Spooky Fun

Halloween Festivities Happening In and Around Town

By LILY TINOCO and SARAH SHMERLING

Pacific Palisades is getting festive with a number of Halloween-themed events. From pumpkin patches to a haunted real estate office, the Palisadian-Post has highlighted a few options for celebrating this year here.

Nights of the Jack

Television production and event industry veterans Ben Biscotti, Tony Schubert and Bobby Rossi recently announced the return of their “Nights of the Jack” Halloween event for a fourth year at King Gillette Ranch in Calabasas.

“Nights of the Jack is the ultimate Halloween attraction for Angelenos and has become a staple of the Southern California Halloween season,” according to the event poster.

This season’s event offers an interactive walking trail with thousands of elaborately hand-carved, illuminated pumpkins, spanning two-thirds of a mile through the history-filled ranch. While there, guests can also enjoy hot cider, seasonal cocktails from the “Spookeasy” bar or festive treats.

“We are elated that Nights of the Jack will return as a walking trail this season, so guests can experience our immersive Halloween event as it was always intended,” Biscotti, Schubert and Rossi said in a joint statement. “We will be introducing exciting, never-before-seen installations this year, and have expanded the trail for a more spacious environment to ensure the safety of all patrons and staff. We look forward to hosting families, adults and children of all ages for an unforgettable night.”

Weekday general admission tickets start at $39.99, and weekend general admission tickets start at $44.99. Guests 2 years and under enter for free.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit nightsofthejack.com.

Fright Night at The Agency

Get ready to be spooked—global real estate brokerage The Agency is hosting its first-ever Fright Night on Sunday evening, October 31, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

“Put on your creepiest costume and come take a wicked walk through our haunted office,” according to the event flyer. “With candy for the kids and drinks for adults, there will be something spooky for everyone … come eat, drink and be scary.”

The event will be at The Agency’s new office, located at 1017 Swarthmore Ave.

YMCA Pumpkin Patch

The Palisades-Malibu YMCA annual patch is back this year with two flat bed trucks’ worth of pumpkins at Simon Meadow.

Executive Director Jim Kirtley explained that this year’s patch offers “a little bit of everything,” including fairytale, cinderella, jarrahdale, mini, pie-sized and knucklehead pumpkins.

“We have some called ‘kouyou’ pumpkins,” Kirtley added. “They’re different colors.”

The patch also offers a selection of gourds, ornamental corn and Big Mac pumpkins, which Kirtley estimated to weigh between 45 and 120 pounds.

The YMCA pumpkin patch, one of two major fundraisers for the organization, is a community tradition that dates back to the early 1980s. Funds raised each year support programming at Palisades-Malibu YMCA.

“This year, funds raised are going to help with the struggles that COVID-19 has put upon us all,” Kirtley explained. “We’re trying to recover from COVID’s impact and help others that are struggling.”

Those who visit the patch are also welcomed to walk through the Winding Way display, which features the theme “Cultivating Color 2021.”

This year’s patch will remain open through October 30 or until it is sold out—whichever comes first. Pumpkin patch hours are Monday through Friday from 3 to 6 p.m. and weekends from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Creep Your Crypt

If you haven’t noticed, things are getting spooky in the Palisades—voting for the Palisadian-Post’s eighth annual Creep Your Crypt contest is now underway. Palisadians who want to show off their decorated homes have a chance to win an assortment of prizes from local businesses.

In years past, dozens of community members from all neighborhoods of the Palisades have competed to take home one of the three prizes, adorning their homes with ghouls, goblins, giant spiders, skeletons and other creepy critters. Neighbors are invited to check out the decked out homes and get their votes in before the month ends.

Prizes will be awarded in three categories: Creepiest Crypt, Best Theme and DIY-Originality.

The prize for Creepiest Crypt was awarded to the Peil family last year for their “Boolinger Cemetery” in Marquez Knolls—not a first for the family: They were awarded Creepiest Crypt in 2016 and 2019, as well as Best Theme in 2018.

Their home decorations included zombies, ghouls, and an immersive experience that featured lights, music and fog machines.

“We personally experienced so much joy and so many heartfelt thank yous from families who appreciated having something for their kids to enjoy and escape with—even for a few minutes,” Chuck Peil said to the Post last year amid COVID-19 precautions.

Last year’s prize for DIY-Originality was awarded to the Perlstein family in the Highlands, who shared some of their favorite decorations used were a Mickey and Minnie Mouse blow-up vampire and witch. It was the Perlsteins’ first time entering the contest

“We were so excited,” Denise Perlstein shared after finding out they won. “This is our first Halloween in this home and especially given all that’s going on with COVID, we wanted to make it really special for our kids, Dylan (5) and Samantha (4).”

The prize for Best Theme went to Heather Thomas, who lives in the Riviera—Thomas was also a first-time entry. The Thomas home was decorated with an assortment of colorful lights that helped illuminate a collection of skeletons.

Nominate your own home or a neighbor’s creepy crypt by filling out the form at palipost.com/creep-your-crypt-contest-2021.

Entries must be received by Sunday, October 31.

Marquez Elementary Pumpkin Patch

Marquez Charter Elementary School invited the community to its second annual Pumpkin Patch, featuring a “Trunk or Treat” and pumpkin sale, on Sunday, October 24.

The school will be offering fresh pumpkins from Underwood Family Farms in Moorpark. Prices of the pumpkins range from $11 for a medium—approximately basketball-sized—pumpkin and $16 for a larger pumpkin.

Each classroom and teacher will also have the opportunity to show off their school spirit during a special “Trunk or Treat event” from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“We are so excited to bring the magic of Halloween back to the Marquez community this year,” Marquez mom Caitlin Machol said to the Post. “We have worked hard to find a safe and fun way for our students to celebrate with each other and their families. The kids will get to show off their Halloween best, take home their pumpkins and enjoy the season with their peers.”

All proceeds will benefit the Marquez Enrichment Fund, which contributes to a number of enrichment programs, including the Digital Edge Technology Program, the school’s Media Lounge, edible garden, physical education, science, music and more.

The event will be located at Marquez Elementary by the lower yard service gate. Community members can secure a pumpkin ahead of time by visiting secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/s/rXEuoBpK460HvVDItsPrAQ.