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The great thing about having an LA-based blog is that I’m pushed to expand my horizons. This year, instead of continuing the tradition of attending Universal Horror Nights, as I have been doing every year since I moved to LA, I decided to branch out and explore how LA goes the whole nine yards this time of year.
Something that astounded me about living in the US, especially in LA, is that Halloween is not a one-day holiday, but a month-long event that is celebrated after the clock strikes midnight on October 1st. Even past October 31st, some events run up until the first days of November.
Los Angeles offers ample ways to get into the Halloween spirit like no other city. Attending Universal Horror Nights for the very first time was like seeing a Hollywood production movie come to life. Call me boring, but I’m not a big fan of LA Halloween parties where you go to someone’s house dressed to impress, like in Mean Girls. Of course, there are some fun parties out there, and I wouldn’t mind attending the star-studded Casamigos Halloween party if I was invited.
However, I’m a sucker for a horror movie night marathon, or a haunted maze in my favorite hoodie rather than being scantily clad. Yes, I’m a homebody at heart.
In the last years of high school and my first years of college, I would go to sleepovers with my friend at the time and we would watch The Scream series while until 3 AM.
While there’s no shortage of worthwhile Halloween parties in LA, here’s a list of the best haunted mazes and pumpkin patches, as well as a myriad of other things you can do throughout the month of October in LA.
Additionally, please find below a few tips if you decide to go to any theme park:
- Get there at least 30 minute early prior opening time to ensure you enjoy the mazes with no long wait lines.
- Wear really comfy shoes and a hoodie.
- Make sure you eat prior to going there, since food in theme parks and event venues is expensive.
- Arrive early. Most people leave bad reviews because their experience was ruined for the following reasons: they come in big groups and arrive at least two hours late. At this point, parking is scarce and the wait lines for the mazes are long and tedious.
- Get ready to get scared! I love the scare zones, where actors in costumes emerge out of nowhere and scare the hell out of you. How are they able to get up in people’s faces so close without touching anyone for six hours straight? I have no idea.
Mr.Bones Pumpkin Patch (Oct 5-30)
10100 Jefferson Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232
I can’t believe that in my now four years living here, this was my first time ever going to a pumpkin patch – and they’re so fun!! I know this sounds simple, but I’m a fanatic of anything pumpkin flavored, and Trader Joe’s surely knows how to indulge pumpkin lovers – but I digress.
I went to Mrs. Bones on a lark after scrolling through different pumpkin patches places in LA. Little did I know that Mrs. Bones is a celebrity hub, so do not be surprised if most people you see look like actors. On the premises, you will see a straw maze, a super-slide, a petting zoo with pony rides, and a bunch of other kid-friendly activities. There are a few food trucks parked inside, and when you buy some treats, make sure to try the pumpkin spiced latte!
While the price is quite steep for a pumpkin patch, it is by far the most photogenic pumpkin patch in LA.
If you’re willing to make the drive, I recommend checking out Pumpkin Nights Los Angeles in Pomona, which also offers the most perfect pumpkin backdrop for tons of Instagram photos. This event includes more than 3,000 hand-carved artificial and real pumpkins.
Nights of the Jack (Oct 3- Nov 3)
King Gillette Ranch, Calabasas
If you love pumpkins as much as I do, Nights Of The Jack is what every pumpkin’s lover dreams are made of. This family-friendly event tucked away in the mountains of Calabasas, offers beautifully hand-carved pumpkins, as well as their famous half-mile Jack-o-Lantern trail. It was stunning to see all the illuminated pumpkins in the dark with different themes. This year, Nights Of The Jack partnered with Nickelodeon. You could see the well-known fictional underwater city of Bikini Bottom (Spongebob’s hometown) lit up alongside the characters of the show. Additionally, as you went along the trail, there was an area entirely with pumpkin carvings of celebrities and Disney characters, where prominent celebrity couples like Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, or Kim and Kanye could be found as you went along. Speaking of Kim, I saw on her Instagram stories that she went there the same night as I did! However, this shouldn’t come as a surprise because Calabasas is a celebrity enclave.
Halloween Horror Nights Universal Hollywood
100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, CA 91608
I’ve been going to Halloween Horror Nights religiously every year since I moved to LA. It never disappoints! The only caveat here is to plan ahead with your friends what mazes you will be going.
I’m a huge fan of all the mazes and I’ve been to all of them! Since this theme park is owned by Universal Studios, each year you will see new horror mazes inspired by the theme of a newly released movie/show. In 2019, Jordan Peele’s movie US was the latest addition, and in 2018, was Truth or Dare. My favorite maze is the Tram Ride, where the driver leaves you stranded in the Universal backlot with ghastly characters walking around carrying buzzing chainsaws. Another main draw of the Tram Ride is that the Psycho house is also located on the same backlot, and it’s open to public for photo ops if you want to take a respite from the scares.
The park has designated scare zone areas where monsters on stilts, dancers, and actors dressed up in costumes run amok providing you an over-the-top frightening experience that you will never forget.
Los Angeles Haunted Hayride (Sept 28-Nov 2)
4730 Crystal Springs Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90027
The Haunted Hayride has been a classic in LA for many years. It was my first time and I had an absolute blast! As opposed to an amusing park, at this event you’re surrounded by the mountains of Griffith Park, which makes the atmosphere more rustic and authentic. It sort of feels like you’re in an ‘80s movie.
There are a few mazes, but the main star of this event is the Haunted Hayride itself. I didn’t know this, but yes, there’s a wagon covered in hay for event-goers to sit on. Do not worry about the hay scraping your legs, as it’s super soft. I’ve been to many haunted attractions throughout my life, but experiencing the scares in the foggy forest with theatrical smoke was a unique experience. The production was so well done, and everything was perfectly organized. My Dad and I sat in the very back, which was even scarier because we saw all the scary actors watching us and walking towards us as the wagon slowly drifted away.
To say that the Haunted Hayride was scary is a big understatement! The monsters climb to the very edge of the truck and get up in your face while the carriage goes through different sceneries.
I only purchased the hayride ticket, but I wish I had bought a pass for the few mazes that were in there — I didn’t expect to have so much fun! It was only a $10 difference. I could have gone outside, purchased tickets and reentered, but I didn’t want to wait in line (despite it being super short), and it was a Sunday night.
All in all, I’m so happy I finally checked out the Haunted Hayride. Now I know why this is a tradition in LA and I can’t wait to go back next year! We arrived 15 minutes prior opening time, but the best thing you can do is to go on an off-peak day. Parking at this event is free! I parked super close to the gate, but good luck trying to find a good spot two hours into the event on a peak day, which is why I emphasize the importance of arriving early.
Cinespia Screening at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery
6000 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90038
What a better way to celebrate Halloween than sitting on a picnic blanket watching your favorite horror movie at LA’s most famous cemetery? Every year, Cinespia partners with Amazon Studios to screen Hollywood cult-classics among the graves of Hollywood Forever Cemetery. This year, the screenings were The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Sixth Sense. The latter celebrated its 20th anniversary, and director M. Night Shyamalan dropped by for a Q & A. These screenings were only done two weekends in October, so it goes without saying that tickets sold out like hot cakes.
There are too many rooftops to name where they also hold horror movie screenings like the Rooftop Cinema Club. Cinespia is the most popular one though, so it was imperative for it to be on this list.
San Fernando Valley Drive-In Nights
Lake Balboa Complex 6335 Woodley Ave, Lake Balboa, CA 91406
If you want to watch Halloween’s classics on a 60-foot screen from the comfort of your car, the retro drive-in in San Fernando Valley should be a must on your list.
The screenings are held at Lake Balboa Complex throughout October, and half of the proceeds from this event go to the Valley Relics Museum. You can either purchase a double-feature ticket or an individual ticket for just one of the movies. There are also food trucks on the premises with vegan options. Tickets start at $14.95.
The movie lineups this year were the following:
Friday, October 11 – Ghostbusters (PG) 1984 & Friday the 13th (R) 1980
Saturday, October 12 – The Addams Family (PG-13) 1991 & The Exorcist (R) 1973
Knott’s Scary Farm (Sept 19 – Nov 2)
8039 Beach Blvd, Buena Park, CA 90620
This place was like stepping into a horror movie. While Universal Studios is the winner for me as far as mazes go, the atmosphere of the place was top-notch and perfectly emulated the set of a horror western movie. Unlike Universal, there are no blinding tall streetlights in the park. You walk through the fog, where horrifying creatures menacingly lurk in every corner of the park waiting to scare you. At Universal, the scare zone was only one small area, while at Knott’s Scary Farm, the ENTIRE theme park was a scare zone area.
The park was so big that each area had a different theme: western, clown, and even a Fiesta Village (no scare zone here) with a big plaza and Mexican food stands. Besides the mazes, the regular attractions were open as well, like their massive, never-ending roller coaster area.
Because Universal owns almost every movie known to man, you will not find historical horror characters or maze themed-movies like Paranormal Activity, The Exorcist,or The Walking Dead. This is done to avoid copyright issues; however, the costumes and special effects at Knotts Scary Farm pulled out all the stops. I had a blast, and you bet I will go back next year! If you’re down to grab a bite before entering the park, stop by The Berry Market for some delicious berry fudge.
Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor
If you’re a full-blown Halloween fan you will love this one. The legendary Queen Mary ship that’s stationed in Long Beach is pretty ominous itself. Now think of haunted mazes and creepy actors on deck. The Dark Harbor, like the events above, consists of mazes that are located not only on Queen Mary’s shipping port surrounding areas, but inside the ship, turning it into a nautical evil nightmare with period characters. There’s a maze called Submerged, which is a multi-level sinking ship maze with mind-blowingly good special water effects. Other features of the mazes included moving floors and walking on a very high bridge. I love how creative the mazes were and how they all flawlessly merged with the haunted shipwreck.
There were also secret little speakeasies on the premises. In order to access those, you had to interact with the characters, and if they liked you, you were given a token that contained clues to find the speakeasies within the maze. Another special element that sets Dark Harbor apart is that you can take photos with the actors who are in the scare zones.
If you want a change of scenery, it doesn’t get any better than Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor. How many times can you say that you went to a haunted shipwreck? In one of the hallways, the adorable girl in the photo below will await you under the flickering lights.
It was undoubtedly a spine-chilling experience.
Mickey’s Halloween Party (Aug 16 – Nov 1)
For those who have never been to Disney World but are avid fans, Disney celebrates Halloween like no other place on earth. Not only do they go all out in their decorations, but they also host Mickey’s Halloween party, which features a parade and where people go dressed up as their favorite Disney characters.
This event also features a treat trail, where you can fill a candy bag with limitless, insane amounts of candy. You’re also encouraged to bring your own bag because the bag they give you is not really size appropriate for all the amount of candy you’re given. Surprisingly, there hasn’t been a time where Disney has run out of candy!!
The fun continues with a fun Halloween parade, fireworks, performances, and villain photo-ops.
Halloween at Disney World also boasts a giant Mickey Mouse shaped pumpkin in the middle of the park, cutesy ghost lights, and music from classic movies like A Night Before Christmas and Coco. Once you step inside the gates, you will instantly feel the fall spirit in the air. Do not forget to try out their seasonal food items like their Cheesecake Pumpkin Pie!
It’s an unarguable fact that Disney World is always crowded, but this specific event has less crowds than usual since it’s celebrated at night from 7 PM until midnight.
If you’re planning on attending Mickey’s Halloween Party, buy your ticket as early as possible. Disney only sells 3,000 tickets of Mickey’s Halloween Party each night to limit crowds and to help ensure that everyone enjoys the party! This is also the reason why the wait lines are shockingly short.
Downtown LA
A lot of people don’t know that 100 years ago, Downtown LA was the center of the city, and it was dotted with vaudeville movie theaters whose strong influential art-deco styles could be seen on every block. There are only a few venues left, but luckily, the city of Los Angeles allows the haunted history of these places come to life during Halloween.
Psycho Live With Orchestra (Oct 25-31)
Ace Hotel 929 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90015
This grandiose theatre, founded in 1927, turns into a haunted cathedral with a mashup of film and live opera. Guest are invited to attend the special screening of Alfred Hitchcock cult-classic Psycho (my all-time favorite horror movie), while experiencing the LA Opera Orchestra! Costumes are also highly encouraged! Website
Cinema Phantasmagoria
Million Dollar Theatre 307 South Broadway, 90013
Step into a haunted 1920’s movie palace with sinister-looking ushers and bartenders whilst enjoying a classic horror film! If you want to take your Halloween experience up a notch, head over to the historical Backstage Ghost Tour. Click here to see the full movie lineup and tickets
Haus Of Creep (Sept 13 – Nov 3)
Row Downtown LA. 777 S Alameda St, Los Angeles, CA 90021
This one is an immersive theater experience, far from what you can find at a haunted house or maze. You go with different groups, and at some point, the actors will pull you away from your group – who knows where they’ll take you? There is complete freedom for you to explore and roam around the premises in order to find your way out. There are no ushers, like at Haunted Mazes, telling you where to go. It truly feels like you’re part of the production. Unlike any of the haunted mazes aforementioned, at Haus Of Creeps, you receive constant attention from the actors. It’s an immersive experience where they play with all your senses to make you feel creeped out and uncomfortable. Here, the actors do touch you. This event was made by true horror fans, and it elevates itself from scary mazes thanks to its sophistication and genius acting. Do not come here if you’re not planning on interacting with the actors. At Haus Of Creep, you create your own experience and your own story. You will see some crazy spooky sights!
Dia de los Muertos
If you want to see the traditional way that Mexicans honor their ancestors and loved ones, you can’t miss the Dead of the Day Festival on Olvera Street and the Dia De Los Muertos at Hollywood Forever Cemetery.
Halloween Decorations
Stroll around LA’s best residential neighborhoods as you gawk at the houses fully decked out with Halloween decorations. My top neighborhood picks are Pasadena and Hancock Park. If you happen to stop by Pasadena, a visit to Michael Meyer’s Halloween house should be mandatory if you’re a fan of the Halloween movie franchise.
Myers house is located on 707 Meridian Avenue, South Pasadena, California
Share with me your Halloween traditions! What do you usually do for Halloween?
