Photo by Inside the Magic via Flickr
Halloween is mid-week this year, so we get not one, but two weekends of fun events. Once again, we have sifted through the night’s party action and discarded all of the douche-y events redolent with Axe Body Spray, mandatory table service, and $100 cover charges. Here, just for you, is our specially curated event list with something for everyone.
Wednesday, October 23 and Thursday, October 24
Lucha VaVOOM’s Fiesta Fantasma
8 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. / $40
Lucha VaVOOM brings their annual Halloween celebration to The Mayan Theater in Downtown Los Angeles next week. Their combination of Mexican Wrestling, Burlesque, and Comedy make for a night of guaranteed entertainment. The first of two nights of “Fiesta Fantasma,” will feature wrestlers Magno “The Man Mountain” Rudo and El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. vs. Rey Horus and Soberano Jr. Thursday, October 24, 2019, the headline match squares up the world-famous Lucha brothers PENTA Zero Miedo (AAA World Tag Team Champion) and Rey Fenix (AAA Mega Champion) vs. Rey Horus and Soberano Jr. Between matches on both nights, enjoy Burlesque dances from pinup model Bryona Ashly, Michelle L’Amour, and hula-hoop star Karis Wilde, as well as aerialist Kate Minwegan and stuntman Bryan McGowan. 21+ Doors at 7 p.m., show starts at 8:00 p.m. GA $40.00 and $55.00 for ringside tickets.
Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019
Theatricum’s Annual BOO-tanicum
4 p.m.–10 p.m. / $22
Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum, the outdoor theater in the woods of Topanga Canyon, hosts a day of Halloween delights including ghost stories. game booths, festive food and drinks, performances by Creative PlayGround, and comedy improv group Off the Grid, as well as its “unique and infamous” haunted house, which will be starting at 7 p.m.
General Admission (ages 13+): $22 with advance purchase, $24 at the door. Kids 4-12: $10 with advance purchase, $12 at the door. Kids under 4: free. Family 4 Pack (2 adults, 2 kids – includes 5 free raffle tickets): $50 advance purchase only – not available day of the event.
24th Annual Long Beach Historical Cemetery Tour
9 a.m. – 3 p.m. / $20
The Long Beach Historical Cemetery Tour in Sunnyside Cemetery is not spooky. Your kids won’t be frightened, but they might be a little pissed off that you tricked them into a History lesson. “Performers in period costume will bring to life both noted and everyday people who are laid to rest in the Sunnyside Cemetery.” We assume they mean that metaphorically, not in the zombie way. The first tour starts at 9 a.m. and tours run every 15 minutes until Noon. There are two cemeteries there. Do not be confused. Comfortable shoes and a sweater or light coat are recommended.
Long Beach Municipal Cemetery 1151 E. Willow Street (between Orange and California). Tickets General Admission – $25 Students Ages 8-18 – $8 Children 7 & under are free. Purchase tickets at the entrance of either cemetery on October 30. Tour tickets are for both cemeteries.
Shoreline Village’s Zombie Walk
4 PM / FREE
Just to be confusing, there are two Long Beach zombie walks. One of them is cancelled this year, but the other one, on October 26, is still running (or limping and dragging, as the case may be). Shoreline Village will be hosting live music, vendors, and the traditional walk/shuffle down Rainbow Harbor. From 4 PM – 7 PM there will be a children’s Halloween party, and a Thriller dance performance by Thrill the World Los Angeles at 6 PM. There will be a live band and DJs from 6 PM until 8 PM when the walk/shuffle begins, followed by a Halloween party. Be warned: There will be “roaming scarers” from 7 PM until 10 PM.
FREE, No Tickets Required, Costumes are encouraged but not required. Pet and family friendly (at least the early part of the event). Parking is tough, so consider a ride share service or park in a nearby lot at the Pike parking garage, or Pine avenue lot on 3rd/Pine.
The Aero Theatre’s All Night Horrorthon
7 p.m. – 9 a.m. / $25
Get all of your frights at the 14th annual movie marathon at Aero Theater in Santa Monica. This year’s seven movies include “Halloween II,” “Critters,” “Ruby,” and “The Crazies.” 35mm format for all films except “Lisa and the Devil.” Free food between movies. giveaways, exciting trailers, special shorts, crazy characters, and surprises!
General admission $25, Student/Senior $23, Members $20 – includes all-night food and coffee. No vouchers. Presale tickets are sold out, but there will be a stand-by line.
Saturday, October 26, & Sunday, October 27, 2019
This 2-day event starts out at 11 AM with fun kids’ stuff, but gets scary after sundown. The family can enjoy jugglers, magicians, scavenger hunts, DJs, face painting and food vendors all day. The big draw here are the pirate tall ships. Daytime ship tours will be less scary, but after dark they are haunted pirate ships filled with zombie pirates and recommended for ages 13 and up. A haunted ship with zombie pirates actually sounds really awesome. There will also be a “Haunted Blackout Maze of Terror” and an escape room during the day that aren’t recommended for younger kids. But the word “terror” in the title was probably a hint. The event is free, but you do have to sign a waiver and get a wristband if you want to board the ships or participate in other activities. Check out the link above to get the wristband and get info on parking and shuttles.
Ghost Tour/True Crime Stories of Los Angeles at Heritage Square
6 PM / $20
Here’s one for all of you lovers of Victoriana. On Saturday the 26, Heritage Square Museum will be hosting its only ghost tour of the year from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. A small group will be led through the square where they will be regaled with stories about the history of the families who lived there, their tragedies, and some ghost stories as they walk the paths. The area is reputed to be genuinely haunted, so stay close.
On Saturday and Sunday afternoons, you can join True Crime Tours, with salacious love triangles, a deadly party at a speakeasy and a suspicious riot as well as The Harry Raymond Car Bombing, and the Sleepy Lagoon Murder. “Additionally, participants will discover how poisons and other typical methods of murder were employed in early Los Angeles crime history.”
True Crime Stories of Los Angeles takes place Saturday and Sunday, October 26 and 27 from noon until 4 p.m. Ticket prices: $20 adults, $10 for children 11 years and younger. Ghost Tours are ONLY Saturday, October 26, from 6 to 8 p.m. Tickets are $45. See the link above for tickets. (Wear comfortable shoes and are aware of uneven surfaces.)
Tuesday, October 26, 2019
Haunted Little Tokyo: The Block Party
6 p.m. – 12 Midnight / FREE
Haunted Little Tokyo offers a variety of events leading up to Halloween, culminating with a block party. The Block Party takes place on Saturday, October 26, from 6 p.m. to 12 a.m. in Downtown LA. 2nd Street between Central & San Pedro Street will be closed off for revelers to enjoy bites from local food vendors, a haunted beer garden, live music, DJs and a costume contest with cash prizes. Food Vendors include Buttery Popcorn Co., Cafe Dulce, Hello Stranger, Chef Kuniko Yagi’s Pikunico, Rice and Nori, Takoyaki Tanota, Tokyo Doggie Style, Steamy Bun Truck, and Takuma Burgers. Not to mention all of the great restaurants and bakeries with dim sum. For kids, there will be trick-or-treating from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m., plus games and adventures, including free STEM activities.
For big kids, there will be a 21 and over afterparty starting at 11 p.m. that continues through dawn at Noy Pitz Bar and Grill. Entry to the block party is free, with various activities costing up to $30. After party tickets are $10 and can be purchased here.
Boyle Heights: Walking Ghost Tour and Most Haunted
6 p.m. – 9 p.m. / $25
Shmuel Gonzales (the Barrio Boychik), a sixth-generation local, historian and community organizer in Boyle Heights will be joining this special tour. Participants will be taking a 2.4-mile walk through part of the historic core of Boyle Heights, continuing past some reputedly haunted sites: The Linda Vista Hospital, known as the most haunted building in America, The Sanatorium and Orphans Home, infamously haunted Breed Street Elementary, Japanese Hospital and The Little Sisters of the Poor Home for the Aged. Just the mention of sanatorium, orphanage, or nuns guarantees a haunting. Besides local ghost stories, the talk will encompass how the different cultures that have populated Boyle Heights traditionally handle death and mourning, and how we can honor the souls of those who have passed on.
Check in is at 6 PM on Tuesday, October 26, at The Boyle Heights History Tours Museum at 2026 E. 1st Street, Los Angeles, 90033. There will be no stops for resting. You need to be able to walk and stand for the entire 3 hours. If there are any guests who use wheelchairs, the route will be modified to make it fully accessible. There is limited parking in the neighborhood. The location is walking distance from both of the Gold Line stations, equal distance from Mariachi Plaza and Soto Station. Tickets
Sunday, October 27, 2019
4 p.m. / FREE
The Long Beach Zombie Walk isn’t happening this year, so where are you going to get all of that lurching and leg dragging out of your system? At the 11th Annual Hollywood Subway Zombie Walk, of course! Get decked out in your best zombie gear (themed zombies, like brides and firemen always make things more interesting) and meet up at the North Hollywood Red Line Station at 4:10 p.m. Take the Red Line to Hollywood & Highland. Freak out the normies, but please don’t touch them. The Red Line will arrive at the Hollywood & Highland station at 4:48 p.m. Take the escalator to the surface and get your lurch on. The group will be heading East to Hollywood and Vine, then circle back for pictures at Madame Tussauds Wax Museum and end at The Chinese Theater. Extra points if you are a superhero zombie or any of the other characters roaming around The Theater to take pics with tourists.
Texas Chainsaw Massacre at Hollywood Forever Cemetery
7 p.m. / $18
The original 1974 horror film scared the crap out of more than one generation. The gritty realism made the actions of the homicidal cannibal family even scarier. Who can forget the creepy hitch-hiker cutting his own hand open–if he does that to himself, what is he gonna do to me??? Celebrate this groundbreaking film’s 45th Anniversary at Hollywood Forever cemetery, Sunday, October 27. Pack a picnic and bring a big blanket. Beer and wine are allowed. Gates open at 5:15 p.m. for picnicking, DJ sets and an American Gothic photo booth. Tickets are $20 with on-site parking and $18 for off-site parking.
Monday, October 29, 2019
Dick and Jane Family Orchestra, The Bloody Brains at The Dresden
8:30 PM / Free
Dick and Jane Family Orchestra open the show at 8:30, Bloody Brains go on at 10pm to get you into a haunting mood for Halloween. Costume contest and prizes. If you have the moolah, reserve a table for dinner–it’s fantastic. Or just have a few cocktails, like the Blood and Sand. No cover. The Dresden website.
October 29, 2019
8:30 p.m. – 11:59 p.m. / $15
Murder as a song topic goes back thousands of years. Modern Murder Ballads are usually linked to the folk music revival of the 60s (“Tom Dooley” by the Kingston Trio) but it can be found in any musical genre, like country (“El Paso” by Marty Robbins, “Delia’s Gone” by Johnny Cash) Blues (“John Hardy” by Leadbelly), Rock (Neil Young’s “Down by the River”), and even Reggae (“I Shot the Sheriff” by Bob Marley). Narcocorridos also fit into this category.
To celebrate this dark music, Los Angeleno presents their 6th annual “Murder Ballads & Dark Songs.” Bands like Caught A Ghost, Tashaki Miyaki, Los Dead Dreams, Gun Outfit, Cassandra Violet, Starlight Cleaning Co., and Jenny Luna & The Moondogs will be playing both covers and original songs.
Wednesday, October 30, 2019
7 PM /$27.
Cool and creepy British 80s punks celebrate All Hallow’s Eve at the Belasco Theater in Downtown LA. After 40 years, the original band is still together, dressed in droogie gear, and headed up by charismatic front man “Monkey” Warren in his trademark makeup. Sing along to the anthemic “Viva la Revolution,” which is especially relevant right now. All ages. General admission $27.
The Lalas Burlesque Show at the Federal Bar
8 p.m. / $15 & $30
The Federal Bar, a hip gastropub in NoHo, will be hosting the multitalented women of “The Lalas Burlesque Show.” The group tantalizes with a combination of humor, dance, and audience participation. There are two bars on the first floor with a club and speakeasy on the second floor. Vegan and gluten-free options are available. We recommend the short rib poutine. Costumes are strongly encouraged. There is a $7.50 ticket available at Goldstar. It’s $15 for SRO and $30 for seating. Bonus: it’s right near the North Hollywood Red Line Station!
Thursday, October 31, 2019
Clu Gulanger Triple Feature Matinee at New Beverly Cinema
12 Noon / $10
On October 31, New Beverly Cinema will be celebrating character actor Clu Gulager, who started out in Westerns and later in his career ended up starring in Horror movies. Films screening in 35 mm format on this triple bill are Uninvited at 12 noon, “A Nightmare on Elm Street” 2 at 2 p.m. and the “Return of the Living Dead” at 3:50 p.m.
Bondage Ball Halloween F3tish Party at Catch One
West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval
9 :30 PM – 2 AM / $20 and up
Buy your tickets now! Only 500 tickets will be sold for this kinky Halloween extravaganza! Guests can enjoy three bars and five different areas, including fetish free play zones, professional dungeon furniture, and an exclusive VIP area. The party will feature six DJs, fetish go-go dancers, and stage show Dress up in the sexiest, kinkiest, darkest, fetishy, hardcore, erotic, and horrific costume that you can think of. 18+ NO OUTSIDE CAMERAS!
West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval
6 p.m. – 10 p.m. / FREE
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention LA’s biggest and wildest Halloween party. This traditional event showcases some of the best costumes you will ever see. It’s definitely something you should do once in your life. Be ready to party with several hundred thousand people. We are talking Times Square and Mardi Gras-sized crowds. The outdoor Carnaval will stretch over one mile of Santa Monica Boulevard/Historic Route 66 between Doheny Drive and La Cienega Boulevard. There are no ferris wheels–it is not that kind of carnival. But there will be lots of entertainment and lots of bonhomie
The reason it’s not at the top of my list is that over the years it has morphed into more of a looky-loo event, with less costumes and more “tourists” checking out the “weirdos.” Uber and Lyft have solved the parking problem, but my final caveat is that it’s hard to find a bathroom. Be prepared to buy a drink and wait in a long line. Insider tip: The police station has a nice bathroom, and it’s also a good place to wait for your Uber or Lyft. Please don’t bring children or pets, and definitely wear a costume. Only clear bags are allowed, no large bags or backpacks. No public drinking. West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval Road Closures and More.
Other spooky events to check out:
2019 Guide to Ongoing Halloween Fun
LA Opera Presents “Psycho” with a Live Score
The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor Celebrates 10 Years
The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor: Historically Bewitching
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