28 Fun Things To Do In Los Angeles In October (2023)
Want to know all the best things to do in Los Angeles in October? We’ve got you covered with everything you need to know!
Fun Things To Do In Los Angeles In October
October is one of the best times of year to visit LA.
There are haunted hayrides, Halloween festivals, Oktoberfests, and more.
Below are our recommendations for the best things to do in Los Angeles in October.
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1. Lights Out at Pomona “Fearplex”
This event takes place on select nights from October 6-31.
Check out three haunted mazes – Zombie Escape, Carnival of Evil, and Toxic Terror.
Interactive activities include a wax museum, creepy graveyard, and eTerror games.
There are designated scare zones throughout the event as well as food and drink vendors.
2. Nights of the Jack at King Gillette Ranch in Calabasas
Nights of the Jack has a walk-able pumpkin trail, food trucks, a Spookeasy bar, and more!
It’s a great place for families or date night.
This event runs from September 29th-October 31st from 6 pm – 10 pm.
Be sure to purchase your tickets in advance because it will sell out.
👉🏼 Click Here To Book Your Nights Of The Jack Tickets Today!
3. Magic Of The Jack O’Lanterns
Magic of the Jack O’Lanterns is located at the Whittier Narrows Recreation Area in South El Monte.
This event takes place on select nights from September 22nd – October 31st.
Enjoy pumpkin trails similar to events like Nights of the Jack or Pumpkin Nights.
Ticket prices currently start at $24.99 and if you buy your tickets before the opening day there are early bird specials.
4. Carved at Descanso Gardens
This night time event is hosted in La Canada Flintridge, in the area surrounding Pasadena, Glendale, and Burbank.
Though they are most known for their Christmas lights, they are also delving into Halloween lights now too.
Carved takes place this year from October 6 – 29.
Tickets go on sale for members on August 23 and non-members on September 6.
5. Mr. Bones Pumpkin Patch in Culver City
Mr. Bones Pumpkin Patch is open from October 5th – October 29th from 9 am to 9 pm.
Admission prices range anywhere from $10-$30 depending on how early you go in the season, the day of the week, and the time of day.
In addition to the pumpkin patch, there are tons of activities and entertainment options to enjoy while you’re visiting.
This pumpkin patch has been a staple since 1987.
6. Los Angeles Haunted Hayride
This event is not recommended for children under the age of 12.
It’s located in the Griffith Park area.
In addition to the haunted hayride, the town square area is also interactive with scare actors.
There are also 3 haunted mazes and a live show that is performed multiple times throughout the night.
7. Underwood Family Farms
Christian from Discover Italy says that one of his favorite Fall activities to do in Southern California is to visit Underwood Family Farms in Moorpark.
“This family-run farm hosts a variety of events throughout the year, but during the Fall, they have Hayrides through the pumpkin patch and a Farmers Market full of fresh produce and homemade items such as jams, jellies, salsas, and more.
Visiting Underwood Family Farms in the Fall is a truly unique experience.
As you wander through the pumpkin patch, you can pick out your own special pumpkin that’s just right for carving.
Then hop on the hayride and take in all the sights of the farm as you bump along!
Afterward, don’t miss a chance to check out their Farmers Market full of homemade items and local produce.
If you’re looking for a truly special Fall experience, I highly recommend Underwood Family Farms!
They offer a variety of activities perfect for the whole family while exploring the beautiful pumpkin patch.
Plus, with their Farmers Market, you can take home some tasty treats to enjoy all season long.
When I’m in the Southern California area, I never miss a chance to visit Underwood Family Farms.
It’s a Fall tradition that I wouldn’t trade for anything.”
Their Fall Harvest Festival runs from September 30th – October 31st.
If you’re visiting on weekends, tickets must be purchased online in advance, but on weekdays you can get your tickets at the gate.
8. Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood
Halloween Horror Nights is one of the most popular things to do in Los Angeles in October.
This annual event at Universal Studios Hollywood happens on select nights throughout the Halloween season.
It is not recommended for young children or anyone that is easily scared.
9. Oktoberfest at Pomona Fairplex
Friday and Saturday nights from October 6th – 31st, from 6 pm – 11 pm, adults ages 21+ can enjoy Oktoberfest at Pomona Fairplex.
Enjoy authentic German food, music, dancing, and games.
10. Angel City Jazz Festival
Angel City Arts presents the Annual Angel City Jazz Festival October 13 – October 29 with performances from Highland Park to Brentwood.
Los Angeles never consistently hosted a festival dedicated to post-traditional improvisation until innovator Rocco Somazzi founded The Angel City Jazz Festival in 2008.
The Angel City Jazz Festival has helped establish LA as a jazz destination through twelve years of live concerts.
Click for more information on the Angel City Jazz Festival and to purchase event tickets.
11. Escape Hotel Hollywood
One of the newest things to do in Los Angeles in October is a new escape room.
Escape Hotel is an immersive experience where you can enjoy the restaurant, bar, and live entertainment before or after being escorted to your chosen escape room.
From the moment you walk into the lobby it’s like you’re inside a real Tower of Terror experience.
Escape room themes include Haunted Fair, Daycare Chapter, Resurrection, Attic, Zombie, Cursed Crypt, Slaughter, and Purgatory.
On their website, each room lists it’s escape rate to help you choose the level of difficulty that best suits your group.
You can also visit without doing the escape rooms and just enjoy the restaurant.
12. Hollywood Forever Cemetery
This tourist friendly cemetery is the final resting place of many well known celebrities throughout the years.
If the office is open during your visit, they sell a map for $5 or $6 showing you all the noteworthy spots to go to.
Some of the more popular grave sites are of Judy Garland, the dog who played Toto, Mel Blanc, Johnny Ramone, Mickey Rooney, Hattie McDaniel, Burt Reynolds, and more.
During the Fall, they have movie screenings in the evenings and a Dia de los Muertos Festival.
13. Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park & Cemetery
This tiny, hidden cemetery is home to many stars.
Amongst the famous celebrities include Marilyn Monroe, Hugh Hefner, Don Knotts, Eva Gabor, Dean Martin, Natalie Wood, Mel Torme, and Rodney Dangerfield.
14. Forest Lawn Cemetery – Glendale
This cemetery is massive and it’s a little harder to find individual grave sites, but there are many iconic people buried here.
The main reason we visited this cemetery was to see Walt Disney’s grave site.
He’s buried with several of his family members in a great location up on a hill amongst a garden.
A little ways away from him is Clark Gable.
15. The Haunt Ghost Tours
The Haunt Ghost Tours can be taken in LA, Temecula, and in Solvang.
These are paranormal investigation walking tours that take place in the evenings.
The LA tour takes place in Chinatown and when we took the tour our EMF readers picked up a ton of activity all throughout the night.
All locations tend to sell out in advance, so you’ll want to make sure to get your tickets early!
16. Halloween Movie Screenings at Rooftop Cinema Club
They show films seven nights a week at their venues in San Diego, the LA Arts District, Downtown LA, and El Segundo.
This year’s schedule for October has not yet been released, but here is what they did last year:
Throughout the month of October, they’re having a Halloween Vibes celebration featuring films like:
Films for all ages – Hocus Pocus, Coco, Hotel Transylvania, Cruella, Monsters Inc, Coraline, Halloweentown, The Nightmare Before Christmas
Halloween Classics – Halloween, The Craft, Beetlejuice, The Addams Family, Ghostbusters, Practical Magic, The Mummy, Scary Movie, Friday the 13th, Edward Scissorhands, It
Horror/Thriller Movies – The Ring, Scream, American Psycho, The Silence of the Lambs, Final Destination, Zombieland, Get Out, The Conjuring, The Shining, Misery, The Cabin in the Woods, The Blair Witch Project, I Know What You Did Last Summer
Click for more information on Rooftop Cinema Club’s Halloween movie screenings!
17. The Haunted Car Wash Tunnel Of Terror
If you’re in LA, visit Carwood Car Wash at 2729 E. Carson St, Lakewood, CA, 90712.
On select nights from October 6th – October 31st, the haunted carwashes will be running for $30 per vehicle.
18. Natural History Museum’s Boney Island
The Natural History Museum in LA transforms its Nature Gardens into a haunted but whimsical interactive light-up experience called Boney Island during the Halloween season.
The light up experience includes special effects like skeletons performing rope tricks, levitating through hoops, shadow puppetry and more.
Additionally, there are artistic performances, real fossils, live animal presentations, trick-or-treating, and other installations.
This event runs September 28 – October 31.
It’s $25 per person or $20 for members.
The event only runs on Thursday-Sunday, plus October 30 & 31.
19. Sony Pictures Studios Halloween Twilight Tour
On Thursday nights in October, the Twilight Tour at Sony Pictures Studios becomes the Halloween Twilight Tour.
There are also a couple added tours for Friday the 13th and Halloween night.
The tour goes from 6 pm – 8 pm and is $55 per person.
20. Dia De Los Muertos On Olvera Street
Jeyn from WanderFever shares her experience of celebrating Dia de los Muertos in LA.
In late October and early November, I recommend experiencing the vibrant Dia de los Muertos celebrations on Olvera Street in downtown LA. You’ll find colorful displays, altars, and cultural events celebrating this Mexican tradition.
21. AFI Fest
“AFI FEST (the American Film Institute’s film festival) is taking place October 25-29 in Los Angeles at venues including the historic TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles.
Now in its 37th year, AFI FEST is a world-class event, showcasing the best films from across the globe.
With an innovative slate of programming, the five-day festival presents screenings, panels and conversations, featuring both master filmmakers and new cinematic voices.
AFI FEST includes high-profile films with Q&As featuring the films’ cast and crew and a robust lineup of fiction and nonfiction features and shorts, providing a one-of-a-kind experience for movie fans.
This year’s festival will open with the World Premiere ofLEAVE THE WORLD BEHIND, based on the acclaimed novel of the same name by Rumaan Alam.
The highly anticipated apocalyptic thriller stars Academy Award® winner Julia Roberts, Academy Award® winner Mahershala Ali, Academy Award® nominee Ethan Hawke, Myha’la, Farrah Mackenzie, Charlie Evans and Kevin Bacon.
The festival will close with Bradley Cooper’s MAESTRO, a towering and fearless love story chronicling the lifelong relationship between Leonard Bernstein (Bradley Cooper) and Felicia Montealegre Cohn Bernstein (Carey Mulligan).
A love letter to life and art, MAESTRO at its core is an emotionally epic portrayal of family and love.
More titles are being announced over the next couple of weeks.”
22. Auschwitz Exhibit At The Reagan Library
“The Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum, in partnership with NEON, is showcasing an unprecedented collection of over 700 original artifacts, now extended at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California.
This exhibition sheds light on the darkest chapter of human history, serving as a solemn reminder of the importance of upholding human dignity and fostering empathy.”
23. Dine LA
Dine LA is October 1st – 20th this year.
“As part of Restaurant Week offerings in LA, join City Cruises for an unforgettable dining cruise to enjoy the sights and sounds of the water, and delight in a delicious prix-fixe plated dinner with local, seasonal ingredients at a private table, all at Restaurant Week prices.
Reserve your table here.“
24. West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval
“WeHo is resurrecting its famous Halloween Carnaval this fall for the first time since 2019, heralding an exciting new post-pandemic era for the two-square-mile city in the heart of Los Angeles.
The event will take place on Tuesday, October 31 from 6 – 11 pm on a one-mile stretch of Santa Monica Boulevard between Doheny and La Cienega.
The event is free to attend and will feature a stage at the intersection of Santa Monica and San Vicente with a live DJ set, food trucks, and thousands of costumed revelers.
Halloween celebrations will also take place at West Hollywood bars, restaurants, and entertainment venues.
Overnight visitors will find a host of newly opened hotels to choose from near the event, including The West Hollywood EDITION, 1 Hotel West Hollywood, The Pendry West Hollywood and Hotel Ziggy.”
25. Playtime With Paddington
“Playtime with Paddington at the Langham Huntington Pasadena comes with a Paddington-themed in-room tent, pillowcases, bed runner, and children’s bathrobe.
There’s even a take home Paddington and Langham collaboration plush, drawstring bag, children’s slippers, and balloon with holder.
The experience is available now through December.”
26. Japanese Heritage Shōya House
“A 320-year-old Japanese Heritage Shōya House is set to open at The Huntington in October.
Sustainable living across three centuries will be showcased in the historic residence and compound, which was moved from Marugame, Japan.
The house will present Edo period regenerative farming and sustainable living learnings.
Los Angeles residents Yohko and Akira Yokoi offered their historic family home to The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens in 2016.”
27. Halloween At KidSpace Children’s Museum
“Halloween at KidSpace Children’s Museum is happening all month long this October.
Arrive in costume and join the other fairies, mermaids, pirates and superheroes strutting their stuff in the daily Kidspace Halloween Parades.
Visit the costume creation station for some DIY accessories and costume additions, decorate a pumpkin, meet a spider, learn about their webs, and enjoy the magic of Halloween.”
28. Craftoberfest At The Rose Bowl
“Craftoberfest returns to the Rose Bowl Stadium for the sixth year in the row on October 21, 2023.
With over 50 carefully-curated craft breweries from the Southern California area, this food and drink festival will provide each guest with a delicious experience influenced by the world’s largest “Volksfest” (beer festival) in Germany.
The event will serve traditional and fan-favorite foods influenced by this internationally-loved holiday.
You’ll find pretzels, Bratwurst… and unlimited pours of craft beers from local breweries!”
More Fun Things To Do In Southern California In The Fall
Outside of the fun things to do in Los Angeles in October, if you’re looking for more places to explore throughout the Halloween season, there is plenty to do in Southern California!
These are our favorite Fall events that we like to go to year after year.
🎃 Roger’s Gardens Witching Hour Halloween Boutique
This plant nursery in Corona Del Mar, near Newport Beach, has been transforming it’s Halloween boutique for several years now.
In the boutique you’ll find tons of Halloween decor and props.
Each year it gets a new theme and the theme for 2023 is The Witching Hour.
Some previous themes include The Nightmare Before Christmas, Cabinet of Curiosities, A Pirates Life For Me, and my personal favorite, Malice In Wonderland.
🎃 Tanaka Farms Pumpkin Patch In Irvine
The best and most popular pumpkin patch in all of Orange County is easily Tanaka Farms.
They’ve even been featured in shows like The Real Housewives of Orange County.
Enjoy fun Fall activities like wagon rides, pumpkin picking, arts and crafts, and more.
🎃 The Best Things To Do In Southern California This Fall
For even more ideas, check out our list of all the best things to do in Southern California this Fall.
We’ve got events, festivals, Oktoberfests, Fall foliage towns, and more.
Conclusion: Things To Do In Los Angeles In October
All of these fun things to do in Los Angeles in October make it a great time of year to visit the area.
LA hosts so many different types of events during this season that it’s not even possible to do it all.
