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Halloween and Harvest Eventsfor Los Angeles, 2003This is just archive info, current info is
here!
Costumes 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 Halloween events 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 FairsHere's the offerings for 2003. I'm updating them as fast as the cities update their calendars. West 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. It has been titled "the largest Halloween street party in the world." There are numerous stages set up with bands and other events as well. There will be a parade. 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 Halloween 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 on Hollywood Blvd. In 2002 they tried an official contest, but I can't find any reference of it this year.. but that is not going to stop anyone. There's a caravel atmosphere and many of the shops are set up for trick-or-treaters. Some stores will be open late for trick-or-treating It's a great time to visit the bizarre midnight museums that dot the area.
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. Piñata Breaking, Children Workshops, Face Painting, Strolling Mariachi, Ballet Folklorico. Check out their web site for a detailed explanation of the history and culture behind this celebration.
Descanso Garden's Pumpkin Festival"Descanso Gardens offers families and friends the opportunity to enjoy fall's blooming beauty along with seasonal celebrations." Children's costume contest on both days, Pumpkin Carving, "The Fascinating World of Bats" are among the highlights.
Local City Street Fairs and Halloween partiesWell, I'm not going to try and catch these. Check your local paper and your local city's web site. 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, blacksmith demo and musicians performing. There are farm demonstrations though the month and they are set up for schools
Calabasas Pumpkin FestivalTwo days of fun. Four stages of live entertainment and contests. Contests include pumpkin pie eating and seed spitting. They also have a costume contest on Saturday with cash prizes. Also have pony rides, historical demonstrations, petting zoo and reptile show, beer garden, pumpkin bowling, art and crafts booths and more.
Annual Buccaneer Days at Two Harbors, Catalina Island 'For that little bit of Pirate in each of us, join the Buccaneers of 2003 for a great day of fun. Don your best pirate attire for the costume contest. Dig for buried treasure on the beach for junior pirates. Adult pirates can compete in the "all around the Isthmus" treasure hunt. Enjoy great food and dance the night with "Tom Thumb and the Hitchhikers" at the Buccaneer Ball.'
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 The magic and mayhem of Ed Alonzo, The Hanging, saterical look back at the year's pop culture with pyrotechnics and other special effects. Also have pre-scare dinner and VIP tours.
Knott's Berry Farm Camp SpookyDaytime alternative to the scary Halloween Haunt. Celebrating Halloween cheer with trick-or-treating, mazes and shows. Non scary.
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, 3 levels of dance parties with DJs as well as a live band in their Boiler Room and their own Fright Mistress. Open weekends all October.
Fright Fest at Magic MountainMagic Mountain remakes the mountain for the month of October. They have mazes of horror and the bizarre. By popular demand, they've reversed the Colossus roller coaster for a real fright and run the other roller coasters in the dark. They have the Ghoul patrol, Parade of the Dead.
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.
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 (Oct 26) 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 the 3-D "Psychotic Circus". Famous large undertaking setup for Halloween each year in the San Fernando Valley. One of the biggest undertaking in Los Angeles every Halloween.
Antelope Valley ScareScare, the Nightmare with the World of John Carl Buechler
The Haunted Zone3-D fright in Alhambra. Two different levels of fright, depending on time.
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 different than the standard fright house. OK for all ages. Check out their detailed web site for a tour of their grounds. Lots of links. Cool pics.
Grimmstone CemeteryNot meant to be a "scare". Instead, it "shows you the spookyness that Halloween has to offer." Good for all ages. Over 15 years of haunting the San Fernando Valley.
Haunted Hollywood Ghost WalkA tour of Hollywood's spooky side by the President of Greater Hollywood Paranormal Society
Altadena's Haunted Jail
Haunted Hike"The Dreaded Curse of Echo Canyon". 15 minuet presentation by docents at the Stough Canyon nature Center in Burbank.
The Grier Musser Museum - Haunted House TourThe Grier Musser Museum is a beautifully restored Victorian house. Throughout the year the museum features special holiday exhibits
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 Theatre to ClubsUnderwater 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 26. (Still trying to confirm 2003 even and day)
Haute Dog Howl'oween Parade & Canine Costume ContestAs the title says, this is a doggie costume contest!!! Bring your pet and howl with the pampered pooches in the Belmount Shores area. Sunday, October 26
Terribly Tango Ragtime Ball
The Aviator's Ball, a Ragtime Dance
Living History Day at Los Encinos State History Park
There are more costume dance events scheduled. Check www.lahacal.org for many more ideas. Deco Halloween Dance- Art Deco SocietyDance to the music of Mora's Modern Rhythmists 12-piece Dance Orchestra. Special Guest! Live and in person: Star Trek Voyager's Robert Picardo sings with the Rhythmists! Maxwell's at the Argyle - a 1940's night club at the Argyle Hotel, Hollywood's Art Deco Landmark in West Hollywood
Note the ADSLA is not doing a Hollywood Cemetary Walking Tour but the event will return next year. http://www.adsla.org/events.htm
Dia De Los Muertos"This tradition is enriched with beauty, caring and humor with which the Mexicans celebrate their rites or communion between the living and the dead. They believe that each year on the "Day of the Dead", the souls of their departed loved ones return to share a feast with the living. Since it is a reunion there is nothing somber or macabre about this event."
Monster MassiveMajor dance festival at the LA Sports Arena and surrounding area. A fright fest in 3D. Billed as one of the biggest electronic music events in the country. "Feature five functioning, technologically advanced Multimedia stages and rigging installations." Industrial, Techno, Electronic music and more. DJs. Check the website for the full list of performers and stages.
Club Crasher Sinister Lingerie and Costume BallHalloween night head to the Highlands for what they bill as "the largest, Naughtiest Halloween Bash" "Giant Monsters, Stiltwalkers, Arial Artists, Pin-Up Girls, Rock Stars, Porn Stars, 2000 Sexy Freaks and 3 Midgets." Performances by the beautiful Purrfect Angelz. This is not a party for the inhibited. Major party with LA's Adult Industry folks. Expect some bizarre costumes from minimal amounts of fabric and leather.
Inferno, a Halloween CelebrationLarge club party. "A blend of dance, 70'w funk, 80's remixes and old school hi-hop. ... groove on with deja Mike Z and our go-go-gals." Costume contest.
Hollywood Hills Mansion Party - D.A.S.K. ProductionsMasquerade contest and costume party in the Hollywood hills. DJ's, live entertainment, laser light shows, special effects. Costume prices for best costume, most creative and most provocative. This is their 16th year.
Club3some 10th annual Halloween BashDress in red! Hosted by Rohan Bisset, mark Lewis, Beej, Tony B, Jeff Bomb, and more. $1000 Halloween contest. Hollywood Arena Night Club
Looking for more club events, especially on the west side? Check out http://alexatucla.tripod.com/halloween.html
Dream Halloween - Fundraiser for CAAFMajor fund raising party for the Children Affected by Aids Foundation. Hosted by Jamie Lee Curtis this year. Big stars get together at this annual event at Barker Hanger at the Santa Monica Airport to create a party for the kids and raise major money. (note ticket prices below before you jump in the car to go...) "Witches and wizards and goblins and ghosts. Barney™ and Barbie® and celebrity hosts. Trick-or-treating, sundae-eating, doesn't it sound grand? Paint your face and have a taste of food from every land! Center stage is all the rage with song and dance and fun. One-of-a-kind dolls, line the walls, there's something for everyone"
Red Dress Party - Aid for Aids fundraiserThis fundraiser for aids is quite a party. Everyone dresses in red, though red dress is not required. However, there will be plenty folks cross dressed for the party and fashion show. There is an elaborate fashion show and contest for Miss Red Dress. "Hosted by comedienne Judy Tenuta.The competition is emceed by Miss Whole Wide World, Chu-Mee Nao, whose quick-witted cattiness keeps contestants on their toes." Also DJ Mark Howard with disco, 80's and pop music. Raffles include a red bustier. The show is being filmed for Club Channel 1.
Las Vegas Comic ConThis is only a tad out of area, but for a serious costume competitor ... it's an option to consider. Prize-Filled Halloween Party At "Comic-Con" In Mandalay Bay More than $40,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded during the Halloween Masquerade Party, October 31, in conjunction with the First Annual Las Vegas Comic-Con at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center. There will be $5,000 in door prizes and opportunities to win over $35,000 in cash and prizes in nine different costume categories at the Halloween Masquerade Party. The categories are:
First place winners in each category will win $2,000, and a "Best in Show" winner will receive a total of $10,000 in cash.
Theatre and Movies(We're looking at theatres with Halloween productions, list will be update as we find them.) Frankenstein in Love -or- the Life of DeathPlay by Clive Barker by the Sacred Fools Theater.
Halloween Classics - Museum of Television and RadioClassic Television of the season is revisited: The Simpsons: "Treehouse of Horror" Halloween specials and revisit favorites such as It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown and The Munsters: "Munster Masquerade." etc.
Dracula - Gothic ProductionsBram Stoker's classic tale of horror and suspense opens on Halloween. It is an original adaptation of the tale that has terrified audiences for generations.
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... Rocky Horror Picture ShowThe ultimate Halloween midnight move show. Get out the rice, your fishnets, clean underwear and get ready to time warp with the entire audience! Special days make this movie so much more fun because you'll have the best of the "live casts", extra events, wall to wall folks all ready to let go modern problems and reenact that dark and stormy night when the innocent meet whole wacky Transylvania group. You may have no voice left by the time the movie is out... but it's a great stress relievers... as well as just nostalgic, naughty fun.
The www.moviefone.com will give you all the theatre details. Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas(Not sure this is really happening. It's on the El Capitan's website, but I can't find ticket info and have not heard back from them. 2002 info below.) Watch the 1993 classic movie at the El Capitan Theatre along with two of his earlier films, "Frankenwennie" and "Vincent". See classic props and sets from the movie
The Silent Movie TheatreCelebrate October with the originals of Horror Movies. The Silent Movie Theatre is the last fully operational silent movie theatre in the US. Join then for the classics, with live musical accompaniment.
Halloween Horror Fest with the Mighty Wurlitzer OrganOld Town El Segundo plays movies with a twist. The Wurlitzer always plays a short prologue prior to each film presentation. What a way to get into the mood for a spooky movie. "The theater organ is actually a one-man band since it is made up of several instruments all under the control of the organist."
ScreamFest Horror Film and Screenplay CompetitionLooking for newer scary movies? Come see the latest. Also catch some of the classics with special guest lectures and autograph sessions. The festival is Oct. 10-19. Catch numerous LA premieres of the up and coming horror movies.
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 Popular Scary MoviesWant a regular theatre to get in the mood??? There are always a number of scary movies released by the studios and special Halloween showings are getting more popular.
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 propped 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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