There are so many spooky events sprouting across SoCal, and with so many of them being so popular, it's time to start thinking about purchasing tickets in advance.
Here are some of the events happening around town that are worth checking out.
Boney Island
This experience is tucked in the gardens of the Natural History Museum at Exposition Park. Attendees are greated with spooky displays that are fun for the entire family. Food trucks, magic shows and a robotic dog are also the highlights. And if you'd like, you can also particiapte in a scavenger hunt across the grounds. The light-up experience runs through Oct. 31. General admission tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for kids 3 to 12 years of age.
Santa Ana Haunt OC Nightmare
Have a hauntly good time at the opening of this event at 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4 at STC Anaheim Gardenwalk. The experience for all ages will feature haunted mazes. Tickets are $13 and can be purchased online.
The event willl take place on the following days:
- Oct. 17-20
- Oct. 24-27
- Oct. 31 - Nov. 3
Queen Mary's Dark Harbor
Each fall the Queen Mary transforms itself and the surrounding Long Beach harbor into a massive Halloween festival. It features haunted mazes, monsters, immersive attractions, live entertainment, carnival rides and more. The event started Sept. 20 and tickets start at $39.99. Tickets are available exclusively online.
Los Angeles Haunted Hayride
Opening night for this LA tradition will be Oct. 20. Tickets are now on sale. This event, which includes the hayride and mazes, comes with a warning that might be too intense for childen under 12 years of age. There will be opportunities for photos and grabbing food and drinks at one of the many vendors. Shuttle parking is available at the LA Zoo.
Nights of the Jack
This immersive experience will be back at King Gillette Ranch in Calabasas this Halloween season. The event will run from Sept. 27 to Nov. 2 and will include a variety of hand-carved and illuminated pumpkins. This family-friendly event is about three-quarters of a mile with lots of photo opportunities. There also will be food trucks for attendees to purchase food and drinks. Tickets start at $29.99 and up depending on when you attend.
Disneyland Halloween
Through Oct. 31, the Disneyland parks will transform for Halloween with themed attractions, entertainment and food. The Haunted Mansion also has reopened with a virtual queue that allows visitors to take a tour of the eerie estate’s macabre makeover.
Culver City Pumpkin Patch
Opening on Oct. 5, this Halloween haunt is a female-owned business that will return with food, entertainment and lots of pumpkins. Note that pets are not allowed at the patch. For guaranteed entrance to the patch, it’s suggested visitors purchase tickets online. Tickets range from $8 to $20 depending on the time and day.
Exhibiting Forgiveness
Opening to the public on Sept. 14, Gagosian in Beverly Hills will present Exhibiting Forgiveness, an exhibition of paintings by Titus Kaphar that inspired his upcoming feature film of the same name — which will be released in theaters Oct. 18 and stars Andra Day and André Holland. In addition to portraits, the Exhibiting Forgiveness paintings depict figures, façades of neighborhood houses, personal objects and ephemera. It runs until Nov. 2. To learn more, visit here.
Imaginarium
Through Oct. 20 at Ontario Mills, light meets magic at this walk-thorugh experience that displays more than five million lights. New activities have been added, including immersive activity rooms, a ball pit and more. Tickets can be purchased online.
Cinespia
The outdoor moviegoing experience has announced its October screening lineup, which includes "The Texas Chain Saw Massacre" (1974) on Oct. 5, "Trick 'r Treat" on Oct. 19 and a 15th-anniversary screening of "Coraline" on Oct. 12, all at Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Cinespia will also host a Halloween night screening of "Suspiria" (1977) at the Orpheum Theatre in downtown Los Angeles on Oct. 31. Tickets are available for purchase here.
Los Feliz Flea Market at Vintage Land
Although the name still includes "Los Feliz," the flea market has recently moved to a new, two-story space on the border of downtown LA and Echo Park and is now open every weekend on both Saturdays and Sundays. It is LA's only rooftop flea market — complete with views of the downtown skyline — and features two full floors of antique and vintage vendors. The flea also features food trucks, a full bar, a misting station for hot days, and is completely pet friendly — plus free admission and parking.
Jazz at LACMA
Every Friday evening through October, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art showcases jazz music at its welcome plaza. The concerts are free and seating is first come first served. Space is limited, but attendees can bring a blanket and a picnic to enjoy during the performance.
The Nova Music Festival Exhibition: The Moment Music Stood Still
At sunrise on Oct. 7, the peaceful festival was disrupted as thousands of Hamas terrorists invaded Israel, resulting in the murder of 1,200 lives, among them 370 festival attendees. The exhibition premiered in Tel Aviv for a span of 10 weeks and drew thousands who paid homage to the departed. Now, the team behind Nova has brought the exhibition to the West Coast, specifically to Culver City. The Nova Exhibition founders and their partners from the United States have recreated a sacred space resonating with the weight of the memories of both victims and survivors, enveloped by remnants salvaged from the festival grounds. Click here to purchase tickets. This exhibit has been extended until Oct. 20.
Puppets in the Park
Presented by Bob Barker Marionnet Theater and Hollyhock House on Sept. 14 and Oct. 12, this free ticketless event includes a performance followed by an art activity for families. Gates of the west lawn open at 9:30 a.m., with the puppet show starting at 10 a.m. and the art at 10:30 a.m.
Hollyhock House
Self-guided tours of the Frank Loyd Wraight house are offered from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday to Saturday. Advance tour ticket purchase is recommended.
Picnicking at Echo Park Lake
Having officially opened in July, the restaurant Piknik has taken over Echo Park Lake's boathouse, with Scandinavian-inspired fare alongside a laidback ambiance. Located between the swan boats at the water's edge, Piknik is open from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. A rotating selection of house-made ice cream is available this summer. Additionally, the restaurant offers Piknik baskets filled with artisanal treats for date nights or impromptu city escapes in the park's surroundings.