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Halloween and Dia de los Muertos are still several weeks away but it’s never too early to get in the mood and celebrate in Long Beach. There’s a ton of spooky activities taking place all month long and the Post has you covered.
Pa’s Pumpkin Patch
Come pick out your favorite pumpkin just in time for the big night. With pony rides, games and a petting zoo this is a great place to spend a weekend in a country fair environment with the little ones.
Pa’s Pumpkin Patch is open on weekends from 10:00AM to 9:00PM and will be open this week through Friday, October 13 from noon to 9:00PM. They will be open weekdays through October 31 from 10:00AM to 9:00PM and are located at 6701 East Pacific Coast Highway.
For ticket information, visit their website here.
Dark Harbor is an excellent option to get your scare on with multiple mazes and attractions including a sub-zero bar and sideshows. Dark Harbor is open 7:00PM to midnight Thursday and Sunday nights and 7:00PM to 1:00AM Friday and Saturday nights. General admission ticket prices start at $24 online.
For ticket information click here.
Ghosts and Legends Tour at the Queen Mary
Named by Time Magazine as one of the top 10 most haunted places on Earth, the Queen Mary is no stranger to rumors of hauntings and paranormal activity. The newly-intensified tour opens Friday, October 20 with tours available daily beginning at 11:00AM. They run every 30 minutes and accommodate 30 guests per tour. Ticket prices are $15 for adults and $12 for children. The Queen Mary is located at 1126 Queens Highway.
Creature Crawl
Take part in a Creature Crawl on Fourth Street Retro Row as part of Fourth Fridays on Friday, October 27 from 6:00PM to 9:00PM. The event features extended store hours and specials, art shows and pop-up shops, live music and food and drink specials. The event will take place on Fourth Street between Temple and Hermosa avenues. For more information click here.
Historical Cemetery Tour
The Historical Society of Long Beach will present its annual Historical Cemetery Tour at the Long Beach Municipal and Sunnyside Cemeteries on Saturday, October 28. The tour features graveside stortelling by costumed actors portraying the people buried in the cemetery, according to HSLB. Councilman Daryl Supernaw will give a special presentation at the grave of his grandparents, telling of their time in Long Beach. For the full ist of the nine graves stops and other information click here. Performances are 9:00AM to 2:40PM. The cemeteries are located at 1095 East Willow Street. Tickets are $20 for general admission, $8 for students 5-18, and $1 for children 4 and under.
Long Beach Zombie Walk
Flesheaters, undead, living dead, walkers and the infected should all make their way to Shoreline Village on Saturday, October 28 for the free Long Beach Zombie Walk festival. Join in on vendors, movies, music and of course, the signature Zombie Walk down Rainbow Harbor! The day kicks off with live music at 2:00PM, outdoor movies beginning at sunset and then finally the Zombie Walk at 8:00PM. Shoreline Village is located at 401 Shoreline Drive.
Healthy Halloween
Healthy Babies and Kids Expo and Farm Lot 59 are hosting a Healthy Halloween Festival at Farm Lot 59, at 2714 California Avenue, on Saturday, October 28 from 11:00AM to 2:00PM. Kids will be able to snack on healthy treats, take part in nature crafts, games and prizes, as well as face painting. For more information click here. Admission is $5.
Halloween Spookfest
Long Beach Towne Center will be holding a free Halloween event on October 31 featuring face painting and balloon art. Participating stores and restaurants will be giving out candy to trick-or-treaters and a DJ will be spinning some ghoulish tunes to set the mood. The spookfest will be held from 5:00PM to 8:00PM and is located on 7575 Carson Boulevard.
Halloween (1978) at the Sunnyside Cemetery
What better way to celebrate Halloween than to watch “Halloween” at the cemetery? It’s back again, restored and digitally remastered. Guests are encouraged to arrive early to grab a spot, and to bring chairs and blankets as the weather might be chilly. Food and picnic baskets are welcome and food trucks will be available. The showing starts at 8:00PM on Tuesday, October 31. The cemetery is located at 1095 East Willow Street.
Early bird tickets are $12 and are available here.
Storytellers: A Dia de los Muertos Celebration
Celebrate life and loved ones with a night of storytelling through music, art and altars on Saturday, October 21. Food and drinks will be available to purchase from vendors and Brewjeria Brewers will have their beer on tap. Expect live art from SAND ONE, an East Los Angeles-based doll artist and performances by bands YANGA and La Diabla. The entrance fee is $35 for non-members and $28 for members and is scheduled from 7:00PM to 11:00PM.
Buen Provecho: Dia de los Muertos
Join chef Luis Navarro from Lola’s Mexican Cuisine and The Social List on Friday, October 27 as he serves up a Day of the Dead feast featuring traditional ingredients, dishes and spirits. There is also a small tasting and cocktail pairing included with ticket purchase. The dinner is scheduled from 7:00PM to 8:30PM and limited tickets are available for $25.
Tickets can be purchased here or by calling (562) 437-1689.
Dia de los Muertos Family Festival
MOLAA will be holding a free family festival which includes art workshops, live music performances, gallery tours and face painting on Sunday, October 29 from 11:00AM to 5:00PM. Guests are encouraged to dress in Dia de los Muertos attire (MOLAA’s suggestion: dress up as a calavera!).
For more information check out the event page here.
All three events will be held at the Museum of Latin American Art located at 628 Alamitos Avenue.
Fuego’s Dia de Los Muertos Party
Hotel Maya will celebrate Dia de Los Muertos in its Fuego Restaurant on Wednesday, NOvember 1 from 5:00PM to 9:00PM. The event will feature live salsa music and sugar skull face painting. Food options for sale include tamales, a taco cart and street corn station, as well as tequila sampling and drink specials. An altar will be set up in Fuego where guests and employees are encouraged to bring artifacts to remember loved ones who passed away. For more information call Fuego at (562) 481-3910.
First Fridays Day of the Dead
The annual festival returns to Bixby Knolls with traditional music and art, sugar skulls and an altar contest and will be held Friday, November 3 from 6:30PM to 9:30PM at the Expo Arts Center, located at 4321 Atlantic Avenue. For more information, check out the Facebook event page here.
Editor’s note: this article has been updated with more listings for citywide events.