It’s that glorious time of year…the sun goes down earlier, the air is cooler, and the nights are filled with creepy festivities. I’m talking about Halloween. This is a fun holiday season to spend with friends, enjoying parties and local haunts. But it is also a great time to mix it up a bit on a first date.

Whether you are into costume parties and clubs or haunted hayrides, there is a Halloween activity in L.A. for you. And because Halloween lands on a Saturday night (and is celebrated throughout the month), it is a perfect opportunity to get out of your dating rut, explore your options, and have some fun. Here are a few to choose from:

The Haunted Queen Mary Shipwreck  - Southern California’s most popular haunted attraction goes all out with Halloween! They are offering a dance party, live music, and a series of haunted mazes to go through, including Vampire Village and BlackBeard Pirate’s Revenge. Shipwreck is open Friday-Sunday throughout October.
Queen Mary Shipwreck
1126 Queens Highway
Long beach CA 90802
Cost: $29 general admission
http://www.queenmary.com

Beacher’s MadHouse at The Roosevelt Hotel - Beacher’s Madhouse promises “the atmosphere of a circus and the energy of a nightclub!” It’s a little pricey, but they offer a lot of entertainment, including a costume party, outrageous variety acts, beautiful dancers, and…midgets! Mini Lady Gaga, the Oompa Loompas, and Snow White with a bunch of horny dwarves have performed. Celebrity impersonators like Elvis, PeeWee Herman, and Captain Jack Sparrow wander among the partygoers. Halloween night only!
The Roosevelt Hotel
7000 Hollywood Blvd
Los Angeles CA 90028
For tickets, call 888-623-7469
www.myspace.com/jeffbeacher

L. A. Haunted Hayride – Located on the King Gilette Ranch property on Mulholland, this haunted hayride offers ghost stories, an abandoned 500-acre estate, and a lot of creepy adventure through the woods. Perfect for a scary night out, followed by a stiff drink or two.  Runs nightly through Halloween.  
King Gillette Ranch
26800 Mulholland Hwy
Calabasas, CA 91302-1940
(818) 871-9486
Hayride tickets start at $20
www.losangeleshauntedhayride.com/

King Tut Party at The Egyptian Theatre - The grand opening of the Egyptian on Halloween night will showcase Right Said Fred at Midnight performing "I'm Too Sexy", which is reason enough to check it out. If that isn’t enough for you, prizes will be given to the best costumes throughout the night. Get a reading from a psychic, grab a drink, or wander through the forgotten “Reunion’s Tomb”. If you make it through the horror, you reach the pyramid dance room with Cleopatras and Pharoahs tending bar. Halloween night only.
The Egyptian Theatre & Courtyard
1625 N. Las Palmas Ave.
Hollywood, CA 90028
(323) 785-6314
Presale tickets at: www.wantickets.com/kingtut

Dearly Departed Tours - Dearly Departed offers various tours of L.A.'s tragedies from horror film locations to crime scenes and other famous death and scandal sites around Hollywood. Options include the Tragical History Tour, the Helter Skelter Tour, and Nasty Nellie's Hollywood Tour, as well as special Halloween Horror tours.  Location: Tours leave from the Los Angeles Farmer's Market.
Check the website dearlydepartedtours.com for available dates and times and to purchase tickets.
Cost: $40-$100