Getting in the fall spirit is hard to do in southern California with nearly 300 days of sun each year. Despite the lack of orange foliage and crisp autumn air, Los Angeles has its fair share of activities to celebrate the new season. Whether you’re into horror movies, pumpkin patches, or Oktoberfest, this list has something for everyone:
Free Events
USC Pumpkin Painting
- Dates: October 1st at 9pm
- Price: Free
- Distance: 0.0 miles
Not into driving? No worries! Right here on our very own turf, USC Campus Activities is hosting a pumpkin painting night. Head over to Traditions at 9 pm to decorate a pumpkin with fellow Trojans.
Fall Festival at The Grove
- Date: Oct. 22-24th
- Price: Free
- Distance: 7.5 miles
Enjoy some warm doughnuts from Bob’s Coffee and stroll through the Grove’s Fall Festival. The event promises pumpkin patches, live music, and other family fun festivities.
House of Horror Amazon Pop-Up
- Dates Oct.1 - 31
- Price: Free
- Distance: 6 Miles
Show off your scary movie acting skills with multiple interactive photo opportunities. Admire costume designs from Amazon’s original horror movies while filling up your trick-or-treat bag at the candy kiosk.
Memento Mori
- Dates: Every Thursday – Monday: Open 12-6 pm
- Price: free to enter
- Distance: 7.7 miles
Stop by this eclectic shop home to taxidermy oddities and macabre curiosities. This shop is like a gothic museum with its dark art and vintage photographs. It is perfect for piquing your curiosity or shopping for unique gifts such as tarot cards, candles and crystals.
Price Range: $18-47
Spider Pavilion at The LA Natural History Museum
- Date: Sep. 26 - Dec. 5th, 2021
- Price: $6 for non-members of the Natural History Museum
- Distance (from USC): 0.4 miles
Spend a day perusing through these mini monsters just minutes away from campus for a perfectly spooky date idea.
Hollywood Forever Cemetery Outdoor Films
- Dates: Oct. 2-23rd
- Price: $22
- Distance: 6.2 miles
Catch a classic horror movie surrounded by Hollywood’s most famous dead people. Films like Nightmare on “Elm Street”, “The Blade”, and “The Shining”, are being shown throughout the month of October. Be sure to grab a ticket before they sell out.
Los Angeles Haunted Hayride
- Dates: October 1-31st
- Price: starting at $29.99
- Distance: 11 miles
Calling all thrill-seekers: this hayride is not for the faint of heart. With bone-chilling characters interacting with guests and several spooky sets to visit, this isn’t your Gilmore Girls fall moment.
Street Food Cinema Halloween Movie Screening
- Dates: All Month Long
- Price $18
- Distance; Varies
Grab a lawn chair and a blanket and enjoy Halloween movies outside in parks across the city. Street Food Cinema will be showing movies like “Hocus Pocus”, “Halloween Town”, and “Beetlejuice” all month long. Check out the full schedule here!
Carved at Descanso Gardens
- Dates: October 11–31, 2021 from 6:30–10pm
- Ticket Price: $32–$35
- Distance: 17 miles
Visit a house made of pumpkin or take a walk under the grove of trees illuminated by festive lights along a jack-o-lantern path. This event is for nature lovers and Halloween enthusiasts alike!
Alice and Wonderland Cocktail Experience (21 and up)
- Date: Wednesday- Sunday
- Price: $47
- Distance: 7.1 miles
Anyone 21 and up can enjoy a 90-minute immersive cocktail adventure that puts you on a topsy-turvy journey into the magical realm of Wonderland, according to Bucketlister.com. During your time, you will create two of your own cocktails and solve riddles just like Alice.
For those looking to avoid crowds, these ideas are for you!
Amazon just published a list of popular horror movies available for Prime members. Cozy up with Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Joe-Joe’s, heat some hot cocoa, and stream “Goosebumps” for all the Halloween vibes. Trojan Tip: Students get discounted subscriptions to Amazon Prime here. For more Halloween movies on streaming services, look into this list!
You can celebrate autumn in Los Angeles on any budget on and off-campus and even from the comfort of your own bed. From cute photo ops to terrifying hayrides, Trojans are sure to get their Halloween spirit on this season.
We have updated this story to reflect that the price of admission to the Spider Pavilion at the LA Natural History Museum is $6 for non-members of the Natural History Museum instead of free of charge as previously published. We regret the error.