With Halloween season kicking off, it’s time to start thinking about how to spend the month building up to the big day. Whether it’s a fun activity on campus or a night out at the movies, there are plenty of options to get your scare on.
Looking for something spooky to do on campus? USC offers plenty of free events for students to enjoy with friends. Here are a few:
Late Night SC’ Halloween Cookie Decorating: October 6 from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m.
University Park Campus, USC Traditions
What’s better than decorating and eating Halloween themed cookies? Doing all of that while listening to Halloween music! USC student affairs invites students to come together and celebrate the season. All materials are provided.
LNSC Pumpkin Painting Party: October 22 at 9 p.m.
Whether you want to elevate a living space or just want to indulge in a favorite childhood pastime, students can decorate pumpkins at a pumpkin painting party held by USC student affairs at the Traditions Pub on campus. All materials are provided.
If you’re interested in exploring Los Angeles beyond campus, here are a few interactive Halloween experiences that you can enjoy throughout the city.
Universal Hollywood Horror Nights: September 8 to October 31
The definitive Halloween-themed amusement park attraction in Los Angeles is Universal Hollywood Horror Nights, a two-month-long annual event that includes haunted houses, scare zones and live entertainment, as well as access to select rides. For those that call themselves thrill seekers, this is the event for you, starting at $79.
Los Angeles Haunted Hayride: October 6 to October 31
For a more casual haunting experience, try the Los Angeles Haunted Hayride. Located at the Old Zoo in Griffith Park, the event features numerous attractions that center around the fictitious city of Midnight Falls. Explore the area and be prepared to be spooked by the decorations and various characters lurking around the town. Tickets start at $39.99.
Knotts Scary Farm: September 22 through October 31
Knotts Scary Farm is a Halloween-themed event at Knotts Berry Farm that runs on select nights up until Halloween. Those who enjoy haunted houses, mazes, scare zones, shows or rides in the dark can look to Knotts Scary Farm as the perfect attraction as it offers a wide variety of these interactive experiences for a price of $59.
If spooky theme park experiences are not your thing, then you can still enjoy a Halloween-themed night out at the movies. Here are a few horror/thriller movies that you can watch in theaters for the next few months:
Smile
You might have seen the viral advertising campaign for this movie, where actors were paid to go to public sporting events and smile creepily with the movie’s title printed on their shirt. This begs the question: what is the movie about?
The story centers around a traumatic event that the protagonist Dr. Rose Cotter experiences and the ensuing horrors that she must endure. This movie is not for the weak-stomached, however, so expect a lot of gore.
Halloween Ends
For those who are inclined to watch another reboot of a Hollywood classic than look no further, “Halloween Ends” is set to release in theaters October 14. The film is helmed once again by Jamie Lee Curtis playing Laurie Strode, who in past films in the franchise was tasked with fighting the deadly and merciless Michael Myers.
For those who want to participate in the Halloween festivities in the comfort of their own home, consider the following movies:
Hocus Pocus
While not the most critically acclaimed film of its time, “Hocus Pocus” is a fun and light-spirited Halloween film that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. If you are looking for something that has lots of quotable lines, memorable scenes and good humor then this is the movie for you. It can be streamed on Disney+, Amazon Prime and Vudu.
The Nightmare Before Christmas
A true classic of the Halloween genre, “The Nightmare Before Christmas” is one of Tim Burton’s most timeless films and perhaps his most artistic. The film follows the infamous Jack Skellington, a character whose name conjures up images of the creepy and yet endearing skeleton man. His ideas of Halloween and Christmas clash but end up revealing a wholesome and relatable message. Its themes coupled with its excellent animation and loveable characters, makes it one of the most unique Halloween films in its time. You can watch it on Disney+, Youtube and Vudu.
Whether you enjoy being scared in your home, on campus or out in L.A., you won’t be bored this Halloween season.