Halloween in Los Angeles [2015] – October family events and attractions in L.A. and Orange County

There was time when celebrating Halloween meant condensing all your ghastly fetishes into one weekend.

Costume shops didn't open until early-October, and theme parks Six Flags Magic Mountain and Knott's Berry Farm hadn't realized that extending their fright nights into September would bring in a whole new audience craving a scare. Now, the Halloween world is your oyster, full of month-haunted houses, mazes, and costume parties throughout the Southland.

It's easy to point out Six Flags' Fright Fest and Knott's 43-year-old Halloween Haunt, but Los Angeles and Orange County have more cost effective options, some which won't need a change of underwear after.

Here are some of the Southern California's top Halloween activities, beginning with Griffith Park's long-running Haunted Hayride.

Haunted Hayride (Griffith Park Old Zoo)

This year's theme is "Boogeyman" based on "the notion of a dark presence exists being uncomfortably close or of a mythical evil entity that is inevitably always sitting and waiting for you to close your eyes and fall asleep so it can come out and 'get you," according to the event's website.

While it is not recommended for children under eight years of age, the Haunted Hayride is a family event that includes a "scary-go-round," "Macabre" theatre, and five new scare zones, though the rides may not be as whimsical as they appear. Creatures of the night trudge the Hayride's grounds, waiting to scar their next victim.

Gates open at 7 p.m. every Thursday-Sunday night and close between 10 p.m. to 12 a.m., depending on the night. Tickets begin at $25.

Queen Mary Dark Harbor (Long Beach)

The most frightening thing about the Queen Mary's annual scare-a-thon may be that it's actually haunted. For years, rumors of a girl haunting the storied ship have added to Dark Harbor's lore, undoubtedly running through "victims" minds as they plow through one of the ship's indoor mazes.

New in 2015 are a lullaby maze, Egyptian-themed paintball course, and a side show of freaks and oddities. Not that there aren't enough ghouls outside the attractions.

Tickets begin at $24 depending on the night and go up to $39 on Oct. 30. Costumes will be allowed on Halloween night.

Reign of Terror Haunted House (Thousand Oaks)

Ask patrons fleeing the Reign of Terror and they may believe its effects rival Universal Studios' Halloween Horror Nights.

The website boasts being voted the best walkthrough maze in Southern California, and it may be true, based on 82 rooms spaced out over 15,000 square feet of space. General admission is $17 while the express line is $25.

Ward 13 (South Pasadena)

This weekends-only haunt may small on price, but it's big on terror.

Ward 13's tagline is "Criminally insane. Pathologically dangerous. Mentally twisted. And those are just the doctors." And it may be true. The event organizers specifically allow small groups of "patients" in at a time to enhance the experience.

Operating hours are 7-11 p.m. on Friday's and Saturdays. Tickets are $17 at the door but can be purchased online for a $2 discount.

Alone: Index of Absorption (Downtown)

Here's the frightening thing about Alone: you're all alone.

For 30-45 minutes, all you have for protections is a flashlight. There may not be ghosts and ghouls, but, then again, you don't have any friends at your side either. All that separates you and survival is pitch-black darkness.

Advanced purchase tickets begin at $50. For obvious reasons, this is an 18 and over event.

Sinister Pointe's Trust Challenge (Brea)

Unlike the Alone experience, surviving Sinister Pointe depends on your partner.

With one person in a control room and the other navigating through a dimly-lit room, your darkest fears come to life in the form of clowns, zombies, and possessed entities. Which of these you encounter depends on the path you choose.

Sinister Pointe runs throughout October and into the first weekend of November. Prices run between $20-23.

The Empty Grave (Laguna Hills)

The Empty Grave is ideal for children who want to test their fright-meter.

Outside the Laguna Hills mall and adjacent to a pumpkin patch, parents can take their kids through the $13 maze filled with costumed actors and animatronics.

The 17^th Door Haunted House (Tustin)

Picture "A Nightmare on Elm Street" come to life. That, sans Freddy Krueger, separates The 17^th Door from other Orange County haunted houses.

This 30-minute maze tells the story of Paula, a college freshman whose first day at Gluttire University is nothing short of terrifying. As the website puts it "everything inside this realm, which assaults your senses, is real. All you'll feel on your flesh, the heat and the freezing chill, is real. The putrid odor that invades your nose from the stench of her rotting life is real."

Parents of children under 13 are discouraged from bringing them along due to the maze's strong, violent themes. Prices range from $21-35.