Halloween Scene Los Angeles: A Spooky Review of 2025
- Thom the Curator
- Nov 12, 2025
- 4 min read
Updated: Aug 6
2025: A Spooktacular Year for Halloween in Los Angeles
Theatre Highlights
2025 was a mixed bag of trick or treats for fans of the spooky season in Southern California. Whether your pursuits were in immersive theatre, theme parks, family events, haunt attractions, or adult-oriented fare, what you ended up with in your pillowcase was either a delightful full-size candy bar or a disappointing note saying, “Sugar is bad for you…so here’s a toothbrush.”
Three shows absolutely dominated the Halloween Scene in L.A. in 2025. Two of them were immersive, and one was traditional. Each, in its own way, reminded us of why we love Halloween season entertainment when it is offered at its highest level.
Poe-Etique
“Poe-Etique” was the immersive highlight of the year. Skiptown Productions introduced it in a hanger-like facility near Dodger Stadium. The mix of acting, dance, and a strong story made this a remarkable evening for lovers of Poe and interactive spooky theatre. Nearly three hours of live performance kept us on the edge of our seats. The setting, effects, and staging were powerful, but it was the next-level performances of the talented cast that truly blew us away.
The Willows
“The Willows” returned to an eerie mansion in West Adams. This cerebral, intimate, and stunning production captivated us. The immersive experience unfolded across multiple floors and rooms, perfectly suited for the scary and timeless narrative. It was mesmerizingly special, inviting us to not just watch but participate at the highest levels.
Dracula: The Musical
“Dracula: The Musical” at the reportedly haunted Nocturne Theatre was a spectacular achievement in both acting and singing. Staging the smooth and spicy show in the round brought the audience close to the Vampirian action. While it wasn’t fully immersive, the thrilling reminder of what a great story and top-level performances can achieve was undeniable. Imaginative costuming, special effects, and a terrific live band all added up to a wonderful offering of live theatre.
Adult Events
It seemed like every bar and club in Los Angeles had some type of themed event for the Halloween season. Whether it was seasonal decorations, animatronics, dry-ice cocktails, roving performers, or full-fledged performances—from macabre poetry readings to naughty burlesque shows with an October flair—there was something out there every night for thrill-seekers.
“Haunted Soiree: VAMPIRE.” Held at the mysterious and spooky Nocturne Theater in Glendale, this 21+ multi-floor experience featured mini-shows, roving characters, musical acts, visual effects, and full-fledged aerial and terrestrial performances on the main theatre stage. And yes, there were copious amounts of adult beverages for the snazzily attired attendees.
Other Memorable Events
Zombie Joe’s Urban Death
“Zombie Joe’s Urban Death” was a combo maze, theatrical production, and one-of-a-kind show that was part disturbing, part shocking, and all original. It left us with chills and thrills.
Night of the Jack
“Night of the Jack” was a tribute to all that is gourd-like. It offered a mile-long themed pumpkin trail in the Calabasas hills. The night air, the chill, and the light show made this family-friendly event a winner.
Delusion: Harrowing of Hell
"Delusion: Harrowing of Hell" was not at the peak form seen in past years' Delusion productions. However, this downtown immersive follow had clever special effects, a fantastic setting, and a committed cast, making it a production we were not going to miss.
People in the Dark
“People in the Dark” was far too short, but the eerie tour around downtown and the quality of acting once the ghost-like “show” began gave us hope that this new entrée in the Halloween entertainment scene might have legs for the future.
Not So Memorable
Theme parks did their annual makeover this season, but overall the vibe was that it’s the same old thing. With outrageous ticket costs and long lines to get into the mazes and haunts, there was really nothing special to see in 2025. Theme parks clearly need to step up their Halloween game plans if they hope to retain their loyal but growing less-so audiences.
Similarly, the familiar haunt attractions and mazes that return every year, in venues from malls to warehouses to an ocean liner, were lackluster. They felt long-in-the-tooth and sometimes outrageously overpriced for what they offered. The ones Halloween Scene attended were not much to get excited about, but we remain optimistic that some will return with fresh approaches and storylines next year.
Trends
The only noticeable trend this year was the continued takeover of formerly top-quality shows by corporate entities. Hey, we get it! You’re a great show year after year, and when the corporate moneyman knocks on your door to say, “We’re here to support your show,” it’s hard to say no. Unfortunately, the result is often the same: inflated ticket prices, shorter productions, and much less of the originality that made the production attractive to their new cash-cow partners in the first place.
RIP…until they’re not
We longed for some of the finest productions of the past. The one we missed the most was “Wicked Lit,” which was, in many ways, the best in Halloween entertainment. The shows were long, story-driven, excellently acted, and held in an actual cemetery. Alas, they are gone for now, but there’s always a murmur in the night air that they shall return for another October sometime in the future. We also missed “Creep” this year and hope JFI brings their spine-tingling experience back for another run at some point.
Until next season join us at our year-round immersive/interactive site where we cover that experiential Scene in Los Angeles
Archive 2025 article
