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Halloween 2020: Trick-or-Treating Is Canceled in LA County, So What CAN We Do?

9/9/20 - By Roberta B

The news has been spreading faster than a wildfire in a Santa Ana: Halloween trick-or-treating is canceled. After going full pandemic Scrooge on us and officially banning trick-or-treating, Halloween parties, and most other ways that we entertain our kids in October, the Los Angeles County Department of Health has actually responded to public outcry by slightly walking back some of these activities to "not recommended."

Either way, once we've established what we can't do, how about what we can? Tickets for that super cool Stranger Things Haunted Drive-thru sold out so quickly they're now booking for January. But fear not: there are still some major Halloween events in October, even if we don't ring doorbells or throw Halloween parties.

If you want the full run-down of what we can't do, the LA County Health Department's official Halloween Guidance is here, but the short version is: 

1. Door-to-door trick-or-treating is not recommended.

2. Trunk-or-treating events are not recommended

3. Halloween parties with non-household members (indoors or outdoors) are not permitted.

4. Carnivals, festivals, and haunted houses are not permitted.

So what does that leave? The county suggests events like Halloween car parades, drive-through haunts, art installations, movie nights, and drive-in-treating. The good news is we're hearing about some new and exciting Halloween happenings, created especially with these limitations in mind:

For more Halloween events as they come in, keep checking our event calendar.

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Photo courtesy of Descanso Gardens
Photo courtesy of Descanso Gardens

Big Halloween Events around LA in 2020

Haunt O' Ween LA

Haunt O'Ween LA is a kid-friendly, interactive, and immersive Halloween experience. Highlights include thousands of pumpkins, including immersive Halloween-themed tunnels of pumpkins.  Guests can go trick-or-treating in the town of Haunt O'Ween, jump in multiple bounce houses, and enjoy rides and games. READ MORE

Los Angeles Haunted Hayride: Live Drive-Up Experience

Spooky! For 2020, the Los Angeles Haunted Hayride has been reincarnated as a live, drive-up experience. READ MORE

Nights of The Jack Drive-Thru

In 2021, Nights of the Jack is once again presented as a walk thru experience The family-friendly Nights Of The Jack Halloween-themed experience is being reimagined as a drive-thru event for 2020. The new extended driving trail features thousands of hand-carved and illuminated Jack O’ Lanterns. READ MORE

Urban Legends of Southern California

Guests remain in their cars for scary story-telling at the Urban Legends immersive drive-thru Halloween haunt. There are live performances throughout, plus interactive show zones and a show of lights, sound, special effects, and monsters that come alive. READ MORE

Halloween at Descanso

Descanso Gardens is getting dressed up for Halloween! Throughout the month of October, the Gardens are filled with pumpkin displays, a twisting hay maze, a house made of pumpkins, a pumpkin arch, a pumpkin mandala, and more. READ MORE

Reign of Terror Haunted House

The hugely popular, hugely haunted Reign of Terror maze in Janss Marketplace returns for 2020, with changes to accommodate social distancing. READ MORE

Stranger Things Drive-Into Experience

A drive-into experience based on the hit Netflix series? Stranger Things have happened! Stranger Things fans can travel back in time to 1985 in Hawkins and drive to the Starcourt Mall for an immersive adventure in the thrilling world of Stranger Things. READ MORE

Freeform’s Halloween Road

Freeform kicks off Halloween with Freeform Halloween Road, an outdoor immersive event. Families can walk through the worlds of The Nightmare Before Christmas, Hocus Pocus, Ghostbusters, and The Addams Family. READ MORE

Underwood Family Farms' Fall Harvest on the Farm 2020

This October, Underwood Family Farms transforms into a 40+ acre giant Pumpkin Patch, Pick-Your-Own, and Harvest experience. READ MORE

Places featured in this article: