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Halloween and Harvest Eventsfor Los Angeles, 2001Costumes and Halloween fun go hand in hand. So, it is only appropriate to brings you news of where you may go to be haunted... or, to do your own haunting. So, in that spirit... this section has been expanded to more than just places to wear costumes for this spooky holiday. Whether you dress up or just want to go to watch costumed folks in Los Angles this Halloween, here's a selection to sooth the ghoul in you. This is only a sample of the fun available though out the area. Most listed here have web sites. There's a lot more fun out there, but this list had to stop sometime. Be sure to check out your local paper for more events around you or listen to your favorite radio station for club events. (Check Other Sources for hints on how to find more events.) For those of you not in LA who've wandered here, I've got some web source fun at the end of the page. This longgggggg list starts with the mundane... but you'll find, that like a haunted house, the further you prowl, the weirder it gets. Startling Street FairsWest Hollywood Halloween CarnivalThis is the Halloween Costume Party to end all parties -- and that's saying a lot for Los Angeles. Halloween night Santa Monica Blvd. is closed down in West Hollywood and turned over to the the wildness of imagination. You'll see some of the most electrifying, strangest, daringest, gaudiest costumes to strut down a public street. There are numerous stages set up with bands and other events as well. There will be a parade. The grand marshal is Margaret Cho. There is a drag competition. Most stores stay open late. It's a great place to come and play... you never know who or what you will see. There will be numerous stars just roaming the boulevard as well as total shocking silliness.
Hollywood Street FairOK, it's not quite true that the West Hollywood Street Fair is too big to contain all the costumes. However, if you are looking for something much more kid-friendly but still a free spirited street fair, check out what Hollywood does. There's a caravel atmosphere and many of the shops are set up for trick-or-treaters. Some stores are open late and it's a great time to visit the bizarre midnight museums that dot the area.
Myth, Magik and Macabre - Long Beach Street Fair"Trick or Treat at a bizarre bazaar." Monsters will be out and about in Long Beach the Saturday before Halloween. There will be magicians and story tellers mixing with the costumed throngs. See African drumming and the dance group Dembrabah, an entourage of giant puppets and phantom hearses. Works of Valerie Bechtol will be on display. Dance the night away at the Howlin' Swing with the music of the Blue Pacific Band.
Dia de Los Muertos - Day of the Dead - Olvera StreetThe Day of the Dead celebrations date back to the time of the Aztecs. It is a time of remembrance and socialization. Olvera Street will have two parades, lots of things for kids and their families, celebrities and wonderful food. Check out their web site for a detailed explanation of the history and culture behind this celebration.
Local City Street Fairs and Halloween partiesWell, I'm not going to try and catch these. Check your local paper. Most of these are kid oriented. If the pattern from the last couple of year holds on, a number will be on the Saturday afternoon before Halloween. Others will start at 4PM on Halloween for the kiddies. Pumpkin Patch and Harvest FestivalWana have a fun time down on the farm??? Or just hung a pumpkin? This is the place. All October they are set up with a pumpkin patch, petting zoo, hay rides, pony rides, sunflower forest, old fashion food and more. On the weekends the Country Farm Store has all kinds of home made crafts and goodies and musicians performing. There are farm demonstrations though the month and they are set up for schools
Spooky Amusement Park makeoversDates open vary. See the sites for the actual days. It's often Friday night through Sunday in October as well as Halloween. The big ones are open most of October. However, check an individual attraction's own web site. Because of intensity of the haunting, there are child age recommendations for most of these events. Some events have separate children's events. Knott's Berry Farm Halloween HauntHere's the most elaborate scare event with over 1,000 monsters. Knott's Berry Farm turns into the "Scariest Place on Earth" after dark. Many mazes and shows including Elvira, Mistress of the Dark. This year they're expanding even further with dinner packages and VIP tours. They're also having a hearse night.
Queen Mary's Ship WreckWana party on a real haunted ship??? The Queen Mary changes into a horrifying party boat just to celebrate Halloween. It has 7 mazes this year, live bands and DJs. Open weekends all October.
Fright Fest at Magic MountainMagic Mountain remakes the mountain for the month of October. They have 4 mazes of horror and the bizarre. By popular demand, they've reversed the Colossus roller coaster for a real fright.
Haunted Mansion Holiday - DisneylandAlso billed as When Holidays Collide. Disneyland has remade over their famous Haunted Mansion in the style of "Tim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas". The somber New Orleans styled house has been redecorated as Jack Skellington and the other residents of his world descending for some delightful twists on the mix of Christmas and Halloween.
Universal Studio's Halloween Family FunUniversal Studio's is not doing a separate Halloween event this year, but they're still remaking their rides and adding lots of twists and scares to the experience of their studio tour.
Other Parks and AttractionsEvery single amusement park in Southern California seems to have some kind of Halloween or Autumn celebration going. Many have children's costume contests. There are addition events from "the Scarium of the Pacific" to Universal's CityWalk Halloween Carnival to Legoland's "Brick-or-Treat Celebration." Check out <Other Sources for Boo News> for search engines. Scary Business - Haunted HousesSpooky House Haunted Theme ParkJoin ghosts and spooks in a 25 room haunted Victorian Mansion and the Devil's Gulch Ghost Town. Newly added is "Nightmares in 3-D". Large undertaking setup for Halloween each year in the San Fernando Valley..
The Haunted Zone3-D fright in Alhambra (and a coupon for a free game of laser tag).
Hallowed Haunting GroundsThis is a wonderful home based haunting based on mystery not shock. The Studio City house transforms into a grave yard with Hollywood magic effects. Quite a number of eerie special effects. OK for all ages. Check out their detailed web site for a tour of their grounds. Lots of links.
Grimmstone Cemetery14 years of haunting the San Fernando Valley.
Throughout CaliforniaHaunt World has a very detailed list <here>
Throughout the country...Go to Haunted House search engines... Castle BloodAnd just to not leave out the east coast entirely... I had to mention Castle Blood. So, they're on the other side of the country... don't let that stop you. People come from all over to see them. If you want to see fantastically haunted costumes, check out the web site at www.CastleBlood.com. They have won national awards for their costuming... or and you can order costumes for them... for next year. Ghoulish Events - Contests to Dances to TheatreVan Tassel Harvest BallConsider joining the citizens of Sleepy Hollow for their Harvest. Be transported back in time to the 16th century for an evening of period dance and heart-stopping story telling.
Gatsby NightConsider in evening in the world of F. Scott Fitzgerald's "Great Gatsby" -- the wild and decedent world of the idle rich in the Roaring '20s. Live music of the period for your dancing pleasure. Pay-as-you-go bar for alcohol and soft drinks. Snacks provided.
There are more costume dance events scheduled. Check www.lahacal.org for many more ideas. Halloween Swing Fling & Costume BallWhat about the weekend on Catalina Island with dancing? Costume ball featuring swing band & dancing!
Underwater Jacques-O-Lantern Carving ContestYup, seriously. Carve a pumpkin under water! Catalina Island has all kinds of Halloween events planned. This one is of special note. Saturday, October 27.
Hollywood Forever Cemetery Walking Tour - Art Deco SocietyGrab your walking shoes and be prepared for 'a marble-ous tour of post-mortem stargazing' as tour guilds from the Art Deco Society re-tell Hollywood's history -- movie moguls, stars, early pioneers and entrepreneurs.
POEssessed - Staring Edgar Allan Poe IVJoin the great-great-great-grand nephew of the original Edgar Allan Poe for the West Coast premiere for a "uniquely entertaining and eerily interesting evening of theatre with surprises, thrills, and, of course, goose bumps."
Little Shop of Horrors - LiveCatch the real musical in all it's dark and tacky glory. A vampire plant on Skid Row makes a great Halloween treat... but will the survivor be you or the plant? Remember the thrill of "Suddenly Seymour" or "Be a Dentist"? Great fun in Hollywood.
Fright Lights - Laser Light showProwl the stars at the Griffith Park Observatory. They are running a special Fright Light show though the month of October. Extra shows have been added for Halloween week. Check the schedule for times.
MoviesMany theatres have special screens planned for Halloween and the weekend before. Pick up a paper or hit www.MovieFone.com or <Other Sources> and check out the theatres. Tasty treats include...
Costumes???? Up to you... but it's a great time to wear the 'blacks' and powder your face, at least. Just watch out for those with the naturally sharp teeth. Other Sources for BOO newsMore Haunted Houses and goulie stuff?Check out these haunted search engines for activities around the country. They have haunted houses, chat, costume tips and more...
Use search engines for events around Los Angeles. Note: no search engines have everything, so dig for info.
Halloween ShoppingSome of da Cat's favorites for Halloween stuff
Just Hanging around the House...OK, so sometimes you're not up to running out and around in costume... check out your TV for all kinds of monster festivals. Let them wear the costumes and makeup! You'll have your feet up and a bowl of candy in your arms. Get started with some web games and schedules: (You're on your own for the rest!)
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