Rise of the Jack O’ Lanterns
Oct. 13-16; 27-30. At Rise of the Jack O’ Lanterns, 5,000 hand-carved, illuminated pumpkins line a walkway while a spooky soundtrack sets the mood, making it a perfect Halloween event for all ages. Ogle life-size works of art made out of multiple pumpkins, like the Chinese dragon. Los Angeles Convention Center (Oct. 13-16), 1201 S. Figueroa St., downtown; Fairplex (Oct. 27-30), 1101 W. McKinley Ave., Pomona, 818.639.8981. therise.org
Boo at the L.A. Zoo
Oct. 1-31. All month long, the Los Angeles Zoo offers Halloween fun the kids can get in on at Boo at the L.A. Zoo, with haunted caves, a cornstalk maze, pumpkin carving, creepy crafts and creature encounters, plus trick-or-treating Oct. 29-30. 5333 Zoo Drive, Griffith Park, L.A., 323.644.4200. lazoo.org
Drama After Dark: A Night of the Macabre With Poe and Gorey
Oct. 22. Halloween takes a dramatic turn at Drama After Dark: A Night of the Macabre With Poe and Gorey, taking place at the Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens. Walk the moonlit grounds (bring a flashlight!) and witness productions of chilling works by Edward Gorey and Edgar Allan Poe including The Gashlycrumb Tinies and The Tell-Tale Heart. Ages 10 and up. brownpapertickets.com
The Bride of Frankenstein
Oct. 31. In celebration of Guillermo del Toro, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art presents film series, Fuel for Nightmares, a curated series of the filmmaker’s cinematic inspirations and favorite films. On Halloween they will feature a special screening of The Bride of Frankenstein; additionally, the exhibition will remain open with extended hours after the museum closes, from 5-8 p.m. Also enjoy a cash bar with special cocktails by Patina. 5905 Wilshire Blvd., L.A., 323.857.6000. lacma.org
The WOK-ing DEAD Party
Oct. 28. One of the largest Halloween parties on the Westside features Top 40 and house music by DJ Frankie, costume contests and spooktacular food and drink specials from 8-10 p.m. 8 p.m.-2 a.m. $20 advance/$25 day-of/$35 VIP. Wokcano Santa Monica, 1415 5th St., Santa Monica. wokcanohalloweensm2016.eventbrite.com
Crawloween
Oct. 31. Hit downtown LA for a bar crawl of sinister proportions. Beelman’s Pub, Spring St. Bar, Library Bar and Sixth Street Tavern will be serving up themed soirees and ominous cocktails, $5 punch and more. 7 p.m.-1:30 a.m. acmehg.com
Zombie Crawl
Oct. 29. The undead rise in Santa Monica for the annual bar crawl that promises spooky drink and food specials all night. Crawlers will have access to food and drink specials at participating locations, and entrance into the official after party. 6 p.m. $12 advance/$15 door. Check in at Rusty’s Surf Ranch, 256 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica. zombiecrawlsm2016.eventbrite.com
West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval
Oct. 31. Billed as the largest Halloween street party in the world, the West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval sees 500,000 wildly dressed revelers turn out for its costume party, which features live entertainment, photo stations and food vendors. 800.368.6020. visitwesthollywood.com
Evil Dead in Concert
Oct. 25. Actor Bruce Campbell hosts Evil Dead in Concert—a screening of Sam Raimi’s 1981 cult horror film with a newly reimagined live score by composer Joseph LoDuca—at the Theatre at Ace Hotel. 929 S. Broadway, downtown, 213.235.9614. theatre.acehotel.com
Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror
Oct. 29, 31. LA Opera off Grand presents Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror. The movie palace is screening F.W. Murnau’s 1922 silent horror classic accompanied by a live performance of a new score by L.A. Opera’s chamber orchestra. After the Oct. 29 show, stick around for the Bloodsuckers Bash, the theater’s annual Halloween party featuring drinks, DJs and dark arts (ages 21+, costumes encouraged). 929 S. Broadway, downtown, 213.235.9614. theatre.acehotel.com
Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas
Oct. 28-30. Danny Elfman is back for Halloween at the Hollywood Bowl, singing along as Jack Skellington while Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas. The festivities also include a costume contest and trick-or-treating. 2301 N. Highland Ave., Hollywood, 323.850.2000. ticketmaster.com
Horror in the Hall
Oct. 31. On Halloween night, the Walt Disney Concert Hall hosts Horror in the Hall, showing the groundbreaking 1920 silent horror film The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, with Clark Wilson providing an improvised live soundtrack on the venue’s magnificent pipe organ. 151 S. Grand Ave., downtown, 213.972.4399. laphil.com
Los Angeles Haunted Hayride
Oct. 1-31. The popular Los Angeles Haunted Hayride, running all month, finds groups of scare-seekers piling into the back of a tractor to be paraded through Griffith Park’s Old Zoo. During this year’s Secret Society-themed event, riders are herded off the wagon to face part of the course on foot for the first time—with ghosts of hayrides past haunting their every step—to complete their initiation into an “elite” or “deranged” society. The Dark Maze and haunted village complete the experience. 4730 Crystal Springs Ave., Griffith Park, L.A., 310.993.8289. losangeleshauntedhayride.com
Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor
Sept. 29-Oct. 31. During the Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor—taking place all month—Long Beach’s ocean liner/hotel draws from its history, crafting modern-day scares out of the vessel’s haunted past. This year, the ship’s protector, the Iron Master, takes center stage with his new maze, Intrepid. Also on board are five more signature mazes, more than 200 monsters and a variety of spirited attractions. 1126 Queens Hwy., Long Beach, 877.342.0738. queenmary.com
Halloween Horror Nights
Sept. 16-Nov. 5. Universal Studios Hollywood’s iconic—and crazy packed—Halloween attraction features a fully re-imagined “Terror Tram” experience, four scare zones, seven movie-and TV-themed mazes based on the likes of American Horror Story, The Exorcist, Freddy vs. Jason and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. 7 p.m.-2 a.m. $89+. 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, 800.864.8377. halloweenhorrornights.com