Halloween in Los Angeles runs for weeks, not one night. Theme parks start their haunts in September, pumpkin trails light up the gardens in October, and on October 31 the whole region turns into one big costume party. In 2026 Halloween falls on a Saturday, so expect bigger crowds than usual at every event below.
This guide covers the biggest street party, the scariest haunts, the family-friendly options and the practical stuff: dates, prices, parking and how to get home.
In this guide
For the full year of festivals, see our Los Angeles events calendar.
Halloween 2026 in LA at a glance
- Halloween night: Saturday, October 31, 2026
- Biggest street party: West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval, free, 6 to 11 p.m.
- Biggest theme park haunt: Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood, select nights through November 1
- Family pick: pumpkin trails at Descanso Gardens and King Gillette Ranch
- Getting around: road closures in West Hollywood from 10 a.m. on October 31; use Metro or rideshare
West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval
The West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval is the largest Halloween street party in Southern California. On Saturday, October 31, 2026, from 6 to 11 p.m., a one-mile stretch of Santa Monica Boulevard between Doheny Drive and La Cienega Boulevard turns into a costume parade with DJ stages, performers and huge crowds. Entry is free and there are no tickets.
Costumes are the main event. People spend months on group looks, and the street is packed by 8 p.m. Bars along the route throw their own parties, and some charge a cover.
Carnaval tips
- Santa Monica Boulevard closes to cars from 10 a.m. on October 31 until 6 a.m. the next day, so do not plan to drive in.
- Bags are restricted. Leave backpacks and totes at home; clear plastic bags are allowed.
- No alcohol on the street, and no weapons, fireworks or drones, including costume props that look real.
- The city discourages bringing young kids and pets because of the crowds.
- Check the City of West Hollywood’s Halloween page the week before for the final map and shuttle details.
West Hollywood usually runs a free Halloween shuttle along Santa Monica Boulevard and a link to the Hollywood/Highland B Line station. For the rest of the route, see our LA Metro guide.
Theme park Halloween events
Southern California’s theme parks go all in for Halloween, and most of their events end on October 31 or November 1. These are separate-ticket nights, so buy online in advance; the final weekend often sells out.
| Event | Where | 2026 dates | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Halloween Horror Nights | Universal Studios Hollywood | Select nights Sept 3 to Nov 1 | Check Universal’s site |
| Knott’s Scary Farm | Knott’s Berry Farm, Buena Park | Select nights Sept 17 to Oct 31 | $69 online |
| Fright Fest | Six Flags Magic Mountain, Valencia | Sept 18 to Nov 1, plus Nov 5 to 7 | Haunt pass $25 a night |
| Oogie Boogie Bash | Disney California Adventure, Anaheim | 33 select nights through Oct 31 | $139 |
| Halloween Time | Disneyland Resort | Through Oct 31 | Included with admission |
Halloween Horror Nights
Universal’s event is the headline haunt in LA. Mazes are built around horror films and TV shows, and scare zones fill the park after dark. Lines for the best mazes can top two hours on Saturdays, so an Express pass is worth it on the final weekend. Read our Universal Studios Hollywood guide for parking and getting there.
Knott’s Scary Farm
Knott’s Scary Farm is the original theme park Halloween event, running since 1973. Expect 10 mazes, five scare zones and live shows. It is in Buena Park, about 30 to 45 minutes from downtown LA without traffic.
Halloween at Disneyland
Halloween Time at Disneyland is the gentle option: decorations, seasonal food and Haunted Mansion Holiday, all included with a regular ticket. Oogie Boogie Bash is the after-hours party with trick-or-treat trails and costumes allowed for all ages. Our Disneyland guide covers tickets and reservations.
Haunted attractions around LA
If you want scares without a theme park, these haunts run through Halloween weekend:
- The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor, Long Beach: six mazes on and around the famous ship, select nights through November 1. General admission starts around $48 online.
- Los Angeles Haunted Hayride, Griffith Park: a hayride through the woods plus haunted houses, select nights through November 1. Tickets are sold online only, from about $35.
- Delusion, Los Angeles: an interactive horror play in a historic mansion, 18 and older, select nights into early November.
- Reign of Terror, Thousand Oaks: a long walk-through haunted house for ages 13 and up.
Dates and times change, and many haunts sell timed entry, so book directly with each venue.
Family-friendly Halloween
Not every Halloween event has to be scary. These are good picks for younger kids:
- Carved at Descanso Gardens, La Cañada Flintridge: a nighttime walk past carved pumpkins and light displays, nightly through November 1.
- Nights of the Jack, Calabasas: thousands of carved jack-o’-lanterns at King Gillette Ranch, timed entry from 6 to 9 p.m.
- Magic of the Jack O’Lanterns, Palos Verdes: a pumpkin trail at South Coast Botanic Garden that is fun rather than frightening.
- Halloween Time at Disneyland: decorations and treats with no scares.
For more ideas, see things to do in Los Angeles with kids.
Trick-or-treating
Many LA neighborhoods go big on decorations. Older residential areas with sidewalks and dense blocks, such as Hancock Park, Larchmont and Toluca Lake, are known for busy trick-or-treating. Go at dusk, stick to well-lit streets and bring a flashlight. Local malls and community centers often run free trunk-or-treat events, which suit toddlers.
Halloween night parties and bars
Halloween on a Saturday means every bar and club in Hollywood, West Hollywood and downtown has a costume party. Big ticketed events sell out, and covers rise as the night goes on.
- Downtown LA: clubs and historic theaters host costume balls; most are 21 and older.
- Little Tokyo: Haunted Little Tokyo runs ghost tours and a scavenger hunt during the last week of October, ending with a block party on Halloween night.
- West Hollywood: after the Carnaval ends at 11 p.m., the bars on Santa Monica Boulevard stay packed.
Getting around on Halloween
Traffic is heavy all evening on October 31, and rideshare prices surge when events let out.
- Use Metro where you can. The B Line stops at Hollywood/Highland and Universal City/Studio City, which is handy for both West Hollywood and Halloween Horror Nights.
- Book parking ahead for theme parks, or arrive early.
- Plan a pickup spot a few blocks away from big crowds; drivers cannot reach closed streets.
- Watch for kids if you drive through residential areas at dusk.
Frequently asked questions
When is the West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval in 2026?
It is on Saturday, October 31, 2026, from 6 to 11 p.m., on Santa Monica Boulevard between Doheny Drive and La Cienega Boulevard. Entry is free.
What is the scariest Halloween event in Los Angeles?
Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood and Knott’s Scary Farm are the two biggest. For a smaller, more intense experience, interactive haunts such as Delusion are 18 and older.
Is Halloween Horror Nights still open on November 1?
Yes. In 2026 Halloween Horror Nights runs on select nights from September 3 through November 1.
What can kids do for Halloween in LA?
Pumpkin trails at Descanso Gardens and King Gillette Ranch, Halloween Time at Disneyland, and neighborhood trick-or-treating are the best picks for young kids.
Can I bring kids to the West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval?
The city discourages it. The crowd is very large, and the event is aimed at adults.
Photo credits
Featured image: Clinton Steeds / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.
