Assuming that you've already taken care of your costume and picked out the perfect pumpkins, the next step is penciling in a place to show off your spooky style. That's why we're here to help sort out your Halloween party plans — and now that October's more than halfway over, you're running out of time to nab early bird tickets to LA's coolest events.
Whether you're seeking family-friendly festivities, fashionable fetes, or the scariest soiree in town, we've rounded up LA's best Halloween parties and events happening next week. From UNICEF's do-gooder Masquerade Ball to Día de los Muertos' technicolor takeover of Hollywood Forever Cemetery to Spain-bred dance party Circolo's LA invasion, see the full list of Halloween bashes below and keep an eye on this space as we'll be updating often.
Saturday, Oct. 22nd
Platform x Au Fudge is celebrating All Hallow's Eve a week early with a festive party at its charming pumpkin patch from 9am to 6pm. Costumed guests can enjoy unicorn rides, manicures, cookie decorating, and more; find out activity pricing here.
Where: Platform, 8850 Washington Blvd., Culver City
Tickets: $5, kids 2 and under free
Wednesday, Oct. 28th
Lucha VaVOOM's 21+ event welcomes RuPaul's Drag Race season 7 winner Violet Chachki to this year's freaky festivities. In addition to masked wrestling, attendees will enjoy comedy, cabaret, a costume contest, and even a performance by hula hoop legend Karis. The luchador-fueled party starts at 7pm; it's also happening Thursday, Oct. 27th.
Where: The Mayan Theater, 1038 S. Hill St., DTLA
Tickets: $40 to $75 and available here.
Thursday, Oct. 27th
This year's UNICEF Masquerade Ball takes over historic LA landmark Clifton's Cafeteria from 9am to 2pm in the name of good karma. The black-tie masked gala promises an open bar, hors d'oeuvres from the renovated venue, a neon light art exhibit by ACE Gallery and NextGen Art Party, and editorial-quality portraits. Devendra Banhart will play DJ for the night, while live performances include a Cold War Kids acoustic set, Missy Modell, Lolo, Jackie Tohn, and more. Don't be surprised if you bump into a costumed celebrity or philanthropist — the charitable event benefitting the children's rights organization has been known to draw stars and high-profile do-gooders.
Where: Clifton's Cafeteria, 648 S. Broadway, DTLA
Tickets: $225 for general admission and $400 for couple's admission; NextGen members enjoy special pricing from $175 to $300. Supporter packages are also available ($3,500 to $50,000) and include a host of benefits. Learn more and buy tickets here.
mmhmmmm's Heartbreaker Halloween invades The Standard Hollywood from 10am to 2pm with guest DJs French Kiss (Nice, France) and Tikka Masala (Brooklyn) and resident DJ Whitney Day. The 21+ spooky soirée is free and will also be the final gig for DJ French; valet parking is $10 for guests. Get more info here.
Where: The Standard Hollywood, 8300 W Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood
Friday, Oct. 28th
Ibiza-based Sound and LA's Rhonda INTL are teaming for the first time ever to bring the legendary Circoloco to Angelenos. The Spain-bred party is known for its Crazy Clown face that has become "a symbol for the underground spirit of dance music culture and the most copied clubbing imagery ever." The lineup has yet to be announced, but expect it to be, well, loco. (Comprende?) Learn more about the event at its Facebook page here.
Where: Union, 3067 Pico Blvd., Mid-City
Tickets: $60 to $80 and available here.
Saturday, Oct. 29th
Now in its 17th year, Día de los Muertos' theme is "Tree of Life." In addition to enjoying over 100 colorful altars, expect an evening of live music by Grammy-winning talents, watch traditional Aztec blessings and processions, shop for Day of the Dead crafts, grub on Mexican cuisine, enjoy art exhibits, and more. Do come in "your finest Calaca apparel" but note that there are restrictions on what you can bring along (no food, alcohol, glass containers, pets, coolers, and skateboards, to name a few). See the full event lineup here.
Where: Hollywood Forever Cemetery, 6000 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood
Tickets: $20 cash at the door (exact change requested) or online here.
Labyrinth Ball's fantasy-themed fête takes over SkyBar at the Mondrian starting at 8pm, offering partygoers "a world of tantalizing decadence where sometimes the way forward is the way back." It's also happening Sunday night, when a David Bowie tribute band will be performing.
Where: Skybar at the Mondrian, 8440 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood
Tickets: $81.49 general admission presale to $575.55 (table for 2) to $3,463.95 (table for 12); all include service fees and gratuity. See all options and buy tickets here.
For Valleyites who just can't with the 110, head to the NoHo Monster Bash at the Federal Bar. This year's theme is Heroes vs. Villains, so partygoers are encouraged to dress up as their favorite good ghouls or bad guys. (Harley Quinn, Bat Girl, Superman, and Poison Ivy will be in the house). The costume-required event kicks off at 9pm and circus burlesque performances by FIREnICE will take place every 30 minutes starting at 9:30pm and ending at midnight.
Where: The Federal Bar, 5303 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood
Tickets: $30 advanced tickets guarantee entry and are available here; they're also available at the door, but expect to wait in line.
For the third year in a row, the Bloodsucker's Bash takes over The Ace Hotel's Spanish Gothic-inspired theater with "DJs, drinks, and dark arts" starting at 10pm. "dweller-of-the-night attire" is highly encouraged; buy a ticket to the 8pm screening of Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror (which features a live performance of a new score by the LA Opera's Chamber Orchestra). The screening's also happening Monday.
Where: The Ace Hotel, 929 S. Broadway, DTLA
Tickets: $20 in advance online here or $30 at the door for the party only; screening tickets are $29 to $99 and available here or at LA Opera's website here.
The Roosevelt Hotel's highly-anticipated annual Halloween rager promises a live performance by Big Sean. Happening from 8pm to 2am, the 21+ event will take over the historic getaway's Tropicana Pool, Blossom Ballroom, Historic Lobby, and Public Kitchen & Bar. In addition, VIP tickets get you access to the open bar from 8 to 10pm at Teddy's.
Where: The Roosevelt Hotel, 7000 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood
Tickets: $143.29 general admission to $217.14 VIP (including fees); additional packages with table services and suites also available. See all options and buy tickets here.
La Nuit de Diable will transform The Edison into a scary subterranean soirée filled with attractions of "Apparitions and Gifted Eccentriques" starting at 7pm. Urban Renewal Project will be in the house with stilt walkers dancers, and more talents. Arrive early for guaranteed entry as tickets will only be available at the door.
Where: The Edison, 108 W 2nd St., #101, DTLA
Tickets: $20 costumed entry, $25 without costume
The party people behind cool-kid concept shop The Well are bringing their haunted party 13 Stories to The Standard DTLA. Expect performances by Tiger & Woods, DJ sets by Heat-Wave and Cocodisco, "immersive environments enveloping the lobby lounge," a second-floor "speak-sleazy," and plenty of happenings on the rooftop. The event is 21+
Where: The Standard DTLA, 550 S Flower St., DTLA
Sunday, Oct. 30th
Malibu Country Mart's Maliboooo Costume Contest promises free fun for the whole family from 12 to 2pm. Expect trick-or-treating at select boutiques and photo opp-ready festive decor at every corner. Don't forget to wear your Halloween's best: the costume contest kicks off at 2pm at the Jester Court and the winner scores a $100 gift certificate.
Where: Malibu Country Mart, 3835 Cross Creek Rd., Malibu
The Grove's Halloween Fall Festival brings pumpkin decorating, trick-or-treating, hands-on activities, and a very special costumed fashion show starring the adorable kids of stylish mom group Fashion Mamas. It's happening from 3 to 5pm at the shopping hub's First Street.
Where: The Grove, 189 The Grove Dr., Beverly Grove
Labyrinth Ball's fantasy-themed fête takes over SkyBar at the Mondrian starting at 8pm, offering partygoers "a world of tantalizing decadence where sometimes the way forward is the way back." Sunday night's installment also features live music by David Bowie tribute act The Band Who Fell to Earth.
Where: Skybar at the Mondrian, 8440 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood
Tickets: $81.49 general admission presale to $575.55 (table for 2) to $3,463.95 (table for 12); all include service fees and gratuity. See all options and buy tickets here.
Monday, Oct. 31st
West Hollywood's Carnaval is by far LA's biggest — and naughtiest — free Halloween party. Drawing about 500,000 revelers every year, the event takes place from 6 to 11pm and will no doubt continue along Santa Monica Boulevard's many venues. As of press time, the Queen of the Carnaval and performers have yet to be announced, but expect them to be crowd pleasers. And unless you've got parking hook-ups (lucky!), taking Uber or Lyft is definitely, definitely encouraged as traffic will surely be a shitshow. (There, we said it.)
Where: Santa Monica Boulevard between Doheny Drive and La Cienega Boulevard
The Edison continues its Halloween revelry with Cabaret de L'Enfer, which brings "Apparitions and Gifted Eccentriques" starting at 7pm. Urban Renewal Project will be in the house with stilt walkers, aerialists, dancers, tarot readings, and more. Don't forget to dress with the holiday spirit in mind as it's a costume ball. To reserve a table, call (213) 613-0000 or email events@edisondowntown.com.
Where: The Edison, 108 W 2nd St., #101, DTLA
Tickets: $25 at the door
Nosferatu: Symphony of Horror returns for another after-hours screening at The Ace Hotel's historic Theater at 8pm. The LA Opera's Chamber Orchestra will perform a new score alongside F.P. Murnau's cinematic classic.
Where: The Ace Hotel, 929 S. Broadway, DTLA
Tickets: $19 to $89 here or at LA Opera's website here.
