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Is it just me or does it feel as though we’re extra blood-thirsty for spooky activities this year? It seems that everywhere you turn, it’s pumpkin spice this and haunted maze that—there are just heaps of pop-ups festering with creepy crawlies. 

From Shaqtoberfest to a Tunnel of Terror Car Wash to Ghoul’s Night Out to elaborate pumpkin patches and beyond—there’s simply something for every type of fall finatic. 

Then, there are places that are open all year long (like Burnt Umber or The Cauldron) that only get a lot of attention from normies (non-goth folk) during spooky season. Or maybe to you it’s ~spooky szn~, decorative squash season, pumpkin spice season, cuffing season, sweater season—what have you. 

And when did the end of September through Oct. 31 get its own unofficial season anyway? According to Google’s Ngram Viewer—which charts the usage of phrases and words over time in digitized books—”spooky season” has appeared in print since the 1940s, but its use has been on a steep incline since 1989, becoming household over the last decade. 

But you didn’t come here for a dataset. 

Today, I’m going to spellbind you with a fang-tastic itinerary (sorry) that’s outside of Long Beach, but not too far. We’re going to head to Orange County, and there are a few good reasons for that. For starters, pumpkins are orange, but in all seriousness, it happens to host a great many options for celebrating the season. Let’s get started. 

Burnt Umber + Petals & Poison Tea Room – 12752 Valley View St. Suite Q, Garden Grove

If you’re looking to jumpstart your spooky itinerary with some caffeine, forget Starbucks and their boring PSL. Burnt Umber Coffee/Petals & Poison Tea Room has concotions like the orange and black sprinkled Carny Cat Latte and the nutmeg-laced Harvest Moon Latte. 

This year-round Halloween-themed cafe is open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. every day except Thursday. See their Instagram here. 

Knotts Scary Farm (a.k.a Halloween Haunt) – 8039 Beach Blvd., Buena Park

Last Tuesday, I crept over to Buena Park with a crew of ghoulfriends to go to Knott’s Scary Farm for its 50th anniversary. Tickets start at around $60. And in my opinion, it’s a pretty sickening deal for 160 acres of horror and monsters on the loose.

Each year, every inch of the park is transformed into a dark land of horrors filled with 10 jump-scare “mazes,” live performances, vendors, games, frightful foods (cereal killer funnel cake, anyone?) and all of their usual rides. Pro tip: The Timber Mountain Log Ride gets a spooky makeover.

There are also scare zones, where the fog machines are working so well, you can’t see an inch in front of you, let alone your own feet. And as you’re stumbling around these eerie zones, employees wandering about the grounds will try to terrorize you. The more frightened you appear, the more they will come after you (they can smell fear). They’ll also chase you if you run—and for quite a distance (speaking from experience). 

This year, I thought the mazes were far more elaborate and immersive, edging on Hollywood-studio quality—but maybe that was their $22 blood-orange margarita talking. Normally I would say don’t bother with theme park drinks, but this one was monstrous in size and strength. Beware. 

The Cauldron – 8028 Beach Blvd., Buena Park

Speaking of liquid courage, if you know you’re going to need some, you should absolutely start at The Cauldron before heading to Knott’s—it’s right across the street and the drinks are half the price. This witchy, dark academia bar also happens to be one of my favorite places to grab a drink period, szn or no. 

They’ve got a full food menu (try the gruyere crepe or the escargot), extended seasonal hours (until 2 a.m. most nights), an outdoor bar and a sprawling cocktail menu with offerings like The Raven Claw, Wizards Cup, Grey Witch, Bourbon & Brimstone and much more. 

Before heading to the park (it opens at 7 p.m.), my friends and I gathered here, where I ordered my usual, a Devil’s Margarita. It’s basically a really good marg with a red wine float. I know that sounds odd, but it’s delicious, dangerously so. Plus, it’s $13, not $22. 

The Cauldron is closed on Mondays but their spooky season hours include: Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 4 p.m. to midnight; Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. More info here. 

Hungry for more? Here’s a list of local pumpkin patches, family friendly events, and a more pre-Halloween haunts and shops to scope out in OC and LA counties this month:

• Roger’s Gardens Witching Hour Halloween Boutique – 2301 San Joaquin Hills Rd., Corona del Mar
• Gasoline Alley Costumes (a massive selection for sale and for rent) – 3804 E Chapman ave., Orange 
• Southern California’s Haunted Car Wash (Tunnel of Terror) – 2729 E.Carson St. Lakewood
• Los Angeles Hanted Hay Ride – 4730 Crystal Springs Drive, Los Angeles