Scaring up Halloween fun for all ages in and around L.A.
Kids are fixated on Halloween night costumes and trick-or-treating, but the days leading up to the candy-filled evening also provide lots of opportunities for quality family time. This fall season, Southern California is full of kid-friendly outings such as haunted hayrides and Day of the Dead dancing. Here’s a guide to All Hallows’ Eve events for all ages.
Every parent knows kids and wild animals sometimes resemble each other, so it’s only fitting that both get to join the fun at this annual event. Youngsters encounter creepy critters, dance and sing along to live music, and trick-or-treat while bears, otters and other animals play with and munch on pumpkins. Los Angeles Zoo, 5333 Zoo Drive, L.A. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat.-Sun. Adults $14, seniors $11, children $9 (free younger than 2 years old). (323) 644-4200. www.lazoo.org.
The annual Day of the Dead celebration at Hollywood Forever cemetery is truly a multicultural event, combining traditional Mexican and Aztec ceremonies with contemporary music and entertainment. This year will also celebrate African burial rituals, Chilean folk culture, the bicentennial of Mexican independence and the centennial of the Mexican Revolution. Hollywood Forever, 6000 Santa Monica Blvd., L.A. 2 p.m.-midnight Sat. $10 (children younger than 10 free). (323) 447-0999. https://www.ladayofthedead.com.
‘Dia de los Muertos: Cuentos de mi Familia’ & ‘Halloween Stories’
Two family-friendly theater productions will expose young audiences to Latin American culture and classic gothic literature. Saturday’s show delves into Dia de los Muertos folklore, and Sunday’s includes portions of Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven” and Oscar Wilde’s “The Canterville Ghost.” Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum, 1419 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga. 11 a.m. Sat.-Sun. $8. (310) 455-2322. https://www.theatricum.com.
Star Eco Station, an animal-rescue center and museum, offers a fairytale trick-or-treat village with an environmental twist. A walking tour leads visitors through such entertaining, educational set pieces as “Alice and Water-land” and a version of “Little Red Riding Hood” extolling the benefits of eco-friendly vehicles. Star Eco Station, 10101 Jefferson Blvd., Culver City. Noon-6 p.m. Sat.-Sun. Adults $8, seniors $7, children $6 (one child free per paying adult). (310) 842-8060. https://www.ecostation.org.
An old-fashioned pumpkin patch with farm animals and kids activities by day, the Harvest Festival turns sinister as night falls, with a corn maze, a haunted house and hayrides. Pierce College Farm Center, 20800 Victory Blvd., Woodland Hills. 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Sun.-Thurs. 10 a.m.-midnight Fri.-Sat. $4-$25 (free for children younger than 3). (818) 999-6300. https://www.halloweenharvestfestival.com.
Knott’s Scary Farm Halloween Haunt
The originator of the haunted theme park, Knott’s has been frightening folks after-hours for 38 years. The park features 13 themed mazes filled with monsters, ghosts, ghouls and mutants. Not recommended for children younger than 13. Knott’s Berry Farm, 8039 Beach Blvd., Buena Park. 7 p.m.-1 a.m. Wed., Thurs., Sun. 7 p.m.-2 a.m. Fri.-Sat. $33-$50 in advance, $56 at the gate. (714) 220-5200. https://haunt.knotts.com.
These tractor-drawn, hay-filled wagon rides lead the fearless and the faint-hearted through the haunted woods of Griffith Park’s Old Zoo, which is populated by all manner of things that go bump in the night. Young children can enjoy a carnival and hay maze. Griffith Park Old Zoo, 4730 Crystal Springs Ave., L.A. 5 p.m.-10:30 p.m. Thurs., Sun. 5 p.m.-midnight Fri.-Sat. $30-$40. (310) 993-8289. www.losangeleshauntedhayride.com.
’ The Nightmare Before Christmas’
While many multiplexes are touting 3-D offerings, El Capitan goes one step further: Tim Burton’s beloved stop-motion film will screen in “4D,” which augments the usual 3-D with atmospheric special effects such as wind and fog in the theater. El Capitan Theatre, 6838 Hollywood Blvd., L.A. Multiple showtimes Mon.-Sun. $11-$23. (818) 845-3110. https://www.elcapitan.go.com.
The daytime PumpkinLiner and the spookier Search for the Headless Horseman dinner train whisk passengers to Ichabog, a private pumpkin patch decked out with carnival games, arts and crafts, food and entertainment. Fillmore & Western Railway, 364 Main St., Fillmore. 7 p.m. Fri. 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. Sat.-Sun. $10-$19 (PumpkinLiner), $24-$47 (Headless Horseman). (805) 524-2546. https://www.fwry.com.
The iconic ocean liner’s macabre makeover may be seasonal, but legend has it the Queen Mary is genuinely haunted. Dark Harbor presents three shipboard and two onshore fright-filled mazes paying homage to the vessel’s storied history. Queen Mary, 1126 Queen’s Highway, Long Beach. 7 p.m.-midnight Wed.-Sun. $35. (877) 342-0738. https://www.queenmary.com.
‘Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein’
As part of the Hammer Kids Family Flicks series, the museum screens the classic comedy- horror film in which Bud Abbott and Lou Costello tangle with Dracula, Frankenstein’s monster and the Wolf Man. Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. 11 a.m. Sun. Free. (310) 443-7000. https://hammer.ucla.edu.
This neighborhood festival features live entertainment, games, community info booths, food, a costume contest, a Halloween parade and trick-or-treating. Early birds can attend a pancake breakfast at 8 a.m. Center Street Promenade, Anaheim. (714) 999-3456. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sat. Free. https://www.anaheimfallfestival.org.
Movie buffs can check out memorabilia from six of the most terrifying films of all time in the Hollywood Museum’s spooky special exhibition (if they dare). Items on display include the masks of Jason Voorhees and Michael Myers, Hannibal Lecter’s jail cell and Boris Karloff’s mummy. Hollywood Museum, 1660 N. Highland Ave., L.A. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Thurs.-Sun. $15 for adults, $12 for children. (323) 464-7776. https://www.thehollywoodmuseum.com.
Fright Fest
Magic Mountain goes from theme park to scream park with haunted mazes, monsters roaming about, creepy live shows and a Trick or Treat Trail for the little ones. Six Flags Magic Mountain, 26101 Magic Mountain Parkway, Valencia. 10:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Fri.-Sun. $59.99 general admission, $34.99 for children under 48 inches, free for children age 2 and under. (661) 255-4100. https://www.sixflags.com.
Master puppeteer Bob Baker’s Halloween show features more than 100 characters, including the Purple People Eater, the Invisible Man and a troupe of Roaring ‘20s skeletons. Bob Baker Marionette Theater, 1345 W. First St., L.A. 10:30 a.m. Tues.-Fri. 2:30 p.m. Sat.-Sun. $20. (213) 250-9995. www.bobbakermarionettes.com.
Halloween Horror Nights
Horror movies come to life at Universal Studios, as brave souls encounter Freddy Krueger of “A Nightmare on Elm Street,” Jason Voorhees of “Friday the 13th” and the gruesome booby traps from the “Saw” series. The event offers five new haunted mazes, scare zones, roaming creatures, a terror tram and a new installment of “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure Halloween Show.” Universal Studios, 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City. 7 p.m.-1 a.m. Thurs., Sun. 7 p.m.-2 a.m. Fri.-Sat. $59. (800) 864-8377. https://www.halloweenhorrornights.com.
Halloween Youth Carnival and Doggy Costume Contest
Sunday night’s West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval draws raucous crowds, but these sister events the day before are for young folks and dog lovers. There will be costumes, prizes, game booths, entertainment, an inflatable bounce house and costume contest for dogs. West Hollywood Park, 647 N. San Vicente Blvd., West Hollywood. 3 p.m.-6 p.m. Sat. (323) 848-6503. https://www.weho.org.
Disneyland attendees can dress up in their scariest costumes and go trick-or-treating around the park, while also riding attractions, enjoying live music and playing games. Disneyland, 1313 S. Harbor Blvd., Anaheim. 7 p.m.-midnight. Fri., Sun. $59. (714) 781-4565. httwww.disneyland.com.
Howl-Oween Celebration for Kids & Canines
Moms, dads and little monsters are invited for an early evening of trick-or-treating. Local merchants will provide free goodies as kids go from store to store. Pet owners will also bring out costumed pooches for a dog parade. San Fernando Road between Magnolia Boulevard and Angeleno Avenue, Burbank. 4 p.m.-7 p.m. Sun. Free. (818) 238-5209. https://www.downtown-burbank.org.
Nightmare: A Haunted Attraction
Pomona’s Fairplex shows its dark side with five scary mazes filled with monsters, ghouls and ghosts. Not recommended for children under 13. Fairplex, 1101 W McKinley Ave., Pomona. 7 p.m.-11 p.m. Thurs.-Sun. $15. (909) 623-3111. https://www.fairplex.com/nightmare.
This haunted house is held in the oldest standing building in Pasadena’s Old Town, which is allegedly haunted by spirits of those who passed away within, many under mysterious circumstances. Appropriate for adults and teenagers; a kids matinee is also available. Sat.-Sun., noon-4 p.m. Union Savings Bank Building, 20 N. Raymond Ave., Pasadena. 7 p.m.-10 p.m. Wed. 7-11 p.m. Thurs. 7-midnight Fri.-Sun. $10. (626) 248-7652. https://www.oldtownhaunt.com.
Trick or Treat on the Boo-levard
Families will trick-or-treat along Glendale Boulevard in Atwater Village as local merchants and restaurants hand out candy and toys. Glendale Boulevard between Glenfeliz Boulevard and Revere Avenue, Atwater Village. 4 p.m.-9 p.m. Fri. Free. (323) 634-2862. https://www.atwatervillage.org.
The living dead return to Long Beach for an evening of grisly festivities including live entertainment, zombie-themed food and drinks, makeup stations and a screening of “Shaun of the Dead.” Fourth Street between Cherry Avenue and Junipero Avenue, Long Beach. 5 p.m.-midnight. Sat. Free. (323) 428-7411. https://www.mondocelluloid.com/zombiewalk.
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