Magic of the Jack O'Lanterns event image
South Coast Botanic Garden, Palos Verdes Peninsula, South Bay & Long Beach

Magic of the Jack O'Lanterns

A lit walk past carved pumpkins through the botanic garden, not a haunt; tickets from $19.99.

Photo: InSapphoWeTrust from Los Angeles, California, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

See all this weekend's LA picks

It is the gentlest of the region's seasonal attractions — a lit garden walk rather than a haunt — and it lands on the South Bay side of the county, where the weekend's other Halloween openings are hours away. Opening weekend is when the carvings are freshest and the displays are brand new for the season, and the botanic garden setting does a lot of the work: winding trails, mature planting and glowing pumpkins under the trees.

What to expect

A one-way walking trail of roughly a mile through the garden after dark, with carved-pumpkin displays and light scenes along the way. There are photo stops, a s'mores area, a fun zone with a bounce pad and slides, and food and beverage vendors on site.

Good to know

  • The operator asks visitors to navigate to 26300 Crenshaw Blvd rather than searching the business name, because map apps may hold an older address.
  • The run is select nights only between September 18 and November 1 — check the ticketing calendar for the night you want.
  • Entry is by timed ticket through Zentix; the site lists $19.99–$39.99 with opening night from $19.99.
  • The trail is about a mile long and outdoors, so dress for a cool evening on the peninsula.
  • The garden is a unit of the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation.

Common questions

When does it open for the season?

September 18, 2026, the first of its select nights; the run continues through November 1.

How long is the walk?

The operator describes a mile-long walking trail through the botanic garden.