Lucha VaVOOM’s Halloween Spectacular at the Mayan Theater featuring Brooke Candy. Photo by Billy Bennight.
Halloween is coming back in full force this year! Here is a list of exciting events running throughout October to thrill, chill, enchant or scare the living crap out of you!
HAUNTED ATTRACTIONS
7 p.m. – 10:30 & 12 midnite / Griffith Park $39.99 – $109.99
One of LA’s most iconic Halloween attractions, Griffith Park’s famous Haunted Hayride is back, with fan-favorite attractions, a variety of mazes, trick or treating, and more! 2022’s Haunted Hayride includes a visit to Midnight Falls, an eerie town where it’s Halloween all year-round. Monte Revolta, the self-appointed Mayor of Midnight Falls, returns to the town square with nightly performances that are always crowd pleasers. You’ll encounter mazes including the Hayride, Midnight Mortuary, Trick or Treat, and the newly revamped (S)Laughterhouse. Meanwhile, the Witch of the Woods has summoned the spirits of the underworld to cross over, assimilate, and exact revenge on the townspeople who cast her away. Will you be brave enough to embark on the hayride? Ghouls will try to scare you as you trick or treat at the homes of Midnight Falls. Be careful during open house at the Midnight Mortuary: the employees are dying to make you their next customer. – Karin E. Baker.
Prices starting at $39.99. Click here for additional information. The Haunted Hayride is located at 4730 Crystal Springs Road, Los Angeles, CA 90027. I recommend scaredy-cats sit in the middle of the hayride vehicle, as the characters do jump at you. No kids under 13 years old, no smoking, and no refunds if you chicken out. Do not touch the wild animals or the actors. No costumes except on Halloween. They rate it as a “high scare.”
7 p.m. – 2 a.m. / Buena Park / $87 – $389
Knott’s Scary Farm is the largest Halloween event in Southern California and offers no less than nine haunted mazes. Mazes include “Mesmer,” which offers Frights of the mind, “Origins: The Curse of Calico,” brings together old west and witches, Space-themed Dark Entities,” and “Wax Works,” a scary wax museum. There will also be a terrifying dark ride: Castle of Chaos for those of you who have a “thing” about clowns. If you like jump scares, you’ll love the Scare Zones, themed areas where more than 1,000 horrifying creatures like clowns, undead drowned gothic characters, and sliders (i.e. actors in scary costumes jumping out, or suddenly sliding up to your feet and scaring the holy shit out of you). There are also magic shows, puppets, a dance party, a bunch of thrill rides, and a boo-fet with monster photo-ops. and early entry ($45). We recommend the fried chicken and boysenberry pie.
Knott’s Scary Farm is not recommended for children under 13. No costumes, face paint or flash photography. VIP fast pass tickets are $135.
6 PM – 10:45 PM / Long Beach / $34.99 and up
A brand-new Halloween event is happening next to the Queen Mary this year! It is not a return of Haunted Harbor; nothing takes place on the actual ship. Basketball Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal has partnered with the producers of the Haunted Hayride for this interactive experience. During the day, the event is family-friendly with trick-or-treat offerings and entertainment for the whole family, who are encouraged to dress in their favorite Halloween costumes. At 8 PM, the music and party lights turn Shaqtoberfest into a party for big kids. It includes six Halloween-themed areas that are a combination haunted maze and activity center with Halloween trails, games, live entertainment, food and beverage vendors and more. The entire experience will be narrated by Shaq himself.
Select nights through Halloween. $34.99. Limited PAID parking is available on site at the Queen Mary lots (roughly 500 spaces), parking rates vary based on night attending but start at $20. PAID shuttle parking starting at $12 is available from the parking lot located at 100 Ocean Gate Long Beach, 90802.
SIX FLAGS MAGIC MOUNTAIN’S FRIGHT FEST
7 PM – 1 AM / Valencia / $99.99 and up
During the day, Six Flags brings you Kids Boo Fest with trick or treating and special desserts. At night, visit the ghosts, demons and lost souls that inhabit the six spooky mazes, like “Truth or Dare,” Willoughby’s Resurrected,” and “Vault 666 Unlocked.” The event also features four scare zones, spooky food, a show taking place on the remains of a sunken pirate ship, and a boozy pre-show Happy Hour. But one of the best reasons to hit Magic Mountain in October is to ride Goliath, Batman, and Scream in the dark.
The pricing seems intentionally confusing, But the Admission and Haunted Attractions Pass bundle ($99.99) includes one general admission ticket and one all night Haunted Attractions Pass for the day/night selected gives daytime entry plus all Fright Fest activities beginning at 7pm. The Express Haunted Attractions pass provides priority entry to the haunted attractions via the Express access line for only $119.99. Not recommended for children under the age of 13. No Costumes for Guests Over the Age of 12. Fright Fest runs Thursdays through Sundays through the 31st except Thursday the 13th.
UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HALLOWEEN HORROR NIGHTS
7 p.m. – 2 a.m. (1 a.m. on select nights) / Studio City / $84 and up
Halloween Horror Nights are back at Universal Studios in a big way. In addition to the five scare zones, where roaming out-of-work actors scare the crap out of you, Universal presents eight mazes. This year’s themes include Blumhouse, Halloween, Killer Klowns from Outer Space, La Llorena, and oddly enough, The Weekend. The Terror Tram ends this year with a Jordan Peele mashup where The Tethered from Us haunt through the Jupiter’s Claim set from his thrilling new Sci-Fi film, NOPE.
No masks or face paint allowed. Not recommended for kids under 13. Persons ages 18+ must also show photo ID. Runs Thursdays through Sundays.
LIVE MUSIC
DANNY ELFMAN AT THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL
10/28 & 10/29, 7:30 pm / Hollywood / $95 – $933
It’s an LA tradition to see Danny Elfman perform the songs from Nightmare Before Christmas at the Hollywood Bowl. This year Elfman is going to veer slightly away from his usual show and perform an expanded version of the set he recently debuted at Coachella. There will be some songs from Nightmare Before Christmas, but they will be interspersed with songs from Oingo Boingo, Elfman’s many film scores and his new album, Big Mess.
If post punk and dive bars are more your style, there are two shows happening at The Redwood downtown that should be on your radar.
Tuesday October 25th at 9pm
In Fuzz We Trust offers costume contests and special themed photo ops.
Spooky Tuesdays
The Everythings
New Elvis
Sunday, October 30th at 3pm
Check out the “Extra Spooky Halloween Matinee Show.” Costumes always admired, not required. $8 Cover.
The Alley Cats (Punk Pioneers of LA)- 6pm
Nacho Rock & The Riff-Nardo Band (Rock from Santiago de Chile makes its LA Debut) – 5pm
Los Misteriosos (Psychedelic Mariachis from OC – with Murdock from Dirt Clod Fight on drums!) – 4pm
Ale’ – 3pm
METAL MAYHEM AT UNIVERSAL BAR AND GRILL
Saturday, October 29, 2022 6:30 / North Hollywood
Get very metal with Hands of Doom Black Sabbath tribute band with ASL, Nightmare Alice Cooper Tribute Band, Ghastlies, Hell on Wheels and Rhythm Coffin. Costume contest! GoGo dancers! Paul Raci! Doors at 6:30. $5 off with costume.
https://www.universalbarandgrill.com/events-calendar/
SHOWS
10/27 & 10/28 28th / $45.00‒$90.00 / Downtown Los Angeles
LA’s hottest – and only combination luchador masked wrestling, comedy and burlesque show celebrates its 20th year with a two-night Halloween extravaganza. The show, titled “Bienvenido a la Twilight Zone” will take place at Lucha VaVOOM’s home venue, The Mayan Theatre, and features a faceoff between Magno “The Man Mountain” Rudo and Taya Valkyrie vs luchadora Dulce Tormenta and Rey Misterio (El Heredero) in the main match. Other wrestlers include Techno Destructo (the archnemesis of heavy metal band GWAR and played by GWAR co-founder Hunter Jackson), and Los Crazy Chickens. Enjoy burlesque performances from LouLou la Duchesse de Rière andJessabelle Thunder, plus fire and sword swallowing showgirl Emma Vauxdevil, mistress of hoops Tosca,and transcendent dancer, aerialist, and boylesque artist Làszlò Major. The emcee for both nights will be comedian Blaine Capatch. 21+ $45.00‒$90.00 at TicketWeb.com.
ZOMBIE JOE’S URBAN DEATH TOUR OF TERROR
8, 9, 10, 10:45 & 11:30 p.m. / $20 – $25 at door / North Hollywood
LA’s scariest theater and haunted maze attraction returns with an all-new show every weekend through Halloween. Our own Dukey Flyswatter describes the show thusly, “…Joe’s wordless exposures pares back the layers and takes death, madness, loss and body horror to its bare essentials…you’ll encounter zombies, cyst fetishists, hatred of infants and necrophilia at the pace of a whirling dervish.”
Fridays & Saturdays, plus Sunday, Oct. 30 & Monday, Oct. 31. For Ages 18+. A family-friendly version takes place at 7 PM. Wheelchair accessible. No Late Admittance nor Bathroom Access for This Event. Please Arrive 15 minutes Prior to Showtime to Check-In at front desk.
MOVIES
6 PM & 9:20 / Glendale / $8 – $105
L.A.’s favorite pop-up drive-in has taken over Glendale’s old Sears Parking Lot for the remaining weekends in October. The films’ sound will be broadcast on FM radio. If you don’t have FM radio in your car, you can rent an F.M. transistor radio. The concession stand will be selling prepackaged flavored popcorn, sodas, water, and candy. It also looks like you can purchase food from vendors like Porto’s and the Great White Hut this year. Pro tip: Arrive in a low-profile vehicle, as SUVs will be parked in the back to not block other cars. Upcoming screenings include Hocus Pocus, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Nightmare Before Christmas and Halloween. Check the schedule for dates and times.
Entrance is located on California between Central and Orange. Dogs are welcome, but please only take your dog out of your vehicle if they need to use the restroom. If event is sold out no tickets will be sold at door. Only additional passengers can be purchased at door.
FAMILY FRIENDLY
ALL THINGS WICKED AND WONDERRUL AT SOUTH COAST BOTANIC GARDEN
8am – 5pm / $15 / Palos Verdes
Suddenly, it seems like we are hearing a lot about the South Coast Botanic Garden. And it sounds like it’s for a good reason–there are over 87 acres,of gardens. Throughout October, with some events continuing through November, the Garden will be hosting
with Diabolical and Misunderstood Plantings in the Garden Graveyard a Spider Pavilion with a tarantula meet and greet, a Howl-o-ween Costume Contest
and a Potions Class: How to Grow a Cocktail Inspired Garden.
10 a.m. – 4 p.m. / Griffith Park / Free with Zoo Admission
Boo at The Zoo celebrates October with exciting activities every day of the week as well as special weekend events. During the week, kids can enjoy a “Spooky Stroll” with Halloween games, a mystery maze, visit the snakes at The LAIR, and enjoy special creepy animal encounters from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. On weekends the zoo ups the ante with crafts, a photo booth and special feedings. Trick or treat at the zoo on the last two weekends of the month (October 22/23 and 29/30). Costumes are encouraged!
6:00–10pm / La Canada Flintridge / $32–$35
This October, Descanso Gardens will be aglow when “Carved” shows off hundreds of expertly carved pumpkins. It is an easy one-mile walk through the Camellia Forest and Oak Grove. Carved is a family-friendly event for all ages. You can also enjoy seasonal snacks, live carving demonstrations, oversized sculptures made of natural materials, the Pumpkin House, and special surprises.
Carved will run through October 31, 2022 from 6:00–10pm. Tickets are selling out fast and must be purchased beforehand. No tickets at the door.
8 AM – Midnight / Anaheim / $ 104 – $154 for one park
Disneyland goes all out with the Halloween decorations in both parks. There are special parades and New Orleans Square is all decked out and there are specialty treats throughout the parks. The best seasonal experience is the Haunted mansion, which has been temporarily reconfigured into a Nightmare Before Christmas theme.
Unfortunately, Friday, Saturday and Sunday are sold out, but you can still get a reservation for Halloween! To enter a theme park, Guests (ages 3 and older) will need a valid ticket and a theme park reservation for the same day and same park they want to visit.
4 PM – 11:30 PM / Woodland Hills / $36 – $80
This immersive Woodland Hills holiday event has taken over Halloween. Amongst 35,000 pumpkins, you will find a scarecrow garden, a trick-or-treating–filled town, and an illuminated carnival with a 40-foot carousel, plus face painting, performances, a dance-off, games, Halloween-themed tunnels, decorations, displays, and food trucks. There is no time limit per guest. Costumes are highly encouraged!
Wednesdays–Sundays. All ages welcome. Children under the age of two go free. Accessibility: the event is wheelchair accessible and there are bathrooms on site. Safety measures will be in place throughout the experience. 6100 Topanga Canyon Boulevard on the site of the former Westfield Promenade.
Dusk / Calabasas / $29.99 – $49.99
Nights of the Jack is a family-friendly Halloween Jack O’ Lantern experience. Thousands of hand-carved, illuminated pumpkins are spread along 1/2 mile trail on King Gillette Ranch in Calabasas. Some displays are larger-than-life, whereas other pumpkins are finely detailed. Most visits last from 45 minutes to an hour, but feel free to wander at your own pace. There will also be food trucks and vendors. Comfortable shoes are recommended. The event will take place very night the week. Tickets are sold in 30-minute intervals. Advanced ticket purchase is required.
PARTIES
HAUNTED LITTLE TOKYO BLOCK PARTY
Saturday, October 29, 2022 6pm – Midnight / Little Tokyo / FREE
The Little Tokyo Ghost Club presents the 6th annual Haunted Little Tokyo Block Party this Saturday night. Explore Downtown Los Angeles’ most historic neighborhood after dark and experience Little Tokyo like never before. The 21+ event features costume contests, a DJ, live performances, a full bar, and food and beverages to purchase. Entrance is free with RSVP at the website. The secret Block Party location will be shared upon check-in at Brunswig Square (360 E. 2nd Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012).
