Gil Macias
If you think Halloween is still over a month away, think again. While most people around the country might associate All Hallows’ Eve with the fall foliage, scary movies, and Halloween festivities that normally surface in October, the spooky season has already begun as far as Los Angeles is concerned. Major theme parks around the City of Angels have already kicked off their annual Halloween events. From luminous pumpkin patches and family-friendly trick-or-treat bashes to actual haunted ships and thrill-ride theme parks filled with diabolical mazes and heart-stopping live-actions shows, here are the hair-raising local Halloween events we’re most looking forward to.
Universal Halloween Horror Nights
(Courtesy of Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights)
Universal Studios has such sights to show us this year. If you want an intense experience that features hordes of terrifying scareactors roaming the park and mazes filled with some of the most iconic freaks and monsters from the horror movie pantheon, Universal Halloween Horror Nights is unrivaled.
And this year is no exception. The major franchises with attractions this year include Hellraiser, Evil Dead Burn, Stranger Things 5, Killer Clowns from Out Space, and the Oscar-winning Sinners. Even the Prince of Darkness himself, the late Ozzy Osbourne, has a twisted, hellish maze named in his honor, featuring sights and sounds inspired by his best-known tracks. Slash of Guns N’ Roses also provides the soundtrack to Killceañera: a Día de Los Muertos-themed nightmare crawling with creatures from Latin American folklore. There’s also the Terror Tram featuring Art the Clown from the Terrifier franchise, who injects the Backlot with his own brand of Yuletide terror. It’s not all popular IPs though. In the original maze “Dead, Deader, Deadest,” you’ll walk through a creepy funeral home infested with resurrected corpses.
Open now until Nov. 1 on select nights. Ticket prices start at $77. Check the website for times and dates.
Knott’s Scary Farm
(Courtesy of Knotts Scary Farm)
Knott’s Scary Farm may not have the IP power that Universal has, but they make up for that with experience and pure imagination. For over five decades — the longest-running Halloween theme park event in the world — Knott’s Scary Farm remains the ultimate gold standard for unadulterated haunt culture, transforming the Buena Park theme park into a nightmare-fueled terrain packed with 10 haunted mazes, five scare zones, and three live stage shows — including the triumphant return of the irreverent pop-culture roast, The Hanging.
This year’s lineup introduces two sinister new mazes: “Inked,” where a washed-up 1930s cartoonist brings murderous toon creations to life, and “Unearthed,” an excavation site overrun by an ancient, awakened evil. And, of course, there are the ghoul-infested streets of Ghost Town, where you’ll dodge hordes of knee-sliding monsters through the ghostly fog at every step. If you’re hunting for raw horror without the Hollywood gloss, this is your unholy grail.
Open Sept. 17 through Oct. 31 on select nights. Ticket prices start at $65. Check the website for times and dates.
Six Flags Fright Fest
(Courtesy of Six Flags Fright Fest)
If you want a dose of high-octane adrenaline along with some terrifying mazes to satiate your hunger for Halloween frights, Valencia’s “Thrill Capital of the World” is for you, and this year, they’re dialing it up to 11.
Fright Fest at Six Flags Magic Mountain 2026 unleashes a relentless barrage of cinematic horror and sinister scare zones, with a maze lineup that leans heavily into heavy-hitting horror IPs. Step into the premonition-filled nightmare of Final Destination: Death’s Playground, face off against bloodthirsty lycanthropes in Wolves’ Blood, or brave the revamped, cursed artifacts inside The Conjuring Universe. Also back is Trick ‘r Treat where you’ll follow a twisted candy trail laid out by Sam, the demonic mini-mascot from the horror anthology classic. Scare zones like Thunderbolt Alley and Underworlds of Oz keep your heart pounding as you traverse from maze to maze or coaster to coaster.
Open Sept. 18 through Oct. 31 on select nights. All Season Haunted Attractions Pass add-on starts at $49, however, Fright Fest bundles, which include regular park admission with access to haunted mazes, start at $74. Check the website for times and dates.
Los Angeles Haunted Hayride
(Courtesy of Los Angeles Haunted Hayride)
The Los Angeles Haunted Hayride returns to the dark woods of Griffith Park for its 18th season. The cursed, 1980s-stuck town of Midnight Falls is back with its signature tractor-drawn hayride — complete with sway-pole performers, sinister soundscapes, and bone-chilling choreography.
This year brings the all-new Fallen Angel maze, trapping guests inside a tragic 1980s heavy metal concert gone wrong. Between returning haunts like Hellbilly Halloween, mini escape games, and an eerie Scary-Go-Round, guests can now sip 21+ adult spirits at themed bars. The location alone makes this event a quintessential autumn staple. With its unbeatable blend of rustic charm, campy nostalgia, and the surrounding foliage, the atmosphere just oozes with Halloween vibes. But most of all, the Queen of Halloween — Elvira, Mistress of the Dark — returns for her second year. Her maze, Elvira’s Trick or Treat Mayhem, is a must-see for fans of the legendary horror hostess and easily one of the highlights of this frightful event.
Open Sept. 18 through Nov. 1 on select nights. Ticket prices start at $34.99. Check the website for times and dates.
Queen Mary Dark Harbor
(Courtesy of Queen Mary Dark Harbor)
Southern California’s maritime haunt anchors back in Long Beach for its 13th season, and what better place to host a fright-filled event than on an iconic ocean liner that’s widely reputed to be one of the most haunted places in the world?
Dark Harbor delivers six bone-chilling mazes on the grounds just steps away from the Queen Mary, and yes, some of them actually take you through the dilapidated decks of the creepy ship itself. This year’s centerpiece, the all-new Shipwrecked: Brace for Impact, plunges guests into a blackout collision where drowned souls return for vengeance. Reimagined classics like Lullaby: Teddy’s Revenge and Infirmary: The Siren Song complement neon blacklight bumper cars, alien-themed rides, and live drag and fire performances. Within the mazes, the event’s five secretly hidden speakeasies — unlocked with special tokens — offer a unique escape aboard the world’s most haunted vessel.
Open Sept. 18 through Nov. 1. Ticket prices start at $58.99. Check the website for times and dates.
Disney’s Oogie Boogie Halloween Bash
Disneyland Oogie Boogie Bash (Christian Thompson/Disneyland Resort)
If you want a dose of Disney magic and a hint of mischief, Oogie Boogie Bash is an after-hours soiree that transforms Disney’s California Adventure into a spooky playground from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. For those worried about the intensity of the experience for the little ones, fret not — this is a family-friendly atmosphere.
You can wander through Villains Grove — an ethereal, fog-drenched lighting experience along the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail — or collect candy on Immersive Treat Trails hosted by iconic Disney villains. The party keeps jumping with “Madame Leota’s Swinging Wake,” a Haunted Mansion–themed street bash packed with dancers and spectral characters. Some of the attractions also get spooky makeovers, such as Guardians of the Galaxy – Monsters After Dark. Oh, and best of all, Halloween costumes are actually allowed for this event. This is one of SoCal’s ultimate fall traditions, so act now, because this event is known to sell out way in advance.
Open now until Oct. 31 on select nights. Ticket prices start at $139. Check the website for times and dates.
Magic of the Jack O’ Lanterns
(Courtesy of Magic of the Jack O’ Lanterns)
For an enchanting, family-friendly alternative to the more intense attractions above, Magic of the Jack O’Lanterns returns to Palos Verdes to illuminate the South Coast Botanic Garden with over 10,000 intricately hand-carved pumpkins arrayed along a sprawling, mile-long walking trail.
Guests can wander past glowing light displays, towering inflatables, and themed illuminated scenes — including a whimsical circus, a vibrant Día de los Muertos tribute, and an under-the-sea installation. With magical light shows synchronized to music every 30 minutes, interactive bounce pads for kids, fireside s’mores, and special 3D viewing glasses, it’s the ultimate cozy, atmospheric night out for ghouls of all ages.
Open Sept. 18 through Nov 1. Ticket prices start at $25.99. Check the website for times and dates.
Night of the Jack
(Courtesy of Night of the Jack)
Set against the scenic backdrop of Calabasas, Night of the Jack returns to King Gillette Ranch for its ninth season, delivering a glowed-up experience packed with family-friendly Halloween magic.
The centerpiece is a completely redesigned mile-long trail featuring thousands of hand-carved jack-o’-lanterns, giant lantern displays, and projection mapping that turns the historic ranch into a shimmering spectacle. Guests can stroll past themed environments — ranging from ancient mythology and dinosaurs to alien abductions and Kraken attacks — before diving into a first-time carnival area with rides, games, and inflatable attractions.
For those 21 and up, you’ll find themed cocktails at “The Spookeasy.” You can also grab a bite from a rotating lineup of top LA food trucks. It’s an atmospheric, light-filled autumn celebration without the jump scares.
Open Sept. 25 through Nov 1. Ticket prices start at $15.98. Check the website for times and dates.