Halloween Haunts for Children
Sideshows, Zoos & Other Haunts
Theme Parks – Haunted Houses – Yard Haunts – Community Haunts – Haunts for Children – Other Halloween Events – Halloween News – Halloween Photographs - Halloween Video
Are you a parent looking for family-friendly ways to spend Halloween in Los Angeles? If you do not want your kids scared but do want to get into the spirit of the October season, there are several Halloween events for children that we call “Halloween Sideshows”: special afternoon or one-day presentations that take place in year-round facilities like zoos or wildlife stations. These activities involve pumpkin-carving and face-painting for the would-be trick-or-treaters, without any scary monsters with chainsaws to terrify them.
Please note: Most Amateur Halloween Yard Haunts are safe for kids, particularly the Pirate Cave in Northridge, and the Witch’s Castle Yard in Studio City. Also, many Halloween Haunted Houses present family-friendly matinees on weekend afternoons.
Looking for more ways to spend Halloween in Los Angeles? Check out our listings for Theme Park Halloween Attractions, Community Halloween Haunts, and Halloween Parties, Street Fairs, and Graveyard Tours.
BEACON HOUSE HAUNT
The Beacon House
1003 S. Beacon Street, San Pedro, CA 90731
Phone: (310) 514-4940
The Beacon House’s annual ”Nightmare on Beacon Street” offers fun for the whole family, including a haunted maze, a street fair, dancing, contests, food, and entertainment. Listed on our page for Community Halloween Haunts.
BOO AT THE ZOO
Los Angeles County Zoo 5333 Zoo Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90027
Phone: (323) 644-4200
Website: www.lazoo.org
2009 DATES & TIMES: Halloween events are on October 31 and November 1; zoo hours are 10am to 5pm.
TICKETS: $13 for adults, $10 for children from 2 to 10, children under 2 free
DISCOUNTS: All activities are free to GLAZA members and with paid Zoo admission
INFORMATION: The Los Angeles County Zoo’s website asks you to “Have a safe and spooky Halloween at the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens, where fun festivities will take place throughout the Zoo at this year’s Boo at the L.A. Zoo!” Activities include Creepy Creature Encounter, a variety show, a Witches Bew puppet show, a pumpkin patch parade, pumpkin carving demonstrations, face-painting, and “Halloween Down Under” (trick-or-treating through a ghostly graveyard to learn about extinct animals that now live “down under”).
THE CATACOMBS
10800 Henderson Road
Ventura, California
Phone: 805-647-8623
The Sacred Heart Church’s Youth Ministry provides fun for local kids, in a “a small but cool maze with a mild scare factor,” while bringing in money and food donations. The nighttime version is a little scarier, but there are afternoon matinees for easily intimidated children. Listed on our page for Community Halloween Haunts.
DISNEYLAND’S HALLOWEEN TIME
Disneyland Park – 1313 S. Disneyland Drive, Anaheim, CA 92802
The Enchanted Kingdom’s annual Theme Park Halloween Attraction is family-friendly rather than frightening; kids and their parents are sure to enjoy. Listed on our page for Theme Park Halloween Attractions. Click name for more information.
GHOST TRAIN
Griffith Park’s Travel Town – Los Angeles, CA 90027
This scaled-down kid-size Halloween train ride is decorated with spooky scenes during October, providing one of the family-friendly ways to enjoy Halloween in Los Angeles. Click name for more information.
HALLOWEEN HARVEST FESTIVAL
Located at Pierce College in Chatsworth, in the Northwest San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles, this family-friendly Halloween event features kid-safe activities during the day (a corn maze, petting zoo, face painting, pumpking carving, etc) and a more adult Factory of Nightmares by night. Listed on our page for Other Halloween Events . Get more information on the Harvest Fest here.
LEGOLAND’S BRICK-OR-TREAT
Legoland California – One Legoland Drive, Carlsbad, CA
Phone: 949-660-1988
Like Disneyland’s Halloween Time, Legoland’s annual Halloween Theme Park Attraction is designed to appeal to children who don’t want to have nightmares. Listed under Theme Park Halloween Attractions. Get more information by click the name.
LOS ANGELES HAUNTED HAYRIDE - New for 2009!
This Halloween hayride at King Gillette Ranch in Calabasas is too spooky for young children, but the attraction also offers ghost stories and a family-friendly Halloween carnival, complete with rides and activities for children who do not want to be to scared. Listed on our page for Other Halloween Events . For more information, click here.
OLD TOWN HAUNT
This professional Halloween haunt for adults – located in Old Town Pasadena – offers children’s matinees on selected Saturdays and Sundays, from noon to 4:00pm. Listed on our page for Halloween Haunted Houses. Click the link in the name for more information.
SCARIUM OF THE PACIFIC
Aquarium of the Pacifice 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach, CA 90802
Phone: (562) 590-3100, ext. 0
Web Page: AquariumofthePacific.Org 
2009 DATES & HOURS: NONE FOR 2009
TICKETS: This event is free with General admission to the aquarium, which costs $20.95 for adults, $11.95 for children, $17.95 for seniors.
DISCOUNTS: Free admission for Members. Members guests get 20% admission. Adult tickets purchased in advance are $3 off. Bring your children in costume with this downloadable coupon, and they get in free.
FEATURES: The annual Scarium of the Pacific offers a “family friendly adventure, including the chance to meet thousands of creatures of the Pacific, frighteningly fun activities, and plenty of hands-on experiences to haunt your memory.” The aquarium offers you a chance to “Discover the creatures lurking in the depths of Pacific at the Scarium of the Pacific—a spooktacular educational Halloween event for the whole family. Enjoy special Halloween programs, including the annual children’s costume contest, the creepy coloring contest, magic shows, spooky storytelling, kooky crafts, eerie animals in the Great Hall, and much more.”
STAR ECO STATION’s Enchanted Green Hallow’s Eve
Star Eco Station Environmental Science Museum & Exotic Wildlife Rescue Facility
10101 Jefferson Blvd Culver City, CA
Phone: (310) 842-8060
Web Page: www.ecostation.org
2009 DATES & HOURS: Friday, October 30 (3pm to 8pm) and Satuday, October 31 (12pm to 6pm)
TICKETS: $8 for adults; $6 for children; $7 for seniors (65 and over).
DISCOUNTS: One child free for every paying adult. Children in strollers free.
FEATURES: The STAR ECO Station transforms into a magical fairytale palace of trickery, treating and eco storytelling! See your farovite fairy tales with an environmental twist. Costume Contests, games, prizes and performaces all day.
NOTE: All proceeds go to support rescued animals.
Check out our archive of posts for Children’s Halloween Events.
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