Halloween starts in September and you can’t tell me otherwise. This year, more events than ever are popping up around San Diego and LA for epic screams, treats, and spooky delights.
You can expect a lot from this Halloween season from theme parks to haunted corn mazes and deliciously good treats.
This post is all about Halloween events in San Diego and Los Angeles for kids and adults.
I’ve included a complete list of events happening in San Diego that are kid-friendly and adult-friendly.
This season is perfect for all ages and there are so many events happening, that no one will be missing out.
2023 Halloween Events in San Diego & Los Angeles
Theme Park Halloween Parties & Events
Weekends in October, the San Diego Zoo transforms into HalGLOWeen, offering a family-friendly event with glow paths, dance parties, and nightly events for an enchanting Halloween experience.
SeaWorld’s Howl-O-Scream features haunted mazes, scare zones, and hair-raising experiences that will test your bravery.
Legoland Brick-Or-Treat Party Nights
Ideal for families, LEGOLAND offers a not-so-spooky Halloween celebration featuring costume contests, trick-or-treating, and special LEGO-themed decorations.
Experience the magic of Disney with a spooky twist, featuring elaborate decorations, and special character meet-and-greets at the Oogie Boogie Bash Halloween party, and enjoy the famous Haunted Mansion Holiday overlay.
Located in Buena Park, just a short drive from San Diego, Knott’s Scary Farm is the ultimate haunt destination. With mazes, scare zones, and live shows, it’s the perfect place for adrenaline junkies seeking a good scare.
Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights
Step into the world of your worst nightmares at Universal Studios, where you’ll encounter Hollywood-quality mazes, terrifying scare zones, and some of the most iconic horror movie villains.
For those who crave the ultimate scream, Six Flags Magic Mountain offers Fright Fest, with haunted mazes, scare zones, and spine-chilling thrills. Six Flags is also hosting an Oktoberfest food and beer festival during the day and a kids’ Halloween party for smaller scarers.
Pumpkin Patches
At Carlsbad Strawberry Company’s Pumpkin Patch, fall magic comes alive. Choose your pumpkin, try your hand at apple cannon shooting, navigate the haunted corn maze, and discover a hidden speakeasy for a memorable autumn adventure.
Tanaka Farms is your gateway to an immersive autumn experience. Hop on wagon rides, explore the barnyard educational exhibit, pick your own veggies, navigate the corn maze, choose your perfect pumpkin, enjoy arts and crafts, play festival games, try Farmer Golf, and don’t miss the thrilling Pumpkin Cannon for a day packed with fall fun!
At Palomar Pumpkin Palooza, it’s all about family-friendly fun. Dive into the pumpkin patch and join in the Halloween spirit with weekly movie nights, creating lasting memories for all ages.
This iconic pumpkin patch in Culver City is a must-visit, boasting a vast selection of pumpkins, a petting zoo, face painting and even a pumpkin decorating station.
Irvine Park Railroad Pumpkin Patch
Visit the beloved Irvine Park Railroad for their pumpkin patch, offering train rides, hayrides, and pumpkin picking in a scenic park setting.
Shawn’s Pumpkin Patch is a fantastic spot for family-friendly Halloween fun, with pumpkin picking, train rides, a petting zoo, and even a pony ride.
Food & Drink Halloween Events
Embrace the enchantment of witching season at the Witches of the Westgate Tea, a captivating event held on select days throughout October. This bewitching experience unfolds in the Westgate Hotel’s haunted Le Fontainebleau room, where guests are encouraged to don their most spellbinding costumes for a spooktacular photoshoot. Indulge in a delightful afternoon tea featuring house-made pastries, savory tea sandwiches, gourmet teas, and even creepy cocktails. For adults, there’s a glass of champagne to savor, while children receive a special take-home gift. It’s a magical celebration that adds a wickedly delightful twist to your Halloween festivities.
Join the undead fun at the San Diego Zombie Crawl, the ultimate Halloween club celebration. This thrilling event offers self-guided routes through 20+ haunting hotspots, complete with welcome potions, body painting, live entertainment, and plenty of dancing. Don your creepiest costume and prepare for a night of wicked delight in the Gaslamp Quarter!
Haunted Trails, Movie Nights & More!
Prepare for a bone-chilling adventure at The Haunted Trail of Balboa Park, an acclaimed Halloween attraction that CNN named one of the Top 5 BEST HAUNTED ATTRACTIONS in America! This spine-tingling experience offers two frightful haunts in one: a 3,500 square foot eXperiment Maze featuring twisted fairy tales, and a mile-long outdoor Haunted Trail.
Venture into the mysterious foothills of Midnight Falls, where the boundary between the living and the dead grows thin. The haunted hayride will take you on a chilling journey through the horrors that plague the town. Brace yourself for an immersive Halloween experience where the spirit of the season comes to life, enveloping brave passengers in a spine-tingling adventure.
Experience a unique blend of cinema and the supernatural as Cinespia hosts movie nights in the iconic Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Watch classic films under the starry sky while surrounded by the resting places of Hollywood legends. It’s an eerie yet enchanting way to celebrate Halloween, bringing together film enthusiasts and the dearly departed in a truly unforgettable setting.
Ghosts & Gravestones Tour – Old Town San Diego
Embark on a spine-tingling adventure as you hop aboard the Trolley of the Doomed, setting off to explore the eerie history of Old Town San Diego. Your journey leads to the Whaley House Courtyard, rated by the Travel Channel as one of America’s Most Haunted Places. Wander through El Campo Santo Cemetery and Pioneer Park, where the city’s dark and notorious past comes to life. Encounter gunslingers, gamblers, ladies of the night, and other unsavory characters eager to share their ghostly tales on this unforgettable tour of San Diego’s haunted history.
Experience the Del Mar Trifecta of Terror at The Scream Zone 2023, The Haunted Hayride, Stars of the Silver “Scream,” and Labyrinth Manor – all set within the Del Mar “Scaregrounds.” Plus, don’t miss the new attraction, MIDWAY MADNESS, a Halloween-themed carnival midway featuring games, food, and spooky activities for everyone. If you’re easily scared (like me) you’re welcome to enjoy the carnival atmosphere for free while awaiting their thrill-seeking friends and family.
Since 2011, Delusion has transported guests into a world of immersive horror, where they become integral actors in a nightmarish narrative. But Delusion is more than just a show; it’s an ongoing saga with a mysterious figure known as The Author, who has penned every Delusion story. With “Nocturnes & Nightmares,” guests are drawn into a web of stories, connecting with both dire and beloved characters as they embark on a quest to unveil the enigmatic Author’s disturbing agenda. Delusion offers a unique and captivating live experience, blurring the line between fiction and reality for its devoted fans.
Howl-O-Ween – 5k Halloween Dog Run
Get ready for the 10th Annual Howl-O-Ween 5K Mutt Run/Walk sponsored by Mike Hess Brewery and Road Runner Sports! Dress up with your dog, run the race, and compete for the Best Costume prize. Join the fun and support a good cause by registering, fundraising, or making a donation.
Descanso Gardens presents CARVED, a family-friendly event running for three weeks in October. The Camellia Forest and Rose Garden host a delightful display of intricately carved pumpkins, providing an enchanting journey through fall foliage and whimsical scenes. Explore the Día de los Muertos altar, the glow-in-the-dark installation Rhizome by Tom&Lien Dekyvere, and giant carved pumpkins, all making for a memorable autumn experience.
Conclusion
Halloween is creeping around the corner, and there’s no better way to celebrate than by immersing yourself in the spine-tingling festivities of San Diego and its neighboring city, Los Angeles.
Whether you’re a fan of terrifying haunted trails, the charm of pumpkin patches, the thrill of theme parks, or simply enjoying a spooky movie night, there’s something for everyone in this year’s Halloween lineup.
Don’t forget to grab your costumes, gather your friends and family, and prepare for a hauntingly good time in Southern California!
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