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Recommended Family-Friendly Halloween Events in Los Angeles, California
By MudslideMama | October 2, 2008
It’s October! Can you feel the anticipation in the air? A family with young children knows that Halloween is 
at least as major a holiday as is Christmas and New Years Eve. I don’t know about you, but in our house, serious discussions about What to Go As This Year start right after Labor Day. Obviously, an important holiday such as this candy-free-for-all one, gets its own activities and events to help build up to the big day. Here are a few recommended fun, weird, and exciting Halloween activities for children (non-theme park edition) in Los Angeles. My kids will probably enjoy each one.
Family Friendly Halloween Events in Los Angeles, California
Creepy Crawly Creature Feature - This is at Eco-Station, a wildlife rescue center in Culver City. My older daughter loves the Eco-Station so much that she had her 7th birthday party here, and got to hold a chameleon. For Halloween, Eco-Sation is bringing out all the creepiest of its animals, with “Fear Games,” adult scientists, “Edible Insects” (presumably, not including any rare and/or rescued bugs), plus plenty of regular food and fun. This party is this Sunday, October 5, 2008 from 10-4PM, but it’s also an annual event.
Enchanted Hallow’s Eve - This is also at Eco-Station, clearly the Mudslide Family’s local favorite exotic animal rescue organization. It’s an old-fashioned Halloween party, with costumes and junk food - but also with live creatures that tend to fall on the high end of the scary scale, such as alligators, big spiders, and snakes. These animals aren’t walking around freely, of course, but the Halloween parties here end up being coincidentally educational (every parents’ dream come true for their kids). Children can choose between Enchanted Hallow’s Eve (not so creepy) or the Haunted Academy (not for the weak of heart!) for partying, and all proceeds from the Halloween party here go to the non-profit Eco-Station’s care and feeding of rescued animals. Saturday and Sunday, October 25-26 2008 (again, this is also a yearly party) from 1-7PM.
Hollywood Youth Carnival - This is in West Hollywood Park, and while there are the usual carny rides and booths, there are also more moon bounces, candy and prizes than you can shake a broomstick at. It’s totally affordable - just $2 a person to get in - and fun. This year, the party is Saturday October 25th, from 6-9:30PM.
Mr. Bones Pumpkin Patch - There are probably a hundred pumpkin patch events in Los Angeles, including one at the YMCA near my house. But we like to go to Mr. Bones in Beverly Hills; it’s probably the best pumpkin patch in all of LA, California. Mr. Bones is funny (only scary to very easily frightened little children), there’s a moon bounce and pony rides, face painting, straw bales and a petting zoo. And did I mention there are pumpkins? You can learn how to creatively carve your pumpkin of choice, or even have it carved for you if you don’t like the goo. But lets’ face it: The goo is half the fun. This year, Mr. Bones comes to Los Angeles from October 10-October 31, and is open 9AM-8PM.
Ghost Train in Travel Town - Travel Town is a sort of mini-train ride playground for toddlers and young
children. My daughters were never that into it, but the two boys down the street are Travel Town fanatics. The mini-trains are 1/8 scale, in Griffith Park (near the LA Zoo and the Observatory), and “playful spooks” are there every halloween season. This year, young children can be spooked out October 17-19 and October 29-31.
Sure, the big theme parks like Disneyland have a wrap on famous child-friendly Halloween activities, but these are some smaller, more manageable options right here in Los Angeles. Anyone planning to be in this part of Southern California in October would give their little kids the gift of a really good time at any of these recommended Halloween to-do’s.
Topics: Budget Travel, Destinations, Family Travel, Travel News |
TravelMuse
October 2nd, 2008 at
When we lived in Pasadena for three months we were at Travel Town weekly. It’s a great spot (at Halloween or otherwise) for little train lovers - and it’s free! (Although there is a charge for the train rides.)
October 2nd, 2008 at
Great site and resources for parents! I will make sure to include on My Inspiration Lounge - See The World section!
Misty
Founder, My Inspiration Lounge
http://www.myinspirationlounge.com
October 2nd, 2008 at
I love your creepy children. They are very scary. Tell them I said so.
October 2nd, 2008 at
The mudslide minis are so cute dressed up!
October 4th, 2008 at
My minis wore those costumes last year. This year, the older one wants to create a homemade costume of a shirtless, hairy-chested man. God save us all!
October 11th, 2008 at
Thanks for such an important articles about shopping. This is a very needed info about shopping sites.
Thanks
October 14th, 2008 at
What a great list and thanks for sharing! I am so sick of west Hollywood and staying as far away as I can this year!
October 28th, 2008 at
NORTHRIDGE, CA
Hope Christian Church will be hosting it’s annual “Harvest Carnival” on Friday, Oct. 31st from 6-9pm. Event is a safe and fun Halloween alternative featuring FREE carnival rides, food, candy, bouncers and prizes. Event is open to kids of all ages.
Hope Christian Church
8460 Tampa Ave. Northridge, CA
818.885.1811
(sorry, website is under re-construction right now)