Griffith Park is about to get a seasonal makeover. On Saturday, the Autry Museum of the American West will transform its grounds into a trick-or-treat destination, with a creepy garden, a backlot maze and live marionette performances all packed into a three-hour family event ahead of Halloween.
Halloween Party: A Night at the Autry Museum runs from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, October 17, according to the Autry Museum. As NBC Los Angeles reports, the museum is getting its scares in a couple of weeks early, serving up what the outlet calls the season's “wholesome chills and thrills.” Admission runs $20 for adults, $9 for children 12 and under, $5 for Autry members and $2.50 for member children, per the same station's report.
Kids will be able to trick-or-treat through what organizers describe as a creepy garden and backlot, according to Fever. The night's lineup also includes spooky crafts, carnival games, a mysterious maze and a scavenger hunt, the listing notes. Over at a station called Icky Sticky Fun, attendees can decorate their own trick-or-treat bags before heading out to collect candy.
Puppets, a DJ and a Few Snacks
The Bob Baker Marionettes are set to anchor the entertainment with a Halloween-themed puppet show, billed as the Hallowe'en Spooktacular, per Fever's listing. The troupe will perform twice during the party, at 6 p.m. and 7 p.m., according to the Bob Baker Marionette Theater. A live DJ will also provide music throughout the evening, as noted by KidsGuide Magazine.
Complimentary snacks and non-alcoholic beverages will be on hand, with food trucks selling additional bites, the Bob Baker Marionette Theater's listing states. Adults looking for something stronger can visit a cash bar offering wine, beer and signature cocktails, the same listing adds.
Getting There and Getting In
The Autry sits in Griffith Park, across from the Los Angeles Zoo, and offers free on-site parking, according to Fever's event page. A modified Family Play Space will also be set up in the museum lobby that Saturday, per the Autry Museum's own listing. One other listing, from L.A. Parent, shows a broader October 16-to-18 window running 6 to 9 p.m., though the museum's own schedule and other sources point to the single Saturday evening slot from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
More Marionette Magic the Next Morning
Families who miss Saturday's party, or just want more puppetry, can catch the Bob Baker Marionettes again the next day. The troupe is scheduled to stage a free Puppets in the Park show near Hollyhock House on Sunday, October 18, NBC Los Angeles reports. The Bob Baker Marionette Theater lists two free performances that morning, at 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. on Hollyhock House's west lawn, with organizers inviting guests to bring a blanket and stick around for crafts after each show.
