Spooktober Halloween Events in Long Beach
Halloween seems to get bigger every year, probably because it’s one holiday that really lets you do you. And whether you like your Halloween sweet or spooky–or perhaps a little bit of both–Long Beach is ready and able to help you get ghosted, in a good way. Whether it’s frightful fish, jaywalking zombies or Shaq, Long Beach has everything you need to treat yourself to a great All Hallow’s Eve.
FRIGHT DIVE
Ever wonder what the Aquarium of the Pacific (100 Aquarium Way) is like at night, you know, do the fish get freaky? Experience the spooky side of the Aquarium of the Pacific, Oct. 27 (7:30 - 11 p.m.) during Fright Dive, a takeoff on the Aquarium’s popular monthly Night Dive adults-only (18-plus) event that features DJs and bands performing amid the Aquarium galleries. There are also food trucks serving unique fare on the front plaza, as well as drinks and cocktails. Fright Dive not only adds the Halloween element with frightful decorations but encourages attendees to wear costumes, especially Aquarium and/or ocean-themed getups!
LONG BEACH ZOMBIE WALK
The Zombie Walk returns to Shoreline Village with a free Halloween celebration for all ages featuring DJs, entertainers, scarers, a separate kids area, a photo booth, meet-the-monsters photo ops, a zombie band, vendors and of course the zombie walk. This celebration of pretty much everything undead takes place Oct. 14, from 4-10 p.m., and is highlighted at the end with the Zombie Walk itself, which begins at 8 p.m. and will march/stagger down Rainbow Harbor. Perhaps best of all, the walk is free, which is great since zombies are not only well known for devouring brains but are also notoriously cheap.
SHAQTOBERFEST
With the Queen Mary as a backdrop, Shaqtoberfest, happening Sept. 29-Oct. 31–offers Halloween treats and frights for all ages. Haunted Trails walk-through experiences include a hay bale maze in Diesel’s Pumpkin Patch, Pirate’s Cove, and The Grey Ghost aboard the ship itself. Shaqtoberfest also features live entertainment on multiple stages, themed bars and lounges, and VIP experiences, including Captain Shaq’s Secret Hideaway. Enjoy carnival rides and food vendors throughout the festival grounds, plus a family-friendly version of the festival takes place 6-8pm on three Sundays, Oct. 15, 22, and 29.
PRESS-TELEGRAM’S SCARY STORIES CONTEST
The Press-Telegram’s scary story contest is a sure sign Halloween is on its way. As usual, the contest will be split into three divisions for stories and drawings: elementary school (K-5), middle school (6-8) and high school. Stories must be no longer than 650 words. Artwork must be original; no tracings. Submissions are due by 5 p.m. Oct. 9–that’s your deadline. The scariest stories and drawings will appear in the Sunday, Oct. 29 edition of the Press-Telegram. In addition to publication, top finishers for stories and artwork in each age category will also receive a $20 gift card to In-N-Out. That stuff is scary good.
HISTORICAL CEMETERY TOUR
For more than a quarter century, the Historical Society of Long Beach has conducted these annual living history tours of the city’s two oldest cemeteries: Long Beach Municipal Cemetery and Sunnyside Cemetery. This year’s tour takes place on Oct. 28 and, as in the past, it will feature stories of famous and ordinary Long Beach residents, acted out by actors–usually from the Long Beach Playhouse–in period costume. They know their subjects well, and are eager to take your questions. Though the tour is in a cemetery, it’s important to note that the purpose of the tour is not to frighten but enlighten folks about the people who helped shape Long Beach.
Nosferatu with Live Score at the Art Theatre
On Halloween night, watch F.W. Murnau’s chilling 1922 horror classic NOSFERATU at the historic Art Theatre of Long Beach (2025 E 4th St) accompanied by live music. The Jack Curtis Dubowsky Ensemble will play composer and conductor Jack Curtis Dubowsky’s original score to Nosferatu. The screening will be held on October 31 at 7:30 p.m. JCDE sparks new life with original scores to classic silent films, combining intricately composed material and structured improvisation. Nosferatu is an iconic German expressionist film directed by F.W. Murnau, one of the influential directors of his day. The film’s element of the Black Death – the European plague with no cure – would have resonated strongly with a 1922 audience that survived the Influenza Pandemic of 1918-1919 that killed over 40 million people. The film emphasizes the supernatural with stunning high-speed special effects, created in-camera.
