Ghastly ghouls and Franken-students, the witching season is upon us. You have carved your pumpkins and secured your favorite Star Wars costume, and now the time is near for the height of the season’s terrifying tomfoolery: Halloweekend.
To make the most of this mischievous moment, we have compiled a hoard of haunts — both chilling and cheerful.
Knott’s Scary Farm
Those looking for a traditional haunted experience can venture down to Buena Park to visit Knott’s Scary Farm, the longest-running Halloween theme park in Southern California. The farm is a festive variation of Knott’s Berry Farm, a year-round theme park.
The farm boasts mazes, scare zones and shows to frighten attendees, and was described as a “pseudo-haunted house” by Jeremy Unger, a sophomore majoring in applied and computational mathematics.
Their 10 mazes mimic traditional, close-quarters haunted houses, whereas their five scare zones are more free-to-roam unsettling environments. Both are filled with live actors dead set on petrifying patrons. The farm’s four shows, on the other hand, are daily live performances with a more light-hearted spin.
This Halloween, the farm will host its 50th anniversary. It’s located just over 27 miles from campus, and tickets range from $60 to $200.
The Basement Los Angeles
If you are in need of a more intimate Halloweekend experience, or if you are looking to frighten your friends, The Basement L.A. might be the haunt for you. Often acclaimed as one of the best escape room experiences in the United States, The Basement L.A.’s escape rooms are sure to terrify.
Complete with live actors, challenging puzzles and panic buttons in case the terrors become a little too real, each of the four rooms presents a unique encounter for its residents. The Basement L.A. can also be found around 27 miles from campus, in Sylmar. Ticket prices are typically $42, but may vary.
Regal LA Live
Looking for something a bit more laid back? Stop by the downtown Regal location this Halloweekend and watch the frightening flicks they have on film.
The sequels “Saw X” and “The Nun II” are scheduled over the weekend, and “Five Nights at Freddy’s,” the long-awaited film adaptation of the titular indie horror game, also makes its way into theaters tonight.
Tim Burton’s Halloween classic “The Nightmare Before Christmas” (1993) is celebrating its 30th anniversary this month and will be subsequently screened through October.
Located three miles from campus, the Metro E Line stations make it a quick trip for those who would not want to make the drive.
USC Sponsored Events
If you don’t want to spend Halloweekend off-campus, the university has a number of events that will bring the Halloween spirits straight to USC.
This Friday, Late Night ‘SC is hosting a movie night in the Grand Ballroom of Tutor Campus Center from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. The event will include back-to-back screenings of “Scream” (1996) and its requel — or sequel that functions as a reboot — of the same name, “Scream” (2022).
On Saturday, the McCarthy Quad will be transformed for Fall Fest. The event will take place from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. and include pumpkins, carnival games, food and more attractions in the quad.
This Sunday, the USC Village will host the Boo Bash from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Some stores will have candy ready for trick-or-treaters at this time. Five costume contests — split up by age group — will also be conducted during the event.
Throughout the weekend, at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., “Ghosts of USC: A Historical Immersive Haunt” will be presented by Visions and Voices in Kerckhoff Hall. The theatrical event will explore the history of L.A. by transporting attendees back to the year 1880. Admission is free, but tickets must be reserved in advance.
Off-Campus Parties
No Halloweekend would be complete without nightly parties all around the city. Some parties are being put on by fraternities and clubs, while others are hosted by other organizations.
“You can’t be on Instagram for longer than five seconds without there being a bunch of different flyers and ads,” said Eva Diop, a freshman majoring in economics.
Parties stretch from Beverly Hills and beyond to USC’s backyard. To find them, you need only listen to the screams (and the DJ).
Across campus, students are gearing up for Halloweekend in different ways. Some, like sophomore economics major Maya Hermanus, “may have to be studying,” while others, like sophomore astronautical engineering major Kayden Cutchins, will be spending their weekend “among friends.”
Regardless of whether you find yourself studying at your desk or scorching the dance floor, we can only hope you have a safe — and spooky — Halloweekend.