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Halloween and Harvest Events

for Los Angeles, 2003

This is just archive info, current info is here! 
Look for this illo for updated information.

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 Fairs

Here's the offerings for 2003.  I'm updating them as fast as the cities update their calendars.

West Hollywood Halloween Carnival

This 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 Fair

OK, 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 Street

The 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 parties

Well, 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 Festival

Wana 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 Festival

Two 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.'

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 Spooky Amusement Park makeovers

Dates 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 Haunt

Here'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 Spooky

Daytime alternative to the scary Halloween Haunt.  Celebrating Halloween cheer with trick-or-treating, mazes and shows.  Non scary.

Queen Mary's Ship Wreck

Wana 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 Mountain

Magic 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 - Disneyland   

Also 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 Attractions

Every 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.

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Scary Business - Haunted Houses

Spooky House Haunted Theme Park

Join 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 Scare

Scare, the Nightmare with the World of John Carl Buechler

The Haunted Zone  

3-D fright in Alhambra.  Two different levels of fright, depending on time.

Hallowed Haunting Grounds

This 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 Cemetery

Not 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 Walk

A 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 Tour

Throughout California

Haunt World has a very detailed list <here>

Throughout the country...

Go to Haunted House search engines...

Castle Blood

And 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.

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Ghoulish Events - Contests to Dances to Theatre to Clubs

Underwater Jacques-O-Lantern Carving Contest

Yup, 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 Contest

As 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 Society

Note the ADSLA is not doing a Hollywood Cemetary Walking Tour but the event will return next year.  http://www.adsla.org/events.htm