The Little Tokyo community transforms into family-friendly scares and fun on select days and nights in October.
The Little Tokyo community welcomes Halloween fans and guests for a month of scary fun as the neighborhood transforms into Haunted Little Tokyo. This is the third year of the highly successful event, which takes place on select nights in October, beginning with the opening night of the Haunted Little Tokyo Film Festival on September 27. Haunted Little Tokyo is a family-friendly event featuring pumpkin patches, trick-or-treating, ghostly games, free Halloween movie screenings, haunted walking tours, themed specials, and more, culminating in downtown Los Angeles’ largest annual Halloween block party on Saturday, October 26.
Featured Events
Haunted Little Tokyo Film Festival
The Haunted Little Tokyo Film Festival features family-friendly films as well as classic, hair-raising Japanese, horror cinema at various outdoor screening locations. All screenings are free, but RSVPing on the Haunted Little Tokyo website is encouraged, as space is available on a first-come first-served basis.
The line-up of films includes:
- Friday, October 4, 7:00-10:00 pm:Hausuat Union Center for the Arts (free).
- Friday, October 11, 6:00-9:00 pm:Okko’s Innat Japanese Village Plaza (free)
- Thursday, October 17, 8:00-10:00 pm:Crimson Kimono (1959)at the Japanese American National Museum (free)
Light refreshments will be provided by Wolf & Crane, Buttery Popcorn Co., Takuma Burgers and Cafe Dulce.
Pumpkin Patch
Halloween enthusiasts of all ages are invited to the Haunted Little Tokyo Pumpkin Patch, an outdoor marketplace created by local Asian and Pacific Islander farmers at the Japanese Village Plaza. Guests can purchase and decorate one-of-a-kind jack o’lanterns with the assistance of volunteer artists using pumpkins provided by Tanaka Farms. The Pumpkin Patch will be open from Friday, October 18 to Sunday, October 20, from noon to 6 pm.
Haunted Ghosts of Little Tokyo Walking Tour
During the Haunted Ghosts of Little Tokyo Walking Tour, guests will hear stories of resident Little Tokyo ghosts told by those who’ve seen them. On this tour, led by the Little Tokyo Historical Society (LTHS), visitors will re-discover the Little Tokyo neighborhood in an all-new way as they journey through haunted historical buildings. This event takes place on Saturday, October 19, from 5:00 to 6:30 pm. The tour begins at the East West Players Theater Courtyard at Union Center for the Arts. Cost of the tour is $20.
Trick-or-Treat in Little Tokyo
Trick-or-Treat in Little Tokyo features traditional trick-or-treating for costumed guests of all ages. Guests visit the businesses in the Japanese Village Plaza and receive treats generously donated by Meiji and Hi-Chew. There will also be kid-friendly activities organized by KidZGen. Trick-or-Treat Little Tokyo takes place on Saturday, October 26, from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. The event is free.
Haunted Night in Little Tokyo: The Block Party
Guests are invited to indulge in bone-chilling drinks and devilish desserts as the month-long Haunted Little Tokyo celebration wraps up with Haunted Night in Little Tokyo. This event features a block party complete with beer garden, live music and entertainment, a costume contest with prizes, family-friendly game booths, local food and retail vendors, exclusive discounts, and more. There will also be a 21+ after party—details to be released soon—for adults who want to keep the party going until sunrise. The block party will be happening on Saturday, October 26, from 6:00 pm to midnight at 2nd Street between Central Ave. and San Pedro St. Admission is free. The 21+ after party will begin at 11:00 pm.
Location and Admission
Haunted Little Tokyo, which is located in downtown Los Angeles, takes place on select nights in October. Admission to events ranges from free to $25, depending on the activity. For pricing and to register for activities, visit www.hauntedlittletokyo.com.
by Philip Hernandez
