Where to Spend Halloween Weekend in Los Angeles

Juliana Jurenas

Los Angeles is loved for its perfect weather, but it’s also known for having endless options for locals to celebrate the holidays, with Halloween being a particular favorite. Eerie events occur throughout October, but on Halloween the city stirs its cauldron with special one-night-only potions. Whether you’re looking for the best costume contest or a way to test your tolerance for fear, feast your eyes on the top places in L.A. to spend your Halloween.

Knott’s Scary Farm – The largest theme park Halloween event occurs at Knott’s Berry Farm. Since 1973, Knott’s “Scary” Farm has been perfecting the park’s Halloween transformations, making this the 42nd year for a frightening fun fest. Complete with mazes, scare zones and shows that hang America’s most-hated celebrities, there’s a little evil on display for everyone. Get to the park early for the Boo-fet feast and to encounter some ghoulish goons before you meet your fate.

Santa Monica Boulevard Halloween Carnaval – A free event, the Halloween Carnaval is a full-fledged street party with live entertainment and food vendors catering to 500,000 creatively dressed attendees. Starting at 6 p.m., walk along the streets of Santa Monica Boulevard for the best people-watching event in West Hollywood. And be sure to catch the crowning of the “Queen of the Carnaval.”

The Abbey – If you’re looking for a fruitier treat in your Halloween candy basket, head to the Abbey, one of West Hollywood’s most popular gay clubs. Elizabeth Taylor frequented this popular spot before her death — and if you visit the Abbey on Halloween this year, you’ll find 50 Elizabeth Taylor lookalikes. No matter your sexual preferences, this is the venue for dancing the night away.

Alone Experience – Not for the feebleminded, the Alone Experience is for anyone seeking a spine-chilling fearful night. Advertised as “an existential haunting,” Alone takes you through a 30-minute walk — while you’re all alone. A twist on the typical haunted house, this thought-provoking exploration places you as the victim of your own thoughts while allowing fearless actors to touch, pull, drag and truly scare the living daylights out of you. The location is unknown until you buy a ticket online and receive an email of where to show up, and you’ll get a safe word before you enter.

The Theatre at Ace Hotel’s Haunted Hotel Bash – In its inaugural year, the Theatre at Ace Hotel is introducing an artistically pleasing party with special events inside the theatre that’s been haunting Hollywood since 1927. The night will start with a screening of John Carpenter’s “Halloween” followed by a massive dance party with a crowd of ghoulish characters luring you into the maze of the Haunted Hallway to share the true stories and secrets that haunt the hotel. Take advantage of the rooftop bar and don’t show up without a costume or you’ll have a beastly bouncer turning you away.

Cabaret de L’Enfer at the Edison – The Edison Downtown is calling for all Gatsby-influenced costumes this Halloween season. With the atmosphere of a speakeasy, the Edison is featuring an evening that pays homage to what Halloween used to be: a collection of alarming acts that includes stilt walkers, tarot readings and dark-spirited dancers.

Halloween at the Roosevelt – The Roosevelt Hotel will be crawling with celebrities and socialites on Halloween as it hosts one of the biggest events in Hollywood. Spanning the entire property, including the Tropicana Pool and Bar, all 40,000 square feet will be decked out from top to bottom while offering music, booze, screams and starlets.

Santa Monica 2nd Annual Zombie Crawl – Usually, it’s ideal to avoid clustering zombies as they wander the streets. After a successful turnout in 2013, the Halloween zombies are returning to freakily frolic the haunts of Santa Monica. Put on your zombie gear and join your questionably dead-or-alive comrades from bar to bar while earning drink specials throughout the night — but you only reap the benefits if you walk with your arms extended.

The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor – Board the Queen Mary on Halloween and explore the historic ship known for hosting Hollywood stars in the late 1930s. Queen Mary’s elegance is transformed into a delightfully execrable event with mazes and encounters with the ship’s ghoulish inhabitants. If you’re still not afraid after a night of apparitional activities on the Queen Mary, you can book a room aboard the ship. Good luck, mateys!

Venice Masquerade Enchanted Halloween Ball – You’ll see a little bit of everything at this Masquerade, as long as your mask doesn’t block your view. An evening showcasing L.A.’s top DJs, the Venice Masquerade is complete with costume contests, live performers, body paint, potion bar and enchanted photo booth. Each ticket purchase will help support the Venice Art Crawl and Full Circle Venice.