HAUNT O' WEEN 2022 - LOS ANGELES, CA





We returned to the town of Haunt O’ Ween to trick-or-treat and for more family friendly fun. Haunt O’ Ween is back with a 200,000 sq. ft. space with over 35,000 pumpkins to set the mood this Halloween season. Brought to you by Experiential Supply Co., and Fever, with a partnership with Netflix; this interactive attraction meets all expectations and delivers the spirit to jump off the Halloween season.


HAUNT O’ WEEN ZONES


With 9 Interactive Themed areas, this attraction really offers something for everybody. The layout, completely different this year, definitely made us anticipate what’s to come in the next area. Guests come in the front through a grand archway with the large “Haunt O’ Ween” marquee before being given a trick-or-treating pail and the opportunity to take a photo on their step and repeat backdrop.


We then proceeded to the 9 themed areas: Funnybones Ranch, Hidden Hollows, Ghoul Town, Beyond The Grave Rave, Moonlight Magic, Pumpkin Tunney, Town Of Haunt O’ Ween and The Fangtastic Fair. Though we recognized some of the props and sets from the previous year, we appreciated that they did not just lazily set up the same display and then walk away. We noticed if it’s from the previous year, then less of it was used but it was used to fit in with the theme in a creative manner. An example would be the large graveyard path from the entrance in 2021; some of the grave markers are now part of Ghoul Town which completely makes sense.


What was LARGELY noticeable this year, because of the size and amazingness of it were: the large dome for the Beyond The Grave Rave, the big and tall facades in Ghoul Town making it really feel like a real town or even a backstage tour at a studio and the GIANT skeleton arm reaching up from the grave since everything is about giant skeletons now. Face painting, a hair salon for you to experiment with different colors, carnival style games and rides were also available on top of the trick-or-treating experience inside the Town Of Haunt O’ Ween. What if you are just a Dad that has to be there while your wife and kids are enjoying these wonderful experiences? Well, you can go from being a sad Dad into a Happy Dad at the renovated and expanded Happy Dad lounge that features “Dad-like” activities and beer, lots of beer.


HAUNT O’ WEEN CONCLUSION


This is definitely one way to start the Halloween season. There are less than a handful of attractions and happenings that are non-scare and provide fun for all ages and this remains to be one of them. Just like a theme park, you can enjoy alcoholic beverages while you walk and experience the sights and plus parking is free. After the experience, there are a good number of food vendors as well so you can replenish yourself with what you need before hitting the road home.


(Click on Image for Photo-Journal)

For more info, visit: https://hauntoween.com/los-angeles/



haunt 'o ween 2021 - los angeles, ca





Haunt ‘O Ween is back for the first time! Clever wordplay but we meant every sense of it. Haunt ‘O Ween returned this year as an interactive/family-friendly walkthrough experience unlike any other. Last year, they were under heavy pandemic rules and constraints and had to opt for a drive-through experience; which we did not mind at all because it was so wonderful. In 2021, they were able to do a walkthrough of this “Halloween Town” and the experience was indeed a grand one.


The Experiential Supply Co. experience started off in front of these large black gates that are swung open with a grand marquee on top that read: “Welcome to Haunt ‘O Ween LA” The experience contains different areas of this Town of Haunt ‘O Ween. We’ll explore each individual zone below.


HAUNT ‘O WEEN ZONES


Funnybones Graveyard featured dancing skeletons and featured live actors that brought the scene to life. It gave it a very Louisianan feel especially with the graveyard. As horror geeks and fanatics; it’s obligatory to read every name on every tombstone/gravemarker. To no surprise, we recognized the majority of them and what show they were from. It was a nice way to pay homage to well loved characters and the people behind certain films.



Malibu Wines Garden (switched with Illumination Realm on map) featured a saloon and a western town facade. However, the saloon is sponsored by Malibu Wines & Beer Garden and only serves beer and wine. Nonetheless, it boasted an impressive facade and was one where we can sit in front and just enjoy the scenery. Face painting and restrooms could also be found here.


The Forgotten Carnival was where we and I imagine most of the citizens of Haunt ‘O Ween spent most of their time. Contrary to the name, this carnival was definitely not forgettable. There are juggling acts, there are performers, people on stilts, a ringmaster, photo-ops, a couple rides, carnival games that are free with prizes, basically lots to do and see here.


Illumination Realm contained a couple of hay mazes, 2 separate illuminated tunnels for walking through or for a photo op. The entire area actually contained bales of hay. In this zone is where you’ll find the pumpkin carvers. For the little kids, there is a fun hay maze if you enter from the left entrance and just keep heading towards that direction. For the grown kids, if you turn right; it's a short but tall hay maze to the illumination tunnel. Of course, one may always feel the urge to feel like a little kid and hit the shorter (in height) hay mazes on the left.


Town Of Halloween was probably the highlight of the night and the event for most folks. In this town, it seemed that Halloween lasted forever. Each house we visited offered candy no matter the age of the trick-or-treater. As we walked from door to door, we trick-or-treated from each jovial resident and enjoyed looking at the architecture of their little homes. It turned out, these were oversized haunted houses sponsored by KiwiCo which produces innovative learning tools such as little haunted houses for one. The statue of the mayor of Haunt ‘O Ween can be seen in the courtyard/town square area. It is a notable mention that you will pass through a facade and photo op of the Addams Family mansion, a 50 feet tall vignette of The Addams Family 2 mansion before entering the Town of Haunt ‘O Ween.


The Pumpkin Patch offered a large area for dining and pumpkin painting. It is here that you will also find a hot food vendor and more alcohol. We suggest hitting the food stand first if you are famished because with one food vendor, the food can take a while. What was also cool about this area was the pyramid of hay that is topped with a small boat with the Haunt ‘O Ween flag. This pyramid was definitely climbable and a great photo spot but just be careful because you are standing on hay at the end of the day.


HAUNT ‘O WEEN CONCLUSION


In Conclusion, aside from having an exorbitant amount of eye candy and opportunities for Kodak moments and Instagram posts; Haunt ‘O Ween LA does make it a memorable experience for you without the need of a camera. If you truly are here just for photo-ops or even a family portrait, Happy Dad seltzer and Umami burger set up a living room photo booth. When we think of a “Halloween Walk-Through” or an interactive experience, we often think of a scary haunt or some type of creepy immersive theatre show. Haunt ‘O Ween does not offer that but it does offer an unforgettable Halloween experience with its interactions, activities, and visual and audio stimulation. Though it is a timed-entry event, there is no cap on how long you can stay. A logistical tip, the food vendor C3, is located at the end in the pumpkin patch. We were just glad to be able to witness this version of Haunt ‘O Ween compared to last year’s drive through . Perhaps, this was how Haunt ‘O Ween was intended; just the sheer magic of a small town with 35,000 pumpkins. Don’t forget to bring a bag for the candy. There is no “Halloween Town” in California, but Haunt ‘O Ween is darn close to it! Happy Haunt ‘O Ween.



(Click on Image for Photo-Journal)

https://socalhauntoween.com/





Haunt 'O Ween 2020
- los angeles, ca




Haunt ‘O Ween LA

Haunt O Ween in L.A. is the perfect Family Friendly Fun event of the season! A lot of fans of the season have been asking: “What is there to do? What’s safe to do?” Haunt ‘O Ween in Woodland Hills is here until November 1st to answer those questions.


The event is a complete Drive-Thru experience with no stops or bathroom breaks. The issue of safety was a non-issue at this attraction. Guests may roll down the windows and/or open the moonroof if masks are worn. If guests are scared, then they can just keep the windows up. There are no actors providing jump scares, only characters in certain towns that add to the non-scare experience.


What is appreciated and loved about Haunt ‘O Ween was that it was purely set-up for a Drive-Thru experience. There are many events that had to change their operational structure from a walk-through to a drive-through; therefore they do not seem to be executed as perfectly. The displays here are large and bright and visible. After entering through a tunnel of Jack O’Lanterns, visitors go through the “What We Do In The Shadows” tunnel before reaching the pumpkin patch. Everything that comes next ,is the wonderful Town of Haunt O’Ween. With uniquely themed areas teamed with animatronics, sound, and live-talent; the attraction really offered a never-before-seen experience here in Los Angeles.


For a flat fee per vehicle, it makes it easy to plan and calculate logistics for the trip. Other Drive-Thru attractions may have different prices for different dates and different prices for the # of persons inside a vehicle. What is also loved about it is the Pumpkin surprise and the Trick-Or-Treating experience. To keep their guests safe, the good residents of the town of Haunt ‘O Ween have a basket with a stick attached to it to safely give you loads of candy; and we do mean loads.


(Click on Image for Photo-Journal)

https://www.hauntoweenla.com/