Los Angeles Haunted Hayride kicked off its seventeenth season on September 19, and this past Friday, they invited me out to experience everything the event had in store for 2025. This year’s event features the namesake attraction, two returning mazes, the all-new Elvira’s Trick or Treat Mayhem maze, the addition of the Midnight Falls Cider Mill, and plenty more to keep you occupied for a full night of fall fun.
Nestled in the heart of Griffith Park, the event has again transformed a section of the park into the town of Midnight Falls, where guests can take in everything the event has in store and interact with some of the townsfolk who wander the town’s square. In addition to Elvira, Midnight Falls is also hosting some other new residents for 2025, the strangers from Lionsgate’s “The Strangers Chapter 2,” who have an installation in the town’s square and are also featured in the Hayride.
The Mazes
The mazes are the highlight of this year’s event, thanks to returning favorites like Hellbilly Halloween and Monae Manor, and the reimagining of Trick or Treat as Elvira’s Trick or Treat Mayhem.
Elvira’s Trick or Treat Mayhem is a love letter to the Mistress of the Dark and her 1988 film. This is a must-see for Elvira fans as it features several nods to the film throughout, including the pot monster! Fans will even get the chance to select one of two paths in the maze, which gives you a rare opportunity to get a squeeze out of two of Elvira’s biggest assets (It just might not be you doing the squeezing).
You don’t have to be an Elvira fan to enjoy the maze. There are plenty of scares and tons of great sets and interactive elements throughout, which fans and non-fans alike will appreciate.
And when you’re done with the maze, you can partake in the nearby Scary-Go-Round, an event add-on, which has been re-themed for 2025 to include skeletal dogs inspired by Gonk, Elvira’s K-9 companion in “Elvira, Mistress of the Dark.”
If you’re looking for scares, I would suggest taking a trip to Monáe Manor. The house inspired by musician, author, actor, and fashion icon Janelle Monáe returns for 2025, offering a unique and wild journey into the dark, fog-filled corridors of a manor featuring Monáe throughout. Drawing heavily on her Afrofuturist and sci-fi thematic work, the house delivers a uniquely surreal and intense experience. As a longtime haunt-goer, I rarely get scared in haunted houses or mazes, but there were at least a few moments in this maze that made me jump.
Rounding out the maze lineup is Hellbilly Halloween, which takes you into the backwoods shack of a cannibalistic family living on the outskirts of Midnight Falls. The maze features numerous great set pieces, and the talent was highly dedicated to their roles, bringing the creep factor of this immersive house to another level.
The Hayride
Unfortunately, the event’s namesake just didn’t do much for me this year. As always, the scenes throughout the Hayride were well done, but the scares were lackluster, and with the exception of maybe the final scene, the talent didn’t seem that into it. This is unfortunate, as I know the event had hoped that blending nostalgic scenes from the original Hayride with all-new soundscapes and eerie encounters would enhance this year’s experience.
I’m not sure if it’s scaled back due to the constraints of a moving vehicle, but I felt the scare actors were not as engaged as in the mazes. It’s possible this was an isolated observation on my visit, but more energy is needed to match the quality of the sets. Regardless, as the only Hayride experience of its kind in Southern California, it remains a must-do—if slightly less thrilling—part of the overall experience.
In addition to the Hayride and mazes, guests can immerse themselves in the cursed community of Midnight Falls, browse the general store for exclusive merchandise, and indulge in Halloween-themed food, mocktails, activities, and attractions.
The Midnight Falls Cider Mill
New this year is the Midnight Falls Cider Mill, which lures visitors into a cider mill featuring a cozy lounge bathed in an autumn glow. The experience brings a staple of haunts and pumpkin patches on the East Coast and Midwest: apple cider and warm apple cider donuts. Both are delicious, and I hope we have some cooler nights here this fall, which will allow guests to fully appreciate these cozy treats.
Other experiences and add-ons at this year’s Los Angeles Haunted Hayride include:
- Elvira Pop-Up Retail Shop – Guests can explore the delightfully dark Elvira Pop-Up Retail Shop, showcasing a curated collection of merchandise inspired by the Mistress of the Dark. From witty tees to limited-edition accessories and official collectibles, the spooky storefront offers something for every fan and is open during attraction hours.
- Scary-Go-Round (Elvira Edition) – Reimagined for 2025! The iconic ride has been reskinned in honor of Elvira’s beloved pup, Gonk.
- The Monte Revolta Show – Get ready for the ultimate Theatrical Macabre Experience from beyond the grave. It’s Monte Revolta… the undead irreverent lounge singer who is bringing the dead back to Rock. Join Monte, Rotly & Ms. Muerte as they exhume an ultra-shocking musical comedy revue.
- Mini Escape Games – Step into a chamber where time itself becomes the enemy. In just five fleeting minutes, groups must unravel cryptic riddles and hidden clues before the clock tolls its final second. Failure means being forever trapped in the puzzle’s sinister embrace.
- Madame Aurora’s Seance Show– Within the velvet shadows of her tent, world-famous medium Madame Aurora dares to pierce the veil once again. For ten harrowing minutes, she beckons spirits to cross into our realm, their whispers curling through the dark. Beware: not all who answer her call come bearing peace. This immersive theatrical ritual is not for the faint of heart.
- Midnight Falls Axe Throwing – With the curse of the witch plaguing the city of Midnight Falls, learn to protect yourself from the less-than-friendly ghouls. The Axeperts at Midnight Falls will train you, and you can try your hand at hitting the bullseye five times.
- Zombie Splat – The dead refuse to rest in Midnight Falls, and only your aim can hold them back. Armed with a hopper of 700 glowing GellyBalls, guests are thrust into a live-action apocalypse, firing upon relentless actor-driven zombies. Safe yet thrilling, this five-minute battle comes complete with protective eyewear, though nothing will shield you from the terror in their eyes.
- S’mores Stations – At the heart of Midnight Falls lies the Town Square, flickering with the glow of firelight. Here, guests may pause to roast their own s’mores beneath the watchful gaze of roaming townsfolk.
There is plenty to do at Los Angeles Haunted Hayride, allowing you to spend a whole evening immersed in Midnight Falls. You can check out highlights from my own trip to Midnight Falls in the video below. Tickets to the Los Angeles Haunted Hayride start at just $38.99 on select nights, running through November 2. For more information or to secure tickets, visit losangeleshauntedhayride.com.
