It’s that time of year again when ghosts and goblins come popping out of shadows and the dark seems spookier than usual.
Halloween is right around the corner and there’s more to the day than costumes and candy.
Halloween is one of the oldest holidays with origins going back thousands of years. The holiday we know as Halloween has had many influences from many cultures over the centuries. According to ancient beliefs, Halloween is also known as All Hallows Eve, a Christian festival of All Saints. In ancient autumn times it was believed that the spirits would roam the earth on the last night of October. The day was celebrated with big bonfires, parades, and people dressing up as saints, angels and devils. The Halloween we celebrate today includes many of these influences.
With plenty of mysterious and spooky attractions to visit this year, the Spooky House Haunted Forest Theme Park is a sure scare. The park is adjacent to a 14,000 square foot Victorian Mansion, Spooky House.
With expanded attractions spread over 60,000 square feet located on the corner of Topanga Canyon and Victory Blvd. in Woodland Hills, mega scare sessions will be open to the public on weekends through October 31.
Guests will have the opportunity to walk through a haunted forest with scary things hanging from trees, witches burning at the stake, graves, swamps, skeletons, actors in troll costumes and look at structures with ghostly themes. There will also be The Spooky House Adventure, a toned-down less scary version for children and families that will be open on weekends from noon till 4 p.m.
Another attraction for those wanting to interact while dressed in costumes takes place at the Mystery Event Theatre at the Harbor House Restaurant in Marina del Rey, on Saturday, 7 p.m. to 1 a.m.
A four course dinner is served while guests interact in the mystery. Prizes will be awarded for best costume in several categories and a Halloween dance is from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. More information may be obtained by calling 310.399.1507.
For the little ones, store-to-store trick or treating will take place at the Santa Monica Place shopping center, as well as pumpkin decorating and other fun activities, on Oct. 31, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. More information may be obtained by calling 310.394.1049.
Santa Monica College will celebrate Halloween for children with “The Witch’s Brew,” a marionette production by the Jim Gamble Puppets, on Saturday at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., in the SMC Concert Hall, 1900 Pico Blvd. 310.434.3000