A sassy Jack O’ Lantern at the Santa Monica Farmers Market. Credit: Brian Champlin
The spookiest week of the year is here… and treats abound for all to enjoy!
This October 27-31 in Los Angeles you’ll find “The Monster Movie Maestro” series at Los Feliz 3, A Sequin-Strewn Night at Hauser & Wirth’s WeHo gallery, a Mars Symphony at Caltech, the West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval, Phantom of the Opera with Live Orchestra, the DTLA Halloween Festival for Kids, Fright Dive at the Aquarium of the Pacific, and more.
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Things To Do This Week
M = Less than .5 miles from an L.A. Metro Station, FA = Free Admission, TP = Top Pick
“The Monster Movie Maestro” at the American Cinematheque – > Now through November 8, American Cinematheque is teaming up with Guillermo del Toro to screen two weeks worth of horror classics at Los Feliz 3, all hand picked by Del Toro. The lineup includes King Kong, Bride of Frankenstein, The Uninvited, See No Evil, Pontypool, and more. The series culminates on Saturday, November 8th with a special 35mm screening of del Toro’s newest film, Frankenstein, starring Oscar Isaac and Jacob Elordi, followed by a Q&A with the Oscar-winning director himself. Tickets for individual screenings start at $15 for non-members. Get more info here.
FILM TALK x SINTOBER -> Join Reparations Club for a special FILM TALK x SINTOBER event this Monday, celebrating Ryan Coogler’s horror film, Sinners. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for a deep-dive discussion, complete with selected film clips (get ready for spoilers!). The panel will break down Juke Joints, Ruth E. Carter’s costumes, and the incredible music. Tickets are sliding scale ($10–$20). Light snacks will be provided! Get more info here.
Mr. Bones Pumpkin Patch -> Culver City’s favorite pumpkin village offers plenty of family fun, including photo ops in front of giant pumpkin installations, a straw maze, a super slide, petting zoo, giant rocking horses, and pumpkin decorating sessions. Mr. Bones will continue daily through October 31. General admission cost between $15 to $17 depending on date and tickets for activities need to be purchased online ahead of time. There’s also a “Plus Pass” for $70 that covers unlimited access to select activities and entrance to an exclusive tent. More info here.
A Sequin-Strewn Night Opening -> Starting this Wednesday, catch British artist Anj Smith’s first L.A. solo exhibition in two decades with a A Sequin-Strewn Night at Hauser & Wirth’s West Hollywood location. Here Smith presents a provocative new body of work that disrupts conventional depictions of motherhood and the female nude. Her nuanced paintings intertwine precarious psychological states with erotic desire, all set against toxic, inhospitable ecologies. The show explores the human capacity for growth and resilience against the odds, running through January 24th, 2026. The opening reception runs from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday and Hauser & Wirth WeHo’s regular hours are Tuesday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Get more info here.
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Carved at Descanso Gardens -> This week will be your last chance to check out one of our favorite seasonal pop-ups, Descanso Gardens’ family-friendly Carved. The pumpkin wonderland features a new route for 2025, complete hundreds of carved pumpkins, and kid-friendly activities. The experience will run nightly through October 30 (this Thursday). Tickets run $27-$45 for non-members. Get more info here.
Pitch-A-Friend at Angel City Brewery – M FA > It says a lot if a friend is willing to stan you to a group of total strangers, right? That’s the premise behind Pitch-A-Friend, where presenters run through a series of 3 to 5 minute slide deck presentations (in all earnestness) followed by a singles mixer where you can meet-and-greet with the friends who come so highly recommended. The next installment of the series pops up at Angel City Brewery in the Arts District this Thursday beginning at 7 p.m. Free to attend, but if you’ll need to sign up in advance if you want to pitch. More info here.
Mars Symphony at Caltech – FA TP > Have you ever wondered what Mars sounds like? Find out at the Mars Symphony, a groundbreaking experience at the Beckman Auditorium at Caltech this Thursday In collaboration with JPL, composer David Ibbett uses actual audio from the Perseverance Rover and Webb Space Telescope to create a stunning piece that blends music, art, and science. This unique event will transport you to the distant universe with six live musicians and fascinating visuals. Best of all? It’s completely free to attend! Concert starts at 7:30 p.m. More info here.
Phantom of the Opera with Live Orchestra – M > Celebrate the 100th anniversary of the iconic Lon Chaney film, The Phantom of the Opera, as L.A. Opera presents a thrilling experience at the United Theater on Broadway this Thursday and Friday. Catch the silent film masterpiece with a spectacular twist: Roy Budd’s spooky score performed live by the L.A. Opera Orchestra. PLUS: On Halloween nigh, stick around for a free after-party complete with a DJ, themed drinks, and a costume contest. Performances for both nights begin at 8 p.m., with tickets starting at $66. Get more info here.
West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval – FA > The city of West Hollywood’s massive block-party style Halloween spectacle returns this Friday taking over a one-mile stretch of Santa Monica Blvd between Doheny Dr and La Cienega Blvd. Expect DJ sets, food trucks and thousands of attendees dressed in their costumed best. Free to attend. Runs 6 to 11 p.m. More info here.
18th Annual DTLA Halloween Festival for Kids – > The 18th Annual DTLA Halloween Festival for Kids returns to Grand Hope Park on Friday, offering a family-friendly environment with trick-or-treating, live puppet and magic shows, crafts, and food. GA tickets cost $15, kids under 3 are free. More info here.
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Fright Dive at AoP -> This Friday the Aquarium of the Pacific is hosting their first-ever Fright Dive, a Halloween edition of the recurring adults-only Night Dive series where you can catch a live performance by Midnight Delight, multiple DJs spinning in the galleries (including Rony G and ELESTELA), and frightful feasts like “Walking Dead Tacos & Treacherous Tequilas.” Costumes are highly encouraged. 18+ only. Tickets start at $54.95. More info here.
Hunchback of Notre Dame at WDCH – M > This Friday, celebrate Halloween at Walt Disney Concert Hall with a screening of The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923) with a live musical accompaniment by organist Clark Wilson. Tickets start at $43.50. Concert begins at 8 p.m. More info here.
Halloween Spooktacular at One Colorado – M FA -> The Halloween Spooktacular at One Colorado in Old Pasadena starts on Friday with trick-or-treating, and also features family photos and a silent screening of Dracula to cap the evening. Free to attend. Runs 4 to 8 p.m. More info here.
Urban Death Tour of Terror at Zombie Joe’s Underground Theatre -> Continuing this Friday and Saturday, Zombie Joe’s annual tradition of Urban Death is back with a brand new series of terrifying vignettes, bookended by walks through a creepy maze. The haunt will run every Friday and Saturday through November 1. Advance tickets are $24 online, or it’s $28 at door. Get more info here.
Dining & Drinking
(picks by Christina Champlin)
Jilli Halloween Party flyer. Photo credit Jilli Instagram.
Jilli Halloween (October 30) -> Koreatown’s Jilli is throwing a Halloween bash this Thursday with cocktails, costumes, and throwback beats from the ’90s and 2000s. Guests can enjoy rotating hors d’oeuvres, groove all night, and even win a Labubu in the costume contest. Tickets are $40 via Resy and include admission, one drink, and small bites. The party runs 6:30–11:00 p.m.
Juke Joint at Alta (October 31) -> This Halloween, Alta Adams transforms into a Sinners-themed Juke Joint with extended bar hours (5:30–11 p.m.), tarot readings, a costume contest, and hip-hop and R&B beats by NOS. Enjoy all-day happy hour at neighboring Adams Wine Shop, or drop in for dinner and drinks at this one-night-only celebration. Entry is free, but dinner reservations are highly recommended—Alta always fills up fast. More info here.
A Studio Ghibli Halloween at OTOTO (October 31) -> Echo Park’s OTOTO is channeling Hayao Miyazaki magic this Halloween with a one-night-only menu inspired by Studio Ghibli classics. Dine on Bacon and Eggs from Howl’s Moving Castle, Sakura Denbu Bento from My Neighbor Totoro, Ham Ramen from Ponyo, and Chihiro’s Onigiri from Spirited Away. Open seating runs 5–10 p.m., and early arrival and Ghibli-inspired costumes are highly encouraged. More info here.
Chado’s Spooky Afternoon Tea (now until October 31) -> Chado Tea Rooms are serving up a Halloween-themed Afternoon Tea with festive finger sandwiches, seasonal desserts, and pumpkin cream iced tea, plus blends like Black Magic and Día de los Muertos. The experience costs $59 per person and is available at Pasadena, Little Tokyo, Hollywood, and Torrance locations. On October 29, the Little Tokyo tea room hosts a free All Hallows’ Eve celebration starting at 7 p.m., complete with a family-friendly costume contest for kids and adults.
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