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October is on deck, which means spooky haunts and Halloween-themed attractions abound. So where are you headed?
This September 29 to October 3 in Los Angeles, you’ll find a Fright Night at San Pedro’s monthly Night Market, First Fridays in Chinatown, Urban Death Tour of Terror at Zombie Joe’s Underground Theatre, Carved at Descanso Gardens, Magic of the Jack O’Lanterns, the San Gabriel Dumplings & Beer Fest, and more.
Things To Do This Week
M = Less than .5 miles from an L.A. Metro Station, FA = Free Admission, TP = Top Pick
RY X with Orchestra at Disney Concert Hall – M > Grammy-nominated artist and producer RY X brings his multifaceted approach to Walt Disney Concert Hall on Monday as he performs with a live orchestra conducted by Danko Druško. The event, which is part of a KCRW series with the LA Phil, kicks off at 8 p.m. More info here.
Jaws at the Academy Museum -> The Academy Museum’s latest exhibition celebrates 50 years of the classic horror film that scared everyone out of the water with a scene-by-scene revisitation of the movie featuring original artifacts, photo stills, and interactive zones. Adult tickets start at $25, and kids 17 and under get in free. Museum hours are Wednesday through Monday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. More info here.
Looks Delicious! | Exploring Japan’s Food Replica Culture at Japan House LA – M FA > Japan House Los Angeles has welcomed the first U.S. exhibition dedicated to the Japanese craft of shokuhin sampuru or “food-samples,” which are three-dimensional models displaying a restaurant’s menu items in mouthwatering detail. Looks Delicious! will remain on display through January 25, 2026. Japan House is open daily beginning at 11 a.m., and always free to visit. More info here.
Oxy Live! – FA > This Tuesday, a new installment of Oxy Arts’ live discussion series features best-selling author and feminist icon Roxane Gay, who will be in conversation with visual artist and cultural collaborator Alexandra Grant. The talk will be hosted at Occidental College’s Thorne Hall beginning at 7 p.m. and is free and open to the public to attend. More info here.
F*ck This Month at UCB -> This week marks another turn of the calendar page, which means it’s time again for F*ck this Month, a recurring comedy show that takes the crappiest stories of woe from audience members (all taken place in the previous calendar month) and spins them into improv gold. This Tuesday, you can catch a September edition of the show at UCB Franklin beginning at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $12.51 with fees. Get more info here.
Let There Be GWAR at BTS – FA > Earlier this month, Beyond the Streets opened their latest exhibition, a retrospective tribute to the artistry and cultural impact of American heavy metal band GWAR. Now on view through November 2, Let There Be GWAR offers one a one-of-a-kind collection of costumes, props, tour flyers, posters, comics, original illustrations, and photos, all on display at BTS’s flagship gallery at 434 N. La Brea. Gallery hours are Wednesday to Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Get more info here.
San Pedro Night Market “Fright Night” Edition – FA > This Thursday, the monthly San Pedro Night Market gets spooky with a”Fright Night” edition featuring 40+ special vendors, roaming monsters, and a trick-or-treating hour for kids. The fun runs from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Free to attend. More info here.
Oktoberfest at Fairplex -> Starting this Friday, the Fairplex transform into a fantastical Bavarian Oktoberfest every Friday and Saturday with live oompah bands, DJs and plenty of German food and beers to go around. Oktoberfest will run through October 18. Tickets cost $16 – $19. 21+ only. More info here.
Carved at Descanso Gardens -> Descanso Gardens’ family-friendly Carved returns for 2025 this Friday with a freshly thought out pumpkin wonderland featuring a new route, hundreds of carved pumpkins, and kid-friendly activities. The experience will run nightly through October 30. Tickets run $27-$45 for non-members. Get more info here.
Urban Death Tour of Terror at Zombie Joe’s Underground Theatre -> Starting this Friday, Zombie Joe’s annual tradition of Urban Death is back with a brand new series of terrifying vignettes, bookended by walks through a creepy maze. The haunt will run every Friday and Saturday through November 1. Advance tickets are $24 online, or it’s $28 at door. Get more info here.
First Fridays in Chinatown – M FA > Every first Friday of the month, L.A.’s Chinatown stays open late for an evening of exploring the unique small businesses and contemporary art and culture spaces that make up the historic neighborhood. West Plaza and Chungking Road activate with local pop-up vendors, DJ-spun music, and extended hours at neighborhood art galleries (to 6 to 10 p.m.). There is also a concurrent Damnoen Saduak Night Market at Central Plaza (5 to 11 p.m.) All free to attend. More info here.
Dumpling and Beer Fest – > The annual Dumpling and Beer Fest returns to the Mission District of San Gabriel this year with 20 vendors on Friday. Admission is free, and if you’re 21 or older, you can purchase tickets for the beer garden ($50), for unlimited beer samples from regional breweries. More info here.
Delusion: Harrowing Of Hell – M > Thirteenth Floor’s Delusion Halloween series is back at a new location at the Variety Arts Theater in DTLA. This year’s conceptual “moving play” immerses guests in the world of Pagan’s Path, described as “a supernatural cult that has taken the metaphors of Dante’s inferno too far.” Performances run this Thursday to Sunday, then continue on select dates through November 9. GA tickets start $113 including fees. More info here.
Reign of Terror Haunted House -> The award-winning Reign of Terror Haunted House in Thousand Oaks is back now for its 25th season. This year’s haunt features 142 rooms in 11 different, inter-connected sections within 32,000 square feet of floor space. Standards tickets start at $42.99. The experience runs this Friday to Saturday, then continues select dates through November 2. More info here.
Magic of the Jack O’Lanterns -> Magic of the Jack O’Lanterns is back a new South Bay Location. This year the experience takes over South Coast Botanic Garden in Palos Verdes on select nights (including this Friday to Sunday) through November 2. Expect a wandering path featuring thousands of glowing, hand-carved jack o’lanterns, plus enchanting light displays, towering inflatables, and playful bouncy pads. Tickets start at $24.99. More info here.
Dining & Drinking
(picks by Christina Champlin)
Meet Fresh Turns 11 with Golden Osmanthus Treats -> Taiwanese dessert café Meet Fresh marks its 11th anniversary with a limited-time Golden Osmanthus Series. Indulge in floral-forward creations like Osmanthus Milk Shaved Ice, Silky Tofu Pudding Green Milk Tea, and Osmanthus-infused drinks, with Osmanthus Almond Soup joining the lineup in October. To sweeten the celebration, Meet Fresh is handing out anniversary gifts all month long—from limited-edition scent cards and stickers to exclusive tote bags.
$1 Vanilla Lattes at Dialog Cafe (September 29) -> Celebrate National Coffee Day at West Hollywood’s Dialog Cafe, where vanilla lattes (hot or iced) are just $1 all day long. The first 100 latte lovers will also score a complimentary fall bouquet courtesy of Hidden Garden Flowers. Walk-in only, limit one per person—so get there early.
No Roses “Dancing Makes Me Happy Hour” (Fridays) -> No Rose’s, the newly opened cocktail bar inside Kimpton La Peer Hotel, has launched a Friday happy hour from 5 to 6:30 p.m. with specials on beer, wine, and sunshine pops. Guests in full drag receive half-price drinks for the evening. Located in the hotel’s refreshed lobby space, No Rose’s reimagines the classic lobby bar with craft cocktails by Beverage Manager Naomi Schimek (Written Hand, The Spare Room), elevated bites from Executive Chef Charbel Hayek (Ladyhawk), and a rotating DJ lineup.
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