L.A. is resurrecting your most beloved Halloween traditions this year which will have the entire city brimming with gourds, ghouls, and the spirit of the season. Fill your month with delightful frights and familiar creeps with our list of haunting happenings across the city. From dark soirees to family-friendly events, here are all the thrilling events to fill your calendar with!
1. Wander Through Haunt O’ Ween’s 200,000-Square-Foot Halloween Playground
Wander through Haunt O’ Ween’s dazzling 150,000-square-foot Halloween haven. While the 2020 drive-thru practically saved the season, this year’s walk-thru experience is set to be bigger,r and better with more themed zones and interactive experiences added to the adventure. It’s Hollywood’s take on all your favorite traditions, so expect epically-scaled tricks and tons of treats for all ages. Get your tickets here.
2. Sip On Decadent Elixirs And Mingle With Strange Spectres At This Macabre Cocktail Soirée
Step into L.A.’s hair-raising House of Spirits for an evening of secrets, séances and themed cocktails at the historic Casa Vertigo. Roam around the ornate setting and mingle with the inhabitants to reveal the home’s disturbing tale. This elegant, interactive affair weaves live performances, mystery and folklore into a wonderous but haunting evening. Get your invitation here.
3-4. Experience A Cinematic Halloween Under The Stars With An Outdoor Movie Pop-Up
Nothing screams Halloween like a foggy skyline with glowing lights of the city and your favorite cult thriller lighting up an open space. Make your way to one of these outdoor movie pop-ups for a cinematic celebration with live music, films, food and more. Just make sure you grab the front seats; you never know what’s lurking behind you in the dead of the night.
5-11. Seek Out These Spooky Displays Across The City
- Credit: Haunts of L.A.
Every year, Halloween artisans pour their blood, sweat and tears into creating an otherworldly experience in their front yards. While there may be a few tweaks and fewer interactive mazes, there are still spooky spectacles going on. So add these thrilling installations to your list of Halloween activities. Find our area guide here.
12. Step Into A Nightmare At Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios
Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights (HHN) has officially crept their way into our plans, and it seems Abel ‘The Weeknd’ Tesfaye wants in on some of that action. The artist will be making sure all of our fears come true—to the point where Angelenos might be begging to “Escape From L.A.” Find out more here.
13. Stroll Along A Mile-Long Pumpkin Trail With ‘Carved’ at Descanso Gardens
Descanso Garden’s beloved Carved trail returns for three weeks starting October 7. Guests will take evening strolls under the stars amongst hundreds of glowing, beautifully hand-carved pumpkins and other oversized sculptures created from natural materials like sticks. Find out more here.
14. Pick Out Your Perfect Gourd At One Of These Idyllic Pumpkin Patches
If you need a break from all the glowing displays and frights, you can make your way to the pastoral settings of one of these nearby pumpkin patches. Pick yourself a perfect gourd to carve up for the season, pet farm animals, ride around on tractors and more. Find the full list here.
15. Discover The Dark Tales Of The Most Haunted Spots With This Murder Mystery Walking Tour
Take a walk through the city to discover the underbelly and real ghosts haunting L.A. You’ll visit the Biltmore Hotel which is the last place the Black Dahlia was seen alive, the Hotel Cecil which has a sordid history of murders, suicides and killers (including the Night Stalker) along with other landmarks with dark tales. Get your tickets here.
16. Visit This Spooky Speakeasy Hidden In A DTLA Distillery
Find the entrance illuminated with a dim amber lantern along Santa Fe Avenue in DTLA and you’ll be welcomed into The Obscure. That’s if you have an invitation. This enchanting den pairs creative cocktails, art and craft spirits with creepy surroundings that will transport you to Hogwarts. Find out how to get in here.
17. Celebrate All Things Dark And Wonderful At This Burton-Themed Bar
It’s Halloween every day for Willy Wonka, Jack Skellington, Joker, Beetlejuice and the rest of Tim Burton’s eccentric characters. But the spooky season is by far the most popular time to don your favorite striped suit and indulge in an “Edward Burger Hands” while sipping on concoctions like a “Jameson and The Giant Peach” as sword swallowers, fire eaters, psychics and mentalists bring the magic right to your table. Find out more here.
Looking for more spooky adventures? Browse more Halloween events here.