Fun & Frights In LA: Halloween Events Guide
- By: Ashley Joy Parker
- October 9, 2023
Bring on the spooks….
Spooky season is officially in full swing and here in L.A., Halloween lovers are spoiled with a wicked number of ways to celebrate throughout the entire month of October.
Before the major Halloween parties go down later this month, get into the spirit by hitting up one of the city’s hauntingly hot events. From eerie immersive experiences to terrifying theme park transformations, we’ve done some research and rounded up the most spooktacular Halloween happenings you won’t want to miss.
SHAQTOBERFEST
Back to the notoriously haunted Queen Mary in Long Beach for a second year, Shaqtoberfest is an over-the-top, immersive Halloween festival featuring haunted trails, live entertainment, themed bars and lounges, carnival rides, and more. (And yes, Shaqtoberfest is named for its founder and basketball star Shaquille O’Neal). This year, the event debuted an all new haunted experience, The Grey Ghost, taking place on board the historic Queen Mary cruiseliner which is permanently docked at the site. Other highlights include the spooky Shipwreck Graveyard area, Midways Madness with a giant ferris wheel, bumper cars, creepy clowns and concessions, the Tiki Terror bar, the LVCRFT Block Party Stage with DJ Reaper and Skeleton Sam slaying Halloween hits and more. This Shaq-size Halloween celebration is a total slam dunk.
When: Select nights through Oct. 31
Where: The Queen Mary, 1126 Queens Hwy., Long Beach
Get Tickets HERE
HAUNTED LITTLE TOKYO
The Little Tokyo Ghost Club is back with frightful festivities for the Halloween season, turning the area into hauntingly fun maze of themed pop-ups, walking tours, DJs, local merchants and performances. Events include Ghost Tours hosted by the Little Tokyo Historical Society on Oct. 22. at 5 p.m., a haunted scavenger hunt hosted by the Terasaki Budokan on Oct. 28 ay 1 p.m. and the Haunted Little Tokyo Block Party on Oct. 28 from 6 p.m. to midnight at a secret location.
When: Oct. 22 and Oct. 28
Get Tickets and Location Details HERE
HAUNTED SOIREE: A MACABRE COCKTAIL PARTY
Formerly the known as the popular House of Spirts event, the Haunted Soiree is a free-roam cocktail party inside of a historically haunted venue. It’s a night of themed mini-cocktails, extravagant entertainment, music, macabre magic, surreal specters and interactive guest experiences. When you arrive, you’ll be free to experience the events of the evening at your own leisure. You may simply choose to indulge in the entertainment and cocktails or you might decide to dig a little deeper and uncover the surreal ghost story that lies at the heart of it all. Guests are encouraged to dress up for the evening, be it in costume, cocktail attire, or your favorite time-period clothing.
It’s al; going down at The Nocturne Theatre. This historic theatre has recently come under new ownership and aesthetic renovations have been made to give it an old-world New Orleans and French Baroque charm. There are rumors of a haunting on the second floor–an entity described as “The Running Man”…perhaps he’s late for his entrance?
When: Oct. 6 though Oct. 31
Where: 324 N. Orange St., Glendale
Get Tickets HERE
LA HAUNTED HAYRIDE
The haunts are back in Hollywood! The Los Angeles Haunted Hayride has returned to Griffith Park for its milestone 15th year. Produced by Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group, the world’s largest Halloween-themed entertainment company, the event’s “Midnight Falls” annual Hayride offers brave guests a scenic tour of the majestic wilderness that features destinations typically unseen by visitors. This exciting excursion follows the storyline of the sleepy town of Midnight Falls’ Halloween Festival and the allusive Witch of the Woods who casts her spell to summon the spirits of the Underworld.
Celebrating the Haunted Hayride’s 15th anniversary, Thirteenth Floor significantly updated the experience to keep longtime fans on their toes this Halloween season. New additions to this year’s show include brand-new wagons with seating options, updated effects, several new horror scenes, all-new add-on experiences, and a new maze titled Hellbilly Halloween.
When: Select nights through Oct. 31
Where: Griffith Park, 4730 Crystal Springs Dr., Los Angeles
Get Tickets HERE
CINESPIA OCTOBER SCREENINGS
Cinespia, LA’s favorite cinematic experience presented by Amazon Studios is turning up the creep factor for the month of October. In addition to screening some Halloween films, the events go all out with live DJ sets, a full bar, trick or treat concession stands, and free themed photobooths. Check out the month’s spooky schedule below.
Saturday, Oct. 14 –Halloween (1978) at Hollywood Forever Cemetery.
Sunday, Oct. 15 – Totally Killer (free screening) at Hollywood Forever Cemetery.
Friday, Oct. 20 – The Ring at Los Angeles State Historic Park.
Saturday, Oct. 21 – Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix at Hollywood Forever Cemetery.
Tuesday, Oct. 31 –Rosemary’s Baby at The Orpheum Theatre.
Get Tickets HERE
NIGHTS OF THE JACK
Nights Of The Jack, Los Angeles’ leading Halloween immersive event for all ages, is back this year for the sixth season and is bigger and brighter than ever. Each year, the spooky spectacular welcomes over 100,000 people, from greater LA area residents to celebrity fans. Nights of The Jack transforms King Gillette Ranch in Calabasas into a shadowy Halloween wonderland that includes thousands of hand-carved pumpkins, an immersive walking trail, a Spookeasy bar and more. Keep your eyes peeled for celebs getting their spook on as past VIP guests include Miley Cyrus, Kim Kardashian, Kylie Jenner, Dwayne Johnson, Christina Aguilera, Matt Damon, Hailey Bieber, Demi Lovato, Ariana Grande and many more.
When: When: Select nights through Oct. 31
Where: King Gillette Ranch, 26800 Mulholland Hwy., Calabasas
Get Tickets HERE
ANGEL OF LIGHT- A WALKTHROUGH HORROR EXPERIENCE
Old Hollywood comes alive for this live immersive walk through horror experience that marks the beginning of Rota Krisha’s gripping anthology through a journey of macabre and suspense. Prepare to embark on a thrilling experience where ancient curses, sonic secrets, and demonic possession intertwine. It’s all going down at the historic Los Angeles Theater, which will transport you back to 1935 and have you stepping through the gates of purgatory to receive the light.
When: When: Select nights through Oct. 31
Where: The Los Angeles Theater, 615 S. Broadway, Los Angeles
Get Tickets HERE
HALLOWEEN HORROR NIGHTS
Undoubtably, one of the hottest events every spooky season is Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood. The after-hours theme park experience includes eight haunted houses inspired by the biggest names in horror, including Stranger Things 4, The Last Of Us, The Exorcist: Believer and Chucky, plus the Terror Tram is back and scarier than ever. There is also live entertainment, themed food and drinks, thrilling rides, scream-filled scare zones and more. In addition, Death Eaters will be roaming the streets of Hogsmeade in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter area of the park.
When: When: Select nights through Oct. 31
Where: Universal Studios Hollywood, 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City
Get Tickets HERE
STREET FOOD CINEMA’S SCARES BOO-ZE, BITES & FRIGHTS
Prepare to be thrilled, chilled, and utterly entertained as Street Food Cinema in partnership with Paramount Scares brings you an unforgettable Halloween extravaganza like no other. Get ready to sink your teeth into two evenings of hair-raising fun, featuring a double feature screening of Halloween classics at the Heritage Square Museum. Night 1 will be showing Scream and Scary Movie while Night 2 will be screening I Know What You Did This Summer and Cabin In The Woods. Both nights will also include gourmet street food, adult trick-or-treating, a fully stocked bar, DJ Taja Barber spinning spooky vibes, funky photo opps, guided tours of hauntingly beautiful Victorian mansions and so much more.
When: Friday, Oct. 20 and Saturday, Oct. 21 at 5:30 p.m.
Where: Heritage Square Museum, 3545 Pasadena Ave., Los Angeles
Get Tickets HERE
THE WILLOWS
“The Willows” is an immersive combination of interactive and site-specific theatre, providing an exhilarating two hours full of exploration and discovery. With only 18 tickets available for each performance, guests will quickly lose their inhibitions in a uniquely intimate and personalized environment.
Similar to the original immersive theatre experience, the viewer becomes a part of an eccentric family’s story, a guest to a celebration rife with decadence and danger. As night closes in on this family’s mysterious manor, the viewer begins to find themself deep within a modern-day psychological mystery. Viewers will be drawn into haunting scenes and bizarre encounters, deciding their own journey at multiple decision points with four possible endings.
Set in a sprawling early 20th century 10,000 square foot mansion on the most haunted block in Los Angeles, “The Willows” sold out all 400 performances during its four year run and gained legend status as a one-of-a-kind must-see-it-to-believe-it cult hit.
When: Through Nov. 19
Get Tickets and location details HERE
OOGIE BOOGIE BASH– A DISNEY HALLOWEEN PARTY
At Disney California Adventure Park, Oogie Boogie is calling all Halloween lovers to experience some mischievous fun. Happening select nights through Halloween, this family-friendly event includes after-hours park access to immersive treat trails, villainous photo opportunities, entertainment, attractions, frightfully fun decor and more. Your ticket also lets you enjoy Disney California Adventure Park for up to there hours before Oogie Boogie Bash. begins. Once the party starts, you’ll be treated to five hours of ghoulish delights. And let’s be honest, Disney is always better with a drinks so while you are there, make sure to order the exclusive Halloween Cocktail, made with Jameson Irish Whiskey, lime juice, sweet and sour, passion fruit syrup, and strawberry purée.
When: Select nights through Oct. 31 at 6 p.m.
Where: Disneyland Resort, Anaheim
*Tickets currently sold out
KNOTTS SCARY FARM
For half a century, Knott’s Scary Farm has been serving up never-ending nightmares to die-hard Halloween fans. This year, the longest-running and most haunting Halloween theme park event in Southern California celebrates its milestone 50th anniversary and inviting those brave enough to enter the fog to experience 10 terrifying mazes, five epic scare zones, and four shows inside the beloved theme park. In addition to general admission tickets and VIP, guests can munch with the monsters before facing their fears in the park by purchasing a pass to Boo-fest, which also includes early entry.
When: Select nights through Oct. 31
Where: Knotts Berry Farm, 8039 Beach Blvd., Buena Park,
Get Tickets HERE
MAGIC OF THE JACK-O-LANTERNS
Magic of the Jack-O’-Lanterns, makes its highly-anticipated debut in Los Angeles this year. This Halloween season, Whittier Narrows Park is transformed into a larger-than-life pumpkin experience, featuring an awe-inspiring array of hand-carved jack-o’-lanterns, mesmerizing light displays, and a host of festive activities to delight adults and children alike.
Upon arrival, guests will step into a world of enchantment where a nautical seascape, pirate ship, dinosaurs, dragons, and thousands of jack-o’-lanterns illuminate the grounds of Whittier Narrows Park with a soft, flickering glow, where you’ll find magic around every corner. Visitors can enjoy interactive photo opportunities, themed food and beverage offerings, live entertainment, and much more.
When: Select nights through Oct. 31
Where: Whittier Narrows Recreation Center, 750 S Santa Anita Ave., South El Monte
Get Tickets HERE
SIX FLAGS FRIGHT FEST
Celebrating 30 chilling years at Six Flags Magic Mountain, Fright Fest is back with frightful haunted houses, eerie scare zones, major monstertainment and spine-chilling coasters in the dark. This year, maze themes include The Conjuring, Saw X, Condemned House Party and the Aftermath 2: Chaos Rising which is the region’s largest outdoor maze, covering more than 40,000 square feet where the spirits of the dead and the near-dead inhabit a post-apocalyptic city with larger-than-life props, fire, fog, and other special effects. When you’re not busy screaming, be sure to explore marvelously delicious treats and ghoulish grub in the park.”
When: Select nights through Oct. 31
Where: Six Flags Magic Mountain, 26101 Magic Mountain Pkwy., Valencia,
Get Tickets HERE
SCREAMFEST HORROR FILM FESTIVAL
Screamfest is America’s largest and longest running horror film festival. Specializing in horror, thrillers and sci-fi movies from all around the world, the event is dedicated to supporting intriguing films, discovering creative storytellers and seeking original stories from around the world. Opening night will showcase “Divinity,” a film by Eddie Alcazar presented by Steven Soderbergh. Other programming highlights including the LA premiere of “Howdy, Neighbor!” starring former Disney stars Debby Ryan, Matthew Scott Montgomery and Alyson Stoner and the world premiere of “Alone Together” from director William Kresch.
When: Oct. 10 though Oct. 19
Where: Chinese 6 Theatres, Hollywood & Highland Center, 6801 Hollywood Blvd., Level 3 Los Angeles
Get Tickets HERE
“FANGS!” AT MOUNTAIN VIEW MAUSOLEUM
“fangs!” is an original immersive experience at the Mountain View Mausoleum, from the creators of “Witch!” Experience a village’s descent into darkness as an infestation of Vampires threatens to wipe it off the map. Prepare to be separated from the people you came with and have a unique experience as you meet the class-divided people of Strigoia and the mysterious stranger who has come among them. You may vote on your favorite candidate for Harvest Queen; you may encounter performers one-on-one; you will traverse the world of a haunted mausoleum and an abandoned chapel.
When: Through Nov. 12
Where: Mountain View Mausoleum, 2300 North Marengo Ave., Altadena,
Get Tickets HERE
THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS IN 4D
The iconic holiday cross over cinematic masterpiece Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas“ will be shown on the big screen in 4D at Hollywood’s historic El Capitan Theatre. The event will also have props from the movie on display, frightful photo ops and specialty concession items.
When: Oct. 21 through Oct. 31
Where: El Capitan Theatre, 6838 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles
Get Tickets HERE
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BLACK LAGOON POP-UP
Black Lagoon is an immersive, creepy-as-hell pop-up experience that pays homage to the macabre and throws in a splash of goth and metal for good measure. Happening in 13 locations in USA and five internationally, Black Lagoon LA is being hosted by Lost Property in Hollywood. Expect creepy-themed cocktails, diabolical drag performance, boo-lesque shows and, of course, things that go bump in the night.
When: Through Oct. 31
Where: Lost Property, 1704 Vine St., Hollywood
Get Tickets HERE
THE BRIDE OF FRANKNSTEIN WITH LIVE ORCHESTRA
Camp, humor and horror collide in one of the greatest sequels ever. Break out the hairspray and spend Halloween with Elsa Lanchester and Boris Karloff! This year, our hugely popular annual celebration of horror and live music at the breathtaking Theatre at Ace Hotel presents film director James Whale’s chilling “The Bride of Frankenstein,” with one of the most iconic “wedding” scenes in cinematic history.
As this 1935 horror classic plays out larger than life on the silver screen, the magnificent musicians of the LA Opera Orchestra, conducted by Jenny Wong, perform Franz Waxman’s groundbreaking original soundtrack score live. It’s the ultimate cinematic experience!
When: Saturday, Oct. 27 and Oct. 28
Where: The Theatre at Ace Hotel,929 S. Broadway, Los Angeles
Get Tickets HERE
THE VAMPIRE CIRCUS
Step into The Vampire Circus, a Tim Burton-esque world filled with astonishing Cirque Du Soleil trained acrobats. The Vampire Circus is a mesmerizing theatrical experience that fuses artistry, technology, and twisted acrobatics. Be captivated by a world that pushes the boundaries of human performance. Witness phenomenal acrobatics performed by international artists with multidisciplinary skills in theater, dance and gymnastics.
When: Oct. 28 though Oct. 31
Where: The Montalbán Theater, 1615 Vine St., Hollywood
Get Tickets HERE
