Little Tokyo is putting on its own costume this Halloween season as the neighborhood transforms into Haunted Little Tokyo for a spooktacular second year on select nights starting October 5 – October 31, 2018. Ghosts of all ages are invited if they dare to experience the monstrous fun awaiting them in Haunted Little Tokyo with pumpkin patches, trick-or-treating, spooky sounds, ghoulish games, free Halloween movie screenings, ‘haunted’ walking tours, themed specials, and more ending with a frightfully-fun block party and costume contest on Saturday, Oct. 27.
Haunted Little Tokyo was started by the owners of Cafe Dulce and Wolf and Crane who believed that a month of community events would provide the boost in sales that many of the local businesses needed to survive the autumn slump. Since then, over 40 small business owners in the Little Tokyo neighborhood and around Los Angeles have joined their vision in making this community a go-to destination during the month of October.
This year’s events include:
Haunted Little Tokyo Pumpkin Patch
Step inside the Haunted Little Tokyo Pumpkin Patch to pick the perfect pumpkin and decorate your very own Jack-o’-lantern on the spot. Pair your pumpkin with one of the unique varieties of squash grown by local Asian and Asian-American farmers. The pumpkin patch is sponsored by Tanaka Farms and presented in partnership with the Asian Pacific Islander Forward Movement and the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center (JACCC). The pumpkin patch will be open during the following dates and times:
- Friday, Oct. 5–Sunday, Oct. 7 from 12:00 P.M.– 7:00 P.M. at the Japanese Village Plaza
- Monday, Oct. 8 – Friday, Oct. 12 from 12:00 P.M. – 5:00 P.M. at the JAACC
- Saturday, Oct. 13 – Sunday, Oct. 14 from 12:00 P.M. – 7:00 P.M. at the Japanese Village Plaza
- Monday, Oct. 15 – Friday, Oct. 19 from 12:00 P.M. – 5:00 P.M. at the JAACC
- Saturday, Oct. 20 – Sunday, Oct. 21 from 12:00 P.M. – 7:00 P.M. at the Japanese Village Plaza
- Monday, Oct. 22 – Friday, Oct. 26 from 12:00 P.M. – 5:00 P.M., at the JACCC
Haunted Ghosts of Little Tokyo Walking Tour
Hear the sinister stories of the resident ghosts that haunt the historical streets of Little Tokyo. Experience stories from those who have encountered and have seen the undead roam the halls at night on this walking tour led by the Little Tokyo Historical Society (LTHS). The tour will take place from 5 pm – 6 pm on Saturday, October 13 at Union Center for the Arts. Tickets for the event are $15 and can be purchased through Eventbrite. This is an extremely limited opportunity, so you’ll want to purchase tickets early.
Haunted Little Tokyo Film Festival
For 2018 Haunted Little Tokyo is hosting its first ever film festival. Light refreshments will be provided courtesy of Wolf & Crane, Buttery Popcorn Co., Takuma Burgers, & Café Dulce. The film festival is produced in partnership with Visual Communications, East West Players, and the Japanese American National Museum (JANM).
- Friday, October 5 at 8 pm (Doors open at 7 pm) – Prince of Darkness at Union Center for the Arts
- Friday, October 12 at 8 pm (Doors open at 7 pm) – Jinro Game at Union Center for the Arts
- Friday, October 19 at 7 pm (Doors open at 6 pm) – Mary and the Witch’s Flower at Japanese Village Plaza
- Thursday, October 25 at 7 pm – Godzilla (1954) at Japanese American National Museum
- Register by emailing rsvp@janm.org or calling 213.625.0414
Haunted Night in Little Tokyo: The Block Party
Indulge in bone-chilling drinks and devilish desserts as the month-long celebration wraps up on Saturday, October 27 for the Haunted Night in Little Tokyo: The Block Party. Enjoy spooky sips in the beer garden, a costume contest, live entertainment, exclusive discounts, and more. Saturday, Oct. 27 from 6:00 P.M. – 12:00 P.M. at 2nd Street between Central & San Pedro Street. This event is sponsored by Team Huizar, Cafe Dulce, Wolf & Crane, Kabuki Japanese Restaurants, LEAP (Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics), Little Tokyo Business Association, Kongruent Works.
Trick-or-Treat in Little Tokyo
Dress your little ghouls and goblins in their best costume for a day full of all treats and no tricks on Halloween, Wednesday, October 31 from 2 pm – 9 pm. Grab your witch’s broom and fill your cauldron with sweets from business owners in the Japanese Village Plaza on October 31. Experience an Oni mask-making workshop and magic show presented by the Plaza sponsored by Glico, Hi-Chew and Meiji in partnership with Kizuna. You can register to attend this free event here.
For the latest information on Haunted Little Tokyo and further details on the events visit www.hauntedlittletokyo.com
