Halloween in Los Angeles 2020

Don’t freak out—use our guide to Halloween in L.A. to find the perfect costume, the best events and spookiest places

By Michael Juliano Posted: Friday October 16 2020

Halloween at Descanso — Photograph: Courtesy Descanso Gardens

Making plans for the most important holiday of the year—we’re talking Halloween, of course—isn’t so easy in sprawling L.A. And it’s particularly difficult this year. But our guide to Halloween in Los Angeles has you covered with the best candy treats, the most inspiring costume shops and the best neighborhoods for trick-or-treating. Still not feeling the fall in Los Angeles spirit? We’ve also rounded up our favorite haunted spots where real ghosts still can rattle a few chains. Let the countdown to the thrills and chills begin!

What day does Halloween 2020 fall on?

This year Halloween falls on a Saturday.

Halloween events and haunted houses

Things to do

Halloween events in Los Angeles for spooky fun

Whatever you’re looking for, there’s no shortage of worthwhile Halloween events in L.A.

Movies

All of L.A.’s outdoor Halloween movie screenings

With both open-air and drive-in picks.

News

What you need to know about haunted houses and trick-or-treating this year

The county has released some holiday guidelines.

Things to do

The best haunted houses in Los Angeles for Halloween scares from your car

What’s Halloween without a few good scares?

Clubs

The best Halloween parties in Los Angeles

There aren’t any Halloween parties in L.A. this year—at least not in the traditional sense.

Things to do

More October events

Here’s what else is going on this October.

Halloween photos

News

West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval 2018

News

The best Halloween costumes we saw in L.A. in 2017

News

West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval 2017

News

KCRW's Masquerade Ball 2017 photos

Halloween for kids

Things to do

Where to go trick or treating in L.A. (but you shouldn’t this year)

Make trick or treating plans with our guide to the top neighborhoods to visit for a fun Halloween with kids.

Things to do

The best pumpkin patches in Los Angeles

Find that perfect orange squash this Halloween with our guide to the best pumpkin patches in L.A.

More Halloween for kids in Los Angeles

Halloween costume ideas

Shopping

The best costume stores in L.A.

Stumped on what to be for Halloween this year? Check out these costume stores.

News

Dress up like L.A.’s best art installations for Halloween this year

We’ve got some top-notch topical Halloween costume ideas for you, pulled directly from some of the city’s best art exhibits.

Shopping

10 last-minute Halloween costumes inspired by L.A. landmarks

Break away from the cliche costumes this year with these fun and easy DIY ideas based on neighborhood landmarks

Art

Costume ideas inspired by famous artworks

Get creative and dress up as famous works of art on display at LACMA with these easy DIY ideas

More Halloween

Things to do

Ghost tours in Los Angeles

Los Angeles is full of great local haunts—and we’re not talking about your local dive bar.

News

Halloween is better in L.A.—here are the 10 reasons why

As we’ve been mulling around our latest costume ideas, we realized something: There is no better city to celebrate Halloween in than L.A.

Things to do

13 real haunted places in L.A.

Call us old-fashioned, but we like our haunts authentic

Movies

The 100 best horror films

The best horror films as voted for by more than 100 experts, including Simon Pegg and Roger Corman

Music

The 20 best Halloween songs

Go on, throw that Halloween house party. We took care of the playlist for you.

Things to do

The 15 scariest haunted houses in the US

The stories behind these homes—of ax murders and massacres, of lost children, angry demons and ghosts—will give you more shivers than even the best Halloween movies.

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