Who’s ready for Halloween? Yes, we know it’s only the start of September, but LA is known for having an has an eerie abundance of Halloween experiences and events to cater to all tastes. Whether you’re seeking spine-tingling thrills or family-friendly fun, we’ve dug deep into our bag of tricks and treats to pull out a tantalizing glimpse into some of LA’s myriad of “spooktacular” offerings ranging from cutting-edge immersive experiences to time-honored classics. Get ready to howl at the moon and dance with the spirits, because Halloween in Los Angeles is unlike anywhere else.
Pro-Tip: First, purchase tickets ahead of time! We can’t say this enough. Getting organized will ensure every scream laugh at the fake chainsaw guy chasing you down. Second, if your schedule allows, consider weekday night. There are less people and typically less traffic going to and from the events.
The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor
Location: The Queen Mary, 1126 Queens Hwy, Long Beach, CA 90802
The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor returns to Long Beach after their 2020 hiatus and we could not be more excited. Now, the haunted vessel creaks to life once more, welcoming the bravest of souls to enjoy a spooky night both on board the ship and in the surrounding harbor. Prepare for the return of 100s of beloved icon characters, haunted mazes, live entertainment, themed speakeasy bars and lounges, ghostly experiences, and themed, sinister eats and treats. Be sure to get your tickets early, as this is a SoCal Halloween favorite.
LA Haunted Car Wash
Location: Carwood Car Wash – 2729 E.Carson St, Lakewood, CA, 90712
If you are looking for a night of THRILLS drive on through LA’s most haunted car wash. The Tunnel of Terror is a carefully curated experience, with scary and creepy performers popping up throughout the wash, and special effects providing a terrifying ambiance! As you slowly drive through, sinister performers will leap from the shadows, and spine-tingling special effects will envelop you in an atmosphere of sheer horror. With bone-chilling surprises lurking around every corner, this is a Halloween experience designed to keep you on edge. Gather your bravest friends and family, and prepare for a frightful ride you won’t soon forget!
Universal Studios: Halloween Horror Nights
Location: 11 Baker St, North Hollywood, CA 91602
Universal Studios: Halloween Horror Nights is back with 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. See our full guide to this year’s event here.
Carved at Descanso Gardens
Location: Descanso Gardens, 1418 Descanso Dr, La Cañada Flintridge
Mark your calendars because from October 4th to 30th, Carved will light up Descanso Gardens with a mesmerizing pumpkin wonderland featuring a new route, new locations and even more pumpkin fun. As you stroll through the captivating displays, you’ll be amazed by luminous jack-o’-lanterns, fallen tree sculptures and whimsical installations, including Tom and Lien Dekyvere’s glow-in-the-dark Rhizome installation in the Rose Garden Labyrinth and giant carved pumpkins under the Rose Pavilion. Don’t miss the expanded Día de los Muertos altar, providing guests with a place to meditate and remember loved ones. The pumpkin house, hay maze, and fall food offerings will all be back to round out the fun, making Carved the perfect family-friendly adventure, bringing joy and wonder to visitors of all ages.
Magic of the Jack O’Lanterns
Location: 750 Santa Anita Ave, South El Monte, CA 91733
Are you looking for an unforgettable Halloween experience that will send shivers down your spine or an experience for the whole family? Take the kids out for a delightful Halloween experience at Magic of the Jack O’Lanterns and experience a glowing trail of hand- carved pumpkins and more. The magic runs through November 2nd at Whittier Narrows Park. The 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 everyone. There are photo booths to take pictures with some creepy monsters (don’t worry they’re fake!) and also several stations to pick up adult drinks. Plus, there is a fair-like food court offered (Hot Dog on a Stick is there too!). You can also make s’mores onsite (bring cash because it’s an additional charge), plus pick up themed merch after you exit. Tickets are start at $24.99 for children and $29.99 for adults on select nights.
The Haunt Ghost Tours
Location: Chinatown in Los Angeles
The Haunt is a hands-on ghost tour that provides chilling, immersive ghost hunting experiences combining a mix of local lore, true crime histories, and ghostly interactions. Accompanied by an experienced storyteller and ghost hunter, as featured on Ghost Adventures with Zak Bagans, experience a real interactive paranormal investigation that reveals different types of hauntings. Your tour guide will equip you with EMF meters to use during the paranormal investigation, shedding light on the hauntings and ghosts of the Chinatown metro station, including cemeteries discovered during its construction. Don’t worry, each investigation ends with a ceremony with music candles, and a few rituals to honor whatever spirits joined the tour and ensure that nothing follows you home.If you find yourself wanting even more spine tingles, check out the out of town haunts in San Francisco, historic Old Town Temecula and the beautiful Danish village of Solvang.
Nightmare on Sunset
Location: 1 Hotel West Hollywood, 8490 Sunset Boulevard West Hollywood, CA 90069
Get ready for the most extravagant Halloween celebration at 1 Hotel West Hollywood. Step into the shadows of Juniper Lounge & Garden for an evening of dark allure and eerie elegance at Nightmare on Sunset. On October 31st, from 9 pm – 2 am, this is no ordinary night – where high style meets the supernatural, and the garden’s secrets stir to life around you. Guests can sip on crafted cocktails at 4 bars throughout the property and dance under the stars to haunting house beats. Tickets start at $25, so don’t miss out!
Boney Island
Location: The Natural History Museum, 900 Exposition Blvd. (Exposition Park)
It’s back! The Simpsons producer Rick Polizzi created Boney Island for his family more than 20 years ago. It grew from a front yard display to a huge affair in Griffith Park with a cult-like following of Halloween lovers of all ages. At Boney Island, The Natural History Museum (NHM) transforms their Nature Gardens into a hauntingly whimsical interactive light-up experience for all ages. The event will feature familiar sights for long-time Boney Island fans—skeletons performing rope tricks and levitating through hoops, shadow puppetry, and more. NHM will put its own spin on the event with artistic performances, real fossils, live animal presentations, trick-or-treating, and other ghoulishly glowing installations. Visitors can wander the garden paths as creepy crawlies, silly skeletons, and carnivores from the Cretaceous abound.
Nights of The Jack
Location: 26800 Mulholland Hwy Calabasas (Entrance located on Wickland Road and Mulholland Hwy)
Thirty miles northwest of Hollywood, tucked in the Santa Monica mountains, there’s a strange and shadowy wonderland that everyone’s whispers about every season: Nights of the Jack. Yup, it’s back and brighter than ever with their much talked about notorious Halloween event that’s in the vain of “if you know, you know.” It kicks off September 27th and we love the illuminated light show under the autumn sky and the yummy hot cider and seasonal cocktail from their “Spookeasy” bar plus delicious festive fall treats. This is one of our top picks for families and little boo’s of all ages.
Delusion: Nocturnes & Nightmares
Location: Stimson House, 2421 Figueroa St, Los Angeles
For those daring to tread the line between reality and madness (and make the trek to a land far far away), the mystical Phillips Mansion beckons you to plunge headlong into an evening of Delusion’s specters & spirits. This is a full immersive horror experience that will leave you spellbound. This year, the chilling theme is “The Red Castle,” where guests will navigate the dimly lit corridors and shadowy corners of the sprawling mansion, indulging in the macabre delights of this sinister soiree. Prepare to be ensnared in a web of haunting tales, as you interact with both menacing and beloved characters while unraveling the enigma of the elusive author behind the Delusion series and uncovering a disturbing agenda. Delusion is undoubtedly one of our top picks for a spine-tingling adventure with a group of friends. Get ready to embrace the darkness and have your dreams haunted for at least a night.
Knott’s Scary Farm
Location: 8039 Beach Blvd, Buena Park
If a little road trip doesn’t scare you too much, head down to the OC to experience the culmination of 50 years of terror in the fully transformed theme park. There are haunted mazes and more than 1,000 terrifying creatures lurking in the fog and hiding across every inch of the park. Be sure to leave room for Knott’s Scary Farm’s themed treats, like the Fingers and Toes tater tots, or the Cereal Killer Funnel Cake.
Los Angeles Haunted Hayride
Location: Griffith Park, 4730 Crystal Springs Dr.
This is a good one and a staple here in LA. Welcome to Midnight Falls! Where we forget that the chainsaw guy was an actor in our level 2 improv class and just let the Witch of the Woods work her magic. The spirit of Halloween definitely comes to life at LA’s ultimate Halloween event. Stop by the (S)laughterhouse to scream with fright at Herschel the smiling scary dude. We love the hayride because its great for a date night, group of friends, or for going for that solo spook.
The Vampire Circus
Location: The Montalban Theater; 1615 Vine St, Hollywood
Experience a mesmerizing Halloween world at The Vampire Circus! This extraordinary circus blends mystery, terror, and exhilaration. This Tim Burton-inspired universe even features breathtaking acrobatics of Cirque Du Soleil. This transformative, immersive theater experience will leave you both amazed and scared. Join for a phenomenal night of live entertainment, pushing the physical boundaries of human performances. The Vampire Circus offers a blend of fear, joy, laughter, and wonder and takes audiences on an immersive ride through the Underworld and Vampires. Use code VAMPIRE15 for 15% off tickets!
House of Spirits
Location: The Nocturne Theatre, 324 North Orange Street, Glendale
If you are looking for a more adult and sexy Halloween event, head over to this haunted cocktail soiree. Enter the 90,000 square foot haunted mansion and enjoy spirits of every kind, tarot readings, and secret games. Learn about the legend of Vaughan Hall, and enjoy sinister stories that will leave you wanting to sleep with your lights on at least until Thanksgiving.
Fearplex Presents LIGHTS OUT
Location: 1101 W McKinley Ave, Pomona, CA 91768
Fearplex Presents LIGHTS OUT, bringing the spirit of Halloween with lights! With zombie themed mazes, black light trails, and a carnival of evil, we’re sure there’s no shortage of scares here. Every Friday – Sunday from October 4th to October 27th, there will also be scare zones and interactive light shows taking over the Pomona Fairplex. With haunted mazes like Shadow Circus, Asylum of Horrors, and the Haunted Swamp, you’re in for a night of spine-tingling fun.
Disneyland Halloween Time
Location: 1313 Disneyland Dr Anaheim, CA 92802
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! This one might not be too scary, but it’s the perfect thing to get you in the spooky mood.
Castle Dark at Castle Park
Location: 3500 Polk St. Riverside, CA 92505
Venture out to Riverside for Castle Dark, one of the best Halloween parks we’ve been to. Nominated for the Best Halloween Theme Park by USA Today 10 Best Reader Choice Awards, Castle Dark delivers all the night crawls with spine-tingling terror and chilling delights! Immerse yourself in an eerie atmosphere, where lurking horrors and unexpected scares await around every corner (and sneak up behind you). There’s rides, haunted mazes, games, and even mini-golf if you’re in the mood.
Six Flags Fright Fest
Location: 26101 Magic Mountain Pkwy, Valencia, CA 91355
Fright Fest is the amusement park for the thrill seekers, where 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 11 haunted houses and 9 scare zones. With new haunted houses like Stranger Things, The Conjuring Universe, and Saw’s 20th Anniversary, this event is not for the faint of heart. If you’re really looking to be thrilled and get some chills, this is the Halloween event for you.
If you’ve got your tickets to hit up Halloween events, check out more things to do in the month of September.
