Get Your Halloween Frights Early With These Spooky Events In SoCal

Halloween is still more than a month away, but there are plenty of places around Southern California offering seasonal frights.

Our scary guide includes everything from haunted houses to festive fun at theme parks, some better experienced for adults and others suitable for children.

We've rounded up five spooky happenings in Southern California that are worth getting on the calendar. And speaking of calendars: Are you planning an event this fall? Feature it, so nearby readers see it all across Patch — including in roundups like this!

Brick-Or-Treat Monster Party

• Dates: Select dates, Sept. 20 - Nov. 1.
• Location: Legoland California Resort, Carlsbad
• Details: The theme park gets a monstrous makeover and transforms into a family-friendly Halloween destination with candy stations, character meet and greets, live shows and other festive activities.

Dark Harbor

• Dates: Select dates, Sept. 19 - Nov. 2
• Location: The Queen May, Long Beach
• Details: Dark Harbor transforms the ship and its surroundings into a frightening festival featuring mazes and live entertainment.

Fright Fest

• Dates: Select nights, Sept. 19 - Nov. 2
• Location: Six Flags Magic Mountain, Valencia
• Details: The theme park's nighttime event features haunted mazes, scare zones and live shows.

Halloween Spooktacular

• Dates: Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, Sept. 5 - Nov. 5
• Location: SeaWorld San Diego, San Diego
• Details: SeaWorld's family-friendly Halloween event features enchanting mermaids, whimsical pirates, spooky surprises and trick-or-treating throughout the park.

Haunted Masquerade Ball

• Date: Oct. 25
• Location: Fazeli Cellars Winery, Temecula
• Details: The ball will feature dancing, a DJ, food and a full bar. Costumes and masquerade-style masks are recommended but not required.

HauntFest

• Date: Oct. 17
• Location: Downtown El Cajon
• Details: The city's block party includes a haunted maze, a family outdoor movie, costume contests, a family outdoor movie, live entertainment and rides.

Howl-O-Scream

• Dates: Select nights, Sept. 12 - Nov. 1
• Location: SeaWorld San Diego, San Diego
• Details: The theme park's nighttime event features five haunted houses, eight immersive scare zones, several staged scenes known as vile vignettes, a live show and coaster rides in the dark.

Knott's Scary Farm

• Dates: Select nights, Sept. 18 - Nov. 1
• Location: Knott's Berry Farm, Buena Park
• Details: The theme park's nighttime event offers haunted mazes and attractions, sinister shows, and more than 1,000 creatures lurking in the fog and hiding across the park.

Knott's Spooky Farm

• Dates: Thursday through Sunday, Sept. 25 - Oct. 31
• Location: Knott's Berry Farm, Buena Park
• Details: The family-friendly daytime event features trick-or-treating, a lineup of original shows, costume contests and pumpkin decorating.

Los Angeles Haunted Hayride

• Dates: Select nights, Sept. 19 - Nov. 2
• Location: Griffith Park, Los Angeles
• Details: The annual event features a haunted hayride, haunted mazes and live entertainment.

Oogie Boogie Bash

• Dates: Select nights, Aug. 17 - Oct. 31
• Location: Disney California Adventure Park, Anaheim
• Details: This separately ticketed event, which is sold out, offers Halloween-themed entertainment, immersive treat trails, spellbinding attractions and more.

Scaredown in Downtown

• Date: Oct. 4
• Location: Downtown Torrance
• Details: A free event that will feature a haunted house, a scavenger hunt, a trunk or treat and a vampire club car show.

The Haunted Trail

• Dates: Sept. 26 - Nov. 1
• Location: Balboa Park, San Diego
• Details: The Haunted Trail of Balboa Park offers two haunts in one: the 3,500-square-foot eXperiment Maze and the mile-long Haunted Trail.

Tricks and Treats

• Dates: Select dates, Sept. 26 - Nov. 2
• Location: Six Flags Magic Mountain, Valencia
• Details: This all-new fall festival offers family-friendly activities, a trick-or-treat trail and family rides.