Halloween is just days away! If you’re still looking for a way to celebrate the spooky season, there are PLENTY of theme park Halloween events taking place all around Southern California. We’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite SoCal Halloween activities that are perfect to scare up some fun for guests of all ages. There are options suitable for Halloween fear fanatics as well as more family-friendly options too. Let’s take a look:
Before we get started, please note that we’ve omitted events which are now sold out through Halloween, including Disney’s charming Oogie Boogie Bash Halloween Party at Disney California Adventure.
Halloween Horror Nights – Universal Studios Hollywood
If you like to be scared, you should make a trip out to Universal Studios Hollywood for Halloween Horror Nights. This event is one of the most popular Halloween events of the season and delivers intense scares at top-notch quality. HHN gives guests the opportunity to step into worlds of fear, like The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The Exorcist, Halloween 4, The Walking Dead, and many others. We particularly enjoyed the new Bride of Frankenstein maze and its inventive take on an empowered female monster.
Elaborately themed mazes and Terror Tram walkthrough experience take center stage at Universal’s event and promise to provide the scares needed to make this a must-see Halloween attraction. Just keep in mind this is geared towards adults, so you may want to leave the little ones at home. Check out our coverage from this year to see if this event is right for you:
It’s Alive! Universal Studios Hollywood Halloween Horror Nights
Tickets are going fast, but there are a few dates available. Click here to find pricing and available dates before it is too late!
Knott’s Spooky Farm (Day)
Not all Halloween events have to be scary. Knott’s Spooky Farm invites families to partake in festive activities such as decorating cookies in a pumpkin patch, meeting creepy spiders and bugs in the Calico stables, and trick-or-treating their way through Ghost Town. Running on weekends through Halloween, Knott’s Spooky Farm is silly and approachable… and you don’t need to buy an extra ticket to experience it. Spooky Farm is included in your daily admission.
Other offerings include Halloween-themed shows and entertainment offerings, as well as a special overlay on the Timber Mountain Log Ride and the Calico Mine Train. Take a look at this year’s event in the article below:
If you’re averse to the scary or you’ve got young kids, Knott’s Spooky Farm is the happy midpoint between campy frights and lighthearted Halloween fun. Spooky Farm ends its run this weekend on October 31st. Tickets and additional information can be found here.
Knott’s Scary Farm (Night)
When the sun sets on Knott’s Berry Farm, the nightmares begin! Holding the title as Southern California’s “Largest and Most Haunting Halloween Event,” Scary Farm unleashes a slew of horrifying mazes, apocalyptic creatures, and ghastly shows.
The same decorations that are used for the campy Knott’s Spooky Farm during the day give off a totally different vibe at night. Every corner of the park is themed to Scary Farm, with hordes of Scare Zones located all around the park. We always love seeing what Knott’s does for Halloween, and this year they knocked it out of the park. Take a look at why Scary Farm is our favorite Halloween event of the season in the article below:
Don’t miss Scary Farm this year. It’s really the ultimate Halloween experience. Dates, attraction info, and ticket pricing can be found here.
Legoland Brick-or-Treat
Families with little trick-or-treaters in search of Halloween fun should look no further than Legoland California’s Brick-or-Treat! This exciting all-day event promises tasty seasonal food offerings, festive Halloween decor, themed entertainment, and trick-or-treating!
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Legoland does a great job delivering a family-friendly Halloween experience without the typical scares. While the event is advertised as an “all-day” adventure, a majority of entertainment offerings don’t begin until 2pm, so be sure to plan accordingly.
Brick-or-Treat takes place every Saturday, with tickets still available for October 23rd and October 30th. To purchase tickets and find out more information on the event, click here.
SeaWorld Spooktacular (Day)
If you are still in search of Halloween family fun that doesn’t skimp on sweets, SeaWorld San Diego’s Spooktacular daytime event is the place to be! This kid-friendly event advertises plenty of Halloween fun with trick-or-treat candy trails, a character-filled hay maze, dance parties, a Sesame Street “Countdown to Halloween” show, and much more.
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Guests are encouraged to dress up in their favorite Halloween costumes and discover all of the lively Halloween entertainment the park has to offer! SeaWorld San Diego’s Spooktacular takes place on weekends thru October 31st, and tickets are available to purchase here.
SeaWorld Howl-O-Scream (Night)
If treat trails aren’t your idea of Halloween fun, SeaWorld San Diego’s Howl-O-Scream shows off the park with plenty of thrills and chills. This is SeaWorld San Diego’s first attempt at Howl-O-Scream, and while it’s far from perfect, it’s still a lot of fun.
Beginning at 6pm, SeaWorld transforms from the ocean-themed theme park into something straight out of a horror movie. With 3 themed haunted houses/mazes and 6 scare zones, Howl-O-Scream has a lot of fear to offer to interested patrons…
Specialty cocktail bars can be found scattered throughout the park and offer a nice spot to catch your breath in between scares. Adrenaline junkies aren’t forgotten, as all three of SeaWorld’s rollercoasters will be open during the event. For more of our thoughts about SeaWorld’s Howl-O-Scream, take a look below:
Terror Awaits at SeaWorld San Diego’s Inagural Howl-O-Scream
For dates, tickets, and more information click here.
Nightmare Before Christmas LIVE
We’ve got something really cool that doesn’t require walking or getting too scared. See The Nightmare Before Christmas with live performances from Danny Elfman, Billie Eilish, Ken Page, and Weird Al Yankovic! Best of all, MiceChat readers get a big discount. Be sure to USE CODE: MICE25
Nightmare Before Christmas Live: TICKETS HERE
Disney Theme Park Tickets and Hotel Discounts
Our travel partners at Get Away Today have worked out the BEST theme park ticket and hotel deals for our readers. (You’ll find extra nights free, big discounts, and special offers as well).
- Purchase discount theme park tickets – HERE
- Book hotel/ticket packages for your family vacation HERE
Check out the latest offers for Disneyland, Walt Disney World, and Universal Studios!
Let’s Hear From You
Do any of these Halloween-time events sound appealing to you? Have you done any of them this season? What are your favorite theme park Halloween events? Share your thoughts in the comments below.