Los Angeles, CA — Los Angeles Haunted Hayride returns to Griffith Park on select nights from September 18 through November 1, 2026. Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group detailed the 2026 season at its Midsummer Scream panel: a new 1980s rock maze called Fallen Angel, the return of Elvira’s Trick or Treat Mayhem, alcohol served in Midnight Falls for the first time, and the event’s biggest trail upgrade in years. See our full report on the 2026 reveals for the details.
What is confirmed for 2026
- Dates: Select nights, September 18 through November 1, 2026.
- Location: Old Zoo, Griffith Park, Los Angeles.
The 2026 lineup
Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group revealed the 2026 season at its Midsummer Scream panel.
- Fallen Angel (new maze). An 1980s Sunset Strip story in which a band died in a rehearsal fire and is revived by a cult of superfans, casting guests as the band.
- Elvira’s Trick or Treat Mayhem returns, along with the Elvira Pop-Up Shop and exclusive merchandise. Cassandra Peterson confirmed her return.
- Alcohol for the first time inside Midnight Falls.
- A new villain, Allister, the pyromaniac evil twin of the town’s prankster Herschel, banished in 1981 and back this year.
- Madame Aurora’s expanded seance, digging into why Midnight Falls relives Halloween night 1985.
- Hellbilly Halloween returns, the backwoods cannibal-family maze.
- The biggest trail upgrade in years: the return of the sway poles after more than a decade, a reimagined drive-in scene choreographed by Bobby Newberry, and an expanded cinematic soundscape across the trail.
Ticket prices, nightly hours, and the 2026 event-night count have not been broken out yet.
Ownership, history, and venue
Los Angeles Haunted Hayride was founded in 2009 by Melissa Carbone and Alyson Richards under Ten Thirty One Productions. The event’s first year was in Calabasas at King Gillette Ranch, and it moved to Griffith Park in 2010. Melissa Carbone remains with the event as Creator and Producer. In 2013, Carbone appeared on ABC’s Shark Tank and Mark Cuban invested $2 million for a 20 percent stake in Ten Thirty One Productions.
Ten Thirty One Productions was acquired by Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group in 2018. The first season under 13th Floor was 2019, which also introduced the Midnight Falls narrative created by Jon Cooke (Plague Productions). Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group is partially owned by Eldridge Industries. The 2024 City of Los Angeles license for the Griffith Park venue is held by TFEG ABG LA JV LLC, a joint venture between Thirteenth Floor and Authentic Brands Group’s ABG Entertainment.
Within Griffith Park, the event has moved from its historic Old Zoo footprint to the Crystal Springs Picnic Area, a larger and flatter field. In 2020, the event ran as a drive-up experience at Frank G. Bonelli Park in San Dimas due to the COVID-19 pandemic before returning to Griffith Park in 2021.
The current general manager is Jen Bendik. Ted Dougherty (Plague Productions) serves as writer and live entertainment director and created the Midnight Falls townsfolk. Chris Stafford is CEO and founding partner of Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group.
Watch a walkthrough
Here is a walkthrough from a recent Los Angeles Haunted Hayride season for a look at how the event has run recently. Some attractions may change for 2026.
The 2025 baseline: Midnight Falls, the Hayride, and three mazes
Everything in this section is 2025 content. Nothing here has been confirmed to return for 2026. This section functions as a baseline for what returning guests can expect the 2026 event to be built from.
The Hayride
The event’s signature attraction. Guests board haywagons that thread through the Griffith Park foothills into the world of Midnight Falls, a fictional town where a Witch of the Woods has summoned the spirits of the underworld to seek revenge on the townsfolk who cast her out. 2025 introduced haywagons with seating.
The mazes (three in 2025)
Elvira’s Trick or Treat Mayhem (new in 2025). A haunted maze positioned behind the facade of Elvira’s home in Midnight Falls. The Mistress of the Dark’s signature glamour, tricks, treats, and Halloween mayhem. The Elvira collaboration was the marquee 2025 addition.
Monáe Manor (2025 collaboration with Janelle Monáe). A haunted house at the Manor where Halloween happens every night, positioned around a party hosted by Monáe herself. Walls talk, music blares, and ghostly encounters run through the soiree, including possibly with the host.
Backwoods cannibal maze. Deep in the backwoods of Midnight Falls, a long-rumored cannibalistic family takes in the spirit of Halloween by dishing out diabolical tricks filled with horrifying treats. Now features S’mores stations.
Midnight Falls Town Square
The town square is the event’s central hub. Townsfolk roam the space, tending to local Midnight Falls “businesses” and interacting with guests between attractions.
Live entertainment
Madame Aurora. A séance-style show with the “world famous” medium conjuring spirits. Performances run nightly, no two shows the same. Add-on ticket.
The Late Monte Revolta. A live musical variety show hosted by undead maestro Monte Revolta and cadaverous co-conspirator Ms. Muerte. Grotesque gags and killer tunes.
Add-on experiences
GellyBall Zombie Range. An electric-projectile range-style booth where guests engage with live-actor zombies in a controlled-shooter format. Uses 8mm water-balloon projectiles smaller than traditional paintball. Complimentary eyewear included.
Mini Escape Games. Five-minute escape rooms with clue-and-riddle puzzles. One ticket admits one person into one game. Purchase multiple tickets to play multiple games.
Scary-Go-Round. Themed carnival ride with skeleton steeds and a looping haunted melody.
Axeperience. Axe-throwing add-on. $5 for five bullseye attempts.
2025 retail and food additions
Elvira Pop Up Retail. A curated Elvira merchandise storefront with tees, accessories, and official collectibles.
Midnight Falls Cider Company. Rustic cider mill serving fresh apple cider and warm cider donuts.
Where Los Angeles Haunted Hayride fits in the Southern California Halloween market
Los Angeles Haunted Hayride is the region’s marquee non-theme-park haunt event. It is the only major Southern California haunt built around a traditional hayride as its signature attraction, and it is the only major SoCal event staged inside Griffith Park. The event historically operated at the park’s Old Zoo footprint and has since relocated to the Crystal Springs Picnic Area for a larger and flatter operating field. That gives it a footprint the theme park events do not have: an outdoor, walk-plus-ride event set in a public-park setting rather than an operated amusement park.
The programming positions the event as a full evening rather than a pure haunt: the Hayride, three mazes, live entertainment, add-on experiences, and Midnight Falls Town Square as an atmospheric hub. That mix has drawn celebrity collaborations. Elvira headlined the 2025 event with a maze and pop-up retail, and Janelle Monáe designed the 2025 Monáe Manor maze around her Halloween party.
The event runs on the same September 18 through November 1 window as Fright Fest at Six Flags Magic Mountain, overlapping the peak SoCal Halloween calendar with Knott’s Scary Farm and Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood.
Still unconfirmed
The Hayride detailed its 2026 attractions at Midsummer Scream, but it has not yet published 2026 ticket prices, nightly hours, or the total event-night count. Whether the 2025 Janelle Monáe maze, Monáe Manor, returns was not addressed at the panel.
Event details
- Event: Los Angeles Haunted Hayride 2026
- Location: Griffith Park (Crystal Springs Picnic Area), 4730 Crystal Springs Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90027
- Dates: Select nights, September 18 through November 1, 2026
- Tickets: losangeleshauntedhayride.com
- Full lineup reveal expected: On or around Midsummer Scream, August 7 through 9, 2026
HAN prior Los Angeles Haunted Hayride coverage
- The LA Haunted Hayride adds an ’80s rock maze and brings back Elvira (2026)
- Elvira Joins LA Haunted Hayride for 2025 Season
- Los Angeles Haunted Hayride to Return to Griffith Park on Select Nights
- Los Angeles Haunted Hayride Celebrates 15 Years of Fear With Brand-New Features and Attractions
This event is part of our Haunted Houses in California 2026 guide.
