October is here, and this year Halloween actually lands on a Saturday - which means the whole last weekend of the month is fair game. No school night trick-or-treating, no rushing home from work to shove a kid into a costume. Just a full weekend of it.

Whether you've got a toddler obsessed with pumpkins or a teen who mostly wants to be seen in their costume, here's the go-to list of family-friendly spook-tacular events happening right in our backyard. From free carnival fun in Marina del Rey to a brand-new pumpkin patch location in Culver City, these won't break the bank OR your sanity =)

LOCAL EVENTS CALENDAR

When: Saturday October 24 & Sunday October 25, 4:00–10:00 PM
Where: Burton Chace Park, 13650 Mindanao Way, Marina del Rey
Cost: FREE - but read the waiver note below
Best for: All ages, especially mixed-age crews

Still THE event if you want maximum Halloween bang for zero bucks. Two full days so you can pick whichever works for your people, or go both.

LA County requires a liability waiver for every single attendee. Fastest way in is to RSVP on Eventbrite ahead of time, which signs the waiver online - then just show the QR code at check-in. Minors have to be listed on a form signed by a parent or guardian. You can fill one out in person, but that's a line you don't need to stand in with a sugared-up 4-year-old.

What's included:

Parent Pro Tips:

When: Saturday October 3, noon–10:00 PM
Where: St. Mark School, 912 Coeur D'Alene Ave, Venice
Cost: Free admission, pay per ride/activity
Best for: All ages

Kicking off the season right here in Venice. St. Mark's fall fest is a proper neighborhood carnival - rides, games, a pumpkin patch, kids' crafts, an artisan market, local food vendors and live music. Ten hours long, so you can do a mellow afternoon shift or stay for the lit-up rides at night.

Parent tip: Go in the afternoon with little kids, come back after dinner with the big ones if they're still up for it. Wristband vs. tickets pricing varies, so check at the gate before you commit.

When: Saturday October 31, 10:00 AM–2:00 PM
Where: Penmar Recreation Center, 1341 Lake St, Venice
Cost: FREE
Best for: Ages 0–12, with age-bracketed costume contests

A Wizard of Oz-themed Halloween morning with games and prizes, treats and snacks, and bounce houses. The smart part is the costume contests are split by age, so your 3-year-old isn't up against a 12-year-old with a professional-level build.

Costume contest times:

Parent Pro Tips:

When: Friday October 30, 4:00–8:00 PM
Where: Oakwood Recreation Center, 767 California Ave, Venice
Cost: FREE, registration requested
Best for: All ages

An Addams Family-themed carnival right in Oakwood, and it's the night before Halloween — so it's basically a warm-up run for the costume. Games, treats, costumes and creepy fun for all ages, with a "come for the screams, stay for the sweets" energy. Four hours long, so there's no need to rush over right at 4.

Parent Pro Tips:

When: Saturday October 31, daytime into early evening
Where: Venice Beach Boardwalk
Cost: Free to wander, costs vary by activity
Best for: Ages 8+

Venice being Venice, Halloween here is... an experience. Performers amp up their acts, the street art gets extra spooky, costume contests happen wherever they happen. With Halloween on a Saturday this year, expect it to be a LOT busier than usual.

Parent Pro Tips:

The Venice Beach Rec Center usually does a Halloween Spooktacular and Skate N' Scare at the skate park, but LA Rec & Parks hasn't published its citywide Halloween list yet - last year it dropped in early October. Same story with Halloween at the Playground at First Lutheran Venice with École Claire Fontaine and Venice Moms; their free playground hours are still running Saturdays 10 AM–noon, so a Halloween edition around Oct 24 is likely. And Venice Dog-O-Ween is sitting as October TBA on the Venice events calendar.

When: Friday October 23, 5:00–8:00 PM
Where: Santa Monica Swim Center, 2225 16th St (SMC campus)
Cost: Low-cost, check before you go
Best for: Confident swimmers and anyone who likes the water

A floating pumpkin patch in the pool. That's the pitch and it works. The lineup also includes a Sharks haunted house, a floating obstacle course, spooky flicks, crafts and treats.

Parent tip: Call 310-458-8700 to confirm the date before you plan around it - the swim center's calendar listing doesn't spell out the year. Bring two towels per kid, it's chilly walking out at 8 PM in October.

When: October 3–31, Saturdays at 2:00 PM, Sundays at 12:30 PM
Where: Santa Monica Playhouse, 1211 4th St, Santa Monica
Cost: $15 kids 12 and under, $17.50 adults
Best for: Ages 2 and up

Twentieth anniversary of this one. It's an interactive family musical where the audience helps Candy save Halloween, with post-show photo ops with the actors. Kids come in costume. Under an hour of sitting still, which is the real selling point.

Parent tip: Best rainy-day or too-hot-day backup on this whole list. Call the box office at 310.394.9779 to confirm your date.

When: Open year-round, extra spooky in October
Where: Santa Monica Pier
Cost: Park admission + attraction fee
Best for: Ages 5+

The 2,800-square-foot Funhouse has nine rooms - mirror maze, a high wire in an upside-down world, a giant gumball machine, optical illusions, fog and flashing lights. Fair warning on the sensory load if that's a thing for your kid. In October the Pacific Wheel turns orange and an 80-foot ghost flies across it after dark, which is free to look at from the beach.

Parent Pro Tips:

When: Sunday November 1
Where: Santa Monica Pier, 200 Santa Monica Pier
Cost: Free
Best for: All ages

The Pier's annual celebration returns with art installations, community altars, mariachi, ballet folklórico, live performances and a procession honoring loved ones. Families can contribute a photo to the communal altar.

Parent tip: Exact hours aren't posted yet - last year it ran late afternoon into the evening. It's free, genuinely moving, and a great way for kids to learn the traditions. Día de los Muertos attire encouraged.

When: TBD Saturday October 31, expected 3:00–6:00 PM
Where: Third Street Promenade + Downtown Santa Monica
Cost: Free
Best for: All ages, dogs welcome

Dates are technically TBA but this one runs every year: trick-or-treating at participating shops downtown, plus the Monster Mash party on the 1300 block with a mini pumpkin patch, face painting, games and a DJ. Last year's version ran 3–6 PM. With Halloween on a Saturday, expect a bigger turnout than usual.smdp

When: October 2–31, hours vary by day
Where: 10100 Jefferson Blvd, Culver City
Cost: $10–$25 depending on day and time, free for 2 and under
Best for: Ages 2–8, but everyone has fun

The Westside classic. Petting zoo, giant rocking horses, the Mr. Bones Super Slide, straw mazes, pumpkin decorating, face painting, pumpkin village, tipi village, plus food trucks and live entertainment on weekends. Admission climbs through the month, so early October weekdays are the cheap play.

Parent Pro Tips:

When: October 3 – November 1
Where: 6229 Bristol Parkway, Culver City
Cost: $4 for ages 12+, free under 12, FREE weekdays before 3 PM
Best for: All ages

They moved. Delete your old pin - it's Bristol Parkway now, not the Sepulveda lot. Giant slides, train ride, petting zoo, pony rides, bounce houses, obstacle course, straw maze, rock wall, carnival games, face painting and a separate toddler area. Activities run $5–15 each.

Parent Pro Tips:

When: Sunday October 25, 4:00–6:00 PM
Where: Downtown Culver City
Cost: FREE
Best for: All ages

Costume stroll through downtown with treats at every business flying a "BOO CREW" sign, then family dinner specials at the restaurants after. Two hours, walkable, done before bedtime.

Parent tip: One hour free in any of the three municipal structures. Eat downtown afterward and you've knocked out dinner.

When: Sunday October 25, race starts 9:30 AM
Where: Start/finish on Bluff Creek Dr between McConnell and Village, next to Randy Johnson Park
Cost: Registration required
Best for: Families, strollers, costumed runners of every speed

A Halloween-themed fun run/walk through Playa Vista with a two-hour time limit, so walking it is completely fine. Packet pickup is Friday Oct 23 from 5–7 PM and Saturday Oct 24 from 8 AM–noon at The Resort, 12852 W Runway Rd, plus day-of from 8:00–9:15 AM.

Parent tip: Grab your packet Friday or Saturday. Sunday morning with kids + a registration line = not the energy you want pre-race.

When: Late October, dates TBA
Where: RUNWAY Playa Vista, 12775 Millennium Dr
Cost: Free RSVP for the bash, tickets required for the Candy Coach
Best for: Ages 1–12

The 7th annual isn't on RUNWAY's calendar yet, but it runs every year and it's one of the best-organized events on this list - crafts, games, petting zoo, photo booth, spooky characters, community trick-or-treat at RUNWAY businesses, and the Candy Coach, a candy-filled bus kids get five minutes inside. Last year it was Sunday Oct 26, 10 AM–2 PM, so Sunday Oct 25 is the likely landing spot.

Parent tip: The Candy Coach tickets go fast and they sell separately from the free bash RSVP. Watch their Instagram in early October, or check back here - we'll post it as soon as it's live.

When: Late October, dates TBA
Where: Westchester Family YMCA
Cost: Free, registration required
Best for: Ages 2–12

Nothing posted for 2026 yet, but this one runs annually and it's pure gold for families who want classic Halloween without giant crowds: haunted maze, monster parade, carnival games, food trucks, craft stations, lots of candy. Last year it was Oct 24, 6–9 PM.

Parent tip: Registration fills up fast, so the minute it opens, grab it. Indoor/outdoor combo means weather isn't a factor.

Oct 2–31: Mr. Bones Pumpkin Patch - Culver City
Oct 3: St. Mark Fall Fest (noon–10 PM) - Venice
Oct 3–Nov 1: Shawn's Pumpkin Patch - Culver City, NEW location
Oct 3–31: Absolutely Halloween! - Santa Monica Playhouse, Sat 2 PM / Sun 12:30 PM
Oct 23: Spooky Splash (5–8 PM) - Santa Monica Swim Center, confirm date
Oct 24–25: Marina Spooktacular (4–10 PM both days) - Burton Chace Park, waiver required
Oct 25: Playa Vista Monster Dash 5K (9:30 AM) - Bluff Creek Dr
Oct 25: Hip & Historic Halloween (4–6 PM) - Downtown Culver City
Oct 30: Creepy & Kooky Carnival (4–8 PM) — Oakwood Rec Center, Venice
Oct 31: Trick or Treat Downtown Santa Monica (expected 3–6 PM) + Venice Boardwalk
Oct 31: Wickedly Wonderful Halloween (10 AM–2 PM) — Penmar Rec Center, Venice
Nov 1: Día de los Muertos at the Santa Monica Pier
All month: Pacific Park Funhouse + the orange Pacific Wheel
TBA: RUNWAY Halloween Bash, Westchester YMCA Spooktacular, Venice Beach Rec Center events, Halloween at the Playground, Heal the Bay Spooky Splash

Budget-friendly focus: Marina Spooktacular, Hip & Historic Halloween, Día de los Muertos, Trick or Treat Downtown and St. Mark admission are all free. A weekday morning at Shawn's after Oct 19 is free too. You could do this entire season for the cost of parking.

Age-mixing success: Marina Spooktacular is still the MVP if you've got a toddler AND a tween - early evening for the little one, stick around after dark for the blackout maze with the older kid.

The Saturday Halloween thing: With Oct 31 on a Saturday, you can do a full daytime event AND trick-or-treating in your own neighborhood that night without anyone melting down over a bedtime. Plan for one, not three.

Remember: Halloween is supposed to be fun, not stressful. Pick one or two things that actually sound enjoyable to YOUR family, not what looks good on Instagram. Your kids will remember the laughing way more than whether you hit every event.

Check our Venice Rising calendar for last-minute additions - because you know how Venice does things, and the best stuff often pops up a week out.

Happy haunting, Venice families 👻

Venice Parent Hack: The week after Halloween, swing by CVS for 75% off decorations. Stock up for next year.

Did we miss your event? Comment or email us so we can add it to the Venice Rising calendar.