The Best Halloween Parties in Los Angeles

The Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy brings four of his works to macabre life: "The Tell-Tale Heart," "The Raven," "The Masque of the Red Death" and "The Black Cat." Taking place at the Grand Annex Music Hall in San Pedro, the 90-minute immersive experience includes four Poe-inspired cocktails: Pale Blue Eye, Cocktail of Red Death, Edgar's Twisted Brandy Milk Punch and The Nevermore. Tickets at Fever.

For his first-ever music residency, legendary horror maestro John Carpenter will be taking over The Belasco in Downtown LA for four concerts. The residency marks the first time he's played live since 2018. Carpenter will be joined by bandmates Cody Carpenter and Daniel Davies to perform music from classics like Halloween, The Thing, Escape from New York, The Fog, They Live and more. The band will also perform original music from the Lost Themes albums.

On Friday, October 24, Zebulon invites you to enter a realm of perpetual Halloween. Horror Hi-Fi, a Suspiria-meets-Studio 54 side project from the DJs behind Fleetmac Wood, features Alex Oxley and Roxanne Roll spinning a haunting night of Tech-Noir, Sad-Girl Disco, Zombie-Wave and Italo-Giallo. Free with RSVP at Dice.

The Huntington presents Strange Science, the annual weekend of gothic grandeur with mysterious tales, dark trivia and live performances. Dance to the DJ’s haunting beats, enjoy cocktails, and savor bites from local food trucks. Dress to impress and flaunt your most enigmatic look at the photo booth.

Enjoy views of Downtown LA from the 21st floor at Elevate Lounge, which is hosting The Halloween Costume Party on Saturday, October 25. Groove to DJs playing Top 40, Hip-Hop, 2000s, Reggaeton, EDM and more on the open-air dance floor. Free entry before 10:30pm, tickets at Eventbrite. Costumes not required but encouraged!

Experience an evening of Halloween Classics performed by the Orchid Quartet under the gentle glow of candlelight at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center on Sunday, October 26 and Thursday, October 30. The program ranges from Michael Jackson's Thriller to Night on Bald Mountain to themes from The Exorcist, Beetlejuice, Stranger Things, The Addams Family and more. Tickets at Fever.

Hollywood nightclub Sound gets spooky this Halloweekend with a triple threat lineup: Ben Sterling on Thursday, October 30; Bob Sinclair on Halloween Night and Moojo on Saturday. Tickets are on sale at Dice, including a three-day pass.

DJs Guy Gerber, Lee Burridge and Deer Jade will take you on a journey through The Maze on Halloween Night. Now in its second year, the indoor/outdoor event at Union Station will include neon tunnels, fog-filled rooms and shadowy dance floors. Costumes are encouraged for this eight-hour, multi-stage bash. Tickets at Eventbrite, including General Admission and VIP options.

Yoi Toki presents a Halloween Night of Future Funk and "kawaii chaos" at Teragram Ballroom. Future Funk maestro Engelwood will be headlining with support from LA's own Jan Sun and NY's GreenTeaWasted. Costumes and cosplay encouraged but not required. Tickets at Eventbrite.

It's two parties in one at The Virgil on Halloween Night when Nevermore and Music for the Masses join forces! Room One is hosted by Music for the Masses and features dark 80s New Wave; Nevermore takes over Room Two with Goth, Dark Wave, Industrial and Electronica. Tickets at Eventbrite include entry to both rooms.

The newly renovated W Hollywood is hosting a Halloween Masquerade in multiple spaces, including the Living Room, Garden and Café Goldie. Numerous bars will fuel the party while DJ Coolwhip and other DJs TBA will keep the spine-tingling grooves going all night. Tickets at Eventbrite including VIP options.

Expect non-stop Perreo when the legendary Catch One hosts the Queremos Reggaeton Halloween Costume Party on Halloween Night. Celebrating its two-year anniversary, Queremos Reggaeton presents a night of Reggaeton, Latin Music, current hits and pure energy. Tickets to the 18+ party at Eventbrite. Contact Queremos Reggaeton for bottle service.

From A Nightmare on Elm Street to Purple Rain, the inspiration for a 1980s costume is endless, so pick your favorite to hit up Thriller, the Halloween bash at Break Room 86 dedicated to that era. Table reservations are available and a 2-for-1 VIP ticket will grant you access to both Thriller and Le Freak, the disco-themed Halloween party at neighboring club Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. Tickets at Dice.

Terrifying True Stories is an immersive theater performance that takes guests through multiple buildings at Heritage Square Museum for 60 to 90 minutes of macabre stories that bring together haunted dolls, a Victorian Spirit Circle and other curiosities. Timed tickets are available at Eventbrite for Saturday, October 26 and Sunday, October 27. This is an all-ages event and a portion of the proceeds benefit Heritage Square.

Hollywood’s Saturday night goth party, Bar Sinister hosts its 15th Annual Ghostly Halloween Party at Boardners on Saturday, October 26 with go-go dancers, fetish models and more setting the vibe on two dance floors. In addition to DJs Jpeg, Noizith and Tommy, there will be live performances from Rosegarden Funeral Party and Sleeping Dog. Hosted by Kent Kaliber, the highlight of the night will certainly be the costume contest - first prize is $300!

Break out the bellbottoms and love beads, because you’ll need a 1960s costume for HollyWoodstock, taking place at Hotel Ziggy on Saturday, October 26. Costumes are encouraged at this throwback Halloween party presented by Stereo Punks with DJ Sophenom playing an open to close set. Tickets are on sale at Dice with table reservations available.

Explore The Huntington at night during the Pasadena institution’s annual Halloween party, Strange Science. Held the weekend before Halloween, this 21+ event includes talks on subjects like pet cemeteries, aerial and ballet performances, falconry and more. Guests will journey from a distant past on the Primeval Time Trek and have the chance to see The Huntington's PST ART exhibition, Storm Cloud.

Hollywood dance club Sound gets spooky on Tuesday, October 29, when Justin Martin plays Space Yacht, and keeps the beat going until Kyle Watson’s headlining gig on Saturday, November 2. In between, House Heads brings Blackchild and secret guests to the decks on Wednesday, October 30, Joseph Capriati plays on Halloween and Mahmut Orhan stops by on Friday, November 1. For those planning to spend the weekend dancing at Sound, there’s a three-day Halloweekend pass available that’s good for October 31 through November 2. Costumes are encouraged for all five nights.

With The Silent Light, composer and film director Michael Formanski and a cast of musicians perform heavy metal-inspired scores to silent films. On Halloween Eve, they’ll be accompanying F.W. Murnau’s German Expressionist masterpiece, Faust, at 2220 Arts + Archives in Historic Filipinotown. Tickets to this 18+ event are on sale at Dice.

Cult fave local publisher Bibliomancers is releasing a new book from Jennifer Juniper Stratford that dives into the video artist’s love of VHS. To celebrate, on Halloween MOCA will be screening selections from JJ’s Telefantasy Studios archive “channel surf” style, including a Pagan Panic Halloween Special. The free event will also include a book signing.

Celebrate Halloween with garage rock favorites Black Lips, who will be playing at Zebulon alongside Immaterial Possession and Pancho and the Wizards. The Cretin Hop’s rock ’n’ roll DJs will keep the party going. Tickets at Dice.

Cathode Cinema, which airs an eclectic collection of indie, underground and generally strange films nightly on cathodetv.com, take over Philosophical Research Society on Halloween for a party that will begin with their Spooktacular Video Mix and then segue into a DJ-driven dance party with drinks and a costume contest. Tickets at Eventbrite.

Flashback to the 1960s at Harvard & Stone on Halloween Night, when The Witching Hours presents a night of Halloween cover songs, featuring Daisychain playing the Velvet Underground; Britain’s Finest (The Beatles), Ingredient10 (The Doors) and Annie Wonder covering The Hollies. No cover, RSVP at Dice.

Celebrate the spookiest night of the year overlooking the city from Skybar at Mondrian. German producer Satin Jackets brings his sophisticated disco-house sound to the iconic venue for Halloween. Tickets are on sale at Eventbrite with table reservations available.

West Hollywood’s Halloween Carnaval is back for 2024! To experience the event, world-renowned for its large crowd of bedazzling, costumed party-goers, roam the stretch of Santa Monica Boulevard between Doheny and La Cienega. You’ll find the stage, DJs and food trucks at the intersection of Santa Monica and San Vicente and local businesses will be hosting their own events during the festivities.

For more info, including street closures and safety guidelines, visit the Halloween Carnaval website.