Southern California always knows how to throw a party and go all out for big celebrations. So, it should come as no surprise that this is an ideal place to celebrate Halloween if you love getting into the spooky spirit each fall. From scary attractions to top-notch concerts and even Day of the Dead celebrations to keep the festivities going after October 31st, here are some fun ways to spend your Halloween season in Southern California.
Knott’s Scary Farm, Buena Park
Each fall, Knott’s Berry Farm transforms itself into Knott’s Scary Farm to give locals and visitors a fun way to celebrate Halloween. This is a Southern California destination for haunted mazes, specialty zones, and scare zones with themed characters wandering around. The Spooky Farm is held on select nights from September to October and is great for kids who love trick-or-treating, riding themed rides, and participating in costume contests. For more scares and frights, come to the farm on select nights for sinister mazes with different themes. There are over 1,000 terrifying creatures lurking in this park ready to keep you on your toes!
The Queen Mary Haunted Encounters Tour, Long Beach
It’s also fun to head to Long Beach to check out Queen Mary’s Haunted Encounters Tour to celebrate Halloween. Time Magazine named this ship one of the most haunted places on Earth. The one-hour tour shares the paranormal stories on this legendary ship. For an even creepier experience, consider staying overnight on board the ship and seeing if you experience any of the paranormal activity this place is famous for.
Sinister Pointe Ghostly Retreat, Fullerton
Orange County is also a great place to be if you enjoy Halloween haunts. This attraction is actually an Airbnb that has been designed to look like a haunted mansion. But this isn’t your typical Airbnb, it’s completely immersive with special effects including strange sights and sounds. The Ghostly Retreat can sleep up to eight people.
Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights, Los Angeles
Universals’ Halloween Horror Nights is one of the scariest places you can spend your Halloween. The theme park gets a spooky makeover this fall on select nights from September to October in order to make room for multiple haunted houses. These spooky houses are home to zombies and many more characters that will make you feel like you’re in an episode of The Walking Dead or American Horror Story. In fact, the maze themes celebrate your favorite scary shows and other Halloween themes. This is a truly scary experience that is recommended for visitors of 13 years and older.
The Haunted Trail Balboa Park, San Diego
If you plan to be in the San Diego area this fall, head to Balboa Park to experience the city’s Haunted Trail. This is the city’s premier Halloween attraction, recommended for people over the age of 10 and not for the faint of heart. Here you’ll encounter horror icons like Freddy and PennyWise the Dancing Clown. The trail is about a mile long, and you’ll need to find your way out of the horrors. Consider buying your tickets online in advance to skip the ticket booth line at the gates.
The 17th Door Haunted House, Buena Park
An excellent haunted experience in Orange County is the 17th Door in Buena par. The theme revolves around the madness at Perpetuum Penitentiary with tormented souls, psychotic rages, and places of pure evil. It takes about 34 minutes to go through this haunted house, making it one of the longest haunted experiences in all of California.
