October is one of the best months to be a kid in the South Bay. The beach cities go all in on Halloween, with pumpkin races on the pier, costume parades through neighborhood parks, and whole downtown blocks closed off for trick-or-treating. If you live in El Segundo, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach or Redondo Beach, there is something happening almost every weekend of the month.
This guide rounds up the family-friendly Halloween traditions across the South Bay, shares a few tips for younger kids who are not quite ready for the spooky stuff, and explains why a Halloween-themed private party at Scooter’s Jungle El Segundo is one of the easiest ways to celebrate with a group of kids. If you already know a party is the plan, you can jump straight to our private party packages and pick the one that fits your crew.
One quick note before you plan: city events shift dates from year to year, so always confirm times on the official city or organizer page before you load up the car.
Scooter's Spooktacular at Scooter's Jungle El Segundo
Fri, Oct 30
2026
4 to 7 PM
3 hours of play
All Ages
Kids and grown-ups
Looking for one easy place to celebrate? Join us for a frightfully fun Halloween evening at our El Segundo indoor playground. It is three hours of open play in a climate-controlled space, with plenty of Halloween extras along the way:
- ★Costume contests with spooky prizes, so come dressed up and bring your Halloween crew.
- ★Candy stations for everyone.
- ★Games and more across the arenas, plus all the slides and bounce areas.
- ★Spooky Selfie Challenge. Snap a spooky selfie at Scooter’s Jungle, tag @scootersjunglesouthbay in your Spooktacular post, and you could win a free play pass or a Scooter’s prize.
- ★Fresh pizza available to buy on site.
Good to know: bring socks for everyone, parents included. Outside food, gifts and party items are not allowed. Space is limited and offered on a first-come, first-served basis, so plan to arrive early.
El Segundo: Halloween on Main Street
El Segundo’s signature Halloween event is the Halloween Frolic, hosted each year by the city’s Recreation, Parks and Library Department. Main Street turns into a kid-sized festival with costume contests, carnival games, bounce houses and trick-or-treating at the shops along the block. It is walkable, free to attend, and built for families, which is exactly why El Segundo parents mark it on the calendar early.
Recreation Park also tends to host smaller Halloween happenings for little ones in the lead-up to the big day, like story time around the fire circle. These are gentle, low-key and perfect for toddlers and preschoolers who want a taste of Halloween without a scary surprise.
Manhattan Beach: Pumpkin Race and Halloween Carnival
Manhattan Beach is home to one of the most unusual Halloween traditions in Los Angeles: the Pumpkin Race on the pier. Families decorate pumpkins, fit them with wheels, and send them rolling down a ramp while the crowd cheers. It is free, it is outdoors, and kids of every age get a kick out of it. Build your racer at home the week before and make an afternoon of it.
The city also puts on a Halloween Carnival at Manhattan Heights Park with games, crafts and costume fun aimed squarely at the elementary set. Between the two, Manhattan Beach families have a daytime option and an evening option without leaving town.
Hermosa Beach: Pumpkins in the Park
Hermosa Beach keeps it charming with Pumpkins in the Park, a neighborhood pumpkin patch set up by Friends of the Parks. Expect a costume parade, crafts and plenty of photo moments on the grass. It is small, friendly and ideal for the under-six crowd. The Hermosa Beach Museum has also run seasonal activities during open hours in past years, which is a nice add-on if you are already on Pier Avenue.
Redondo Beach: Riviera Village and the Pier
Redondo Beach has two big draws. The Riviera Village Halloween Trick or Treat stroll shuts Catalina Avenue to traffic so thousands of costumed kids can go shop to shop in a safe, car-free setting. It happens on Halloween afternoon, so it is a great warm-up before neighborhood trick-or-treating.
Halloween on the Redondo Pier brings the celebration to the waterfront, and in recent years Seaside Lagoon has hosted a sandy, beach-themed Halloween afternoon with a bounce house, games and a costume contest. Both are easy to reach from El Segundo, Hawthorne and Torrance, though pier parking fills fast on event days.
Trunk or Treats and School Carnivals
Beyond the city events, schools, churches and PTAs across the South Bay host trunk or treats throughout October. These are usually held in a parking lot during daylight hours, which makes them a safe and predictable choice for families with young kids. Check your school newsletter, your city’s recreation calendar and local parent groups for dates in Torrance, Hawthorne, Westchester and Playa del Rey.
Halloween with Little Kids: How to Skip the Scary Stuff
Not every child loves fog machines and jump scares, and that is completely normal. A few ways to keep Halloween fun for toddlers, preschoolers and sensitive kids:
- ★Stick to daytime events. Costume parades, pumpkin patches and park carnivals are cheerful rather than creepy.
- ★Skip anything labeled for older kids. Haunted houses and scare zones are often rated 13 and up for a reason.
- ★Preview costumes together. Let your child see what the family is wearing before the day so masks are not a surprise.
- ★Plan an exit. Arrive early, stay for the best part, and leave before the crowds and the meltdown.
- ★Pack the basics. A change of clothes, water, snacks and a flashlight go a long way.
- ★Protect the nap. An overtired kid in a costume is a tough combination. Build the schedule around sleep, not the other way round.
Why an Indoor Costume Party Is the Easy Win
Outdoor Halloween events are wonderful, but they come with trade-offs: unpredictable weather, tight pier parking, long lines and no control over who is in the crowd. If you are celebrating a birthday in October, or you simply want to get a group of friends together, a private Halloween party at Scooter’s Jungle El Segundo solves all of that in one booking.
Here is what makes it work so well for Halloween:
- ★Private arena time. Your group gets the arena to themselves, so kids can run, climb and slide in costume without strangers in the mix.
- ★The right space for the age group. The Village Arena is designed for kids ages 8 and under, and the Ultimate Arena welcomes ages 6 and up with bigger thrills like giant slides and obstacle-style play.
- ★A private dining room. Pizza, drinks and cake happen in your own room, so a costume parade or a best-costume vote is easy to pull off.
- ★Setup and cleanup handled. Our team runs the schedule from arrival to the last slice of cake. You bring the cake and the kids, and we take care of the rest.
- ★Climate controlled. Whether October brings a heat wave or an early rain, the party happens exactly as planned.
Choose from the Base, Super and Over the Top packages depending on your guest count and how much you want included. Each one is built around play time followed by dining time, with the extras scaling up as you go. Our FAQs cover the practical questions parents ask most, including what you can bring and how timing works on the day.
Planning a Halloween Party at Scooter's Jungle: Quick Checklist
- ✓Pick your date early. October weekends are popular in the South Bay, so book as soon as you have a headcount in mind.
- ✓Choose the arena that fits the birthday child’s age and the mix of guests.
- ✓Compare the Base, Super and Over the Top packages and pick the one that suits your group.
- ✓Ask guests to wear play-friendly costumes. Capes and loose accessories are best left at home, and socks are required for everyone on the play floor.
- ✓Make sure every guest has a signed waiver before party day. It only takes a minute online.
- ✓Bring the cake and a camera. The costume photos in the arena are the ones you will keep.
Ready to Book Your Halloween Party?
Make this October one to remember with a private, costume-friendly party at Scooter’s Jungle El Segundo. Lock in your date today, or reach out to our team with any questions.
Scooter’s Jungle El Segundo • 606 Hawaii St, El Segundo, CA 90245 • (310) 848-1380