I-Spy Halloween Train Ride and Festival
Mile-long train ride with hidden pumpkins, carnival games, and photo ops
16 family-friendly fall activities near Universal City.
Halloween festivities are scattered throughout Universal City and neighboring areas like Burbank and Glendale. Families can find events ranging from expansive festivals with pumpkin patches to more intimate library gatherings.
Consider the larger community celebrations in places like Grand Hope Park, or seek out free options closer to home. If you're looking for specific activities, some are geared towards younger children, while others might attract a more adult crowd or involve a short drive.
Adults-only haunted pub crawl exploring historic Hollywood bars.
Features eight haunted houses, the Terror Tram, and scare zones.
Iconic outdoor movie screenings at Hollywood Forever Cemetery
Massive street celebration featuring live DJ sets, food trucks, and costumed crowds.
See all trunk-or-treats, pumpkin patches, and kid-friendly events nearby.
Two to three hours covers the core loop, animals, maze, hayride, picking, snack, before under-6 stamina collapses; four hours only works with a real lunch break in the middle. Plan the exit before the meltdown, not after: leave one activity still wanted so the day ends on a high. Add 30 minutes for peak-Saturday parking and checkout lines.
Closed shoes that can get dirty, water, and a bathroom stop before entering are the big three. Pick the short family maze over the flagship one for under-8s; a full maze runs 45-90 minutes and patience dies at minute 30. Photograph the maze map at the entrance, agree that kids stay within arm's reach at junctions, and go before dusk on your first trip.
The first weekend of October has full activities and the thinnest crowds; the two weekends before Halloween are wall-to-wall wagons. If you want the buzz, go peak; if you want photos without strangers in them, go early. Late September often means opening deals. For trunk-or-treats and costume parades, the weekend before Halloween is usually the only option, so book patches around it.