Get an Early Start to Halloween in LA

If there’s one thing that can be said about Los Angeles, it’s that this city loves Halloween. There is no shortage of events to take locals and visitors through the weeks leading up to the fall holiday, from family-friendly trick-or-treating to terrifying haunts for teens and adults. In between, there are horror movie screenings, themed garden strolls, spirited cocktails and spooky puppets.

The party has already started, so get your tickets as soon as possible, since many events will sell out.

Universal Studios Hollywood opens for a season of frights on September 3. The eight haunted houses include experiences based on Stranger Things season 5, Sinners, Hellraiser, Evil Dead Burn and Killer Klowns From Outer Space. Don’t forget to check out the Ozzy Osbourne Prince of Darkness haunt, Killceanera, which features music by Slash, and the family funeral home Dead, Deader, Deadest. The Terror Tram, scare zones, shows and themed food and drinks add to the horror on select nights in the amusement park. 
 

The LA tradition is back. Bob Baker Marionette Theatre’s spooky and charming Hallowe’en Spooktacular opens its 2026 run on September 5. Expect a return of classic characters, like a tap-dancing Frankenstein, aliens and the Purple People Eater. This year’s show also includes a Dia de los Muertos number. Hallowe’en Spooktacular runs at the company’s Highland Park theater through November 8, with costume parades taking place at every show in October. 
 

Fright Fest introduces Final Destination: Death's Playground and Wolve's Blood to this year's Haunted Mazes at Six Flag's Magic Mountain. On select dates between September 18 and November 1, you'll also scream for The Conjuring Universe and Trick 'r Treat. Brace yourself for Scare Zones like City Under Siege, Devil's Triangle and Exile Hill, check out the new zombie extreme sports show Nytewalkers and snack on themed bites and drinks. 

Fallen Angel, the return of a rock band whose last rehearsal ended in flames, launches at Los Angeles Haunted Hayride on September 18. The new haunt joins Elvira’s Trick or Treat Mayhem and Hellbilly Halloween, along with the Scary-Go-Round, Madame Aurora’s Seance Theatre, Zombie Splat Gellyball Experience and more scares for all ages at Griffith Park through November 1. 
 

Get lost in Dark Harbor’s mazes, like new addition Shipwrecked, at the Queen Mary beginning September 18. In addition to six haunted mazes, this year’s Halloween event includes Scary Mary’s Dark Séance, speakeasies, escape games, live entertainment, a dance party in the ShipYard and much more. Dark Harbor runs through November 1. 
 

Magic of the Jack O’ Lanterns returns to South Coast Botanic Garden on September 18 with more than 10,000 carved pumpkins that will light up a mile-long walking trail for this family-friendly event. Look out for s’mores stations, a bounce pad and slides, plus food and beverages on site. Magic of the Jack O’ Lanterns runs through November 1. 

Night of the Jack is back with a reimagined interactive experience for the 2026 Halloween season. New additions include a redesigned trail with hand-carved pumpkins, glowing lantern installations, projection mapped scenes, LED displays and a carnival. For those who are 21+, the Spookeasy is back with themed cocktails.
 

The Academy Museum’s latest exhibition, The Horror Show, is the creepy event you can view well after the Halloween season ends. Opening on September 26, the exhibition will continue through July 25 of 2027 and includes galleries named for specific types of horror films, including Gothic, Psychological and Slasher movies. Gain insight into movies like Dracula, Alien, Ringu and Get Out. While you’re there, enter the interactive experience Zombies! Between September 26 and October 25, you might have the chance to catch a horror classic from the John Carpenter: Prince of Darkness film series. 
 

Rooftop Cinema Club kicks off October with screenings of Practical Magic and The Conjuring and continues the Fright Club programming throughout the month with a slate of films from Psycho to Obsession. Get your furry pal’s costume ready for the dog-friendly Wooftop screenings of The Addams Family (October 2), Practical Magic (October 9), Hocus Pocus (October 13 and 30) and Sinners (October 24). 
 

7th House brings a month full of atmospheric horror films to Philosophical Research Society this October with the film series A Kind of Hush: Cinema of Ambient Dread. Amongst the selections are The Changeling (October 9), George Romero’s Season of the Witch (October 11), Full Circle (October 15), Messiah of Evil (October 20), Next of Kin (October 23) and Let’s Scare Jessica to Death (October 27)
 

Venture to Descanso Gardens after dark in October for  Carved, a family-friendly event with carved pumpkins, wood spirits and an illuminated train. Seasonal food and drinks will be available and mark your calendar this year's Halloween trick-or-treat event on October 31. 

Paul F. Tompkins (Bojack Horseman) and Paget Brewster (Criminal Minds) and the WorkJuice Players are back for another Thrilling Adventure Hour when An Evening Beyond Belief takes to the Dynasty Typewriter stage for two shows, 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., on Saturday, October 10. 
 

Bob Baker Marionette Theater and Screen Novelties are teaming up again for the annual Spook-a-Nanny event at Heritage Square Museum on Sunday, October 18. The evening event features vintage Halloween clips sourced from physical media and classic Bob Baker Marionette numbers for a family-friendly event. 
 

Vincent Price Art Museum celebrates the legacy of their namesake and horror movie icon, Vincent Price, on Friday, October 23. The museum’s origins are in Price’s 1957 donation of 90 pieces from his own collection to ELAC and, for this fundraising event, guests will enjoy screenings of his films, as well as after-hours access to the museum. Costumes are encouraged. 
 

Bob Baker Marionette Theater and The Elysian present the 4th Annual Hallowe’en Costume Ball, which benefits the historic marionette theater. This year’s event includes a performance of Hallowe’en Spooktacular, as well as a costume contest, DJ Kindness, special guests and more. Tickets for the 21+ costume party are available at multiple price points. 
 

The Academy Museum celebrates Halloween on Saturday, October 24 with Monster Mash. Activities include special effects makeup tutorials, monster meet-and-greets, tours of new exhibition The Horror Show and film screenings. Younger children will want to catch Hotel Transylvania at 11 a.m., while older kids and teens may want to stick around for Blade at 2:30 p.m. or Horror of Dracula at 7:30 p.m. 
 

Author Gary D. Rhodes celebrates his new book, Weidumentary with screenings of 1970s and 1980s fact-or-fiction documentaries at Philosophical Research Society on October 28. There will also be a screening of EXP TV’s film collage Bizarre Encounters with Mysteries from Beyond the Amazing World of Unknown Forces in Search of Psychic Phenomena. 

Union Station’s free, family-friendly afternoon Halloween party returns on Saturday, October 31. Boonion Station will take over the South Patio for costume contests, trick-or-treating and more activities including a Once Upon a Monster art session with Metro Art and a Monster Poetry Booth. DJ Kenyon in the Mix will spin the tunes and stiltwalkers roam through the crowd. 

Emmy winner Dana Gould talks about his friendship with Maila Nurmi, aka Vampira, when Philosophical Research Society puts the spotlight on the seminal horror film host on October 17. There will also be a screening of Vampira interviews and archival footage, as well as a display of Kevin Segall’s collection of Vampira items. 
 

After selling out Union Station in previous years, Underrated Presents is bringing its Halloween party, The Maze, to the Arts District for an indoor-outdoor block party featuring a live performance from The Blaze, DJ sets from Arcade Fire, Claude Vonstroke and more. Explore hidden paths and installations throughout the space as you encounter roaming performances and multiple stages. Costumes are encouraged. 
 

Danish DJ/producer heads to Hollywood on Saturday, October 31, to helm a Halloween Dark Disco at Academy LA. 
 

Exchange LA hosts a Masquerade of the Dead on Halloween with Dillon Francis in the DJ booth.