We are just 2 days away from October 1st, which means we officially kick Halloween in Hollywood and Los Angeles into full gear. We drink spiced pumpkin lattes at Starbucks, we eat everything with the word pumpkin thrown into its title at Trader Joe’s, and we trek to Urth Caffe on Melrose, Main Street in Santa Monica, and Beverly in Beverly Hills for the best darn pumpkin pie on Urth!
Glitterati Tours of L.A. offers up our “Underbelly LA” tour, which covers all the famous murder sites, death scenes and scandals known the world over. This tour also includes the famous shooting locations of horror classics Halloween and Nightmare on Elm Street! For fans of American Horror Story, we can even go by the filming location of Murder House from season one of AHS.
As a creative town, we also get to experience the world’s best Halloween celebrations…truly. See our previous post on Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights. But also check out:
Knott’s Scary Farm: September 22 – October 31
Knott’s Scary Farm is the largest and most haunting Halloween experience in Southern California, and is always full of killer new surprises. In 2016, the world-renowned event will feature new menacing mazes, sinister shows and spectacular interactive experiences. With countless haunted attractions and more than 1,000 freaky monsters roaming the park and lurking in the fog, whatever you’re imagining, it’s here…at Knott’s Scary Farm in Buena Park. Knott’s Scary Farm takes place on select nights September 22 – October 31 and is not recommended for children under 13.
For those younger guests and their families that still want a little Halloween without the ghosts and ghouls, check out the daytime Knott’s Spooky Farm.
Paramount Pictures After Dark Studio Tour
It starts at dusk with some champagne to toast the coming darkness. In the silence of the night, you’ll descend into the mysteries behind our iconic Paramount gates via cavernous sound stages and the darkest corners of our infamous backlot. Next we’ll creep through the legendary Hollywood Forever Cemetery to learn the tales of Hollywood’s most dearly departed and the secrets that followed them to the grave. If you’re lucky, you might get a glimpse of an apparition down a darkened alley or moonlit street. But you’ll definitely get a glimpse into the legends and superstitions that weave throughout the history that makes Hollywood what it is today.
West Hollywood Carnaval
The grand-daddy of all Halloween celebrations:
Halloween Carnaval
The largest Halloween street party in the world happens in West Hollywood! Every year on October 31st, 500,000 people take to the streets of Santa Monica Boulevard (that’s half a million people) to enjoy the wild costumes and uninhibited crowds at the West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval. The Carnaval features live entertainment on multiple stages, food vendors, and photo stations; and the bars along Santa Monica Boulevard take part with drink specials and patio parties. Bars include Rage, Abbey Food and Bar, Gym Bar, Mickey’s, Fiesta Cantina, Cafe D’etoile, Marix, Basix, Fubar, PUMP Lounge, Tortilla Republic, and Revolver.
The 2015 West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Rocky Horror Picture Show, featuring the star of the film—legendary actor Tim Curry—as the Honorary Mayor of West Hollywood! The show has a long history in West Hollywood: its stage predecessor had its American premiere at the Roxy Theatre, and the film has become a beloved article of camp culture. Boy George, the lead singer of Culture Club and a worldwide LGBT icon, performed on the main stage of the Carnaval.
With so much to do for Halloween in Hollywood and Los Angeles, look for more upcoming future posts from all of your guides at Glitterati Tours of Beverly Hills.