By: Haley Bosselman By: Haley Bosselman | October 23, 2023 | Food & Drink Lifestyle Feature
Nights of the Jack
Halloween may be one day of the year, but spooky festivities and autumnal happenings take place all throughout October. Read on for what to do this month (and on Halloween itself) so that you can celebrate all month long.
Website/ 1704 Vine St 90028
On Nov.1, Black Lagoon will throw a special emo night hosted by Katie Maloney of Vanderpump Rules. The experiential pop-up immerses visitor into an award-winning Halloween experience with spooky environemnts, dungeon-like decor and more.
Website/ 550 Flower St 90071
On Oct. 28 at 10 p.m., The Delphi Hotel rings in the holiday with a party on the second floor hosted by Close Friends. Come dressed up, dance to headliner DJ ANASTAZJA, sip libations and more. Admission is free, just be sure to RSVP!
Website/ 317 S Broadway 90013
An abundance of food while trick or treating— could Halloween get any better? Grand Central Market welcomes families to take part in the beloved holiday tradition by popping by its 35+ vendors for treats from 4 to 9 p.m. on Oct. 31. Insider tip: RSVP by emailing [email protected] with the number of people in your party for free parking after 4 p.m.
Website/ 12229 West Pico Blvd. 90064
On Oct. 29 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., you can stop by Kiff Kafe for an afternoon of food, crafts, sustainable products and more. And if you come in costume, you have the chance to win prizes! RSVP on Eventbrite.
Website/ 189 The Grove Dr 90036
From Oct. 27 to 29, HI-CHEW Bite-Size Candy Shop will pop-up at The Grove. The weekend will feature exclusive flavors, new brand swag, immersive ativations, trick-or-treating on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and candy and temporary tattoos from 3 to 6 p.m. and a costume contest on Sunday from noon to 3 p.m.
Website/ 7000 Hollywood Blvd 90028
For its annual Halloween party, The Hollywood Roosevelt will host an American Horror Story-themed poolside extravaganza on Oct. 28 from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Alongside a full bar with food and themed cocktails, there will be DJ sets from Strange Hotels, headliner Glass Petals and more. Tickets are available now. Then, on Oct. 31, there will be a kids party from 3 to 5 p.m. in Mama’s Bar with spooky treats, candy and face painting, followed by a Halloween night with Wicked Paradise. Entry is free with RSVP.
Website/ 710 E 4th Pl 90013
The Let’s Go Disco in downtown will transform for its killer disco Halloween party on Oct. 31. Set to tunes by Lani Love and The The FuzzzZ, attendees can expect themed-decor, a fog machine, Halloween cocktails specials and a costume contest that starts at 10 p.m. Show up in your Halloween best for a potential $300 first-place cash prize. The party kicks off at 8 p.m.
Website/ 6500 Selma Ave 90028
Mama Shelter knows you want the choice to party during Halloweekend and the actual holiday itself. On Oct. 28, it will host a party in partnership with Superbird Tequila. The 8 p.m. to midnight event will include a costume contest, music by DJ Jerry and free entry.
Website/ Various
If you’re looking for a place to show off your pup in costume, look no further than Rock & Brews. On Oct. 31, its various locations will host Howl’oween, welcoming guests and their furry friends to dress up and take part in a costume contest with categories like best rock sttar and cutests monster. There will be one winner from each category who will take home a $25 gift card.
Website/ Various
Across all locations except at Downtown Disney, Salt & Straw will offer kids under age 16 a free scoop if they come dressed in costume on Oct. 31. It’s the perfect chance to try the Scoops and Sculls Series of flavors, which includes The Great Candycopia, Jack o’ Lantern Pumpkin Bread, Blackberry & Masa Tamale Sherbet and Chocolate Champurrado with Sesame Toffee. The series is available until Nov. 3.
Website/ 117 Manhattan Beach Blvd 90266
Manhattan Beach can opt to flock to The Strand House’s Halloween Horror Ball on Oct. 28 at 8 p.m at StrandBar. Free to attend, the evening welcomes costumes, dancing and enjoying Halloween cocktails.
Website/ 11930 San Vicente Blvd 90049
Available Oct. 26 to Nov. 1 at its Brentwood outpost, slide into Telerific for a holiday-themed treat. It’s Pumpkin Spice (And Everything Vice) cocktail is made with rum añejo, Grand Marnier, all spice syrup, which is then shaken with a hint of lime and egg white and topped with cinnamon smoke and rosemary.
Website/ 6600 CA-27 CA 91303
Make you way to Westfield Topanga sometime between Oct. 27 and 31 for a spirited weekend. In addition to being decked out in Halloween decor, it will have the all-day Hocus Pocus Halloween extravaganza at Topanga Social on Oct. 29. The line-up includes trick or treating for kids, face painting, a 360-degree video and photo booth, a live band from 2 to 5 p.m., music by DJ Arif in the margarita garden from 4 to 8 p.m. and a costume contest at 1 p.m. Winner takes home a $200 giftcard.
Website/ 615 S Broadway 90014
There’s a new immersive horror experience in town. At the Los Angeles Theatre until Oct. 31, Angel of Light invites Angelenos to step back into Old Hollywood and uncover the gripping story of Rota Krisha. Tickets are now available.
Website/ 2421 Michigan Ave 90404
Watch Birdie G’s transform into Boo G’s for Halloweekend. From Oct. 28 through Halloween itself on Oct. 31, the space will come to life with spooky decor, a dressed-up staff and a themed menu with specialty cocktails. Reservations are open, but walk-ins are welcome.
Website/ 1704 Vine St 90028
This award-winning Halloween pop-up experience is at Lost Property now and until Nov. 7 and features spooky environments, drag queens, themed cocktails and more.
Website/ 6400 Pacific Coast Hwy Suite 90803
From Oct. 27 to 29, The Bungalow in Long Beach will be decked out in Halloween decor and invites everyone to party ahead of the Oct. 31 holiday in their costumes. Alongside a lively crowd, The Bungalow promises a spooky good time and scary-good deals on drinks.
Website/ Various
On Oct. 13, Candlelight Concerts will host two shows of favorite Halloween themes at The Santa Monica Bay Women’s Club. Then, the shows for A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics will take place on Oct. 24 and 25 at The Santa Monica Bay Woman’s Club and on Oct. 26 and 27 at Immanuel Presbyterian Church.
Website/ Various
Cinespia will close out its 22nd season with Halloween-favorite movies. On Oct. 14, Halloween will be screened at Hollywood Forever, while Los Angeles State Historic Park will have a showing of The Ring on Oct. 20. Then, the outdoor viewings wrap with Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix on Oct. 21 at Hollywood Forever, which will be followed by Rosemary’s Baby at The Orpheum Theatre on Oct. 31.
Website/ 919 S. Grand Ave 90015
The Downtown Center Business Improvement District and the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising will present the 16th Annual DTLA Halloween Festival for Kids on Oct. 31 from 5 to 8 p.m. Taking place at Grand Hope Park, it will include a trick-or-treat trail, magic shows, crafts and more. Costumes are encouraged.
Website/ 1314 7th St 90401
Get in the Halloween spirit early at Esters Hallo-Wine Party on Oct. 28. Starting at 6 p.m., there will be a DJ, dancing, horror movies projected on the wall and themed cocktails. Costumes are encouraged and tickets are now available, which includes snacks and one drink ticket.
Website/ Various
Sure, when you think witch history, the East Coast comes to mind, but you definitely shouldn’t leave out L.A.! Have your own experiential Halloween-spirited history lesson with FORT:LA’s Witch Houses 4 Trail Map. Featuring homes from the Hollywood Hills to West Adams and more, the list was compiled by novelist and Buffy the Vampire Slayer Amber Benson.
ExperienceFirst hosts a Haunted Hollywood Walking Tour that showcases haunted hotels, theaters and landmarks in the city. For two hours, soak in L.A. history that dives into the city’s dark underbelly. You’ll learn about sightings of Marilyn Monroe’s ghost, the Hollywood Ripper and more.
Website/ 7000 Hollywood Blvd 90028
Halloween happenings are happening all across The Hollywood Roosevelt. Every Tuesday in October, Tropicana Spooky Nights features Halloween-favorite movies poolside. Meanwhile, the hotel’s annual Halloween party will take place on Oct. 28. Stay tuned for details.
Website/ 701 Stone Canyon Rd 90077
With much enthusiasm for the holiday, Hotel Bel-Air will host two Halloween-themed movie screenings. Opt for the Oct. 23 showing for Hocus Pocus or grab tickets for Oct. 24 to see Beetlejuice. Alongside watching the beloved movies, guests can enjoy themed dishes and gourmet desserts. Tickets are now available.
Website/ 1401 S Oak Knoll Ave 91106
On Oct. 28 at 5 p.m., The Langham Huntington Hotel will present Hollywoodland, a murder mystery dinner theatre experience. While solving the mystery, guests will also be treated to a three-course autumnal menu. Tickets are now available (Hint: Use promo code SPOOKY if you book a room between Oct. 28 and Nov. 1).
Website/ 813 Flower St 90017
Back for year three, Lilly Rose’s spooky twist on its afternoon tea experience is happening every Friday to Sunday in October, in addition to Halloween itself. The service includes a tea selection from Dammann, a savory and sweet tea tower and the choice to opt for tea-infused cocktail creations.
Website/ 1260 S Figueroa St 90015
Head to the roof of the Moxy & AC Hotel DTLA for Halloween. On Oct. 31, Bar Moxy, AC Bar & Lounge and La Lo La Rooftop will host Horrific Spirits, which features terror-themed cocktails and sugar-coated treats.
Website/ 10100 Jefferson Blvd 90232
From Oct. 5 to 29, Mr. Bones Pumpkin Patch is back in Culver City. Visit between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. for face painting, the straw maze, pumpkin picking and decorating, live music and entertainment, food trucks and more.
Website/ Various
The Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County has a number of events for Angelenos of all ages. Stop by the Natural History Museum to experience Boney Island, the immersive Halloween light-up attraction at the Nature gardens. Over at the La Brea Tar Pits, Queer Family Day will take place on Oct. 13 with spooky-themed festivities like a costume contest with a sabertooth catwalk, drag queen story time, queer history pub trivia and other hands-on activities. Then, on Oct. 28, the NHM will throw its annual Halloween costume party for members from 3 to 8 p.m.
Website/ 26800 Mulholland Hwy 91302
Back for its sixth year, Nights of the Jack has taken over Calabasas with a mile-long walking trail full of jawdropping jack-lanterns, immersive scenes, lantern art installations and plenty of food and beverage options. Come see for yourself why the likes of Miley Cyrus, the Kardashians, Jennifer Garner, Hailey Bieber, Halsey, Matt Damon, Dwayne Johnson and more have flocked here.
Website/ 41 Hugus Alley Pasadena 91103
Heading into the final week of October, One Colorado will present a lineup of Halloween events. The annual pumpkin decorating contest will take place on Oct. 22 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (tickets required, while showings of Bob Baker’s Marionette’s Halloween Spooktacular will happen on Oct. 28 at 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Then, Onct. 31 will be dedicated to trick-or-treating at 5 p.m. and a screening of Casper at 7 p.m.
Website/ Various
Adding a dash of spookiness to its October movie lineup, Rooftop Cinema Club will have screenings of Hocus Pocus, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Halloween, Halloweentown, Coco and Edward Scissorhands this month across its Arts District, El Segundo and downtown locations.
Website/ 6000 Santa Monica Blvd 90038
Between now and Nov. 30, Hollywood Forever has on view the exhibition Rick Castro Forever: Photographic Retrospective of Life & Death. At the cemetery’s historic Columbarium, the exhibit features 87 photographs taken by photographer and L.A. native Rick Castro from 1986 to 2002. It showcases themes of love, melancholy, meditation and remembrance.
Website/ 259 N Pass Ave 91505
The lively Burbank watering hole has a whole lineup of events this month. Notable happenings include Hamilween, a Hamilton sing-along, on Oct. 21; Haunted Improv on Oct. 25 and 26; The Roguelike Halloween Party on Oct. 28 with a costume contest, free entry and a photo booth and Halloween-themed trivia on Oct. 31
Website/ Various
Available now through Oct. 31, Sweet Rose Creamery has a number of Halloween-centric flavors. Don’t miss out on scoops of Pumpkin Cheesecake Ice Cream or the trick-or-treat bag-inspired Halloween Ripple. Alternatively, opt for the ultimate dessert with the Halloween Sundae, which is made of a scoop of Pumpkin Cheesecake Ice Cream with caramel sauce, fresh whipped cream, naturally-colored orange sprinkles and a marshmallow ghost.
Website/ 900 Newport Center Dr 92660
Journey to Newport Beach for an afternoon of fall-time fun. From Oct. 28 to 28 between 1 and 4 p.m., the Vea Fall Harvest will take place on the Riviera Lawn where attendees will celebrate the season with shopping, treats, refreshments and photo opps. There will also be a pumpkin patch.
Website/ 9850 Wilshire Blvd 90210
From 5 to 6 p.m. on Oct. 29, The Rooftop by JG at Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills will host its second annual pumpkin carving contest. Up to four people can work on a pumpkin; decor, tools and pumpkins will be provided and one person/team will go home with a grand prize. After, you can take advantage of 15% off at The Rooftop by JG. Tickets are now available.
Website/ Santa Monica Blvd 90069
After a three-year hiatus, West Hollywood’s treasured Halloween Carnaval returns bigger and better than ever. Head to the one-mile stretch of Santa Monica Boulevard between North Doheny Drive and North La Cienega Boulevard from 6 to 11 p.m. for a night of costume, food trucks and more.
However you choose to celebrate from Oct. 1 to 31, Happy Halloween!
See also: The 10 Best Halloween Events in Los Angeles
Photography by: Courtesy of Nights of the Jack