Michele StuevenThe Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor in Long Beach takes place now through Sunday, Nov 2. One of the most infamous haunted experiences in the country returns with six terrifying mazes, live entertainment, speakeasies, and new storylines set aboard the famously haunted ship. New to the lineup is Voodoo: The Queen’s Curse, with a ruthless Priestess rising from a decayed bayou to seize the Queen Mary’s power, raising the dead, and marking anyone who strays too close. Stumble through potion shops, coffin factories, and poppet-stuffed shacks before a grand finale where lightning crackles overhead and zombie sailors surge below.
Delusion: Harrowing of Hell will be Nov 9 at the Variety Arts Theater through Sunday, Nov. 9, the longest-running immersive theater of its kind set in a Dante’s Inferno-inspired supernatural cult, where every choice determines the outcome. Convinced that the circles of hell are a necessary preparation for the afterlife, the Devotees of the Path claim to be conduits between worlds and guardians over the gates of hell
The Magic of the Jack O’Lanterns will grace the South Coast Botanic Garden until Sunday, Nov. 2, featuring thousands of hand-carved pumpkins, dazzling light shows, and immersive displays for a glowing garden walk, the perfect family-friendly night out.
Courtesy The Magic Of Jack O’Lanterns
Escape Halloween, the largest Halloween music festival in the world, takes place on Friday, Oct. 31, and Sat., Nov. 1 at the NOS Events Center in San Bernardino.
Escape will bring back its famed Psycho Circus theme, transforming the grounds into a twisted carnival of sound and spectacle. For its 2025 edition, there will be a lineup of more than 90 various global artists across five immersive stages, including the debut of a new main stage. The Ringmaster’s Troupe, an ensemble of performers, will roam the grounds, including Crazy Town, occupied by a host of mysterious characters and unseen supernatural forces. Sip cocktails at Poison Ivy, pick up goods from The Butcher, or settle in to witness the spine-tingling spectacle of the Fire Organ.
This year’s lineup features Marshmello B2B DJ Snake, Alesso, Dimitri Vegas, RL Grime, who will also showcase his label for a Sable Valley Takeover, Porter Robinson (DJ Set), deadmau5, KSHMR B2B R3HAB, NGHTMRE B2B Peekaboo, Amelie Lens, Eli Brown, What So Not, Gryffin, and several more.
Escape Halloween (Gina Joy for Insomniac Events)
For a glamorous spot to take in the spooky spirit of the season, Hotel Bel-Air will hold its annual outdoor ‘Halloween Movies Under The Stars’ series, featuring a new lineup of creepy classics screening Tuesday, Oct. 21 through Friday, Oct. 24. At twilight the silver screen comes alive in the hotel’s lush gardens alongside a menu of seasonal savory bites and sweet desserts, and a selection of signature cocktails. The movie series lineup includes Poltergeist, Death Becomes Her, and Scream. Reservations can be made via Seven Rooms.
And speaking of Poltergeist, according to Airbnb data, Simi Valley has one of the most haunted and fan-favorite listings in the US. The Poltergeist House is available this Halloween season for those who dare to book a stay. The original home from the fan-favorite 1982 film, the benign suburban house mixes Hollywood history with eerie nostalgia. Alongside the Simi Valley listing, Airbnb has a collection of haunted stays across the US, from homes where ghostly sightings are a part of the lore, to places with centuries-old haunted histories, and other properties inspired by classic Halloween movies and TV shows.
And what’s Halloween season without a trip to the Hollywood Forever Cemetery? Cinespia will have a supernatural night under the stars with the screening of Sinners on Friday, Oct. 17. There will be a Scream Halloween Party Fright Night On Friday, Oct. 31 with a costume contest and prizes, free candy giveaways, a light-up dancefloor party, neon photo moments, DJ sets before and after the film, beer, wine, and cocktails, free themed photobooth and other surprises. Tickets can be purchased at www.cinespia.org. For even more spirits, check out the new Hollywood Distillery across the street.
Hollywood Forever Cemetery (Courtesy Cinespia)
CineVita, the 15,000-square-foot Belgian spiegeltent at Hollywood Park next to SoFi Stadium, has Tarantino Live, running through Sunday, Nov. 16, with tickets available via Fever. The pulp rock production features musical moments from Quentin Tarantino films. During October, there will be nightly Jack Rabbit Slim’s costume contests with prizes for the best Tarantino-inspired looks, a cinematic graveyard on the front plaza, and themed cocktails like the Planet Terror Margarita and Pumpkin & Honey Bunny Buck. For non-alcoholic options, CineVita offers Death Proof Zero Proof Crafted Cocktails featuring Ritual’s spirit alternatives.
His films define modern horror cinema, and his music brings unforgettable nightmares to life. John Carpenter, one of the most famous names in horror movie history, will perform live for four nights at The Belasco Theatre in Downtown LA. John Carpenter Live is his first music residency, and it also features his son, Cody Carpenter, and Daniel Davies, marking the first time Carpenter has performed live since 2018.
“I’ve been setting my nightmares, dreams, and visions to music for a very long time, and there’s a lot to choose from,” Carpenter said in a news release.
His musical career has included composing scores for over 20 films, as well as five albums of Lost Themes, and has spawned the Halloween film franchise. Tickets are available here. Carpenter has partnered with PLUS1 to provide $2 from each ticket to the Anti-Recidivism Coalition, which supports incarcerated firefighters, and to the Best Friends Animal Society, helping animals impacted by the Los Angeles wildfires. Dates for the residency are Monday, Oct. 24, and Tuesday, Oct. 25; plus Halloween night, Oct. 31, and Saturday, Nov. 1.
Courtesy Night Of The Jack
Night Of The Jack is back for its eighth season now through Saturday, Nov. 1, at King Gillette Ranch in Calabasas, which will once again transform into a world of pumpkins, lanterns, and immersive art. This year’s trail is packed with more than 30 scenes, live pumpkin carving, interactive light installations, cutting-edge projection mapping, and plenty of photo-worthy moments.
This year’s highlights include new multi-sensory experiences using projection mapping and pixel technology that transform the landscape into a living, glowing canvas with family-friendly fun and adult escapes at The Spookeasy, with themed cocktails, craft beer, premium wine, hot cider, and cocoa. The food truck lineup includes Cousins Maine Lobster, Vivace Pizza, Baby’s Burgers, Cerda Vega Tacos, The Twist Churro Truck, and more.
Twix cupcake (Courtesy Sprinkles)
For some sweet treats, the Sprinkles Halloween BOOtique is now open and serving up limited-edition treats inspired by Halloween candy. Now through Sunday, to Nov. 2, the following cupcakes will be available for pick up and local delivery from Sprinkles’ Beverly Hills, Downtown LA, Manhattan Beach, and The Grove bakeries:
- Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup ($6) – Chocolate cake with a peanut butter core and frosting, ladled with chocolate ganache and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups to top it off
- Twix ($6) – Chocolate cake with cookie crust, filled with caramel, topped with dark chocolate buttercream, ganache, and mini Twix Candy Bars
- Cookies & Scream ($6, Oct 20 – 31 only) – A chocolate chip-studded yellow cake topped with cookies and cream frosting and a festive bat decoration.
Can’t pick just one? Try The Boo Dozen ($66.50, Monday, Oct 20 through Friday, Oct. 31). It includes 12 cupcakes in festive Halloween gift wrap for spooky celebrations. Flavors include three dark chocolate, three red velvet “BOO,” three black and white, and three pumpkin ghosts. There are also a variety of sweet and spooky boxes in various sizes and combos.
Partner Picks:
Boo-ze, Bites & Frights
🎃 BOO-ZE, BITES & FRIGHTS returns Oct 16–25 at Heritage Square Museum! Street Food Cinema’s 21+ Halloween experience features outdoor scary movies, haunted trails, spooky lounges, boozy bars, trick-or-treating, house tours, costume contests & more! 🍸👻
This year’s showcase partners include Lionsgate, Searchlight Pictures, Bloody Disgusting, Paramount Scares, and Pluto TV, each bringing their own cult classics, modern icons & immersive thrills. 🩸
🎟️ Tickets: streetfoodcinema.com
Evil Dead in Concert
🎬 Street Food Cinema, TIL Events & Black Ink present EVIL DEAD IN CONCERT — Oct 30–Nov 1 at the Million Dollar Theater in DTLA! Watch Sam Raimi’s cult classic The Evil Dead with a live orchestra ensemble performance conducted by composer Joe LoDuca. 👹🎻
Before the film, dare to descend into The Cellar, an underground horror experience with scare actors, immersive sets, and photo ops courtesy of Mystic Museum! 🩸
🎟️ Tickets: streetfoodcinema.com
Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas at the Hollywood Bowl October 25 & 26!
Disney Tim Burton‘s The Nightmare Before Christmas in Concert featuring Danny Elfman singing as Jack, Janelle Monae singing as Sally, Keith David singing as Oogie Boogie, Riki Lindhome singing as Shock, and John Stamos singing as Lock with incredible eye-popping projections that bring Halloween Town to life.
The holiday classic celebrates 10 years since its first show at the iconic venue! Conductor John Mauceri, founding Director of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, will once again be leading the full orchestra and choir performing the film’s full score as the special guests perform the film’s acclaimed songs live.
Get to the Bowl early to enjoy the Hollywood Bowl/Halloween Town transformation with special pre-show activities including a costume contest, unique photo opportunities, and trick-or-treating stations.