We’ve rounded up some of the best family-friendly Halloween events in SoCal for some spooky fall fun. From spider pavilions to trick-or-treating to immersive events, our roundup has you covered.
Interactive horror theater series returns to the historic Phillips Estate in Pomona Sept. 15. The one-of-a-kind Halloween event will include a new play “Delusion: Valley of Hollows,” which explores 1970’s American cults with a supernatural twist. $89.99 and up. enterdelusion.com
Get a glimpse into the secret life of spiders at Natural History Museum’s seasonal Spider Pavilion. From Sept. 18-Nov. 27 walk through the open-air pavilion to see spectacular webs, peer through glass into enclosed habitats and more. $7-$15. nhm.org
South Coast Botanic Garden hosts their own Spider Pavilion, featuring hundreds of live spiders, including tarantulas inside glass cases. Oct. 1 – Nov. 30. $5 – $22. southcoastbotanicgarden.org
The team behind L.A.’s Haunted Hayride joins Shaquille O’Neal for a new Halloween attraction: Shaqtoberest. On select dates beginning Sept. 29 through Halloween, guests of all ages can explore six themed areas on the historic Queen Mary in Long Beach as they are guided by O’Neal’s voice. Each area will include Halloween trails, games, live entertainment and food and beverage vendors. $29.99 and up. shaqtoberfest.com
Descanso Gardens’ signature all-ages fall event Carved returns Oct. 7-31 with its popular pumpkin house, hay maze, glow-in-the-dark face painting, live pumpkin carving and special Day of the Dead installation. $20-$38. descansogardens.org
It’s Halloween Time at Disneyland resort Sept. 2-Oct. 31. Downtown Disney and both amusement parks will feature festive seasonal décor such as the iconic Mickey Mouse pumpkin, Disney characters in brand-new Halloween looks and a nightly projection and light show, “Halloween Screams.” Certain rides will get seasonal transformations: Cars Land at Radiator Springs becomes Radiator Screams and the Haunted Mansion becomes Haunted Mansion Holiday a la Tim Burton’s “Nightmare Before Christmas.” Included with admission. disneyland.com
Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights includes even more scares than before, with two new terrifying haunted houses, The Horrors of Blumhouse and another based on the 1978 slasher film “Halloween.” Enjoy live entertainment, themed food and drinks and get terrified on select dates Sept. 8-Oct. 31. Recommended for ages 14 and up. $72 and up. universalstudioshollywood.com
With locations in Torrance, West LA, Hollywood and The Original Farmers Market, Mr. Jack O’Lantern’s Pumpkin Patch is your one-stop-shop for all your fall family fun. Each location has games and activities like themed bouncy houses, pumpkin decorating, corn mazes, animal feeding, photo stations and more. Open Sept. 29 through Oct. 31. Tickets, sold by the bundle, are required for the games. Admission to the pumpkin patch is FREE. mrjackolanternspumpkins.com
Celebrate Halloween on the Boardwalk on Oct. 28, with costumed boat rides, costume contest, DJ, prizes, giveaways, photo ops and trick-or-treating on the Boardwalk and Pier in Redondo Beach. FREE. redondopier.com
Mr. Bones Pumpkin Patch returns to Culver City Oct. 7-30 with a special Trick or Treat Spooktacular on Oct. 29 from 5 – 7 p.m. The family-friendly event will have a bounce house, straw maze, petting zoo, pumpkin decorating and plenty of pumpkins to choose from to bring the Halloween spirit home. $1 and up. mrbonespumpkinpatch.com
Don your costumes for special Halloween-themed classics with Rooftop Cinema Club throughout October. Catch spooky favorites like The Ring, Hocus Pocus, Practical Magic, The Craft, The Addams Family, The Blair Witch Project and more at the El Segundo location and at their newest location in the Arts District. Special screenings will feature themed décor, photo ops, special offers and more. $19.50 and up. rooftopcinemaclub.com
The 49th season of Knott’s Scary Farm returns with new haunting experiences on select dates Sept. 22 to Oct. 31. This year’s fest features 17 haunting experiences, including five scare zones, nine mazes and three sinister shows. Knott’s Scary Farm is not recommended for children ages under 13. $59 and up. knotts.com
Family-friendly immersive Halloween event, Nights Of The Jack, returns to King Gillette Ranch in Calabasas Sept. 30 through Oct. 31. Featuring thousands of hand-carved pumpkins and immersive scenes along the nearly mile-long walking trail, the annual all-ages event also offers food, drinks, and sweet treats from L.A.’s best food trucks and a full bar for the adults. $29.99 – $44.99. nightsofthejack.com
Time travel back to the ‘50s and ‘60s during this year’s Cemetery Lane at Heritage Square Museum on select dates Oct. 19 – 30. All-ages are invited to trick-or-treat through the gated “neighborhood” of Victorian manors, which will transport guests to a time when pop culture became fascinated with the Addams Family, the Munsters and other monster movies. The 45-minute to one-hour immersive experience includes 13 trick-or-treat stops, photo-ops, character interactions, vendors and food trucks. $27 – $32; free for ages 2 and under not trick-or-treating. cemetarylane.com
Outside of L.A., but worth the drive, is LEGOLAND’s Brick-or-Treat experience. This year’s kid-friendly Halloween celebration features new LEGO Monster characters, a scavenger hunt, costume contest and the premiere of the 4D not-so-spooky movie, “The Great Monster Chase!” Brick-or-Treat launches Sept. 17 and runs Saturdays through Oct. 29. Included with general admission, which starts at $89.99. LEGOLAND.com
For some all-around fall fun, make the drive to Underwood Family Farms in Moorpark for their 25th annual Fall Harvest Festival. Through the month of October, the 50-acre farm will feature a giant pumpkin patch, games, rides, photo ops, live entertainment, themed weekends and more. $14 – $28. underwoodfamilyfarms.com
Experiential Supply Co’s 3rd annual Haunt’Oween returns to Westfield Topanga Sept. 30 – Oct. 31. The family-friendly Halloween event features trick-or-treating, face painting, bounce houses, games, rides, photo ops, food, adult beverages and more. $40 and up. hauntoween.com
SeaWorld San Diego’s family-friendly SeaWorld Spooktacular features trick-or-treating, Halloween mermaids, dance party, hay maze, pumpkin hunt and more. Saturdays and Sundays from Sept. 17 – Oct. 30 and Oct. 31. Free for kids with a paid adult ticket through Oct. 31; $59.99 and up. seaworld.com
Halloween in L.A. isn’t complete without a ride on the Haunted Hayride, returning to Griffith Park select nights from Sept. 23 to Oct. 31. Walk through the Town Square of Midnight Falls, trick-or-treat and tour the Midnight Mortuary before or after your epic hayride. $29.99 and up. Recommended for ages 13 and up. losangeleshauntedhayride.com
Don your best costumes for Boo at the L.A. Zoo, which returns Oct. 1 – 31 with daily spooktacular sights and sounds. Weekends feature open-air live shows, animal pumpkin feedings, themed photo ops and more. Included with admission. lazoo.org
FORT:LA presents a self-guided tour of fantastical architectural homes in L.A. throughout October. The Witch Houses 3 Trail map, curated by “Buffy the Vampier Slayer” actor Amber Benson, will be available on Oct. 10. fortla.org
For more Halloween events, check out our calendar.
