As Halloween approaches, here are some spooky activities to consider during the month of October.

Haunts / Haunted Houses

Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights

Price: Tickets start at $65 online. Presale recommended.

Select Dates Through October

Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights® brings together the sickest minds in horror to immerse you in a living, breathing, three-dimensional world of terror. From the movie studio that invented the horror film genre, prepare for the scariest, most intense Halloween event in Southern California. This year's event features more mazes than ever with 8 terrifying experiences based on the most frightening films and television shows, as well as a Terror Tram hosted by Chucky and performances by The Jabbawockeez.

Knotts Scary Farm Halloween Haunt

Knotts Spooky Farm runs on weekends during normal theme park operating hours and offers activities for kids ages 3 to 11, including trick or treating, Peanuts costume contest, and a decorated Timber Mountain Log Ride.

Price: Tickets start at $45

For those looking for something more terrifying, this year “The Granddaddy of Halloween Events” features nine mazes, four scare zones, The Hanging, and the final year for Elvira. Halloween Haunt takes place on select days throughout October.  Not recommended for children under 13.

Price: Tickets start at $40

Select Dates through October

Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor

Price: Tickets start at $24

Select dates through October

This year’s Dark Harbor will include an all-new 4th maze on the haunted ship.  In addition, many of your favorite mazes will be intensified this year with more terrifying new scares.  Live your nightmares aboard the haunted Queen Mary and join our cast of ghouls, spirits, and undead for an unforgettable, frighteningly authentic haunted experience.

Six Flags Magic Mountain Fright Fest

Price: Tickets start at $54.99 and allow for entry into the park all day, however a maze pass must be purchased for maze entrance. Maze pass starts at $17.

Select Dates Through October

Be prepared to be scared as zombies and ghouls take over the park. Enjoy thrilling rides and activities for the whole family throughout the day and come back for a frightening evening after the sun goes down. At Fright Fest, you won't have any place to hide from the several mazes and scare zones located throughout the park. The stuff of nightmares lurk around every corner as the dark of night and dense fog washes over the park. The ghouls are set free for their daily hunting rituals.

Sinister Pointe

E Sports Arena, 120 W 5th Street, Santa Ana

Price: $45

Sinister Pointe presents Hex, a two-night Halloween gala that will feature a costume contest, music, special performances, and other terrifying surprises. Held on October 27th through 28th, this event is for ages 21 and over.

The 17th Door: Locked Up

1851 W Orangethorpe, Fullerton

Price: Tickets start at $24 and change depending on the day. Pre-sale recommended.

Select dates through October

Paula has committed a heinous crime. It’s now time to pay the price… A lengthy sentence to be served in the most gruesome and hellish of prisons; much worse than the troubled and miserable life of our depressed college sophomore.

Welcome to Perpetuum Penitentiary. A place of darkness born only in nightmares. For within these stone walls you will meet true suffering and despair. Prayers for mercy unanswered. Evil pervading it’s every space. Paula’s space. This detour through hell is her new reality.

Those who enter will be required to sign a waiver and may experience touching, shock, smells, water and mature content. A VR experience can be added on for a small fee.

Escape Rooms

Crossroads Escape Games: The Hex Room

4245 E La Palma Ave, Anaheim

Price: Admission starts at $32 per person. Reservations are recommended

Can you survive a horror film? This murderous horror movie fan wants to watch you try. Each player will take a quiz before the game to find out which character they are: The Nerd, Virgin, Jock, Rebel, Prom Queen, or Detective. Your team will be divided up into separate rooms where you must work individually and as a team. Not only do you need to escape, but you must also survive! Who will live? Who will die?

Horror Movies

Happy Death Day

Release Date: October 13

Rated PG-13

Tree Gelbman is a blissfully self-centered collegian who wakes up on her birthday in the bed of a student named Carter. As the morning goes on, Tree gets the eerie feeling that she's experienced the events of this day before. When a masked killer suddenly takes her life in a brutal attack, she once again magically wakes up in Carter's dorm room unharmed. Now, the frightened young woman must relive the same day over and over until she figures out who murdered her.

Leatherface

Release Date: October 23

Rated R

A violent teen and three others kidnap a young nurse while escaping from a Texas mental institution. Pursued by a vengeful sheriff, the disturbed young man embarks on a murderous rampage that shapes him into a legendary killer known as Leatherface.

Jigsaw

Release Date: October 27

Rated R

A mysterious madman rounds up a group of victims to play sadistic games of life and death. Police soon find evidence that link the crimes to Jigsaw, the infamous killer who died 10 years earlier.

Pumpkin Patch

Shawn’s Pumpkin Patch

6815 S. La Cienega Blvd. Los Angeles or 3443 S. Sepulveda Blvd, Los Angeles

Price: No entrance fee, however activities inside do have a cost.

While families pick out the perfect pumpkin to carve, this attraction offers several activities for kids including face painting, pony rides, petting zoo, arcade games, and inflatable houses and slides.

Local Events

Spooky Science

Price: $5 or Free for CMSC members

Columbia Memorial Space Center

October 28

CMSC will be offering a variety of activities and demonstrations throughout the evening, such as make your own slime, spooky robotics labs, a costume parade, and much more.  CMSC will have My Delight Cupcakery at the event too!  The sweet treats from My Delight are to die for…

CMSC is also proud to host International Observe the Moon Night in conjunction with Spooky Science this year! Guests will have an opportunity to view the moon and anything else in the night sky thanks to the Columbia Astronomers who will be hosting a variety of telescopes on the front lawn of CMSC.

Dia De Los Muertos Art Festival

Price: Free

Downey Theatre and Downtown Downey

October 29

Downey’s 5th annual Dia De Los Muertos Art Festival will take place in and around the Downey Theatre and Downtown Downey, and will feature several performances and demonstrations, altar contest, colorful displays, and food.

Halloween Pumpkin Patch

Price: Free

October 31

Apollo Park

A free community event that will feature Balloon artist, carnival games, glow walk, photo booth, pet costume parade and costume contest