally, I'm not really a big fan of all the moody, broody vampires that are infesting every aspect of pop entertainment lately. But the theme of this year's event is the world of high fashion and Ms. Vayne et al are sinewy, narcissistic blood sucking predators. They also happen to be vampires.

Skull: So scary.

Chips: So delicious.

For whatever reason, every year the best haunted house at the event is whatever they set up at the abandoned monorail station (which is pretty spooky on it's own). This year, it's the Nightshade Toy Factory. This is an ad for one of the factory's signature items, the Tina Tinkle doll with bed-wetting action. Think about that and the tag line "She's gonna get ya!" and consider yourself adequately warned.

One thing you can always count on at these things: a bunch of clowns.

Here are some additional accounts from others who were there last night:

• MindComet's Cakeplow
• Miss Destructo's Desctructo Deviations
  

Big thanks-wrapped-in-bacon to K for photos and a HUGE blood-splattered mess of thanks to HOSInsider, Ms. Vayne, Carolyn and everyone from Busch Gardens for the incredible hospitality!