When it comes to Halloween, the City of Angels knows how to have a devil of a good time. From the world's largest Halloween street party, to family-friendly Halloween events at museums and other cultural institutions, Los Angeles attractions, tours and parties offer fiendish fun and spooky scares for everyone.
EVENTS & ATTRACTIONS
Sep. 21-Oct. 31, 2012: Halloween Horror Nights
Halloween Horror Nights kicks off at Universal Studios Hollywood on Friday, September 21st, and continues on select nights through Halloween Night on Wednesday, October 31st. This year, Halloween Horror Nights expands the realm of terror with one of the scariest, most authentic Halloween events in Southern California. Horror comes to life as you face your deepest fears in new mazes:
- The Walking Dead: Dead Inside
- Welcome to Silent Hill
- The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Saw is the Law
- Alice Cooper Goes to Hell 3D
- La Llorona: La Cazadora de los NiñosUniversal Monsters Remix.
Try to escape the hordes of walkers from AMC's The Walking Dead as they invade the famous Universal backlot on the all new Terror Tram. Then scream 'til your lungs explode as you venture through horrific scare zones - all created by the sickest and most twisted minds in horror. Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights: “Once you’re inside…there is no way out!”
The event will begin nightly at 7:00 p.m.; closing hours vary by night throughout the event. Because event nights will sell out, purchasing presale tickets to Halloween Horror Nights is highly recommended. Ticket options include Front of Line Passes and the VIP Experience.
Updates on Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights are available at the official website and also on Twitter and Facebook, as Creative Director John Murdy reveals a running chronicle of exclusive information. Fans are invited to follow John Murdy on Twitter or via Facebook.
Oct. 5-31, 2012: Haunted Hayride at the Old Zoo (Griffith Park)
The theme for this year’s Haunted Hayride is “The Congregation,” a frightening journey into the Old Zoo in the woods at Griffith Park. The twin daughters of zookeeper Ferdinand Clifton were rumored to suffer from violent nightmares, and their journals have provided the ghastly inspiration for an experience that this year introduces their strange new playmate, a little boy named Aleister. Featuring: The Original Haunted Hayride of SoCal, "The In-Between" (Dark Maze), and "Purgatory" sideshow entertainment. Hours are 7 p.m. to midnight on Friday-Saturday, and 7-10:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday and Halloween. Ticket prices start at $28 and include options for Hayride only, Hayride & Dark Maze, VIP (front of line) and Group rates.
Oct. 5-31, 2012: The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor
Unique among Halloween attractions, Dark Harbor takes you through the Queen Mary’s actual haunted areas. Thanks to the macabre minds behind some of Southern California's biggest scream-fests, the scares clock in at over “45,000 per hour,” along with 225 monsters and 80-foot tall flames. Join the Queen Mary’s haunted crew for 15 nights of mazes, live music, food, cocktails and plenty of horrifying surprises that are sure to leave you screaming for more.
Oct. 20-21, 2012: Haunts of Angelino Heights
Join Out of the Box Events and the Los Angeles Conservancy on a scavenger hunt that explores the spirits, secrets and legends of one of the oldest neighborhoods in LA. Bring a camera, you never know what you will capture! A portion of the admission benefits the LA Conservancy.
Oct. 20-21, 2012: Scarium of the Pacific
At the family-friendly Scarium of the Pacific weekend event, the Aquarium of the Pacific presents the annual children’s costume contest, the creepy coloring contest, magic shows, underwater pumpkin carving, spooky storytelling, kooky crafts, eerie animals in the Great Hall, and more.
October 28, 2012: EEK! at the Greek
On Sunday, October 28th, bring the whole family to The Greek Theatre for the second annual EEK! at The Greek a Halloween symphonic extravaganza. EEK! at The Greek features the 60-piece Symphony In The Glen orchestra with Maestro Arthur B. Rubinstein, who will present an array of music to celebrate the season. Frightening favorites scheduled to be performed include Night on Bald Mountain, Double Trouble from Harry Potter, and the world premiere of The Spider and the Fly, music by Maestro Rubinstein. Back by popular demand is the return of Edgar Allan Poe's gothic masterpiece, The Tell-Tale Heart, with music by Maestro Rubinstein and narrated by a celebrity special guest (to be announced). To add to the festivities, The Greek Theatre's front plaza will open at 5:30 p.m. and be transformed into a "Trick-or-Treat Village," allowing families to bring their children for safe trick-or-treating. There will also be a pre-show costume contest with great prizes.
October 28, 2012: Haunted Museum at the Natural History Museum
The theme for the 9th Annual Haunted Museum is “Land of Awes,” a family-friendly event taking place at the Natural History Museum on Sunday, October 28th from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. At the Haunted Museum, guests can help put the Scarecrow back together, watch a performance by Dancing Flying Monkeys, learn about marine fossils from Kansas and crafty crows from NHM scientists, see tree frogs in the Enchanted Rainforest, go on a scavenger hunt to find the Ruby Slippers, and more.
October 31, 2012: Halloween Party for Downtown LA Kids
All Downtown LA families are invited to the Fifth Annual Halloween Party for Downtown LA Kids, taking place from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. in FIDM’s Grand Hope Park. For just $5 per person, the kids (and the young at heart) can enjoy trick-or-treat doors, an inflatable bounce house, video game truck, hot dogs and water, cotton candy, popcorn machines, face painting, crafts, balloon animals and jugglers. Note: costumes are required for kids. This party is intended for children from Downtown LA ZIP Codes: 90012, 90013, 90014, 90015, 90017, 90021, and 90071.
FAIRS, FESTIVALS & TOURS
October 27, 2012: Dia de Los Muertos
The 13th annual Dia de Los Muertos returns to Hollywood Forever Cemetery on Saturday, October 27th from 12 p.m. to midnight. This quintessential Los Angeles Halloween event takes place in the historic final resting place of Hollywood luminaries, and is based on the indigenous Mexican ceremony that celebrates life and ancient traditions, fused with modern culture. This year’s featured performer is Ozomatli. The Ceremonial Altar Set-Up takes place on Friday, October 26th beginning at 5 p.m. General Admission is $10 per person; children under 8 years old are admitted free.
Oct. 27-28, 2012: Kidspace Pumpkin Festival
The Pumpkin Festival includes fun for all ages and will take place in Brookside Park, directly in front of Kidspace Children’s Museum. Kids will delight at the petting zoo, pony rides, exciting bouncers, carnival games, and seasonal crafts. Partake in a costume parade, make your own take-home fall crafts, enjoy face painting, and select pumpkins from our pumpkin patch. Parents will love the book and costume sale, and tasty picnic treats. Festival admission is free - as well as the live music/performances, selected crafts, promotions at the Radio Disney tent, and a photo opportunity at the pumpkin patch. There is also plenty of free parking in Lot I of the Rose Bowl adjacent to Brookside Park.
Oct. 28-29, 2012: 9th Annual Halloween & Mourning Tours at Heritage Square
The 9th Annual Halloween & Mourning Tours is a two-day event hosted at Heritage Square Museum on Saturday and Sunday, October 29th and 30th, from noon to 4 p.m. each day. On Saturday, learn about Victorian era death and mourning etiquette and participate in a funeral inside one of Heritage Square’s historic homes. See how other cultures celebrate and remember their loved, find out what hair jewelry is, have your fortune told, and more. Sunday is more family friendly. Children ages 2 to 12 can play period games, make 19th century harvest crafts, choose a pumpkin from the pumpkin patch (while supplies last), bob for apples, and listen to spooky stories in the Ford House by the San Gabriel Valley Storytellers.
Dearly Departed Tours
Dearly Departed offers various tours that explore the twisted underbelly of Los Angeles, everything from celebrity scandals and deaths to horror film locations and infamous crime scenes. Options include the Tragical History Tour and the Helter Skelter Tour. Just for Halloween, Dearly Departed will take you on a Halloween tour devoted to world famous horror film locations around Hollywood and Pasadena. Tours meet at the Larry Edmunds Bookstore in Hollywood. Check schedule for cost, tour times and departures.
www.dearlydepartedtours.com
Día de los Muertos on Olvera Street
The oldest street in Los Angeles is Olvera Street, which spends much of the week before Halloween celebrating those who have traveled to the other side. Día de los Muertos (“Day of the Dead”) is a traditional Mexican holiday that reunites and honors beloved ancestors, family and friends. Head Downtown for several days of festivities, including piñata breaking, children’s workshops, face painting, strolling Mariachi and Ballet Folklórico. Beautifully decorated altars, entertainment and Novenaria processions make Olvera Street a uniquely local place to spend Halloween.
Haunted Hollywood
At 12:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. every day through Halloween, Starline Tours presents a special 2-hour Haunted Hollywood tour that examines the paranormal activity around Tinseltown. Among the stops is a landmark hotel (aka "Hollywood's Most Haunted Building"), Grauman's Chinese Theatre and Paramount Studios. The Haunted Hollywood tour is $45 for adults, $35 for youth ages 3-11, with hotel pick-ups available for an additional cost.
FILM & THEATER
Oct. 5-26, 2012: Friday Night Flicks at Pershing Square
Pershing Square’s popular Friday Night Flicks outdoor movie series takes a spooky turn in October: 1408 (Oct. 5), Mothman Prophecies (Oct. 12), Fire in the Sky (Oct. 19), The Descent (Oct. 26). Each movie will be shown on a 40-foot wide by 20-foot high screen with a full sound system. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets to place on the lawn. Picnic baskets and snacks are welcome. Note: there is no alcohol or smoking of any kind allowed on any Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks venue.
October 12-21, 2012: Screamfest Horror Film Festival
screamfestla.com
The largest horror film festival in the U.S. takes place annually at the Grauman's Chinese Theatre in the Hollywood & Highland Center. Screamfest premieres and showcases new work from American and international independent horror filmmakers.
October 20, 2012: Halloween and Mourning Movie Night
The Heritage Square Museum will host its fifth annual Halloween and Mourning Movie Night on Saturday, October 20th. The special feature is The Manxman (1929), featuring European singer, film and stage actress, Anny Ondra. This romantic thriller is a rarely seen silent movie directed by the great Alfred Hitchcock, and was the last silent movie he ever made. Admission to the Halloween and Mourning Movie Night is free for Museum members and $10.00 for the general public. The gates will open at 7:30 p.m. for picnics with the show starting at dusk. Guests are also encouraged to wear warm clothing and bring a picnic, blankets and chairs to watch the movie. Beverages and popcorn will be available for purchase.
October 31, 2012: Halloween Silent Film - The Cat and the Canary
The Halloween tradition continues at the Walt Disney Concert Hall at the Music Center, which will show Paul Leni’s 1927 classic silent film The Cat and the Canary with accompaniment by organ virtuoso Clark Wilson.
October 31, 2012: Mark Z. Danielewski - The Fifty Year Sword
www.redcat.org/event/mark-z-danielewski
Timed with the Pantheon Books release of The Fifty Year Sword this October, celebrated author Mark Z. Danielewski once again casts his wicked spell at REDCAT on Halloween: an eerie theatrical presentation of his ghost story for grown-ups. Christopher O’Riley, concert pianist and host of NPR’s From The Top, composes and performs music for an evening of harrowing visuals, special guests and maybe even a gravedigge
NIGHTLIFE
October 27, 2012: Monster Massive
On Saturday, October 27th, one of the largest dance music festivals in North America returns to Los Angeles: the 15th annual Monster Massive, featuring five themed areas: Tomb of Doom, House of Horror, Witches Woods, Phantom Chamber and Devils Dungeons. Monster Massive will take place at Los Angeles Center Studios in Downtown LA, featuring a global roster of DJs and electronic music acts. The event is 18 and over, with full bar for 21 and over with ID. General admission presale tickets start at $50, with VIP tickets available that include separate entry, backstage access, and open vodka bar. For more info and to purchase tickets, please visit www.monstermassive.com.
October 27 & 31, 2012: Haunted Hotel & Fright Night at the W Hollywood
On Saturday, October 27th, the Halloween spirit takes over multiple spaces in the W Hollywood Hotel, including Top 40 in the Living Room, video DJ at Station, and an eclectic House music mix in Delphine. Tickets start at $40 for General Admission, with options for VIP Open Bar, Groups, and Hotel Packages. The scares continue with Fright Night on October 31st, featuring Top 40 in the Living Room. Tickets start at $20 per person. For more info, tickets and tables reservations for both events, please visit www.whollywoodhalloween.com.
October 27, 2012: KCRW’s Masquerade at the Park Plaza
KCRW’s 4th annual Masquerade is once again taking place at the historic Park Plaza on Saturday, October 27th. The costume ball and dance party features performances by Z-Trip, Mexican Institute of Sound, Hanni El Khatib and Dustbowl Revival; sets by KCRW DJs in five uniquely themed ballrooms; the Vaudeville circus troupe Lucent Dossier; ghost stories from LA's finest storytellers; food trucks and more.
October 31, 2012: Cabaret de L'Enfer at The Edison
Downtown LA's stunning underground event venue invites you to “experience the Unique, the Unusual and the Wondrous” as The Edison resurrects the Dark Spirit of Halloween Past. Featuring an otherworldly gathering of Attractions Diaboliques, featuring Apparitions and Gifted Eccentriques from across the globe. Pre-sale General Admission tickets are $25 per guest, with a very limited number of tickets held at the door for $30 in costume or $35 as yourself.
October 31, 2012: West Hollywood Costume Carnaval
Each year, hundreds of thousands of costumed revelers take to the streets of Santa Monica Boulevard to enjoy the West Hollywood Costume Carnaval, the largest Halloween street party in the world. Two of the evening’s highlights are the Halloween Costume Contest and the crowning of an Honorary "Queen of the Carnaval." Visitors can also expect live entertainment, food vendors, pumpkin-carving contests and children’s activities throughout the week previous. Admission is free and the event starts at 6 p.m. and runs until 11 p.m.