In Los Angeles, once the calendar page turns to Fall, it means it’s time to start celebrating Halloween! When you were a kid, Halloween may have been a One-Day-Per-Year kind of holiday, but these days we have fun with it for 6 weeks or more.
Many of our favorite annual Halloween events have been cancelled this year, but brand new, super creative events are springing up to take their place. So Halloween is not cancelled!!
Even this year you can’t keep the Halloween spirit from breaking through, and there are lots of new and creative ways to enjoy the season. Keep checking back and we’ll keep adding new events as we find them.
Here’s a list of family-friendly ways to celebrate Halloween all over Los Angeles. From Stranger Things to Pumpkin Patches, Halloween is terrific Los Angeles-style!
Sponsored by Annenberg PetSpace
Family-Friendly Halloween in Los Angeles
LA Zoo’s Hair-Raising Halloween Extravanganza
5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles 90027
In addition to their Drive-in movies (see below), the LA Zoo is hosting a super fun Drive-thru experience. The Zoo’s parking lot will transform into a creepy campsite-themed drive-thru with custom installations, larger-than-life animatronics, haunting decor, photo opps, and a devilishly delicious candy station. Get in the spirit by dressing up and participating in a “virtual costume parade” for a chance to win a Zoo family membership, and the first 50 decorated cars to arrive will receive a pumpkin as well as a carving stencil depicting an L.A. Zoo animal.
Runway Playa Vista Halloween Happenings
12775 Millenium Drive, Playa Vista 90094
Fun activities for the whole family are happening this weekend in Playa Vista. Friday night screening under the stars of Coco, Saturday morning wicked workout with Orangetheory, Kids’ crafts and Candy Coach Trick-or-treating in the afternoon, are just some of the things taking place. Check out all the details on their website.
Haunt-o-ween LA – Immersive Drive-Through Experience
6100 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Woodland Hills, CA
Happening October 9-31st, from 3pm-9pm daily, this is being called a fun, immersive, interactive, and safe drive-thru experience. Hauntoween LA is being produced by an award-winning company that Hollywood turns to for large-scale, immersive experiences. This promises to be a kid-friendly, non-scary adventure chock full of mesmerizing, social-shareable environments, vehicle video ops, and unique interactivity. And of course, lots of CANDY and a pumpkin to take home.
Spooky Screenings with Street Food Cinema
Santa Anita Park
Street Food Cinema Drive-In is getting spooky at Santa Anita Park featuring Halloween favorites – starting with the Sanderson Sisters on Saturday, October 24 at HOCUS POCUS! The frightening fun continues the following week with back to back events. Friday, October 30, see what tricks are up the striped sleeves of BEETLEJUICE. Saturday, October 31, come give Halloween a Christmas twist with Jack Skellington and his gang of ghouls at THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS, and finally, celebrate Dia de los Muertos with Miguel at COCO on Sunday, November 1! Food available for purchase. Get tickets online and note all precautions that must be taken.
Platform Drive-through
3920 Landmark Avenue, Culver City 90232
The shops at Platform are offering multiple ways to celebrate this year, with a Drive-through Pumpkin patch and trick-or-treating, a spooky scavenger hunt, Halloween High Tea at Bianca, and special costume events on Halloween Day.
Haunted Little Tokyo
Little Tokyo, Downtown LA
Your family can enjoy the 4th Annual Haunted Little Tokyo, featuring a week-long series of in-person and virtual frightfully fun offerings from select businesses in Little Tokyo, including a socially-distanced scavenger hunt on Halloween night, a virtual mystery adventure and quest for candy, virtual ghost tours and campfire stories sharing ghost encounters, haunted tales, and paranormal experiences from the 136-year-old neighborhood, and a Halloween walking take-out event complete with appetizers and spooky spirits beginning Friday, October 23 – Saturday, October 31. See their website for more details and registration information.
Trick or Treat at Grand Central Market
317 S. Broadway Ave., DTLA 90013
For this year’s spooky season, Grand Central Market will be hosting a COVID-19 appropriate ‘trick or treating’ event. On Thursday 10/29 from 3 PM – close, families who are still hoping to maintain this Halloween tradition can come and trick or treat throughout the stalls of the historic Grand Central Market with candy and sweets provided to guests under the age of 12. (While getting candy from the Grand Central Market vendors, adults can stop and enjoy food from various lauded vendors such as Egg Slut, Belcampo Meat Co, McConnell’s Fine Ice Cream, La Huerta, and many more.) YUMMY.
Virtual Halloween Roblox Block Party by iD Tech
iD Tech is hosting a free virtual Halloween block party—it’s an online experience in a customized Roblox world featuring fun challenges and leaderboards. Virtual trick-or-treaters will be able to collect candy while navigating through Halloween favorites like haunted house obbys, a corn maze, costume shop, fortune teller, bounce house, hayride, virtual photo-ops, and more. And it’s FREE.
Halloween Scavenger Hunt – City of San Marino
San Marino, CA 91108
This year, the City of San Marino Community Services Department has created a fun alternative to trick or treating with a family adventure: a Halloween Scavenger Haunt. Families can join in the spooky monster hunt from October 28th through October 30th to try to find all of the monsters around town. All children with a completed map will receive a goodie bag prize. See website for all the details.
Halloween Scavenger Hunt – City of “Boo-bank”
Cities all over SoCal are hosting scavenger hunts for Halloween Fun and Burbank is all in! This game, happening only on Halloween morning, is all about finding 13 hidden scarecrows – and then getting prizes! Check out their website for more info – and have fun searching!
City of Signal Hill Halloween Scavenger Hunt
Another City joining in the Halloween fun in a new and safe way. Click through to their website to find out all the details for how to have fun on this scavenger hunt!
Haunted Ferris Wheel
Santa Monica Pier
The giant ferris wheel on the Santa Monica Pier will be sporting spooky Halloween colors and displaying a Halloween light show from Saturday, 10/24 until Monday 11/2, each night from dusk until midnight. Can’t make it out to the Pier? Check it out via their Live webcam instead.
Drive-in Movies at the LA Zoo
5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles 90027
The L.A. Zoo’s 2020 Halloween celebration rises from the dead with a spook-tacular four-night drive-in movie event starting Thursday, October 29, featuring Halloween classics. The Zoo’s parking lot will transform into a creepy-cool classic drive-in with a festively decorated entry, photo opps, and a candy pick-up station. Get in the spirit by dressing in costume for a chance to win prizes, and the first 50 decorated cars to arrive will receive a pumpkin as well as a carving stencil depicting an L.A. Zoo animal. Prices and info on their website.
Happy Halloween L.A.
Pico Rivera Bicentennial Park
11003 Sports Arena Dr., Whittier, CA 90601
Check out this Drive-through Halloween experience, perfect for families. More info about time and tickets on their website.
“Ha-LOEWS-ween”
Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel
1700 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica 90401
Enjoy Halloween themed outdoor movie nights, a festive brunch and new fall menu served at Blue Streak on our Oceanfront Terrace, sip on spooky cocktails, and look into the future with complimentary tarot card readings. When the sun goes down, reserve one of the fire pits and share scary stories while making s’mores (s’mores kits are complimentary all weekend). Open to hotel guests and the public alike tickets and reservations may be required. For more information or reservations please call: 310-576-3180.
South Coast BOOtanic Garden
26300 Crenshaw Blvd., Palos Verdes 90274
Explore the Garden in costume on Halloween (masks are required), and bring the kids for a Bingo game scavenger hunt, with prizes for great Instagram photos. BYO Candy. See the website for info. Advanced tickets required.
Lowe’s Curbside Trick or Treating and DIY Kids’ Workshops
Multiple locations, including:
2000 Empire Ave, Burbank 91504
Several Lowe’s locations around the Los Angeles area are having Halloween fun this year – 2020-style! Come celebrate Halloween with Lowe’s Drive-through Curbside Trick-or-Treating event! Register your child today so they don’t miss out on free sweet treats and a kid-sized pumpkin. Info on the website.
Fright Farms + Not So Spooky Farm
Silverlakes Sports Complex
5555 Hamner Ave., Norco, CA 92860
Fright Farms and Not So Spooky Farm are drive-through adventures that are designed to be engaged exclusively within your vehicle and in compliance with the CDC. They’ll be open from October 26th until November 29th and will take place across 5 acres of land on SilverLakes Athletic Complex centrally located in Norco, CA, about 60 miles west of Los Angeles and 30 miles from Orange County. Fright Farms is the more haunted choice and open to ages 13 and up while Not So Spooky is all ages and appropriate for the whole family. The interactive drive-throughs are completely contactless with prompts and protocols facilitated through FM transmission to vehicle stereo.
Halloween in the Park
Community Center parking lot
1605 E. Burnley St., Camarillo, CA 93010
Pleasant Valley Recreation & Park District (PVRPD) is excited to announce a much-modified version of its annual Halloween in the Park event. This year, the District has tailored the event to be in-line with COVID-19 safety precautions. The event will consist of a lighted Trick-or-Treat Village Drive-Thru. This is a free event held for the community to enjoy, providing a convenient way for local children to go Trick-or-Treating without having to go door to door.
Nights of the Jack
King Gillette Ranch: 26800 Mulholland Hwy, Calabasas, CA 91302
In 2020, Nights Of The Jack has become a Drive-through experience. Running from October 1st – November 1st, this beloved Los Angeles Halloween tradition has pivoted for the new reality and will offer safely-distanced family fun. Get on the waitlist for tickets.
The Gentle Barn’s Haunted Barnyard & Halloween Experience
15825 Sierra Highway, Santa Clarita 91390
The Gentle Barn is offering 2 levels of Halloween spookiness – one that’s safe for all ages and one that’s going to have you quaking in your driving boots. Check out their website for all the info and tickets.
Urban Legends Haunt
OC Fairgrounds, 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa 92626
Not for the faint of heart, this drive-through is billed as an immersive experience, with terrifying sets, special effects monsters, and live performances. They don’t recommend the event for kids under 10.
Los Angeles Haunted Hayride
Griffith Park (Old Zoo)
4730 Crystal Springs Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90027
The Haunted Hayride is happening in 2020 – as a Drive Up Experience, and is for true horror fans. Starting September 25th on select nights. Besides the Hayride, there’s the town of Midnight Falls, Midnight Mortuary, Roadkill Ranch, and mini escape games to play. Not recommended for kids under 12. See their website for dates, times and ticket prices.
Scarium of the Pacific
Aquarium of the Pacific
100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach, CA 90802
Everyone is invited to explore outdoor exhibits in search of the creatures lurking in the depths at the Aquarium of the Pacific during its Scarium-themed weekend October 23 to 25, 2020. Guests can enjoy spooky décor and creepy creatures on these special days. You can see lorikeet birds eating pumpkins, and look for pumpkins in the animal exhibits, such as the June Keyes Penguin Habitat and mudskipper exhibit. The Aquarium is inviting everyone to wear family-friendly costumes when visiting during Scarium of the Pacific. Islands is providing Kids Free Meal certificates each day of Scarium to the first 200 children in costume as they enter the Aquarium. Advance tickets required.
Freeform’s Halloween Road Drive-through Experience
Heritage Square Museum, Los Angeles
Freeform’s Annual 31 Nights of Halloween will be back this year on TV, and in addition, they’re bringing it to life with an immersive drive-though experience being held at the Heritage Square Museum. Tickets are FREE but they become available September 12th and will probably “sell out” quickly.
Halloween at Miniland – Legoland California
1 Legoland Drive, Carlsbad 92008
LEGOLAND® California Resort welcomes all families to join them for a Halloween-themed outdoor retail and dining experience every weekend in October, with festive LEGO® décor, and distanced character meet-n-greets. Guests can navigate a Halloween-themed Scavenger Hunt in Miniland U.S.A. Kids will leave with a goody bag of candy at the end of their visit!
Big Jack & Scavenger Hunt at Citadel Outlets
100 Citadel Drive, Los Angeles 90040
Throughout October, the Citadel Outlet Mall will host Big Jack, a colorful steel installation standing more than 16 feet tall, spanning 15 feet in diameter and weighing 1,500 pounds. The larger-than-life Big Jack will be surrounded by a spooktacular display perfect for Instagramming. Guests can take part in the month-long “Let’s Track Jack & His Friends” scavenger hunt.
Halloween at Descanso
1418 Descanso Dr., La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91011
There will be a month of pumpkin fun for families, from October 1 – 31st, at Descanso Gardens. Guests will see a pumpkin house, a pumpkin arch, and even a mandala of pumpkins. Advanced tickets are required.
Stranger Things Drive-Into Experience
Downtown Los Angeles
Tickets may have sold out very quickly, and we look forward to this amazing one-of-a-kind experience.
Haunted Highway
Santa Clarita
This brand new drive-through experience for Halloween has already sold out – so popular!
Looking for Pumpkins? Check out our list of the Best Pumpkin Patches.
Ready to Get Dressed Up? Check out our list of the Best Costume Shops in Los Angeles!
Halloween Events Cancelled for 2020
We all have our fingers crossed these events will be back for 2021, but they have been officially cancelled for 2020.
Knott’s Scary Farm and Spooky Farm
8039 Beach Blvd., Buena Park, CA
Oogie Boogie Bash – A Disney Halloween Party
Disney California Adventure Park
1313 Disneyland Dr., Anaheim, CA 92802
Fright Fest
Six Flags Magic Mountain
26101 Magic Mountain Parkway, Valencia, CA 91355
Boo at the Zoo
5333 Zoo Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90027
Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood
100 Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal City, CA 91608
Halloween Organ and Film
Walt Disney Concert Hall
111 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90012
Pumpkin Nights
Fairplex
1101 W. McKinley Ave., Pomona, CA 91768
Kidspace Museum Pumpkin Festival
Brookside Park in front of Kidspace
360 N. Arroyo Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91103
Carved
Descanso Gardens
1418 Descanso Dr., La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91011
Castle Dark for Halloween at Castle Park
3500 Polk Street, Riverside, CA 92505
The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor
1126 Queens Highway, Long Beach, CA 90802
MomsLA is your source for Things to do with Kids in Los Angeles.
Disclaimer: MomsLA has made every effort to confirm the information in this article; however, things can often change. Therefore, MomsLA makes no representations or warranties about the accuracy of the information published here. MomsLA strongly urges you to confirm any event details, like date, time, location, and admission, with the third party hosting the event. You assume the sole risk of relying on any of the information in our list. MomsLA is in no way responsible for any injuries or damages you sustain while attending any third party event posted on our website. Please read our Terms of Use which you have agreed to based on your continued use of this website. Some events have paid to be listed on MomsLA.
