Fall is upon us! Well, technically, but this stretch of the West Coast would never know it if it wasn’t for the smorgasbord of pumpkin-flavored everything being churned out at bakeries and coffee shops. Or the elaborate seasonal events taking over the city. Perhaps it’s that the notion of fall is so elusive in the surrounding natural landscapes that Angelenos feel compelled to make up for it in festive events and activities. So, even if you’ll still be soaking up the sun for most of the month, here are some of the most exciting ways to get into the fall spirit.
1. Wander Through Haunt O’ Ween’s Dazzling Halloween Wonderland
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Credit: Haunt O’ Ween, Experiential Supply
Wander through Haunt O’ Ween’s dazzling 200,000-square-foot Halloween haven with nine unique zones filled with spooky delights. This adventure features a multimedia scavenger hunt by Netflix, new haunting characters, 35,000 pumpkins with carving stations, trick-or-treating and a glowing Jack-O-Lantern tunnel. Get your tickets here.
2. Sip On Bavarian-Style Beers Made By The Finest Local Breweries At The Annual Craftoberfest
Feast on pretzels or bratwursts, sip on the finest ales and proust! your way through a huge celebration that will transport you to the traditional beer tents of Munich. Crafteroberfest gives you a taste of Oktoberfest on LA shores with a curated, local touch. You’ll have the top breweries and fellow beer lovers coming together for a shared experience you won’t forget. While these festivities only take place in November, you’ll want to get your tickets before the month ends. If you’re feeling a little parched, you can always soak up the festivities at Oktoberfest in Long Beach.
3. Sip On Decadent Cocktails At This Mysterious And Macabre Soirée
Roam through an ominous residence at the House of Spirits cocktail soirée, where a deeply sinister tale unfolds. This fall, guests are invited to sip on chilling concoctions, dabble in the dark arts, mingle with supernatural specters and unravel the secrets of Vaughan Hall. Your invitation awaits you here.
4-14. Pick The Perfect Specimen At One Of These 11 Wonderful Pumpkin Patches
Find the perfect gourd at one of these picturesque farms around L.A. You’ll get into creative carving and fill your home with your own glowing masterpieces. Plus there’ll be plenty of fun seasonal activities to keep you entertained while you’re at it. Find our favorite places to go pumpkin picking below:
- Mr. Bones Pumpkin Patch
- Underwood Family Farms
- Tanaka Farms
- Live Oak Canyon Pumpkin Patch
- Shawn’s Pumpkin Patch
- Tapia Brothers Farm
- Descanso Gardens
- The Original Farmers Market Fall Festival
- Cal Poly Pomona Pumpkin Festival
- Pumpkins in the Pines at Skypark at Santa’s Village
- Irvine Park Railroad’s Pumpkin Patch
15. Settle In For An Enchanting Concert By Candlelight
The wildly popular Candlelight concerts have never ceased to captivate audiences across the globe. The series brings you talented musicians who perform live concerts in beautiful settings, all bathed in Candlelight. While the virtual performances during the lockdown were just as magical, the exclusive event is now taking over iconic indoor spaces for a unique evening:
- A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics
- A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics at Ovation Square Long Beach
- A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics at Vertigo
- Día De Los Muertos: Celebrating Day of the Dead
16. Explore This Glowing Mile-Long Pumpkin Trail At Descanso Gardens
Descanso Garden’s beloved Carved trail returns for three weeks from October 7 through October 31. You can take evening strolls under the stars amongst hundreds of glowing, beautifully hand-carved pumpkins and other oversized sculptures created from natural materials found in the gardens. Find all the details here.
17. Celebrate Latin X Heritage Month
Latinx Heritage Month is a time dedicated to celebrating and highlighting the contributions and accomplishments of Latinx Americans in culture and throughout history—past and present. It’s no secret that Los Angeles is home to many Latinx’s, and their influence on our city is impactful. From desserts, restaurants, and cultural events—here are incredible ways to honor Latinx/o/a’s and our fellow Angelenos this month September 15 to October 15 and beyond! Find the full list of things to do here.
18. Explore This Twinkling Night Market At A Century-Old Farm Near L.A.
This century-old lavender farm just outside of L.A. has the most enchanting night market. You can wander through a tree-lined avenue illuminated with twinkling fairy lights at Lavender Market Nights, where you’ll be treated to delicious food and drinks, live music, games incredible handcrafted goods and more. Find all the details here.
19. Catch The Beginning Of Fall Foliage At One Of These Natural Havens
While people may argue that L.A. doesn’t have a true fall, there are little pockets around the city with foliage that will prove otherwise. Paying frequent visits to one of these natural spots towards the end of the season is a tranquil escape guaranteed to get you into the seasonal spirit. Find the full list of places to see fall foliage here.
20. Witness This DRAG Musical Eleganza Renaissance At The Legendary Bourbon Room
DRAG: The Musical is bringing a divafantaculous musical voyage of love, hate, glamour and glitz to the iconic Bourbon Room this summer. All-star queens Alaska Thunderf*ck, Jackie Cox, Jan Sport and Broadwayʼs Nick Adams are shaking up a cocktail of belly-aching laughter and heartbreak with a powerful message stirred in. And if the production wasn’t already brimming with celebrity talent, music legend Joey McIntyre and celebrated drag icon Jujubee have just been announced as the newest cast members. Get your tickets here before they disappear.
21. Head To The Hollywood Forever Cemetary For A Cinematic Halloween With Cinepia
Cinespia is bringing another season of creepy movie magic to three iconic locations in L.A. This fall they’ll be taking over the Hollywood Forever Cemetary, the Los Angeles Theatre and the LA State Historic Park with DJs, themed photo booths, good food and more. Find the lineup below:
- October 14: The Craft at LA State Historic Park
- October 15: The Thing at Hollywood Forever Cemetary
- October 22: Carrie at Hollywood Forever Cemetary
- October 29: Bram Stoker’s Dracula at Los Angeles Theatre
22. 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.
23. Hop On This Themed Murder Mystery Returns To The Napa Valley Wine Train
- Credit: Napa Valley Wine Train
Take a spellbinding trip on a vintage wine train. If you love wine, trains and solving mysteries then this experience is a whole new level of magic. There’ll be a number of thrilling rides departing this October and winding through Napa Valley’s most stunning wineries! Find out all you need to know here.
24-34. Go Chasing One Of These Gorgeous Waterfalls Around L.A.
Get out your hiking gear and go seeking these magical waterfalls hidden amongst the rocks and trees. The soothing sound of a rushing waterfall in the distance makes the treks to find them all worth it. Find them all here.
35. Enjoy A Real L.A. “Fall” Soaking Up The Sun On A Beach
While the rest of the world braces for cooling temperatures and watches the leaves turn shades of red, orange and yellow, L.A. gets to pretend it’s fall while enjoying weather that’s only slightly cooler than summer. So if you refuse to exit vacation mode, Beach Society is here to assist. As the first and only daybed pop-up service in the city, you can rest assured—and in utter bliss— knowing they will deliver a luxury resort experience without you needing to leave town. Find out more here.
36. Pick The Perfect Apple At One Of These 7 Picturesque Farms Around L.A.
- Credit: Unsplash
The weather begins to change and the leaves turn a different shade—well, sort of. Here in L.A., it means apples are ripe and ready for harvesting! One of our favorite things about this time of year is going apple-picking! Find 7 of the most wonderful farms to celebrate this delicious fruit.
37. Get Tickets To This Stranger Things Experience Taking Over L.A. This Fall
The brand new immersive experience will transform Los Angeles into Hawkins, Indiana — circa 1985. At 1345 N Montebello Blvd., epic audiovisual sets, supernatural mysteries and pulse-racing encounters will bring the cult TV sensation to life right before your very eyes. Mark your calendars, tickets go on sale on October 6 and the waitlist is now open!
38. Catch A Halloween Classic Under The Stars With One Of These Pop-Up Movie Nights
Street Food Cinema is known for matching up the movie, food, and settings to the season. Whether it’s a classic horror film at the Million Dollar Theater replete with ghouls and spooky treats or the Yuletide Cinemaland outside the heritage museum, you’re always in for a charming (and delicious) surprise. Since it’s Halloween, you can gather your picnic clique and head to one of these deliciously thrilling Halloween screenings at various open-air locations around L.A. Here’s what showing every Saturday throughout the month:
39-45. Go On A Hunt For L.A.’s Spookiest Displays
- 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.
46. Celebrate Dia de Los Muertos At The Historic Olvera Street
- Credit: Olvera Street
Olvera Street is one of the city’s oldest landmarks and serves as a popular destination because of its colorful marketplace and a handful of delicious restaurants! The annual Dia de los Muertos Festival has been held on Olvera Street for over 30 years and has brought Angelenos the opportunity to celebrate life in such a beautiful way. From October 25 to November 2, participate in candlelight processions where Mayan blessings and cleansings will be offered; following each procession, free pan de Muerto (sweet bread) and champurrado (Mexican hot beverage) will be served! Find out more here.
47. Hike To This Giant Pumpkin Rock For A Creepy Halloween Photo Op
Drop the candy and treat yourself to a scenic hiking trail instead. This giant pumpkin boulder in Norco might just be the perfect alternative to the usual Halloween traditions. Perched upon the highest hill in this small town, this huge Pumpkin Rock offers plenty of photo opportunities and comes with stunning 360-degree views. Find out more here.
48. Get Lost In This Epic Corn Maze
Pumpkins get all the attention over the spooky season, but there’s nothing as enthralling as finding your way out of a maze of giant corn stalks. And the Tapia Brothers are the masters of creating artist trails through their giant maize patch. Find out more about this festive challenge here.
49. 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.