It rained this week in Southern California and more is coming. The good news is that almost every professional Halloween event is still open and most run right up through October 31. (Home haunts and yard displays are largely closed due to weather.) If you can handle being out in the rain, this is honestly a great week for Halloween Horror Nights or Knott’s Scary Farm because the crowds thin out and the fog feels even thicker than usual. But if you would rather stay dry, here are my top picks for indoor Halloween attractions and indoor events in Southern California.

Theatrical Adult Nights Out

Poe-Etique — immersive theater and dance, downtown Los Angeles
One of my absolute favorite immersive theater events and it is fully indoors. This story unfolds around you, with dance, music and private moments with the characters. They recommend dressing up, but a black top and dark pants appropriate for the weather would be fine too. Bring a mask if you have one, otherwise one will be provided. REVIEW

Haunted Soirée at the Nocturne Theatre — immersive party, Glendale
Part spooky cocktail party, part immersive show, all indoors. This one is more about hanging out and drinking with spooky characters than sitting and watching, and this year’s story is built around a real 1928 murder. REVIEW

The Nocturne Theatre — theatrical, Glendale
The same historic, haunted theater also runs its own theatrical shows this season. Check their calendar if you want a seated indoor night with atmosphere.

Wicked Lit — theatrical, Anaheim
Their theatrical haunted experience is running indoors at the Chance Theater this year, which makes it an easy dry option late in the month.

Dark Wedding— theatrical, DTLA
A night of dinner, dancing, immersion and terror.

Below— theatrical, DTLA (DISCOUNT CODE: TheHauntGirl10)
An immersive theatrical experience in the basement of a real hospital. REVIEW

For Kids

The Hollow Awakens at Lakewood Center — immersive walk-through, Lakewood
Not especially scary, which is why I recommend it for families. Expect large lantern style creatures, themed worlds, a scavenger hunt, a chalk wall where you draw your own monster and a lot of photo ops. There are a few sections with scare actors but you can bypass them if your kids are young. It also works as a date night or a hangout for younger adults, because it is practically an Instagram museum with activities. Best for young kids, tweens and teens.

Mini Golf and Spooky Bars

Halloween Mini Golf and Arcade at Playground — mini golf and arcade, Huntington Beach
A 9 hole neon mini golf course with Halloween characters, seasonal music and an arcade, plus restaurant and bar. Great for anyone who wants to be active and still have spooky atmosphere. All ages until 9 p.m., then it is 21 and over.

The Phantom Tavern at Playground — haunted speakeasy, Huntington Beach
Fridays and Saturdays, 21 and over, in the same building as the mini golf. An immersive haunted speakeasy frozen on Halloween night in 1926, with live actors, themed cocktails and light bites. You can play a round and then step into the tavern.

Escape Rooms

Escape rooms are the most underrated indoor Halloween activity. You get a full hour of an engaging, immersive world. Here are a handful of escape rooms with horror or spooky themed escape games in different areas of SoCal.

13th Basement at Exit Game OC (escape room, Anaheim) is my own room, and I will be transparent about it, I built it and I own it. It is horror themed with fake blood and body parts, but it is not super scary, there are no live actors, and it works for around age 12 and up. It is also wheelchair friendly and accessible for deaf players.

The Hex Room and The Weeping Witch at Cross Roads Escape Games (escape rooms, Anaheim): the Hex Room is horror themed, with no actors, and because your group gets split into different rooms you need at least 5 players. The Weeping Witch is their scariest game and it does have a live actor, so it is the one for older teens and adults, and it needs at least 4 players.

The Darkest Hour at Mission Escape Games (escape room, Anaheim) is supposed to be pretty scary, and a good indoor pick if you are already by Disneyland. This is upstairs from Eulogy Collective Haunted Attraction also indoors!!!

The Basement (escape room, Sylmar) has live actors and is genuinely scary, good for a group that wants an OG horror game.

Zoe: Reborn at Escapade Games (escape room, Fullerton) is probably the scariest escape room in Southern California, best for teens to adults, and you can play the version where you get physically shocked.

The Orphanage at 60Out (escape room, Los Angeles) is a long-time SoCal horror favorite with live actors.

Ghost Hunters at Maze Rooms (escape room, Los Angeles) is ghost themed and much lighter, which makes it the good one for younger players.

Specter Inspectors at Surf City Escapes (escape room, Huntington Beach) is medium scare level and they offer a family version, so you can pick your comfort level.

Scariest Indoor Attraction

The 17th Door — extreme haunted attraction, Buena Park
If you want the scariest indoor attraction in Southern California, this is it. It is extreme. They have a very thorough waiver that covers a lot, so read it before you go and remember you can use the safe word if you need it. REVIEW

Standalone Haunts and Walk-Throughs

All Saints Lunatic Asylum — haunted attraction, Apple Valley
An awesome stand alone haunt with an indoor line and convenient parking, which makes it a good rain choice. The catch is the drive out to Apple Valley, which gets harder in bad weather if you are not used to driving in the rain. REVIEW

Black Casket: Cannibal Creek — immersive haunt, Yucaipa
A great standalone immersive haunted attraction inside an old bank, so the attraction itself is indoors and protected from the weather. The queue was outside when I was there, so plan for that. REVIEW

Reign of Terror — haunted attraction, Thousand Oaks
145 rooms of terror in one long, seamless walk-through and it is indoors. REVIEW

Eulogy Collective — walk-through, Anaheim GardenWalk
Pair it with dinner at the GardenWalk or escape room and make the whole night of it. The attraction is indoors, but the queue is out in the open mall on busy nights. REVIEW

Have fun and go support these local haunts.