Griffith Park is getting a Halloween weekend makeover built around soul, country and a splash of vampire mythology. The Autry Museum of the American West will host two days of music, film and community programming on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, anchored by an outdoor screening of a 1990s horror-comedy classic and a $10,000 singing competition finale.
Soul Country Music Star will present the festival on the museum's lawn at 4700 Western Heritage Way, according to a release carried by einpresswire.com. The event is produced by Wade & Associates Group in partnership with the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo and Radio Free 102.3 KJLH, the release states. The Autry describes the gathering on its own event page as the second annual Soul Country Music & Culture Festival, while soulcountrymusic.com refers to it as the third annual Soul Country Music Festival — a discrepancy neither source resolves.
Halloween Night Brings Eddie Murphy to the Lawn
Saturday's lineup kicks off with what organizers are calling Black Classic Movie Night, running from 5:30 to 11 p.m., according to the Autry Museum's event listing. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., with an outdoor presentation of the 1995 film Vampire in Brooklyn — starring Eddie Murphy and Angela Bassett — beginning at 7:30 p.m. The festival marketplace opens alongside the doors at 5:30 p.m.
Beyond the movie screen, the Saturday program folds in live music, food and marketplace vendors, a health and wellness pavilion, line dancing, a costume contest, and family Halloween activities, per the same museum listing. That health pavilion will share resources tied to cancer awareness, domestic violence awareness and mental health awareness, themes the festival says it highlights throughout the weekend, as reported by einpresswire.com.
Sunday's National Finals Carry a $10,000 Prize
Sunday shifts the focus to competition. Festival activities run from noon to 6 p.m., with the Soul Country Music Star National Finals set for 1 to 3 p.m., followed by live music and dancing from 3 to 6 p.m., according to the station's report. Six national finalists will compete for a $10,000 grand prize and a shot at performing during the 2027 Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo tour.
Four of those finalists have already been named: Silas Reed IV of Memphis, Brenda Guy of Dallas-Fort Worth, Glenn Stanton of Los Angeles and Jacqueline Merrill of Atlanta, the same account notes. The competition format typically travels through select cities nationwide before narrowing to finalists, as described by dispatch.com, which covered the Atlanta regional competition held in August. Per the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo's own rules, each regional round features four to six contenders competing at a designated city venue before advancing.
A Returning Champion and a Celebrity Pickleball Coach's Platform
Last year's title went to Nathaniel Dansby, who performs under the name Mr. Bowleggs and took home the 2025 crown along with the $10,000 grand prize, according to soulcountrymusic.com. That site also indicated Dansby was slated to perform throughout 2026 at Bill Pickett Invitational Soul Country Rodeo Weekend events. Soul Country Music Star describes itself as a national platform built around discovering and celebrating artists whose work bridges soul and country music, holding competitions in cities across the country to feed its National Finals.
Reporting from Precinct Reporter News notes that Margo Wade LaDrew, founder and executive producer of Soul Country Music Star, described the festival as a celebration of artists, traditions and community connections bringing soul and country music together. LaDrew also said the event welcomes families and music lovers for a weekend of discovery and shared cultural experiences.
Where Proceeds Go — and Where Accounts Diverge
What happens to the money raised depends on which account you read. Einpresswire.com's release states that proceeds from the festival will benefit the Black Beauty & Wellness Foundation, an organization that promotes beauty, wellness, education and healthier communities. Soulcountrymusic.com, however, states that proceeds support the Wade & Associates Group Foundation and its community programs — the two sources were not reconciled.
For those planning to attend, an early-bird discount of $5 off each ticket is available with promo code SAVE5, valid through Friday, per the Autry's event page. Ticket and vendor information is available through soulcountrymusic.com, by emailing [email protected], or by calling (323) 440-4600.
