9 California Halloween Events in 2022 You Can’t Miss

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Rust-colored leaves rustling on the ground, October’s chilly weather, orange pumpkin patches, and candy caramel apples set the mood right for the highly anticipated Halloween events. Ranging from age-restricted haunted parties, fancy masquerades, and pagan balls, to family-friendly fairs and tours, Halloween is the sacred glory of the Golden State. Get creative with the liberty of extravagant make-up and costumes and enjoy the spooky season as you get to know the cultural and traditional twists unique to each city.

San Diego Halloween Events

A warm atmosphere is always in season in San Diego. Best known for its monumental zoo situated in Balboa Park, this SoCal county can spook you in more ways than one. While creepy stories slip you right into the spirit of this tradition, pumpkin picking and carving, trekking haunted houses, and a myriad of Halloween activities will help you celebrate it the right way.

1. Bates Nut Farm Pumpkin Patch

Address:  15954 Woods Valley Rd, Valley Center, CA 92082
Dates: September 17 – October 31
Farm hours: 9 a.m. till 5 p.m.

Trick and treat yourself with the sweets from the fudge shop and candy counter at Bates Nut Farm Pumpkin Patch. The most extensive and renowned patch in San Diego County, this park offers educational group tours, collectibles and crafts markets, fine arts fairs, and even car shows. If you’re searching for what to do on Halloween, consider pumpkin picking from the vast selection of this ranch. Make sure to visit the patch on the weekends to live it up with the extra activities, including hayrides, live entertainment, food trucks, horse-drawn carriages, and more.

2. HOWL-O-SCREAM AT SeaWorld San Diego

Dates: September 16 - October 31
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Tickets: $100 at the gate - $43 on the official website.

If you and your partner are leaning toward staying home on Halloween, this event will give you just the right push to get with the Holiday spirit. Throw on an impromptu costume and head out to watch San Diego’s soothing sea world transform into a wicked night carnival. Try to keep your calm as you traverse the park and find yourself surrounded by tingling creatures creeping around you.

3. Haunted Trail Balboa Park San Diego

Address:  Balboa Dr & Juniper Rd, San Diego, CA 92101
Dates: September 23 – October 31
Tickets: General admission $28 - Timed ticket $33 - VIP $40.

Deciding on places to go on Halloween needs no effort when you have one of the best California theme parks under your nose. As if you needed more reasons to visit this extraordinary attraction, Balboa Park has the ultimate Halloween adventure that offers just the right type of scary. Gather your friends and head out to trek a mile-long maze, packed with sinister surprises to give you the holiday thrills. Be sure to come in early to avoid queuing, or try getting the timed or VIP tickets instead.

4. Scream Zone Del Mar Fairgrounds

Address:  2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd, Del Mar, CA 92014
Dates: October 6 - October 31
Time: Fri And Sat: 7 P.M. - 11 P.M. And Sun – Thu: 7 P.M. - 10 P.M. 10/30 and 10/31: 7 p.m. - 11 p.m.
Tickets: General Admission: $25 - Timed Ticket: $30 - VIP $35.

Whether you’re a curious scaredy-cat wanting to snoop at the fest from afar or you possess that confident nerve, you will not want to miss this incredible holiday celebration in San Diego. The largest Halloween fair taking place in this unique county, Scream Zone welcomes you through its doors. Hosted by the Del Mar Fairgrounds, the zone is constructed from a cluster of stitched body parts that make up two nerve-wracking haunts – Hell Billy Hootenanny and the Haunted Hayride. Enter the caverns of the Ozark and brace yourself from the morphed and drooling Hell-Billy’s visit. Let reality slip as you plunge into this remarkable Halloween adventure with a series of illusive makeup and dramatic costumes.

SF Halloween Events

Events for Halloween take a mysterious turn in the city, where wearing costumes is a part of everyday life on those few days. Eccentric in more ways than one, San Francisco is the ultimate destination for having a ball on Halloween. Slip on your mask and an unorthodox outfit and let the ghostly fog traverse you through this eerie night.

5. The Curse of Medusa

Address: 1535 Folsom Street, San Francisco, CA 94103
Date: Saturday, October 29
Time: Doors open at 10 p.m.
Ticket: $15 - $1,000

Discover the secrets of Medusa and the curse she inflicted on the world for disturbing her tomb. The portal to the underworld is one of the places to go on Halloween. Traverse through the gates of Eve Nightclub and enjoy the shows of goddesses battling it off on the dance floor.

6. Masquerade Halloween Yacht Party

Address: Cabernet Sauvignon Yacht - Alameda Boarding 2394 Mariner Square Dr., Alameda, CA 94501.
Date and time: Sat, Oct 29, 7:45 p.m. – Sun, Oct 30, 12:00 a.m. PDT
Tickets: $45 - $1,355

Spend a festive evening with the mythical Halloween events taking place in San Francisco’s Bay Area. Embrace the mystic fog of San Francisco that sets the mood for the evening and go fancy with the masquerade ball aboard Cabernet Sauvignon. A semi-formal attire and a mask will match the dress code to get you on the ship.

7. The Wizard of Oz Halloween Party

Address: 662 Mission St. 94105.
Date and time: Saturday, October 29th, 9 p.m. till 2 a.m.
Dresscode: Themed attire is highly encouraged.
Tickets: $20 -$950

Legendary Halloween events in San Francisco will fill your night with mystery and imagination. Let the thrill of Penny Wise lurking around you woo your night away! Throw on a bloody 70s outfit and enter the mystic theme of The Wizard of Oz. Join the festive fall vibes with crazy Gatsby-themed cocktails and absurd photo ops as you dance the entire evening to the genius DJ Master Jay’s club hits and 80s mashups!

Halloween Events in Los Angeles

If there’s one place you have to be on Halloween, it’s the county of lost angels. Home to major tourist attractions like Hollywood and Universal Studios, the city is never short on creativity. In fact, most Halloween costumes are majorly inspired by them. Hit the Halloween events and check out all the characters brought to life with otherworldly makeup and theatrical ensembles.

8. Griffith Park Haunted Hayride

Address: 4730 Crystal Springs Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90027.
Date: September 23 – October 31, open on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Time: starting 9:00 p.m.

Watch Los Angeles’ favorite tourist attraction turn into a nightmare for this epic Halloween event. A little more absurd than your typical hayride or Los Angeles pumpkin patch, this Griffith Park original Haunted Hayride will be your haunted dream. Let the spooky night drive you aboard a tractor-pulled hay wagon through the woods of creepiness. Challenge yourself in the crazy backward Scary-Go-Round, catch the slideshow which includes a house of mirrors, and get a free psychic reading. Make the experience permanent and get yourself some souvenirs from the shop.

9. Nights of the Jack Calabasas

Dates: September 30th – October 31st
Time: 6 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Tickets: General Admission starting from $30 to $45 - VIP $65

Things to do on Halloween are never dull in Los Angeles. This October, let the whispers lure you into the shadows of the Santa Monica Mountains. Experience the illusion of the lantern show sending shivers down your spine, and feast on all the Halloween fall treats. Bring the whole family out for an evening of unforgettable entertainment like pumpkin carving and The Spookeasy show in Pumpkin Farm.