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Busch Gardens Williamsburg is now running two sharply different Halloween experiences on the same fall weekends, giving families a clear reason to plan around the 6 p.m. transition. The daytime Halloween Spooktacular runs Saturdays and Sundays through Nov. 1, while Howl-O-Scream continues on select nights through the same date.

The family program runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Sesame Street Forest of Fun and is included with regular admission. The park's event page says the activities are designed for children age 9 and younger and include trick-or-treating, a hay maze, a scavenger hunt, costume-friendly entertainment and Sesame Street shows. Costumes are encouraged for children, but visitors should still check the day's operating calendar because full park hours vary by date.

At 6 p.m., the tone changes. Howl-O-Scream spreads across the park with five haunted houses, five scare zones and four nighttime shows. The event is also included with applicable park admission, but the operator says the amplified scares may not suit young children. That makes the hour between the family event's 5 p.m. finish and the nighttime event's 6 p.m. start the practical dividing line for households deciding whether to stay.

Visitors coming for the evening should account for operating rules that can affect entry. The park says bags are prohibited after 4 p.m., except wristlets and fanny packs smaller than 8 by 5 inches, subject to inspection. Re-entry is not allowed after 8 p.m. Costumes are also prohibited during Howl-O-Scream, even though children may wear them for the daytime program.

Howl-O-Scream operates only on selected nights, and closing times vary, so a general event date does not guarantee a particular evening schedule. The park directs guests to its daily calendar for exact hours and showtimes. Event details can change or be canceled, making a same-day check useful before a long drive to Williamsburg.

For families, the simplest plan is to arrive early, complete the trick-or-treat and children's programming before 5 p.m., and leave before the scare environment begins if younger guests are sensitive to frightening scenes. Adults and older teens planning for the nighttime event should travel light, enter before the evening crowd builds and treat the 8 p.m. re-entry cutoff as firm.