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Summerween 2023 – Halloween Events in Southern California this Summer

Hey there, fellow Halloween enthusiasts and spooky ghouls!

Now that the 4th of July is behind us, it's officially...SPOOKY SEASON! Forget waiting until September 1, I say let the spooky spirit begin on July 5! While some may stick to the traditional start of Autumn, (September 22 this year), why not embrace the Halloween vibes a little earlier? After all, Independence Day is the last major commercial holiday of the summer, and what better way to kick off the countdown to Halloween?

I've already noticed my favorite stores swapping out patriotic decorations for black cats, spooky bats, and all things ghostly. And while I'm trying to resist going overboard on new Halloween decor this year, there's one thing I won't hold back on—the number of spooky events I attend! While the big names like Oogie Boogie Bash, Halloween Horror Nights, and Knott's Scary Farm don't start until mid-September, you'd be surprised to find a plethora of Halloween-esque activities starting as early as July!

Get ready for the ultimate guide to satisfy your spooky cravings this summer. From haunted attractions to ghost tours, horror film screenings to eerie night markets, Los Angeles and Southern California have something for every Halloween lover. So grab your flying broomstick because we're about to embark on a hair-raising journey into Summerween 2023!

And remember to check back to this post frequently as I'll be updating it throughout the summer with new events that pop up. Stay spooky, my friends!


July Events

  • Roast the Dead Coffee Presents Summer Nightmares

    • Every Saturday in July, 10am-10pm

    • Roast the Dead Coffee, 12764 California St., #A, Yucaipa, CA

    • A weekly pop-up with vendors, food, and more spookiness!

    • FREE

  • Haunted Hollywood Walking Tour

    • Multiple Dates

    • El Capitan Theatre, 6838 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA, 90028

    • This Haunted Hollywood Walking Tour will give you a historical look behind the scenes of the flashy facades of Hollywood and will explore the well-researched stories of crimes, accidents, and traumas that echo through to the modern day. 

    • $30

  • The Witches Brew Night Market

    • July 8 at The Den Cafe in Santa Ana

    • July 22 and 23 at the Anaheim Packing District

    • A magical marketplace for all this Halloween and spooky.

    • FREE

  • Summer Madness

    • July 14, 4pm-9pm

    • Coffinated Coffee, 1627 ¼ N. Hacienda Blvd., La Puente, CA

    • A pop-up event featuring a fusion of horror and summer vibes with tons of vendors.

    • FREE

  • The Purge Experience

    • July 14 & 15

    • High Desert Haunted House, 9976 Joshua Rd., Apple Valley, CA

    • A chilling purge experience at a haunted house in the desert.

    • $10

  • Jack-O-Lanterns in July – A Halloween Variety Show & Fundraiser

    • July 14 & 15, 8:00 PM

    • The Actor’s Group, 2813 West Magnolia Blvd., Burbank, CA

    • All you ghouls and goblins, get ready to celebrate Halloween early as Worst Ever Productions sets off ghostly fireworks with the “Jack-O-Lanterns In July” Halloween Variety Show and Fundraiser.

    • $22.00

  • Horrorville

    • July 15 & 16

    • Halloween Depot, 13422 Paramount Blvd., South Gate, CA

    • A Halloween pop-up event featuring the special guest–the Crypt Keeper (John Kassir).

    • FREE

  • Brujita Market

    • July 15, 4pm-9pm

    • 411 S. Hewitt St., Los Angeles, CA

    • A pet-friendly pop-up featuring over 70 vendors and healers, prioritizing QTBIPOC.

    • FREE

  • Tiki Noire Voodoo Island

    • July 16

    • The Globe Theater, 740 South Broadway, Los Angeles, CA

    • Tiki Noire - the ultimate immersive experience and pop-up bar taking over the historic Globe Theatre Los Angeles! Inspired by the worlds of exotica music and noir films, with a dash of old Hollywood flair - this event will transport you into a world of intrigue with a South Seas twist.

    • Beginning at $50 per person

  • Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween Screening at the Alamo Draft House

    • July 24, 11 AM

    • Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Downtown Los Angeles, 700 W. 7th St., Los Angeles

    • This show is part of our Kids Camp series – our summer program dedicated to providing affordable family movies for maximum family fun.

    • $5

  • Midsummer Scream

    • July 28-30

    • Long Beach Convention Center

    • Halloween and horror convention

    • Prices vary, see the website


August Events

  • August 5, 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM

  • Vault of Upland 

  • Halloween pop-up with vendors, barbeque, photo ops, meet-and-greets, and a costume contest.

  • Free

  • Wicked Fest

    • August 12, 1:00 PM - 9:00 PM

    • Yucaipa Performing Arts Center

    • A family-friendly summer pop-up horror market with local vendors, food, and cosplay.

    • Free

  • Summer Spook Nights

    • August 19, 3:00 PM - 10:00 PM

    • Historic Paul Biane Winery (Rancho Cucamonga)

    • Spooky, family-friendly market fair with 40+ Halloween & Horror vendors.

    • Free

  • Days of the Dead Los Angeles

    • August 25-27

    • Hilton Los Angeles Airport, 5711 West Century Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA

    • Fan-forward horror convention

    • Prices begin at $35

September Events

  • October Village

    • September 2, 12:00 PM - 7:00 PM

    • Double Tree Hotel Santa Ana

    • Festivities will include a vendor marketplace featuring your favorite local brands & artists, a live DJ, Creepy photo-ops, and Trick-or-Treating.

    • Free General Admission (RSVP required), $25 for VIP

  • Welcome to Haddonfield 9

  • September 2 - October 31

  • Sugarmynt Gallery (Pasadena)

  • SugarMynt Gallery is located in the filming location for the 1978 horror classic, Halloween. The art gallery is behind the original Michael Myers house, and walking distance from many of the filming locations.

  • $10 for GA

  • Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood Opening Night

    • September 7

    • Universal Studios Hollywood

    • Legend has it you should never go alone to Universal Studios Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights, Southern California’s scariest Halloween event. Summon your scream squad and you might survive.

    • Tickets start at $74 for GA

  • Carnaval De Lune

    • September 9-10

    • Heritage Square Museum (Pasadena)

    • Explore a Carnaval full of themed entertainment including photo ops, sideshow performances, live music, roaming characters, carnival games, a Dark Art marketplace (50+ shoppes), and more.

    • Prices start at $25 for GA

  • Howl-O-Scream San Diego Opening Night

    • September 15

    • SeaWorld San Diego

    • Howl-O-Scream will once again arrive to transform the peaceful SeaWorld San Diego park you once knew into something sinister. When night falls and a carnival of horrifying creatures surrounds you, just try to put on a happy face.

    • Tickets start at $48.99

  • Creep it Real OC

    • September 16-17

    • Heritage Museum of Orange County (Santa Ana)

    • Day Camp – With over 100 spooky-only vendors, celebrities, camp-themed photo ops, and live music, meet some creepy members of our camp staff who are sure to make your experience “in-tents”, grab some grub from the “mess hall” and so many more surprises to come.

    • Prices start at $15

  • Knotts Scary Farms Opening Night

    • September 21

    • Knott’s Berry Farm

    • Halloween theme park event with more than 1,000 horrifying creatures lurking in fog and hiding across every inch of the park.

    • Prices start at $149