5 FUN Halloween Things To Do in LOS ANGELES

When summer heat finally fades, fall drifts upon us and soon… the holiday season begins, starting with Halloween, a holiday which has been one of my favorites since childhood. As a magician, it makes sense why I still love it: magic has always been associated with the supernatural themes of Halloween.

Here are 5 fun things I enjoy doing in Los Angeles during Halloween.

This year, I’ve specifically curated the list down to community attractions and events, because I’d like to showcase the wonderful dedication and hard work these great people do for the public.  

I recommend all of these…

1. “Haunted Adventure” at Starlight Bowl in Burbank, CA. 

   This is an impressive maze constructed, decorated, designed and performed by volunteers of the Parks and Recreation Department.  We attend just about every year. https://www.burbankca.gov/web/parks-recreation/halloween

2. “The Backwoods Maze” at 1912 N. Pepper St. Burbank, CA.  

   Imagine a walk-through maze with sets, visuals, props and actors that make you feel like you’re in a Hollywood movie… but in the backyard of someone’s house! 

3. “The Clown House”

   A completely immersive horror carnival scene in front of this house, complete with fog, music, animatronics and scares. https://burbankclownhouse.com
   

4. “Holiday Fantasies Come to Life” at 1505 N. Valley St., Burbank, CA. 

   A yard display that changes every Halloween, from the Wizard of Oz to Classic Monsters and then…. has a completely different display weeks later for Christmas! Check out their stunning combination of sound, lights, mannequins, miniatures and more. 

And now, I’m especially happy to recommend something new to me…

5. “Heritage Halloween” at Strathearn Historical Park, Simi Valley, CA. 

 https://www.simihistory.com/ 
This is a family friendly event where guests step into the 1800’s as they walk around the six acre small town.  There are games, trick or treating around historical buildings and houses, a parade, a movie screening. and…. 

… this year, I was invited to present my high energy, family friendly Halloween stage magic show for guests. 

This year, Heritage Halloween reportedly had a record turnout of 750 people. 

I was amazed at how many were in the audience and astounded by their wonderful gasps, applause and laughter. 

I’m a Los Angeles magician with over 10 years of professional experience and yet, this was one of the best audiences.  They really put me in the spirit.  

I also got to meet Wednesday Addams!

Congratulations to the crew and my clients, Jeannie Liss and Nikki Bim on a successful event. 

So, there are just a few of my community event recommendations for this season!  And of course, if you’re having a holiday event or party and would like some award-winning magic to make it memorable, impactful and fun, I hope you’ll reach out to me at LosAngelesKidsMagician.com.  I’d love to be of service.

The Best Magic Show for Children

Usually, the more intelligent an audience is, the more magic they experience.  This is because as people learn more about the way the world works, the more they know just how impossible something is.  But does that mean kids enjoy magic less than adults?

You might say, “Chris, kids love magic.”

And they do.  But only if it is carefully constructed to appeal to their stage of development. 

This is why child psychology plays a big part in my birthday party and children’s magic shows.

Children under 3 or 4 years old don’t know all the rules of nature.  For all they know, things really do appear and disappear.  When they close their eyes, they can’t see themselves and therefore they think you can’t see them either.  As a result, typical magic shows don’t amaze them as much as older kids.

But after that, kids have enough understanding of how the world works to recognize something magical when they see it.  Many of them believe the fantasies they see in movies, cartoons, books and their own imaginations are real, therefore when I step onto the stage, I’m not a magician, I’m a wizard.  Often, at least up until the age of 7 or 8, the magic I do is real.  There’s no illusion. These children enjoy the show because everything I do (and the things I help them do) are possible only with real magic.  And now, they get to see it in person!

When a child reaches 8-10 years old, they realize magical powers do not exist and a magician is using “trickery.”  They often want to figure out how it’s all done.  They may even call out any old explanation that pops into their mind.  Disruptive as that may sound, it’s also empowering.  And children need to feel empowered in a world where they usually are not… where they’re usually instructed by adults.  But if they can teach an adult how something is done, they’ll feel empowered.

I recommend you have a kids magic show that caters to each age group and what entertains them…

… this way, different moments target different ages in different ways…

… and you’ll have a show everyone can enjoy, including the adults (they deserve to be amazed as well). 

This is exactly what I do in my shows.  

For the older group I just mentioned, my show includes comedywhere something goes wrong, or I’m wrong while the children are right and can inform me or teach me something.  I also have moments where the children are responsible for creating the magic, not me.  These things all serve to empower them in positive ways.  

I include moments of silliness every age group will enjoy and of course, I make sure to have magic so strong that even adults are amazed… which not only amazes the younger children but brings the wonder back for the older kids, as there seems to be no explanation.  

Finally, I learned from a veteran children’s entertainer that when younger kids are present, the older kids enjoy the magic through the younger ones’ eyes.  You are likely familiar with this feeling but may have assumed it was an exclusively adult experience.  But kids as young as 10 can experience it as well.

Creating a show mixed with all these elements helps me entertain the full range of guests at children’s parties and family events. 

And where most magicians babysit the kids for the duration of the show while parents sit around in boredom, my show includes everyone.  If that’s the kind of entertainment you’d like at your next children’s event or party, please don’t hesitate to contact me, Chris, at LosAngelesKidsMagician.com.  I’d love to be of service!