By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief
From showing off costumes to participating in a game of glow-in-the-dark basketball, there is no shortage of Halloween and fall things to do around the community. Here are a few options in 2024.
Marquez Halloween Festival
The Marquez Charter Elementary School Halloween Festival returns in 2024 with “a day of spooks, haunts and fun activities” on Sunday, October 20, from 12 to 3 p.m.
The event serves as a fundraiser for Friends of Marquez, which is the parent-run nonprofit that funds supplemental educational programs at the school, designed to “enrich the curriculum offered to all students.”
The event will take place at the Marquez campus, located at 16821 Marquez Avenue. Event highlights include the fifth-grade haunted house, carnival games and booths (including Lollipop Pull, Graveyard Golf and more), and sports zone and inflatables, featuring a dunk tank and slide inflatables.
The event will include performances by area groups, including Fancy Feet Dance Studio, Palisades Dance Studio, Gerry Blanck’s Martial Arts Center, Tae Ryong Taekwondo School and Matty Gottesman.
Entry is free, costumes are encouraged, and tickets to play games, buy food, enter the haunted house and more are available for purchase in advance or at the event. More information can be found at friendsofmarquez.com.
Spooktacular
Palisades Recreation will host its annual Spooktacular Halloween event on Sunday, October 27, from 4 to 8 p.m.
Outdoors there will be crafts and games from 4 to 6 p.m. Inside the big gym, there will be a glow-in-the-dark basketball event.
The recreation center is located at 851 Alma Real Drive. More information can be found at laparks.org.
Oktoberfest
“All are invited” to join Palisades Lutheran Church for its annual Oktoberfest on Saturday, October 19, from 5 to 9 p.m.
The event will feature “traditional German food and drinks,” log sawing, games, and music, described as “great for families and friends.”
Tickets are available online for $22 for adults and $10 for kids (anyone 13 years and under), or will be available on the day of the event for $25 for adults, $12 for kids.
Earlier in the day, PLC will host its fourth annual Charity of Choice 5K Run/Walk, which begins at 9 a.m. Entry fees are $20 for students, $45 for everyone else.
Both events will take place at the church, located at 15905 Sunset Boulevard. For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit plc.cc.
Fiesta of Fright
Rustic Canyon Recreation Center will host Fiesta of Fright on Saturday, October 26, from 4 to 8 p.m.
Festivities will include a costume contest set to begin at 5 p.m. There will be two categories: ages 0 to 6 and ages 7 to 12. Prizes will be awarded in categories such as scariest, funniest, cutest and most original. Immediately following there will be a costume contest for dogs.
There will also be games, food, candy, moon bounce and prizes, as well as a Haunted House for $5 from 5 to 8 p.m.
Rustic Canyon Recreation Center is located at 601 Latimer Road. For more information, call 310-454-5734 or email rusticcanyon.rc@lacity.org.
Creep Your Crypt
For the 11th year in a row, the Palisadian-Post is presenting its Creep Your Crypt Halloween home decorating contest.
Residents in all neighborhoods of Pacific Palisades are invited to enter their home into the contest for a chance to win one of three prizes: Creepiest Crypt, Best Theme or DIY/Originality. It is also possible to nominate a neighbor into the contest.
Prizes will include items and gift certificates from area businesses, including McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams, Theatre Palisades, Alfred, Porta Via Palisades and Jemma Pizzeria.
Entries are now being accepted at palipost.com/creep-your-crypt-contest-2024, with communitywide voting set to begin on October 24 and run through October 31. Winners will be revealed in the November 14 print edition of the Post.
Graveyard Smash
As part of its annual Pumpkin Patch, Palisades-Malibu YMCA will have a Graveyard Smash at Simon Meadow on Saturday evening, October 26, from 4:30 to 8 p.m.
Open to the community, the event will feature “fall spooky fun,” including a costume contest, “ghoulish” games, face painting and trick or treating.
Throughout the 2024 season, the patch is open at 15551 Sunset Boulevard from 3 to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, through October 31. It serves as one of Palisades-Malibu YMCA’s biggest annual fundraisers, alongside the tree lot.
Netflix & Chills
Bay Theater will stream a series of spooky films during “Netflix & Chills” through October 31.
“As part of Netflix & Chills, Netflix’s celebration of all things horror, Bay Theater is bringing you witches, zombies and ghouls galore,” read the Palisades Village website. “Join them for a spooktacular time each week when a new Halloween favorite premieres to get you in the trick-or-treating spirit.”
Upcoming films include “Hubie Halloween” starring Palisadian Adam Sandler through October 10, followed by “The Witches” from October 11 to 17, then “Hotel Transylvania” October 18 to 24. The series will conclude October 25 to 31 with “Hocus Pocus.”
For more information, including tickets and showtimes, visit baytheaterla.com.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to remove a Mythical Creature Mask Making workshop at Getty Villa on October 19, which has been cancelled.
This page is available to subscribers. Click here to sign in or get access.
