The best things to do in Los Angeles this week

Organized by New York’s Museum of Modern Art and presented by the Hammer Museum, the MoMA Contenders series presents 10 influential, innovative films made in the past year that MoMA’s Department of Film believes are bound for big things. In addition to screenings of all 10 films, most are normally accompanied by a post-screening discussion with some of the creatives involved in the project. This week, catch Coyote vs. Acme, followed by a conversation with director Dave Green and producer Chris DeFaria.

Partake in an educational yet festive Halloween-themed night at the Huntington. The 21-plus event is celebrating its 10th thrilling year in the gardens. See a aerial and acrobatic sci-fi-themed performance by CirqueSanity; step inside Nikola Tesla’s laboratory; enjoy a mix of magic, mind-reading and comedy; learn the “out of this world” history of Joshua Tree’s Integratron; listen to scary stories in the woods; test your knowledge at twilight trivia; and more. Admission includes two drink tickets (food from local vendors is available for purchase). Act fast, though: Tickets for the event typically sell out early.

Back for more after a farewell tour a few years back, the legendary rock band returns to town for two nights at the Hollywood Bowl. Billed as “Aerosmith & Friends,” the show has assembled quite the lineup of collaborators, including Guns N’ Roses, the Black Crowes, Run DMC, Heart, Billy Idol, Tom Morello, Sammy Hagar, members of Red Hot Chili Peppers and Alice in Chains, plus quite a few more folks. Note that the lineup will vary by night.

Pasadena’s own indie-folk queen Phoebe Bridgers plays a few homecoming shows at Intuit Dome. Like her preview event at Madison Square Garden, these Halloween-time dates on “The Lost Tour”—her final shows on the U.S. leg of the tour—are phone-free events; all phones, smart watches and accessories will need to be secured in Yondr pouches.

Each year, the Walt Disney Concert Hall adds a little bit of Frank Gehry architecture and culture to Halloween. Organist Clark Wilson provides a live soundtrack to a classic silent film for an extra eerie feel. This year, take a seat for a matinee screening of the silent 1920 masterpiece Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, starring John Barrymore.

Disney Hall’s annual silent-movie screening with live organ has been moved to a matinee slot this Halloween in favor of this Michael Giacchino doubleheader. See a sneak peek of the composer and director’s upcoming Sleepy Hollow spinoff, Headless, followed by 2022’s hourlong Werewolf by Night, set to a live score.

The Houston Brothers’ eight-in-one nightlife destination, Downtown’s Level 8, is celebrating Halloween once again with a hedonistic party. Five of the venue’s concepts will represent a different deadly sin, with fire dancers, wrestlers, acrobats and actors bringing envy, lust, sloth, gluttony, pride, wrath and greed to life (the eighth one is FOMO, apparently). If you upgrade to a VIP ticket, you’ll get access to a three-hour open bar and Sinners y Santos nightclub.

This is one of the largest Halloween street parties in the world, and there’s really no better place to be on October 31. Sure, the crowd is huge (like, half a million people huge) and a bit belligerent, but the amazing display of costumes and general merry-making spirit deem it at least a worthy stop, if not your main destination for the evening. There will be dancing, drinking and many impromptu costume contests. Even if you don’t plan on entering one, it’s best to still come dressed to the nines—no one likes a party pooper in jeans and a T-shirt. Find it along Santa Monica Boulevard, between Doheny Drive and La Cienega Boulevard. A DJ will be spinning from a stage at the intersection of Santa Monica and San Vicente Boulevard, and food trucks will be on hand.

LA Opera and the United Theater on Broadway (formerly the Ace) once again join forces for a chilling mash-up of live music and film. This year’s featured presentation is Hercules vs. Vampires, an over-the-top 1961 cult fantasy starring Christopher Lee and former Mr. Universe Reg Park. The campy flick will receive a brand-new original score with live orchestra and opera. Even better? The Halloween-night screening will be followed by an after-party with themed drinks, a DJ and a costume contest—with a cash prize of $10,000!

This Halloween mini-fest makes the jump from Union Station to the Arts District with a block-sized celebration centered around 613 Imperial Street. You’ll find two stages set across an indoor-outdoor space, including a live performance from electronic duo the Blaze, plus Claude VonStroke and an Arcade Fire DJ set. Organizers SBCLTR and Minimal Effort have added the latter to the lineup in the wake of the passing of Kavinsky, the French DJ and producer originally slated to play the event; THE MAZE will now honor him with a special installation and themed areas. Outside of the music, you can expect hidden pathways, roaming live performers and immersive environments.

Halloween doesn’t have to mean waiting in line for a nightclub or spending $90 on a one-and-done costume. At WeHo’s Bar Next Door on Sunset Boulevard, the festivities stretch all month long with a vintage-inspired “Drink or Treat?” takeover featuring spooky cocktails, themed game nights and hidden black cats. Sip a Basic Witch, a Haku vodka concoction with matcha, pumpkin spice cold foam and oat milk, or try the Luna de Sangre, a tequila cocktail topped with blood-orange ginger beer and a red wine float. Every Monday brings Halloween-themed trivia, old-school games, movie marathons and prizes, while four black cats hidden around the bar offer a bonus mystery shot to anyone who finds them all. There are also $10 candy bags—because paying $10 is a lot easier than having to knock on your neighbors’ doors.

Celebrate Day of the Dead at the end of Route 66 with this two-day art installation surrounding the Santa Monica Pier’s historic carousel, which will be decked out in marigolds and papel picado during the free, family-friendly event. Sunday’s celebration will start with an Aztec blessing and parade beginning at the west end of the pier—Día de los Muertos attire is encouraged—followed by a blessing of the ofrendas in the carousel building, ballet folklorico performances and live music. (Specifics of Saturday’s programming have yet to be announced.) In addition to altars made by local artist Sylvia Sanchez, there will also be a community altar, and attendees can pay tribute to loved ones who’ve passed away by sharing stories and photographs of their favorite Pier memories. This year’s event in particular pays tribute to Pedro Infante, a central figure in the golden age of Mexican cinema.

While Downtown may not be the easiest neighborhood for trick-or-treating, the locals know how to throw a party. The DTLA Alliance’s annual Halloween party for kids at ASU Grand Hope Park continues to thrive as parents bring their little ones to celebrate the spookiest night of the year with a dance party, complimentary cookies, puppet and magic shows, arts and crafts, carnival games, character meet and greets, and a trick-or-treat trail.

There’s no shortage of pop culture conventions, but not many local ones can rival the annual Los Angeles Comic Con—which turns 15 this year. The convention draws thousands of comic fans to Downtown L.A. for an epic three-day expo. This year, expect comic book and TV panels, anime screenings and celebrity appearances from pop culture royalty: Nic Cage, Hayden Christensen, Aaron Paul, Bob Odenkirk, Krysten Ritter, Christopher Lloyd, Rosario Dawson, Rainn Wilson and more. Make sure to come in costume for the cosplay contest, and bring the kids for trick-or-treating between booths on Halloween afternoon.

“Weird” Al Yankovic’s 1989 feature film, UHF, is getting the live score treatment at the Greek Theatre on Halloween night. A screening of the movie—a chaotic comedy co-starring the parodist, Fran Drescher and Michael Richards—will be accompanied by an orchestra led by the original composer. Afterward, Yankovic and some surprise guests will come out for a live Q&A. It’s not a Halloween movie, per se, but expect to see fans dressed in Hawaiian shirts and curly wigs.

The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts hosts its first Family Fest of the season on November 1 with a free celebration of Día de los Muertos that will teach kids about the holiday with interactive activities. Guests of all ages can hear stories from Lil’ Libros authors, build their own altars during workshops from Self Help Graphics, get their faces painted with Day of the Dead–inspired designs, listen to music from Mariachi Tierra del Sol Juvenil de Los Angeles, and learn traditional dance styles from Everybody Dance LA. Santa Monica’s Cayton Children’s Museum will pop up, too, with “Guiding Spirits With Tissue Paper Marigolds,” an activation that encourages creativity and self-expression.

You’ve heard “Pinball Wizard” approximately a million times. But now see it all play out onstage when The Who’s Tommy comes to the Pantages. A dazzling new production of Pete Townshend’s groundbreaking 1969 rock opera will be performed in L.A. October 27 to November 15, introducing a whole new generation to the deaf, blind and mute boy who nonetheless “sure plays a mean pinball.” Expect powerhouse vocals, explosive choreography and enough rock ’n’ roll bombast to shake the chandeliers. Sadly, the baked beans choreo is strictly in the movie adaptation.

Dragula “queens of darkness” the Boulet Brothers are bringing their annual Halloween ball—now in its 26th year—to the Globe Theatre Downtown. Expect three stories of music, sin and horror, including a Halloween stage show featuring a performance by ballroom dance troupe House of Ninja, a demonic puppet show from Rasputin’s Marionettes and Jake Dupree’s Halloween burlesque revue. Two-time Grammy nominee Poppy is the night’s headlining DJ. Don your best drag and enter the costume contest—the cash prize is a cool $1,000. 

Do the monster mash, get your face painted and collect some treats during this seventh annual Halloween pop-up at Union Station. The free come-in-costume event for kids takes place on the train station’s restored South Patio, which will transform into a Halloween village complete with balloon artists, face painting, stilt walkers, trick-or-treating, dancing, a costume contest, crafts, candy and more. No tickets are required; just show up and join the festivities. 

The returning WestEdge Design Fair presents some of the best modern furniture and home accessories direct to interior-design lovers. The three-day event will feature both established and up-and-coming premium home furnishings brands that will showcase their designs in lighting, kitchen, bath, outdoor furnishing and other home products. Shop the various designs and attend a series of special events and panels covering topics like AI in design and rebuilding in the Palisades. On Thursday, an opening-night party will let guests sip on cocktails, nibble on hors d’oeuvres and bid on prizes while enjoying early access to the fair and supporting Habitat for Humanity’s ReBUILD L.A. Recovery Fund.

For a wholesome, community-oriented way to celebrate Halloween with your little ones, Vidiots has got you covered. At its annual sensory-friendly, “unscary” event, kids can enjoy pumpkin carving, trick-or-treating, a puppet show by Bob Baker Marionette Theater, a costume contest and a screening of all-ages Halloween shorts—and did we mention it’s free? So of course, advance tickets were all snatched up, but a limited number of walk-up tickets will be available at the box office 45 minutes before the event on a first-come, first-served basis.

Co-organized with Warner Bros. Archives, this immersive exhibition explores the world-building of Ryan Coogler’s record-breaking and Oscar-winning film Sinners. Centered around the film’s iconic Club Juke sequence, it uses music as an ancestral thread to trace Black cultural memory and the Great Migration from the Mississippi Delta to California. Featured artifacts include original film costumes for Michael B. Jordan’s Smoke and Stack, the Club Juke sign and Sammie “Preacher Boy” Moore’s guitar. On your way out, stop by the interactive installation “Sounds That Carry Us,” where visitors can reflect on their own musical memories.

The San Bernardino rave scene injects itself with a bit of Halloween flair at this annual music fest—this year dubbed Escape Psycho Circus. Insomniac Events—the group behind EDC and the Wonderland series—is setting up multiple stages at the NOS Events Center; headliners include Zedd, Ice Cube, Excision, Richie Hawtin, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Galantis, Steve Aoki, Benny Benassi, Alok and Morten. Explore the grounds to find mazes alongside ominous artwork and freak show performers.

The L.A. Zoo’s annual Halloween celebration includes two weekends of spooky decor and up-close-and-personal interactions with some of the zoo’s creepiest crawlers. Look out for trick-or-treating, a spooky storytime, education stations, slime from Sloomoo Institute and photo ops. The animals will get in on the Halloween action, too, with pumpkin feedings scheduled a couple of times a day.

Head to Gloria Molina Grand Park for a two-week display of over a dozen altars created by professional artists and community organizations. On November 1, the event closes with Noche de los Muertos, which will feature cultural performances, local artisans selling goods at a mercado, and more family-friendly activities. All of the festivities are free.

I’m not OK: After a few increasingly large local shows, and a huge summer show at Dodger Stadium, aughts pop-punk fixture My Chemical Romance will return to L.A. next October for five shows at the Hollywood Bowl. The concerts are part of a newly announced tour celebrating the 20th anniversary of the band’s much-loved rock-opera album The Black Parade, which the band will play in full, including hits like “Welcome to the Black Parade,” “I Don’t Love You” and “Famous Last Words.” 

This Mexico City art car bound for Burning Man became an L.A. mainstay for its dance-centric pop-ups—and spawned a bona fide EDM institution in the process. The beloved car was destroyed in a fire in 2023, but a new iteration of the car, Mayan Warrior Galaxyer, debuted the following year. Each Halloween, local event collective Stranger Than presents the full art car experience, with an all-star lineup of artists and production at Gloria Molina Grand Park.

SoCal’s most recognizable cemetery chain—we’re not the only ones who think it’s strange that’s a thing, right?—is honoring the dead with Día de los Muertos celebrations at four of its locations. The Glendale, Cypress, Covina Hills and Cathedral City locations all host festivities complete with altars, six-foot-tall Catrinas, hand-painted alebrijes, folklorico dance and mariachi performances—and even Bob Baker Marionette performances at the first three locations. Cathedral City hosts its celebration on the following evening, November 2 (5–8pm).

Have a drink at seven of the Sunset Strip’s best haunts over the span of a single night during this Halloween bar crawl. Register and pick up your wristband and map at Saddle Ranch Chop House, and you’ll be granted no-cover bar access and themed drink specials at some of the liveliest hot spots in West Hollywood: the historic Andaz hotel, Hotel Ziggy, Katana, the Naughty Pig, White Rabbit Sky Lounge (formerly Skybar) and Wokcano.

Every year, Haunted Little Tokyo turns the area into a ghoulish maze of Halloween-themed pop-ups, walking tours and performances. On Halloween night, dance the evening away at a 21+ block party with music, a costume contest and full bar (4pm–midnight). RSVP online for the secret Little Tokyo location.

For a Day of the Dead day trip, head to Catalina Island for its art and history museum’s eighth annual celebration of Día de los Muertos. Bring the family for a colorful celebration of life and death with live music and performances, kids’ art projects, local food vendors and tequila tastings for the grown-ups. The free event is popular, so they ask that you RSVP ahead of time.

Downey’s annual Day of the Dead celebration returns to the city’s center, where over 25,000 guests are expected. The sprawling free festival typically features art exhibits by Latinx artists, crafts, face painting, a chalk walk, live entertainment across three stages, food trucks and a beer and wine garden. Kids can enjoy storytimes and puppet shows, and decorate their own sugar skulls. And, of course, there are altars: Besides a community altar, you’ll find altars displayed on and in classic cars, a pet altar and shoebox altars.

See notable, late Long Beach residents’ stories come alive at their final resting places during this 30th annual Halloween-time cemetery tour. The Historical Society of Long Beach stages seven graveside monologues at the Long Beach Municipal Cemetery and Sunnyside Cemetery, presented by actors in period-appropriate attire who conjure up stories from people who shaped the city’s history. Arrive before noon to catch all of the performances on a self-guided tour.

Rossoblu may be saying goodbye forever as it prepares to close its doors November 1, but that doesn't mean it’s not throwing one hell of a farewell bash—twice! Before chef Steve Samson permanently closes his Downtown L.A. restaurant, he’s inviting some of his favorite culinary collaborators into the kitchen for two family-style dinners. The October 27 lineup includes Gilberto Cetina of Holbox, Josiah Citrin of Mélisse, Neal Fraser of Redbird, Ray Garcia of Broken Spanish Comedor, Suzanne Goin of A.O.C. and David LeFevre of the Arthur J. On November 17, Dave Beran, Maynard Llera, Brad Mathews, Phil Pretty and Jon Yao take over for round two. Both multi-course feasts cost $250 per person, with 10 percent of proceeds benefiting the Independent Hospitality Coalition. One last excuse to eat very, very well at Rossoblu.

Peruse altars in the plaza of El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument at this Day of the Dead celebration, which incorporates pre-Columbian, Aztec, Mayan and Catholic traditions. Expect plenty of festive wares from the merchants on Olvera Street, along with altars that go on display each morning and a candlelight procession every night for nine nights. Stop by during weekends for face painting (for a fee) and theatrical performances. And on Halloween, there’ll be a 5K race through the area, which you can register for here.

Celebrated Chicana artist Judy Baca’s half-mile-long The Great Wall of Los Angeles, a collaborative mural begun in the ’70s along the Tujunga Wash, has received all sorts of museum love in the past few years, including at a LACMA show where the muralist and her team painted new sections of the work during museum hours. Now, Baca and her Social and Public Art Resource Center team are the center of a new exhibition at the Skirball, where you can see recently completed mural sections focused on the 1960s—in particular the Civil Rights Movement—that soon will be part of the larger work.

When luxury hotels in L.A. host outdoor moving screenings, sometimes they lean a little too far into luxury. But the Regent Santa Monica Beach seems to have struck the perfect balance: a screening on a pool deck overlooking the ocean that costs $40 but comes with unlimited popcorn and soda plus a snack pack. Given the proximity to the Santa Monica Pier, they’ve opted for a Route 66 theme this summer, with cocktails and food for purchase plus a lineup of road trip films.

Treat your ears to a vibrant concert on a spring or summer night by attending MUSE/IQUE’s annual program. This concert series, held at cultural venues across L.A., features a mix of performances inspired by music movements and public figures, including tributes to Quincy Jones, Joni Mitchell, the world of Oz, the Harlem Renaissance, the American Sound and more. You can make a $75 donation to the performing arts nonprofit for a single event, or become a MUSE/IQUE member if you’re interested in multiple programs. Up next is a look at the music of the American West at the Huntington and Skirball.

Step inside a historic—and haunted—Glendale theater to find a supernatural shindig full of magic, spirits and mystery. Don your best Oktoberfest-inspired attire and set out on a spooky journey with themed drinks in hand (not included in the ticket price). Formerly known as House of Spirits, Haunted Soiree is an adults-only, two-hour immersive experience that allows you to roam around an eccentric festival of drinks, music, masks, ghost stories and games. This year’s edition—based on a true crime story from 1928—is full of German-American folk magic.

It’s hard to imagine a lovelier setting than the Huntington’s rose garden in bloom. Add in live music provided by the Pasadena Conservatory of Music, and there’s no better place to spend a Monday afternoon. Wander among the blooms while solo and duo performers share their strings skills on violin, cello and guitar. Admission is included with your $29 Huntington ticket.

This traveling horror-themed Halloween cocktail pop-up stops at Melrose Umbrella Co. again this October. The women-owned concept—created by industry veterans Erin Hayes and Kelsey Ramage—is taking over the Beverly Grove bar, serving up expertly mixed cocktails amid metal music and spooky decor (including the famous 12-foot-tall skeleton from Home Depot). Drink highlights include the Bone Temple, made with Teremana Blanco Tequila, and Abyssa’s Obsession, made with pumpkin-infused Kraken Black and Gold Spiced Rums—plus fun glassware you can purchase for yourself. Spirit-free options are also available. And if you can’t get enough Black Lagoon, there’s another SoCal outpost at Midnight Oil in Long Beach.

American Contemporary Ballet opens its 15th season with a program of four works that explore relationships through ballet’s most intimate dance. The program consists of George Balanchine’s Sonatine, Rubies and Episodes, plus the premiere of a new ballet by ACB founder Lincoln Jones—all performed to live music. You’ll find the hour-and-a-half show at the Bank of America Plaza in DTLA. Stick around afterward for a reception with the dancers and musicians.

Stroll through a mile-long trail filled with all things pumpkins, including an illuminated forest of jack-o’-lanterns, during Descanso Gardens’ annual Carved. For four weeks this fall, the family-friendly event will line a loop of the botanical garden with thousands of professionally carved pumpkins. For the 2026 edition, the popular neon-hued Rhizome light sculpture is moving into the Oak Grove, and the labyrinth will feature immersive new sculptures. Also new this year is a pricey “anytime” ticket you can use on any day of the run—though we recommend picking a day and time and saving $30.

Every October, Zombie Joe’s Underground Theatre Group hosts a chilling series of vignettes that’s been named one of Yelp’s top 10 scariest haunts in the country. Armed with a shoddy flashlight to illuminate their path, guests navigate a labyrinth of terror both before and after watching a series of shocking scenes (over the course of roughly 40 minutes) that will unsettle even the most stoic of horror fans. The haunted house-slash-theater experience has been scaring audiences for over 20 years in its North Hollywood theater, and this year’s event is being touted as “bigger and badder than ever.”

South Coast Botanic Garden’s adorable dog-walking hours jump from a once-a-month treat to an every-weekend affair just during the month of October at Dogtoberfest. In addition to dog-friendly walking paths, the garden throws a bunch of Oktoberfest-style activities into the mix. For the humans, you’ll find beer stations along a Pup Crawl throughout the garden, as well as on the main lawn. That’s where you’ll find the bulk of the programming, too, including live music from Die Sauerkrauts, plus stein-holding, pretzel-tossing and yodeling contests. For the pups, expect training obstacles along the garden pathway and races on the lawn. As for the beer aspect, a VIP ticket gets you a flight of beer (or root beer) samples, a full-size beer, a pretzel necklace and a few other small perks. New this year is the dog VIP ticket, which comes with a free “dog beer” tasting (who knew that existed?), a treat, a photo of your pet and access to the VIP Top Dog Zone, complete with splash pads and doggie pools.

It feels like Oktoberfest all year round at Silver Lake’s long-running Red Lion Tavern, but it’s especially festive in the fall, when it celebrates the Bavarian tradition all the way through mid-November. Order the Oktoberfest platter—an epic array of pretzels, brats, schnitzel and sides—alongside a four-liter boot of beer. You’ll also find live music and stein-holding contests on select nights. Check the bar’s Instagram for programming updates.

Catch Curtis Cook, Brandie Posey, Rick Wood and John Michael Bond host this free comedy show on Wednesday nights at Hollywood’s Y2K-inspired Zero Lounge. The event coincides with the bar’s daily 7-to-10pm happy hour, so hang out for a bit and garnish your comedy with a cocktail or mocktail.

Right in time for Halloween season, the Academy Museum seeks to answer the question “Why do horror films matter so deeply to so many?” in this immersive look at the genre whose cultural cachet is always increasing. Knowingly employing horror tropes and exploring the lasting appeal of scary movies, the show will be divided into six subcategories of horror—gothic, psychological, science, slasher, religion and ghosts. Expect re-creations of iconic settings where visitors will encounter creatures, monsters and objects from their favorite horror flicks and, in typical Academy fashion, a behind-the-scenes look at the storytelling and production processes of films from the original Frankenstein to The Shining to Get Out.

L.A.’s star-studded lecture series returns—both virtually and in person—with a lineup of writers, artists, performers, scientists and business leaders who will graciously blow your mind. For both online and IRL events, you’ll often have the option of purchasing a signed copy of the speaker’s book, as well. Highlights from the upcoming months include evenings with Michael Douglas (Oct 10), David Byrne (Oct 13), Andy Serkis (Nov 6) and Andy Richter (Nov 19).

One of L.A.’s best free live-music offerings, Jazz at LACMA has featured legit legends over its 35-year run at the museum. Seating for the program is available in the museum’s plaza on a first-come, first-served basis, though you’re welcome to picnic on the grass, too (you won’t really be able to see the show, but you’ll still hear it). You’ll find the series on Friday evenings in LACMA’s welcome plaza (just behind Urban Light) throughout the summer and into the fall. We’re betting it’ll be even more popular than usual this year, with the new David Geffen Galleries in the background.

The only thing better than a haunted attraction is a haunted attraction on a giant boat—which has its own haunted history. You’ll find all the usual horrors here—think fog, mazes and countless monsters roaming around. What sets Dark Harbor apart is its use of its surroundings; the dark, cramped confines of the Queen Mary are already pretty spooky even without monsters—just be prepared to climb a lot of skinny staircases. For its 13th anniversary, the event dives further into the ocean liner’s lore with reimagined mazes set both on shore and in the ship’s swimming pool and corridors. New this year is the “Shipwrecked: Brace for Impact” maze, as well as carnival rides Alien Abduction and blacklight bumper cars. When you tire of the terror, sip spirits at secret speakeasies or catch spooky live entertainment.

Following the wildly successful first edition of her Daisy Chain Fields music festival, Olivia Rodrigo is stepping into the spotlight at the Grammy Museum, where a new two-part exhibition is devoted to the pop star. Running through February 22, 2027, “Olivia Rodrigo: the cure unraveled” features an exclusive look at the handcrafted hospital sets, costumes, props, stop-motion animatronics and original artwork from the singer’s music video for single “the cure.” Meanwhile, “note by note,” the second installment, which opens September 25, offers a journey through the prolific singer’s career so far, with outfits and accessories spanning all three of her album cycles and two world tours, plus items fresh from the Daisy Chain Fields grounds.

See the marionette theater’s family-friendly take on Halloween during the two-month return of its Hallowe’en Spooktacular—a refurbished production of its long-running “boo-sical revue” where you can see over 100 silly and spooky puppets take the stage. A newer addition is the Día de los Muertos sequence that pays tribute to the holiday. Once October arrives, each show will include a costume parade, so dressing up is encouraged.

This Highland Park biergarten is hosting its second annual Oktoberfest shindig, transforming the space into a Bavarian beer hall. The sister to Wirtshaus and Rasselbock already serves standout sausages and schnitzel year-round (including veggie options), but every Friday and Saturday through Halloween, you can also enjoy food and drink specials, live music, stein-holding contests and more.

Far from those kid-friendly rides through a pumpkin patch, this hayride unleashes all sorts of demons and bogeys on Griffith Park, which is transformed into the mid-’80s fictitious town of Midnight Falls. The Griffith Park tradition, which has been running for 18 years now, centers on a relatively lengthy hayride. The premise: A witch has summoned spirits of the underworld who’ve hidden themselves among Halloween decorations in the town’s foothills. This year’s event introduces a new, Sunset Strip–themed maze, “Fallen Angel,” and sees the return of Elvira’s Trick or Treat Mayhem, the Scary-Go-Round, Hellbilly Halloween and axe-throwing. A welcome addition this year: alcohol, served at themed bars throughout the event.

This Denver-originated Halloween attraction returns to SoCal with over 10,000 thousand hand-carved jack-o’-lanterns lining a mile-long pathway at the beautiful South Coast Botanic Garden in Palos Verdes. This year’s event adds a whimsical circus scene, a Día de los Muertos tribute and an under-the-sea display. Pumpkin light shows, bounce pads, inflatables and festive food complete the family-friendly experience.

Encounter free-roaming monsters, stage shows and 10 terrifying mazes—this year’s new additions are “Inked,” which brings 1930s cartoon characters to life, and the excavation-themed “Unearthed”—as well as a menu of eerie eats and sinister sweets, five scare zones and the theme park’s thrill rides during Knott’s Scary Farm, SoCal’s original and longest-running Halloween theme park event. Also new this year are two shows: Voodoo: Bayou's Edge and Occultum, featuring magicians from the legendary Magic Castle.

Head to the mountains for the annual Oktoberfest at Big Bear Lake, where you’ll be able to clink steins every weekend from September to early November. Beer will be flowing, knockwursts will be cooked up, and dirndls will be worn. The entertainment lineup includes numerous bands—many straight from Germany—and other performances, and one lucky damsel will be named the Oktoberfest Queen when she wins the stein-carrying contest. Others can test their skills with free log-sawing, stein-holding and chugging competitions.

Face your fears and head to the Natural History Museum’s Spider Pavilion, where you can observe several hundred orbweaver spiders in a living exhibit just outside of the museum. Scared the spiders might be hard to spot in the wild? Fret not. In previous iterations, we’ve spotted ones about the size of an adult’s palm. Gulp. (But don’t worry: The scariest ones—from tarantulas to wolf spiders—are in enclosed habitats.) 

Well, well, well, what have we here? The Nightmare Before Christmas’s bug-stuffed sack is once again taking over the Halloween duties at Disneyland Resort for Oogie Boogie Bash, an after-hours, specially ticketed seasonal event at Disney California Adventure Park on select nights from mid-August through October. You’ll find trick-or-treating trails, kid-friendly shows, the maze-like Villains Grove and, new this year, Madame Leota's Swinging Wake—A Haunted Mansion Street Party. And the perks of the after-hours event aren’t just Halloween-y: You’ll be able to venture through and hop on rides in most areas of the park (with considerably shorter wait times), including at Avengers Campus (the Guardians of the Galaxy ride will flip to its Monsters After Dark edition). The catch: Tickets always sell out quickly—though you can still enjoy the Halloween decor, a special fireworks show and the Nightmare Before Christmas takeover of Haunted Mansion at the resort.

“Somehow it’s a happier ending than I thought it would be—it felt so bleak,” Tacita Dean says of crafting this tribute to the then-fading format of analog film back in 2011. But here in the year of The Odyssey, Dean’s commission for the Tate Modern—restaged here at the Marciano Art Foundation’s cavernous theater gallery—feels like a triumphant touting of film’s resurgence: An 11-minute-long collage (all of the cutouts were achieved in camera) plays out on a vertically-oriented reel of 35mm film. The show coincides with Pierre Leguillon’s selection of old advertisements that feature prominent artists promoting commercial brands.

Admire suspended sheets of textiles—including the metallic ones that would be incorporated into the curtains at the new David Geffen Galleries—along with colorful sketches and a recreation of Tokyo store NUNO at LACMA’s showcase of pioneering textile designer Reiko Sudō.

Five photographers who pushed their medium in new directions in the second half of the 20th century present their unique takes on the city in this Getty Center show. Influenced by techniques including social documentary practices, staged scenes and fashion, the photographs of Laura Aguilar, Reynaldo Rivera, George Rodriguez, Patssi Valdez and Ricardo Valverde expanded Chicano and Chicana representation in Los Angeles.

Billing itself as “Orange County’s biggest party since 1977,” the Old World Oktoberfest promises enough beers, brats and bands to make you feel like you’re in Munich—albeit with better ocean views. Every Wednesday through Sunday between September 12 and November 8, this re-created Bavarian village will offer a sausage-filled menu, oompah and German bands, a biergarten, dancing and more. While Old World’s Oktoberfest is 21-plus with a cover charge on Friday and Saturday evenings, it’s open to families and revelers of all ages on Saturday afternoons and other nights. (Entry is free on Wednesday and Thursday nights, as well as Saturday afternoons, just book ahead online.)

Just in time for silver screen starlet Marilyn Monroe’s 100th birthday, the Academy Museum is presenting a centennial celebration dedicated to the woman and her work, offering “unique insight into her agency in becoming a Hollywood icon.” In addition to posters, portraits, letters and rarely seen personal items, highlights from the exhibition include two screen-worn costumes from Some Like It Hot and the rarely exhibited famous pink dress Monroe wore in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.

Borrowed from Woody Guthrie’s egalitarian folk anthem, the title of this exhibition at the Huntington offers a pretty literal teaser of what you can expect to see: lots of relics tied to land, specifically American land. But that lens provides an insightful and profound perspective on 250 years of ambition, achievement, struggle, exclusion and belonging in the United States. There are some truly remarkable documents on display here—including Guthrie’s original lyrics sheet for “This Land is Your Land,” paired with one of his acoustic guitars with a faded proclamation that “this machine kills fascists” scratched into the back. But the most humbling piece on display just might be the one that first greets you: the cross section of an oak tree that stood on the grounds of the Huntington for 250 years.

The Skirball’s Jack Kirby exhibition may be over, but the museum has followed it up with this expansive look at how comics came to dominate pop culture. Many of the creators of the medium were immigrants and outsiders—including Jewish Americans—who poured their experiences with struggle, aspiration and reinvention into their work. From the Great Depression through Y2K, comics reflected the national moment and actually helped shape American identity. On display, you’ll find original artwork and artifacts relating to beloved comic book characters, from Superman and Black Panther to Little Lulu and Archie.

This L.A.-centric exhibition looks at the Declaration of Independence’s promise of life, liberty and happiness, and how that promise has been fulfilled—or not—throughout the city’s development. Told via the stories of diverse Angelenos alongside historical and contemporary objects, media and art, the show “invites you to step into a conversation that has been shaping Los Angeles for over two hundred years.” 

This show aims to give Black queer culture in California—particularly in Los Angeles—the credit it’s due as a part of the decades-long fight for LGBTQ+ rights and recognition. Through historical materials, photographs, film and vintage newspapers, the exhibition recovers a history that’s been largely excluded from the record, introducing visitors to sites, protagonists and allies who played a role in the fight for democracy and free expression. 

It’s a very Fast & Furious kind of year in L.A., between Universal Studio’s roller coaster and this 25th anniversary exhibition of the movie franchise. The Petersen Automotive Museum is showcasing movie vehicles, stunt cars and production prototypes in its second-floor galleries, including the 1993 Toyota Supra “Stunt #3” and 1995 Mitsubishi Eclipse driven by Brian O’Conner (Paul Walker) in the original film, Dominic Toretto’s (Vin Diesel) 1968 Dodge Charger R/T and 1993 Mazda RX-7, Suki’s (Devon Aoki) 2001 Honda S2000 and more.

The reopened Getty Villa will descend into the underworld with this exhibition, which looks at the ritual spells and religious writings ancient Egyptians employed to garner favor with Re and Osiris in the afterlife. See the Getty’s collection of rare Book of the Dead rare hieroglyphics-adorned and illustrated manuscripts, dating back to around 1000 BCE, which were last displayed in 2023. The show should dovetail nicely with the museum’s “Sculpted Portraits From Ancient Egypt,” which runs through January 2027.

Do you get a little thrill every time you go to the Beverly Hills Hotel? You have architect Paul R. Williams to thank, even if you might not know the name. This exhibition at the USC Fisher Museum of Art aims to fix that. “Paul R. Williams: An Architect Considered” specifically spotlights the visionary architect’s multifamily housing projects through original drawings, photographs and plans, juxtaposed with new commissions by contemporary artists and architects. The message is clear: Williams didn’t just shape Los Angeles; he imagined a more livable version of it, one gorgeous building at a time. Complementary Williams exhibitions at LACMA and the Getty Center will open later in the year.