PIC CREDIT@DESCANSOGARDENS
October in Los Angeles is one of the most exciting times of the year. The city fills its calendar with Halloween celebrations, glowing pumpkin displays, cultural festivals, outdoor events, Día de los Muertos celebrations, and plenty of seasonal food and drinks.
Halloween may get much of the attention, but there is much more happening around LA this month. October still brings plenty of warm, sunny days, making it a great time to explore the city, attend an outdoor festival, or plan a quick getaway.
If you are in the mood for a little escape, check out our guide to the Best Hotels with Water Parks. Southern California can stay surprisingly warm in October, making a poolside weekend a fun option for families.
So get your calendar ready. Here are some of the best October events in Los Angeles you don’t want to miss.
Best Pumpkin Display Events in LA
One of LA’s most impressive pumpkin events returns to Descanso Gardens this October. Carved runs nightly from October 2 through November 1 from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Thousands of hand-carved pumpkins, illuminated displays, and fall installations transform the gardens after dark. The experience takes visitors through beautiful sections of Descanso Gardens filled with glowing pumpkins and seasonal displays.
Capacity is limited, so purchasing tickets in advance is recommended, especially if you plan to visit on a weekend.
Another favorite is Night of the Jack at King Gillette Ranch in Calabasas. Running on select nights from September 25 through November 1, the event features a one-mile immersive walking trail filled with larger-than-life jack-o’-lantern installations, interactive displays, lights, and plenty of Halloween photo opportunities.
The grounds open at 5:30 p.m., with timed trail entrances beginning at 6:00 p.m. Food trucks, themed cocktails, specialty drinks, and other activities are also available before and after the walk. Comfortable shoes are a must since the main attraction is a mile-long trail.
For even more pumpkins, head to Magic of the Jack O’Lanterns at South Coast Botanic Garden in Palos Verdes. The family-friendly event runs on select nights from September 18 through November 1.
More than 10,000 hand-carved jack-o’-lanterns illuminate a mile-long walking trail. This year’s displays include a whimsical circus, an under-the-sea experience, a Día de los Muertos tribute, towering inflatables, interactive activities, and a synchronized pumpkin light show every 30 minutes.
Guests can also add 3D Jack O’Lantern glasses or a s’mores package to their visit, while the Fun Zone features a giant pumpkin-shaped bounce pad and oversized slides.
The Most Fun and Free Halloween Carnivals in LA
Halloween celebrations take over communities across Los Angeles and Orange County in October, and some of the best events are completely free.
One of the biggest is the West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval, returning Saturday, October 31, from 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
More than 100,000 costumed revelers are expected to fill Santa Monica Boulevard for this famous street celebration. The free event stretches along Santa Monica Boulevard between Doheny Drive and La Cienega Boulevard, with elaborate costumes, live music, entertainment, and plenty of people watching.
This is one of LA’s biggest Halloween parties and is especially popular with adults and older teens looking for a lively Halloween night out.
For something much more family focused, visit the La Palma Annual Halloween Carnival on Saturday, October 24, from 3:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Central Park.
This free community celebration features carnival games, treats, giveaways, and costume contests with categories including funniest, scariest, most original, best duo, best family or group, and even best pet costume. Food and drinks will also be available for purchase.
Día de los Muertos Celebrations
Los Angeles is home to vibrant Día de los Muertos traditions, and late October brings beautiful celebrations throughout the city. Altars filled with flowers, candles, photographs, art, and personal objects honor family members and loved ones who have passed away.
One of LA’s most historic Día de los Muertos celebrations takes place along Olvera Street, where the holiday has long been marked with community altars, traditional ceremonies, processions, music, and cultural activities. Visitors can walk through the historic district while learning more about the traditions surrounding Día de los Muertos.
Another major celebration takes place in San Pedro. The 15th Annual San Pedro Día de los Muertos Festival is scheduled for Sunday, October 25, from 3:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. in Historic Downtown San Pedro.
This free, family-friendly festival celebrates Latin and Mexican heritage with colorful altars, live entertainment, Aztec and folklórico performances, local artists, food vendors, cultural activities, and a Catrina contest. Thousands of visitors are expected to gather in downtown San Pedro for the annual celebration.
Downtown LA also celebrates with Gloria Molina Grand Park’s Downtown Día de los Muertos, running from October 24 through November 2..
The free exhibition fills the park with community ofrendas created by local artists and organizations. Opening Day on October 24 will include mariachi music, folklórico dancers, art-making activities, and other programming. Visitors can return throughout the exhibition to explore the altars and learn more about the traditions and stories represented in the installations.
The Most Kid-Friendly Halloween Events in LA
Families with younger children have plenty of Halloween celebrations to choose from this year.
Boo at the L.A. Zoo returns for two weekends: October 24 and 25 and October 31 and November 1, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Kids can dress in costume and explore trick-or-treating stations, Halloween photo opportunities, special keeper talks, live performances, and animal pumpkin enrichment activities. Best of all, Boo at the L.A. Zoo is included with regular zoo admission or an active zoo membership.
For children ages 2 to 8, the DTLA Halloween Festival for Kids returns to Grand Hope Park on Saturday, October 31, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
The ticketed celebration includes trick-or-treating at real doors placed throughout the park, character meet-and-greets, live performances, arts and crafts, dancing, and giveaways. Children under age 3 enter free.
And if your family wants a full day at a theme park, Knott’s Spooky Farm runs Thursdays through Sundays from September 24 through October 31, plus Columbus Day. The daytime celebration offers a much less frightening alternative to Knott’s Scary Farm and is designed for families and younger children.
Halloween Events for Older Kids and Adults
For those who prefer their Halloween celebrations genuinely scary, October offers several major attractions.
Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood runs on select nights through November 1. The event includes eight haunted houses, scare zones, the Terror Tram, live entertainment, and themed food and drinks.
This year’s haunted houses include experiences inspired by Sinners, Stranger Things, Hellraiser, Evil Dead Burn, Killer Klowns from Outer Space, and Ozzy Osbourne, along with original creations. Halloween Horror Nights is separately ticketed and begins at 7:00 p.m.
You can also head to Griffith Park for the Los Angeles Haunted Hayride, returning on select nights through November 1. The famous nighttime attraction combines its haunted hayride with additional scare experiences and themed entertainment.
The Haunted Hayride features a new attraction called Fallen Angel, centered around a fictional rock band’s disastrous final Halloween rehearsal and the spirits that remain behind.
October Events That Have Nothing to Do With Halloween
Not everything in October involves pumpkins and ghosts.
On Sunday, October 11, CicLAvia Heart of LA opens more than 6.5 miles of Los Angeles streets to pedestrians, cyclists, skaters, and families.
The free event runs from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and connects Downtown LA, Chinatown, Little Tokyo, the Arts District, Boyle Heights, and Echo Park. You don’t need a bicycle to participate. Visitors can walk, skate, explore neighborhoods, stop for food, or simply experience some of LA’s busiest streets without cars.
Another huge October event is the 21st Annual Taste of Soul Family Festival, taking place Saturday, October 17, from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. along historic Crenshaw Boulevard.
This free celebration of Black culture and community brings together live music, food, local businesses, health and wellness resources, family activities, and community organizations. The festival has grown into one of Southern California’s largest free street festivals and remains one of the month’s biggest community celebrations.
Restaurants and Bars with Great Halloween Atmosphere
October is also a great excuse to visit some of LA and Orange County’s most unusual restaurants and bars.
For something mysterious, The Obscure in Downtown LA’s Arts District offers an immersive two-hour cocktail tasting experience built around six pours, storytelling, and a dark, candlelit atmosphere. It isn’t simply a Halloween pop-up. The venue has its mystical look year-round, which makes October an especially fitting time to visit.
For an even more playful Halloween setting, head to The Cauldron Spirits & Brews in Buena Park. The witch-themed restaurant and bar features spooky décor, creative cocktails, skulls, a firepit, and even a hidden room behind a bookshelf. Its location across from Knott’s Berry Farm also makes it easy to combine with other Halloween attractions in Buena Park.
Adults looking for something more theatrical can check out HauntOberfest at The Nocturne Theatre in Glendale, running October 10 through October 31. The two-hour immersive experience combines Oktoberfest traditions with supernatural storytelling, roaming characters, live performances, themed drinks, and interactive experiences.
October in Los Angeles gives you plenty of reasons to get out of the house. Spend an evening surrounded by thousands of glowing pumpkins, celebrate Día de los Muertos, take the kids trick-or-treating, scream your way through a haunted attraction, or spend a sunny Sunday exploring car-free streets through the heart of LA.
There is something happening almost every weekend, so pick a few favorites, grab your costume if the occasion calls for one, and make the most of October in Los Angeles.
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