Posted by Looking to get in the Halloween spirit this month?
There are loads of experiences to take part in and around L.A. for lovers of Halloween and all things spooky, whether we’re talking theme park attractions, immersive adventures, haunted houses, tours, festivals, mazes, or pretty much anything else you can think of that’ll creep you out in the funnest way possible.
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And if you’re just looking for an excuse to dress up in your favorite costume, well we can provide that too.
Either way, think this list might be pretty fun.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=3&v=xBMvyLYh0s8
1. Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights
The 2015 edition of Universal Studios’s seasonal celebration of all things scary will include a smorgasbord of scary experiences and attractions, including 6 terror mazes (Walking Dead, Insidios, Halloween, This is the End, Crimson Peak, and Alien vs. Predator), a Terror Tram where you’ll have to survive “The Purge”, 4 unique scares zones, plus a live music show and access to Universal Studio rides such as Transformers 3-D, Revenge of The Mummy, and Jurassic Park in the Dark.
2. Dark Harbor at the Queen Mary
Queen Mary’s annual Halloween event featuring mazes, monsters and more, is back for 2015 with six mazes that will take you through never-before-visited areas of the haunted Queen Mary.
3. Beware The Dark Realm
Based off a medieval castle, Beware the Dark Realm is a high intensity walk-through attraction complete with flickering torches, stone walls, torture chamber, three-dimensional ghosts, live scare actors and fire breathing creatures. The haunted house is also non-profit Halloween haunt helping to raise funds/food for the local Santa Clarita Food Pantry.
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4. LA Haunted Hayride
The hayride posits itself as a “a high scare, high startle content experience” which basically means that you and a bunch of strangers get carted around Griffith Park in and old wagon while costumed characters, demons, witches, devils, and pretty much everything else you can imagine slink out of the shadows and terrify you (and you try not to pee your pants).
5. Knotts Scary Farm
For 2015, the Knotts Scary Farm features 11 menacing mazes, tons of interactive scare experiences and more than 1,000 monsters roaming the park and lurking in the fog, whatever you’re imagining, it’s here…at Knott’s Scary Farm. Knott’s Scary Farm takes place on select nights September 24 – October 31. Tickets go for around $46, but sure to check our friends at Goldstar for discount offers throughout the month.
6. Dearly Departed G-G-G-Ghost Tours
Scott Michaels’ Dearly Departed Tour series is one of the most knowledgable and enjoyable experiences you’ll find in L.A. if you’re looking to learn more about the dark side of Hollywood History. Christina and I did the tour last month and, frankly, we loved it! In addition to their regularly schedule weekly bus tours, they also offer an array of speciality tours, including their G-G-G Ghost Tour where a costumed undertaker will guide you along the Walk of Fame recounting tragic tales, stopping at historic crime scenes and haunted landmarks. The walking tour covers about 1 mile lasts around 90 minutes. Extended tour dates are offered throughout October and November.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Macch9HiBP8
7. Rise of The Jack O’ Lantern Festival
Attention pumpkin carving enthusiasts! The Rise of the Jack-O’-Lantern Festival features more than 5,000 hand-carved illuminated jack o’lanterns created by professional artists and sculptors arranged in creative ways along a 1/3-mile scenic walking trail all set to an original music score. In 2015 there are two L.A. locations where you can enjoy The Rise, at either Descanso Gardens or Santa Anita Park. ALSO: Check our friends at Goldstar for some discount ticketing options for The Rise throughout October.
8. LA Boo at the Zoo
Every weekend in October, the LA Zoo’s special season program offers live music, storytelling, fun photo opportunities, jack-o-lantern carving demonstrations, costumed characters, crafts and more. There will even be a “Graveyard Safari” to discover creatures that emerge in the dark corners of Los Angeles.
9. DTLA Haunted Tales Walking Tour
Want to learn about downtown L.A.’s dark side? The folks at Downtown LA Walking Tours have a special Haunted Tales walk to inform you on the most disturbing, spooky, and otherwise strange history stories from DTLA’s past. Takes about 2 hours, and costs $15.
10. Tapia Brothers Corn Maze
Tapia Brothers Farm in Encino puts on one insane corn maze complete with a map and trivia questions! Make your way through the maze searching for the answers, to be submitted into a drawing for a chance to win $100 cash. The pumpkin patch also offers a farmers’ market, kid friendly attractions, like bounce houses, hay wagon ride, tractor-pulled train and pony rides (weekend-only). The farm is located at 5251 Hayvenhurst Ave Encino, CA 91316.
11. Day of the Dead at Hollywood Forever (Oct. 24)
The 16th annual Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Day) festival will take place at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery on October 24 starting at noon. Come out and enjoy a day of traditional Mexican cuisine, arts, crafts, and plenty of costumed guests getting into the spirit of things. This year’s theme is “Shamanic Visions of the Huichol.” Admission is $20 for adults, children 8 and under are free.
12. WeHo Carnaval
On Halloween night, 2014, an estimated 500,000 people took the the streets in West Hollywood in one of the biggest Halloween celebrations in the entire world. Organizers are still in the process of finalizing this year’s lineup, but if it was anything like the festivities will be an event to remember.
13. Third Annual Santa Monica Zombie Crawl
On Halloween Night the 3rd annual Santa Monica Zombie Crawl returns to the westside a for spooky, costumed pub crawl filled with tons of food and drink specials at spots like Big Dean’s, Ye Olde King’s Head, Barney’s, and more!
14. ‘Nightmare Before Christmas’ at the Hollywood Bowl
Grab some friends, get yourself dressed up in your most Tim Burton-y costume, and head on over to the Hollywood Bowl where Danny Elfman, along a supporting cast of singers and full orchestral backing, will perform songs from The Nightmare Before Christmas during a special Halloween night screening of the (wow this makes me feel old) classic Disney film.
What are you doing to get in the Halloween spirit this year? Let us know in the comments below!
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