Costume hunting has begun and so has the spookiness and Halloween vibes that float across Southern California. Halloween brings out the frights with haunted mazes, the kid in all of us when we dress up, and for one night you get to enjoy candy without feeling guilty! For the most part. But if you’re looking to step up your celebration game this October, there’s a hauntingly endless amount of options for you. From one of LA’s many haunted theme parks, to mazes, and Oktoberfests, you’re guaranteed to have a spooktacular time! Here are the 12 best Halloween events in LA:

Universal Studios: Halloween Horror Nights

Now – November 3rd

Universal Studios: Halloween Horror Nights has a major scare factor. With the company being a movie making production company, you can only imagine they do NOT skimp on the costumes or makeup. This year they even have a Stranger Things themed maze AND a maze for Jordan Peele’s US!

Six Flags Fright Fest

September 14th – November 3rd  

Fright Fest can get just as scary but the bonus is that the rides are pretty intense and lines are shorter, so you can take advantage of getting on rides and taking in the haunted mazes. This year they have Exile Hill with the dead looking for new souls, the entryway to Hell… Demon’s Door, and more!

Knott’s Scary Farm / Knott’s Spooky Farm

Now – November 2nd

Knott’s Scary Farm has all kinds of scare tactics, and this year they are bringing back some of the faves like CarnEVIL and Shadowlands, while they also bring you the new Wax Works, The Curse of Calico and more. Knott’s also offers Spooky Farm for the kiddos, and that is open Saturdays and Sundays September 28th – October 27th as well as Thursday, October 31st. 

Disneyland Halloween Time 

Now – October 31st 

Not much more you can ask for than celebrating Halloween at Disneyland! The park transforms into a Halloween type of wonderland with characters in costume, the Haunted Mansion Holiday, costumed cars driving around Cars Land, and even the Guardians Of The Galaxy: Monsters After Dark gets a little transformation!

Queen Mary Dark Harbor 

Now – November 2nd

Queen Mary Dark Harbor is officially in its 10th year, and their slogan? Fear Lives Here. Which is frighteningly true considering that the cruise is haunted and many people have felt spirits, ghosts or even seen paranormal activity on the ship. Maybe try not to think about that as you go through all the mazes on the boat? We couldn’t leave this off our list of the 12 best Halloween events in LA. 

Rooftop Screams at the Montalban 

Now – November 1st

Throughout the month of October the Rooftop at the Montalban brings the best classics of Halloween and Horror movies combined. From The Addams Family and Nightmare on Elm Street, to The Mummy, Hocus Pocus and the OG Ghostbusters film, there is something for everyone!

Oktoberfest

Now – 27th

Alpine Village Oktoberfest is hands down the most renowned and great beer festival of it’s kind here in SoCal. Located in Torrance the energy runs high and there is plenty of food, German beer, and German music to keep the party alive and well! Another Oktoberfest option falls in Anaheim and has German food, beer and even polka dancing! That is over at the Phoenix Club and kids under 18 are free there.

Pumpkin Nights

October 10th – November 3rd

Pumpkin Nights brings the spirit of Halloween with lights! Thousands of lit pumpkins, fire dancers, a pirate ship, and even a 40-foot dragon will be there to entertain. There are also movie screenings and it’s happening at the Fairplex in Pomona, just remember it is closed on actual Halloween, Thursday, October 31st. This is definitely one of the 12 best Halloween events in LA. 

Rotten Apple

October 19th – 31st

What is Rotten Apple you ask? It is a haunted maze in Burbank created by a family crazed with excitement over Halloween. This intense and scary maze has a different theme each year and is located at 907 N. California Street in Burbank. It’s only open Saturdays, Sundays, and of course Halloween. Bring a little cash for a donation and be prepared to wait in line for a little bit.

Masquerade Ball

October 26th

Head downtown on the Saturday before Halloween to enjoy a rather fancy and charitable event, the Masquerade Ball. Unicef hosts this black tie event with 800 masked guests usually in attendance, plus champagne, an open bar, a DJ and it’s all at Clifton’s Republic.

Howl-O-Ween

October 27th

If you’ve got energy after the masquerade ball, Howl-O-Ween is for your pets to have their own Halloween party! The event is free at Pacific Street Park in Santa Monica and there is a costume contest, pet-friendly vendors, and even food truck!

West Hollywood Halloween Carnival

October 31st

With half a million people walking in their costumes along the streets of West Hollywood, this might be the best Halloween event LA has to offer. The festivities are on Santa Monica Boulevard from Doheny Drive to La Cienega Boulevard. At the West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval, food trucks are ready to take your order, there are music stages with awesome tunes, and just a reminder, there’s no drinking in the street! Head to the indoor bars to keep the party going as you walk around. 

We hope this list of the 12 best Halloween events in LA helps you out, and gets you in the Halloween spirit!

Now that you’ve indulged in the Halloween festivities, why not continue with a hike through nature? Check out The LA Girl’s 6 Cool Fall Hikes in LA!