Is there something special going on this weekend? Boo! Ahhh! Oh hells yes! It’s Halloween people -- arguably the most fun holiday of the year. You get to dress up, you get to go out, you get to scare the heck out of your friends, and there is no obligatory family hang out time! Along with HARD Fest, local Harvest Festivals, and a slew of Haunted Houses, these are your best bets for a very merry Halloween weekend.
FRIDAY
100 Most Outrageous Kills: Cinematic history is littered with the bodies of characters who have been shot, stabbed, strangled, hit by cars, pushed off a tall building --you get the point. Cinefamily celebrates the best on-screen deaths with an event they call "the absolute finest in on-screen annihilation with a non-stop nightmare of intestine-ripping, head-bursting, unrepentant baby-eating and other crimson-soaked savagery!" Warning: this one is for the strong-stomached only. The blood-fest will be followed by a screening of the classic horror flick "The House By The Cemetery".Friday, October 28, 8pm, $12Cinefamily, 611 North Fairfax Avenue, at Clinton Street, (323-655-2510 or cinefamily.org)
SATURDAY
Long Beach Zombie Walk: Thousands of zombies, (organizers hope to gather at least 20,000 of the living dead), will take over the streets of Long Beach for an afternoon party featuring music, art and face painters that will make you look, well, dead. At 7pm, Zombie Walk will attempt to break the record for the most people dancing to "Thriller" in once place. "No mere mortal can resist."Saturday, October 29, 2pm, freeLong Beach Promenade, 205 The Promenade North, at East Broadway, (zombiewalklb.com)
Vivan Los Muertos: The Autry Museum celebrates Day of the Dead with Oaxacan dancers, folk music and other ancient traditions. Singer Michael Heralda will evoke the mythical Aztec land of Mictlan, and intricate altars will be set up around the grounds. There will also be food, crafts for children, and face painting! Bring a loved one's picture to add to the Community Altar. Saturday, October 29, 3pm - 9pm, $10 adults, $4 childrenThe Autry Museum, 4700 Western Heritage Way, at Zoo Drive, (323-667-2000 or theautry.org)
Muse Costume Ball: In conjunction with the final weekend of LACMA's Tim Burton exhibit, this funeral-themed costume bash will take over the museum with music by Killsonic, She Wants Revenge and DJ Jeremiah Red, performances by theater troupe Sneak Nietzsche and costume prizes for best Burton-inspired, best movie monster and the most creative. Nail all three at once with your best Beetlejuice ensemble. Saturday, October 29, 8:30pm, $100, $75 for museum membersLACMA, 5905 Wilshire Boulevard, at South Ogden Drive, (323-857-6000 or lacma.org)
Unique Vintage Halloween Costume Haunt: So it's the day of the big Halloween bash you’ve been looking forward to since September, (because that babe from HR is totally going to be there), and you still don't have a killer costume. Fret not. This costume sale (sponsored by the Ellen DeGeneres show) will offer vintage-inspired dress-up options and a retro fashion show for inspiration. The Grilled Cheese Truck and Coolhaus will be on site providing treats to eat while you get all tricked out. Saturday, October 29, 1pm - 5pmUnique Vintage Clothing Boutique, 2013 West Magnolia Boulevard, at North Keystone Street, Burbank, (818-742-6210 or unique-vintage.com)
Masquerade: KCRW upped the ante on their already legendary annual Halloween bash by making a DJ set by Moby a last minute add to an already solid musical lineup featuring Mariachi El Bronx, Dengue Fever and Milagres. There will also be DJ sets by KCRW DJs (or their holiday alter-egos) including Jason Nosferatu Bentley, Henry Hellfire Rollins, Anne Diva of Death Litt and Garth "The Thriller" Trinidad. Lucent Dossier will also be in the house for an added dash of artful whimsy. Saturday, October 29, 8pm, general admission sold out, VIP cabanas still availableThe Legendary Park Plaza, 607 South Park View Street, at West 6th Street, (kcrw.com)
SUNDAY
Price-a-thon 100!: Celebrate the 100th birthday of one of the silver screen's masters of suspense, (and the guy who did the creepy spoken word vocals and iconic/insane laugh on "Thriller"), with six back-to-back Vincent Price classics including "House of Wax", "The Fly" and "The Tingler". Sunday, October 30, 1pm, freeLACMA, 5905 Wilshire Boulevard, at South Ogden Drive, (323-857-6000 or lacma.org)
TRICKING AND TREATING ALL WEEKEND LONG
Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Fun: Disneyland get dressed up in its holiday best for a Halloween celebration that even the littlest ghouls will enjoy. The event features hundreds of carved pumpkins, a nightly fireworks spectacular and all of your favorite Disney villains. Daily Through October 31, $64Disneyland, 1313 South Disneyland Drive, Anaheim, (714-520-5060 or disneyland.com) Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios: With mazes, rides and "scare zones" designed by Rob Zombie, Eli Roth and Alice Cooper, it's no bloody wonder that the Halloween event at Universal Studios has been hailed one of the scariest in town. There are no costumes allowed at this nighttime event, but the look of utter horror on your face should be sufficient. Daily through October 31, $7pm, $52 and upUniversal Studios Hollywood, 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, (halloweenhorrornights.com)
Knott's Scary Farm Halloween Haunt: The berry farm goes sinister on us with devilishly dressed characters, maniacal mazes, haunted houses, and the most terrifying of all Halloween concepts: scary clowns. Snoopy's Halloween, Knott's other holiday event, is more appropriate, (ie. less nightmare-inspiring), for children under the age of 13. Daily Through October 31, $34-$54Knott’s Berry Farm, 8039 Beach Boulevard, Buena Park, (714-220-5200 or knotts.com)
Theatre 68 Haunted House: This local theatre has mounted an annual Halloween attraction since 2006, transforming their stage space into a haunted house in the (bloody) heart of Hollywood. Daily through October 31, 8pm - 12am $125419 Sunset Boulevard, at Western, (323-960-7827 or 68centcrew.com)