There’s no chill in the air quite yet, but it is indeed the start of spooky season in Long Beach and Signal Hill.
Beloved traditions will return, like the 30th annual Historical Cemetery Tour and Signal Hill’s family-friendly Halloween Carnival and Ghostly Gus scavenger hunt. New attractions promise frightful fun too, like Dolores’ weekly movie night and The Wicked Wolf’s pumpkin carving parties.
Break out the calendars, text the group chat and bookmark this page to curate your month of Halloween fun. The Signal Tribune will continue to promote fun events throughout the season with our weekly Around Town roundups and see our preview of this year’s Dark Harbor.
Recurring
All Month: Ghostly Gus. Signal Hill’s favorite friendly ghost returns for his annual scavenger hunt. Residents can search for Gus around the city, in local businesses, government buildings and landmarks, with the hope of filling their scavenger card for a special treat. Scavenger cards can be picked up at the Signal Hill Public Library (1800 E. Hill St.) or printed from the City’s website.
Every Monday: Movie Night. Long Beach’s freakiest movie night takes place every Monday throughout the year at The 4th Horseman (121 W. Fourth St.). Curated by Nick Cruse, this evening offers an all-night happy hour, a special introduction before the film and a variety of horror classics from the darkest corners of cinema. Ease your fear with handcrafted, cleverly-named and creatively concocted pizzas (vegan options included), craft beer, wine and a wide array of classic arcade games. Films play from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Thursdays in October: Nightmare on 4th Street. Enjoy spooky food, fun treats and tasty drinks from a new menu along with Halloween classic films at Dolores (2105 Fourth St.). Movies will begin at 7 p.m. every week and will be screened on their surround sound system and new state-of-the-art projector. Films on the slate include “Death Becomes Her,” “Practical Magic,” “Beetlejuice,” “Scream,” “The Craft” and “Halloween.” Reserve your table at the link in the bio @doloreslbc.
Fridays and Saturdays, Oct. 2 – 17 – Whisper in the Walls. Step inside one of Long Beach’s historic homes for a special tour of the haunted Bembridge House (953 N. Park Circle). History will whisper, shadows will stir and rooms will unveil their secrets to the brave souls who enter. On your chosen night, you will step through the doors and join a small group of fellow explorers (six to eight at a time) guided by lantern light through shadowed staircases, haunted rooms and the attic where the whispers grow loudest. Refreshments will also be available for purchase in the spooky garden. Tours will run from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. and run around every 20 minutes. Attendees who miss their slotted time will not be refunded. Purchase tickets for $12 on Eventbrite, where you can find additional parking details.
One Day Only
Oct. 5 – Pumpkin Carving Party. Explore your inner artist by carving and decorating pumpkins while sipping on delicious crafted cocktails and mocktails inside the splendor of The Wicked Wolf (1332 Pacific Ave.) from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. A $25 ticket purchase includes a cocktail, a medium pumpkin and all supplies needed to carve. It’s not a competition, but there will be prizes! Purchase tickets on The Wicked Wolf’s website. There will be another edition of this event specifically for singles on Oct. 18 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Oct. 6 – Horror Trivia. Long Beach’s famed gothic pizza parlor and bar, The 4th Horseman (121 W. Fourth St.), is reviving its Horror Trivia nights, not only in October but throughout the year for true horror fans. Test your knowledge of classics, cult favorites and new-age films and icons for the chance for your group to win tickets to this year’s Queen Mary Dark Harbor festivities. Trivia begins at 7 p.m.; entry is free and open only to those 21 and older.
Oct. 10 – Halloween Block Party. The Parkview Village (5423 E. Village Road) is hosting a huge Halloween bash featuring 40+ vendors, DJ Zombie, a Captain Jack Sparrow photo op, trick-or-treat opportunities and two costume contests, one for humans and one for pets. The human costume contest begins at noon and the pet costume contest begins at 1 p.m.
Oct. 10 – Second Saturdays. Long Beach’s East Village Arts District is hosting its monthly street activation to encourage residents to walk the neighborhood and get to know their local businesses. Visitors can enjoy trick-or-treating from all participating businesses on First Street between Elm and Linden Avenues (no age limit), as well as vinyl DJ sets, flash tattoos, food, coffee, dirty sodas, local vendors, tarot and more.
Oct. 13 – Halloween Adventure. Little ghouls and goblins are invited to a kooky musical puppet show and party at the Signal Hill Public Library (1800 E. Hill St.) from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Registration is required by calling 562-989-7323.
Oct. 17 – Harvest Festival. The Los Cerritos Neighborhood Association’s third annual Harvest Festival is offering a pumpkin decorating station for the first time ever, in addition to its annual pumpkin decorating contest. The festival will be held at Los Cerritos Park (3750 Del Mar Ave.) from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Oct. 18 – Horror Mystery Book Club. The Long Beach Book Club’s book for the month of October is “Graveyard Shift” by M.L. Rio. The book is a horror mystery thriller about a group of night shift workers who meet in the local cemetery to unearth secrets lurking in an open grave. The Sunday meet-up invites readers to discuss the book and bring their favorite Halloween-themed cookies (but none with nuts, please) to share at Heartwell Park (5801 Parkcrest St.) at 10 a.m. Attendees are also encouraged to bring a comfortable chair or a blanket to sit on and wear a Halloween shirt. Reach out to @longbeach.bookclub on Instagram with any questions.
Oct. 24 – Halloween Carnival. Signal Hill’s annual carnival will return to Signal Hill Park (2175 Cherry Ave.) from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., boasting a day of family-friendly fun with bounce houses, a trunk-or-treat and plenty of carnival games. Pre-sale wristbands are available now at the Signal Hill Public Library (1800 E. Hill St.).
Oct. 24 – Haunted Mansion. Khmer Girls in Action is throwing a haunted party to the polls evening to provide candy, scares and valuable voting information for November’s election. From 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Education Center (2217 E. Sixth St.), residents can step into a one-of-a-kind interactive haunted maze, where this year’s ballot measures will be incorporated into the scares. There will also be a community trunk-or-treat, music and a costume contest.
Oct. 25 – Halloween Grown-Up Book Fair. Every October, Beachwood Brewing & Distilling (3630 Atlantic Ave.) transforms into a decked-out Halloween bar, perfect for hosting a spooky and magical book fair. The Fleuria, a romance-themed book truck, will help host this afternoon of local authors, featuring Halloween-themed cocktails, books for purchase, interactive experiences and bookish vendors selling a variety of homemade creations. This event will run from noon to 4 p.m.
Oct. 30 – Creepy Crawly Storytime. Families are invited to dress in their Halloween costumes for a jam-packed storytime at the Signal Hill Public Library (1800 E. Hill St.) from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. There will be lots of movement, stories and creepy crawlies to touch and learn about. Registration is required by calling 562-989-7323.
Oct. 31 – Historical Cemetery Tour. Kick off Halloween day by learning about local history, from those who have shaped our political past to ordinary residents, all told by actors in period-accurate costumes. Visitors can peruse the Long Beach Municipal and Sunnyside Cemeteries (1095 E. Willow St.) and hear stories of the past, while also viewing the Japanese American History activation, a Día de los Muertos installation, additional historical talks, local author book signings and displays of Long Beach history. Presentations are repeated every 20 minutes so residents can walk around by themselves and enjoy at their own pace from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online.
Oct. 31 – Mini Golf. Signal Hill residents are invited to come down to the library (1800 E. Hill St.) in their costumes for a spooky-themed mini golf course in the courtyard from noon to 4 p.m.
Oct. 31 – Hellawine Party. Spend Hollow’s Eve with a night of freaky disco, house music and dancing among other costumed partygoers at Sala Coffee & Wine’s sixth annual Halloween celebration (3853 Atlantic Ave.). DJ Bozo Bar will be spinning dance tracks while Sala pours natural wine from 8 p.m. to midnight. RSVP at the link in the bio @salacoffeeandwine.
Oct. 31 – Halloween Party. One place that doesn’t have to change its decorations for spooky season: The 4th Horseman (121 W. Fourth St.). So it only makes sense that the heavy metal, horror-themed pizza parlor and bar would host a late-night Halloween party and costume contest from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. The winner of this contest stands to win a $100 gift card to The 4th Horseman.
