Look, it’s Friday afternoon, and I’m staring down the barrel of another perfect 72-degree LA day that’s somehow morphed into pre-Halloween chaos.
My inbox? Flooded with frantic DMs from Echo Park parents begging for non-Horror Nights alternatives, because nothing kills the vibe like explaining jump scares to a six-year-old mid-trick-or-treat.
But here’s the good news: this Oct. 25-26 weekend, LA’s dialing up the spooky without the screams.
We’re talking free parades that feel like neighborhood block parties on steroids, costume contests where your kid’s DIY vampire cape actually wins, and attractions blending theme park magic with that easy Angeleno chill.
No cap, it’s the sweet spot for families juggling suburb runs to Trader Joe’s and last-minute In-N-Out pit stops.
And with fresh drops from LA Parent just yesterday hyping 57 kid-safe spots, plus We Like LA’s nine-hour-old roundup on low-key haunts, you’re not late to the party. You’re right on time.
Let’s map this out before the 405 turns into a pumpkin carriage jam.
Marina del Rey’s Waterfront Spooktacular: Free Parade Magic by the Bay
Start your weekend where the ocean meets the “oops, I live here but it’s basically a resort” energy of Marina del Rey.
The Marina Spooktacular hits Burton Chace Park on Oct. 25 from noon to 8 p.m. (extending to the 26th if you’re playing it loose), and it’s the ultimate free kid-friendly parade I’ve been texting about non-stop.
Picture floats bobbing like escaped movie props, a costume contest where tiny superheroes outshine the adults (prizes include beach toys, practical, right?), and spooky attractions like a haunted boat ride that’s more giggles than goosebumps.
For families dodging big-ticket theme parks, this one’s a win: zero entry fee, plenty of parking if you beat the sunset rush, and vegan-friendly food trucks slinging acai bowls with a pumpkin twist.
(Pro tip: Stake out a picnic spot early. The harbor views hit different under string lights.)
And if you’re plotting a block party itinerary hopping DTLA to West Hollywood? Swing here first on Saturday. It’s a breezy 20-minute drive to downtown, letting you layer in some waterfront calm before the urban frenzy.
Sources close to the LA County Beaches crew say last-minute trunk-or-treat add-ons popped up today, complete with car shows featuring lowrider hearses.
Snag spots via Eventbrite. They’re going fast, but walk-ups welcome for the parade core.
But wait, Echo Park crews, don’t sleep on your backyard vibes.
That same weekend, local spots like the Echo Park Lake’s mini-fest (tied into LA County Parks’ Trick or Treat Village running through Oct. 31) offer safe, neighborhood-based parties with hayrides, crafts, and candy stations minus the street-crossing stress.
It’s lowkey genius for 5-12-year-olds who crash after one too many ghost stories.
Zoo Boo Finale: Theme Park Thrills Without the Ticket Sting
Sunday, Oct. 26? Head straight to the LA Zoo for the Boo finale, because nothing says “family Halloween” like feeding pumpkins to giraffes while your kid hunts treats.
Free with general admission (under $25 a pop, memberships even better), it runs 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., packing in trick-or-treating at eco-candy stations, spooky storytime with the LAPL (10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. slots, grab books for signings), and a “Boo” Bird Show at noon starring vultures that lowkey steal the show.
Costume contests? They’re woven right in, near the Children’s Zoo with batty adventures and snake-slither stations that educate without boring the pants off anyone.
(My hot take: The fang-tastic photo-ops rival Disneyland’s, but sans the two-hour lines. Chef’s kiss.)
For those craving spooky attractions close to theme park energy, this edges out Universal’s intense vibes. It’s all wonder, zero frights.
Parking’s a beast, though. Carpool from Griffith Park if you’re hiking Runyon earlier.
Check the official LA Zoo Boo site for creature treat times. Tasmanian devils munching gourds at 2:30 p.m. is peak delight.
Tying into that Hollywood haunts angle? The Zoo’s got history. Celebs like Kristen Bell have crashed past Boos for low-key family days, and with pilot season whispers heating up, expect sneaky A-lister sightings channeling old-school film icons like Boris Karloff in their kid’s Frankenstein getup.
It’s that rare LA spot where star power meets squirrel chaos.
DTLA Block Party and WeHo Warm-Up: Urban Escapes with Celeb Potential
By afternoon on the 26th, pivot to DTLA’s first-ever Halloween Block Party at The Shops at 4th & Main (3 p.m. to 9 p.m., free entry).
This Tim Burton-inspired bash (think twisted topiaries and graveyard games) is prime for costume contests echoing classic Hollywood monsters, with scavenger hunts that have kids (and tipsy parents) geeking out.
Food vendors? Loaded with taco trucks and matcha-spiked elixirs to fuel the frenzy.
Planning that DTLA-to-WeHo itinerary? Nail it by stringing this into a sunset stroll. DTLA’s got Metro links zipping you west in under 30 minutes, dodging the 10’s eternal crawl.
WeHo’s Carnaval proper explodes Oct. 31 (6 p.m. to midnight, street closures from Doheny to La Cienega, full deets here), but weekend previews nod to Rauw Alejandro’s reggaeton-fueled costume bash at Catch One on the 25th (9 p.m. kickoff, $20-40 last-minute tix via Vivid Seats).
It’s adult-leaning, sure, but the spillover energy amps family pre-games. Last year, Rauw drew a crowd that spilled onto Santa Monica Blvd., with whispers of Bad Bunny-level cameos.
For suburb families in Marina or Echo Park eyeing car shows, LA County’s Village events at 59 parks (through the 31st) include trunk-or-treat pop-ups with classic cruisers. Free, RSVPs optional per KTLA’s fresh scoop.
No more FOMO over rising Universal prices. These hit $0 with all the thrill.
Wild, right? LA’s Halloween scene this year feels like that rare awards-season after-party: inclusive, electric, and surprisingly stress-free.
From Marina’s parade floats to Zoo pumpkin feeds, it’s all about crafting memories that outlast the candy crash.
Something tells me we’ll spot a disguised Timothée Chalamet judging a WeHo float by Friday, because in this town, the haunts never end.
What’s your must-hit? Hit the comments. I’m plotting my own Echo Park haunt next.
And if you’re craving more Hollywood lore, peep our Grauman’s Chinese guide for that retro haunt fix.
