As it was written, the Capistrano Unified parental notification policy focused on mental health, saying a designated school counselor would notify a student’s family “when they have reasonable cause to believe that doing so will avert a clear and present danger to the health, safety or welfare” of students.

But after being asked for clarification during the discussion on Wednesday, Oct. 18, Trustee Lisa Davis, who proposed the policy, said students’ gender identity would also result in parental notification.

The board voted 4-2 to reject the policy, with Davis and Judy Bullockus the two yes votes.

“We are all doing what we think is best for our own children,” said Trustee Michael Parham. “Because we are so engaged, we are rarely caught off-guard when it comes to our own children. I haven’t heard any anecdotes tonight where teachers are not deliberately telling you something about your child here in the district. So that to me suggests our system in place is working.”

Superintendent Chris Brown, when asked, said anecdotal data showed “zero complaints about not letting parents know about gender identity in students.”

But Bullockus, citing an article written by a local psychologist who said there is a need for more discussions between parents and children since the pandemic, said: “I believe that this policy is collectively caring for students in this world of many health issues that they are facing.”

“Empathy is what parents need most in their relationships with their children,” she said. “I don’t believe you should kick parents out of the door. I think parents could use some coaching, so let’s work and teach with parents.”

Trustee Gila Jones, who voted against the policy, was not in favor of using the word “notification” to describe the policy but suggested using “engagement” instead.

“Engagement suggests that it is a partnership,” said Jones. “I do not think that parents are the enemy, not for a minute. I also do not think that there is anyone in the district who thinks that as well.”

Although he could not vote, student board member Tyler Pearce said he was against the proposal and wanted to “stand in favor of the students who would be directly affected.”

“I do believe that this is an outing policy,” said Pearce, a student at San Clemente High. “This parental notification policy is unnecessary, divisive and deep-rooted in political and personal agendas. We need to stop creating this umbrella of mental illness to refer to certain communities. Is it actually a mental health crisis? Or is it our generation who are so compelled to express their own identity and parents born in a different generation?”

“Times are changing; so should opinions,” said Pearce.

The Capistrano Unified board chose to restrict public comment to just over an hour — and gave students the opportunity to speak first.

Student speakers were at times emotional and passionate, with many walking away in tears or turning to the crowd to hype people up. The majority of those who spoke were students — a change from what has been seen at other local school board meetings where parental notification policies have been discussed.

“I am proud of the students who spoke today who were able to see through … the misinformation,” said Parham, a trustee who voted against the policy. “I think we are doing a great job of teaching these students critical thinking skills because they came well prepared and taught us grown-ups a little bit more about the next generation and what they are capable of.”

Assemblymember Bill Essayli, R-Corona, who pushed for parental notification policies in the legislature, was one of the few adult speakers who had a chance to voice his opinions during public comment.

“Parents have the constitutional right to raise their children,” said Essayli. “They are not spectators. I think that it is so disrespectful that you took a whole hour to listen to children than the parents who took the time off to be here tonight. They are the taxpayers, the voters, the people that you answer to. You spent time listening to children who are being used as political pawns from the left to emotionally manipulate and advance an ideology.”

Capistrano Unified’s proposed policy was first presented by Davis during the board’s September board meeting. Then, Davis said, “This policy brings parents into the conversation regarding some of the most important aspects of a child’s life.”

The proposed policy was written with verbatim language that was used in the approved parental notification policy at Placentia-Yorba Linda School District.

It said: “Due to the current nationwide mental health crisis exacerbated by the global pandemic, the Capistrano Unified School District recognizes the need for frequent, ongoing and oftentimes immediate communication between school administration, staff, and parents/guardians. Furthermore, with reports of depression, anxiety and suicide rates at an all-time high among public school students, action is needed to address this emerging crisis and support the health and welfare of district students.”

Andrew Fredriksz, a previous school counselor at Capistrano Unified, said that he is against the policy in a letter sent to Board President Krista Castellanos earlier this week.

“While parent rights are extremely important and they should always be contacted regarding life-changing decisions regarding their children, reporting to parents how a student identifies does not fall under life-changing decision-making,” said Fredriksz, now a counselor at Laguna Beach Unified. “The risk of outing a student in a household where they will not be accepted and may have a negative impact on their mental health is a greater concern in this discussion.”

“I have a lot of respect for the board,” said Fredriksz. “They are unfortunately caught in divisive culture politics as are the students.”

Fredriksz said he does not believe a parental notification policy will be enacted at Laguna Beach Unified.

“Laguna Beach Unified does a great job of cultivating a community where everyone is heard — families, students and staff,” said Fredriksz. “There seems to be a foundation of respect between everyone which helps promote productive conversations.”

Orange Unified was the first Orange County school district to adopt the policy in early September, and Placentia Yorba-Linda soon followed suit, becoming the second district to approve the policy last week. Many parental rights activist groups say they will attend Tustin Unified’s next meeting on Nov. 13 to encourage the policy to be addressed there.

In districts that have adopted these policies, situations that would warrant parent notification include requests to use different names or pronouns or requests to change sex-segregated programs (like athletic teams or changing facilities) that differ from the student’s “assigned biological sex at birth.”

The policies also include notification guidelines if a student reports self-harm, suicidal ideation or injury to others.

Capistrano Unified has 63 campuses, making it the largest district in Orange County. The district includes the cities of San Clemente, Dana Point, San Juan Capistrano, Laguna Niguel, Aliso Viejo, Mission Viejo and Rancho Santa Margarita.

This story has been updated.

The chain, which previously said it might close 500 stores, wrote that at least 154 stores would close.

The troubled retail pharmacy chain is facing slumping sales and several opioid-related lawsuits. To make ends meet, the company is looking to reduce its debt while resolving “litigation claims in an equitable manner,” Rite Aid reps said Sunday.

At least 10 stores will close across Los Angeles County. Another six will shutter in Orange County and just two in the Inland Empire. Only one, a store on South Archibald Avenue in Ontario appears to have closed already.

“Many of the stores on this list have already closed and received ample notice of the closure, while some will close in the coming weeks,” Rite Aid said via email Tuesday.

Here are the list of stores Rite Aid has marked for closure in California. The store number precedes each address:

LA County

5448 — 4044 Eagle Rock Blvd., Los Angeles

6288 — 959 Crenshaw Blvd., Los Angeles

5457 — 4046 South Centinela Ave., Los Angeles

5466 — 7859 Firestone Blvd., Downey

5521 — 4402 Atlantic Ave., Long Beach

5571 — 935 North Hollywood Way, Burbank

5585 — 139 North Grand Ave., Covina

5593 — 13905 Amar Road, La Puente

5611 — 920 E. Valley Blvd., Alhambra

6333 — 15800 Imperial Highway, La Mirada

Orange County

5735 — 24829 Del Prado, Dana Point

6717 — 8509 Irvine Center Drive, Irvine

5753 — 30222 Crown Valley Parkway, Laguna Niguel

5757 — 19701 Yorba Linda Blvd., Yorba Linda

5760 — 1406 West Edinger Ave., Santa Ana

6213 — 3029 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa

Inland Empire

6318 — 3000 South Archibald Ave., Ontario (marked closed on Yelp)

5730 — 25906 Newport Road, Menifee

North of LA

5772 — 2738 East Thompson Blvd., Ventura (marked closed on Yelp)

5780 — 720 North Ventura Road, Oxnard

San Diego County

5635 — 3813 Plaza Drive, Oceanside

5638 — 1670 Main St., Ramona

5657 — 6505 Mission Gorge Road, San Diego

5661 — 8985 Mira Mesa Blvd., San Diego (marked closed on Yelp)

Northern California

5967 — 20572 Homestead Road, Cupertino

5976 — 2620 El Camino Real, Santa Clara

5979 — 901 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz

6001 — 571 Bellevue Road, Atwater

6045 — 5409 Sunrise Boulevard, Citrus Heights

6080 — 1309 Fulton Ave., Sacramento

6769 — 499 Alvarado St., Monterey

The 60-year-old Rite Aid operates 2,100 stores in the U.S., mostly in coastal states, and has posted annual losses for several years. The company reported that its revenue fell to $5.7 billion in the fiscal quarter that ended June 3, down from $6.0 billion a year earlier, logging a net loss of $306.7 million.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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  Venessa Rowan, right, stands with her son, Bentley, 6, as she takes a photo of her daughter, Hannah, 3, along with other princesses at the Halloween Snap and Treat held at Crown Valley Park in Laguna Niguel on Saturday, October 7, 2023. The event included: pumpkin decorating, trick or treat stations, and various photo opportunities. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Parents and their children arrive at the entrance to the Halloween Snap and Treat held at Crown Valley Park in Laguna Niguel on Saturday, October 7, 2023. The event included: pumpkin decorating, trick or treat stations, and various photo opportunities. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Children stop to grab some candy at the Halloween Snap and Treat held at Crown Valley Park in Laguna Niguel on Saturday, October 7, 2023. The event included: pumpkin decorating, trick or treat stations, and various photo opportunities. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  A decorated pumpkin sits on a table at the Halloween Snap and Treat held at Crown Valley Park in Laguna Niguel on Saturday, October 7, 2023. The event included: pumpkin decorating, trick or treat stations, and various photo opportunities. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  One of the many decorations at the Halloween Snap and Treat held at Crown Valley Park in Laguna Niguel on Saturday, October 7, 2023. The event included: pumpkin decorating, trick or treat stations, and various photo opportunities. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Parents and their children make their way to the various stations at Halloween Snap and Treat held at Crown Valley Park in Laguna Niguel on Saturday, October 7, 2023. The event included: pumpkin decorating, trick or treat stations, and various photo opportunities. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Isla Garcia, 20 months, of San Juan Capistrano concentrates as she decorates her pumpkin at the Halloween Snap and Treat held at Crown Valley Park in Laguna Niguel on Saturday, October 7, 2023. The event included: pumpkin decorating, trick or treat stations, and various photo opportunities. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Pumpkins wait to be decorated at the Halloween Snap and Treat held at Crown Valley Park in Laguna Niguel on Saturday, October 7, 2023. The event included: pumpkin decorating, trick or treat stations, and various photo opportunities. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Brian Chen, right, takes a photo of Mandy Wu, center, and Madison, 4, all of Irvine, at the Halloween Snap and Treat held at Crown Valley Park in Laguna Niguel on Saturday, October 7, 2023. The event included: pumpkin decorating, trick or treat stations, and various photo opportunities. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Families wandered the trail at Crown Valley Park over the weekend, snapping Halloween photos and munching on treats.

Halloween Snap & Treat hosted by Laguna Niguel’s Park and Recreation Department was the first of several fun family events planned by south Orange County communities early in the season.

Over the next two weekends, Heritage Hill Historical Park in Lake Forest will be decked out for Fall-O-Ween.

This is the third year OC Parks has hosted the free event, which gives visitors – who are encouraged to wear costumes – a chance to see the historical grounds decorated for the season and take pictures at various photo opp stations.

Guests can also walk through a hay maze, complete a scavenger hunt and more. Hours are 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Oct. 13-15 and Oct. 20-22.

And, Haunted Trails opens in Laguna Niguel Thursday, Oct. 12, for four spooky days.

The trails of Crown Valley Park will be turned into a sort of outdoor haunted house, with monsters to scare you.

Tickets for those brave enough to walk the trails are $15 onsite. The hauntings happen from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Thursday and Sunday and 6:30 to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

The event is not recommended for children younger than 12, organizers said.

The three stops are primarily used by regular commuters who either drive and park or take the bus to and from the station; not so much by passengers seeking destination-worthy dining. (Though many use it to reach nearby FivePoint Amphitheatre.) There’s just not a lot of commercial zoning, and even less residential zoning, surrounding the stations.

“When you don’t allow housing density, not just near transit but also commercial corridors, you’re really starving those areas of small businesses and customers,” explained Sen. Scott Wiener (D-11th District), who has authored bills to create more affordable and multi-use housing near California transit stations. “So small businesses don’t open up to support or they struggle. It’s in the interest of small businesses to have people living nearby.”

Compared to South County’s southern stations, these three offer few choices for hungry passengers.

Laguna Niguel / Mission Viejo

No dining options exist outside the platform without having to cross Camino Capistrano, a somewhat busy two-lane street with no nearby crosswalks for safe pedestrian travel. Since jaywalking is all but required to access one of the few dining options across the street from this South County stop — unless you travel more than half a mile down the road to the nearest intersection crosswalk — it’s hard to recommend hopping off the train here to find food.

However, if you must, passengers can dine at the following restaurant. Again, accessing food requires jaywalking, which is neither safe nor legal. Consider yourselves warned.

Escape Craft Brewery: Billed as Laguna Niguel’s first brewery, this suds spot offers more than 20 craft beers on tap. While technically not a restaurant, Escape Craft Brewery features pop-up trucks just outside its doors, like Big Rick’s BBQ 714, on Fridays and Saturdays and occasionally on Thursdays and Sundays. Guests can also bring their pooch as this place is a dog-friendly spot. Open Tuesday through Sunday.  28162 Camino Capistrano #109A, Laguna Niguel; escapecraftbrewery.com

Aside from Escape Craft Brewery, you can find several fast-food options across Camino Capistrano and down the road, like A’s Burgers, In-N-Out and Carl’s Jr., via an estimated 13- minute walk south of the train platform.

Irvine

The freeway impedes a lot of walkability at the Irvine Station. Even though some spots like the Hello Kitty Grand Cafe Sanrio are close as the crow flies, pedestrian access is inadvisable since you can’t cross the freeway sans automobile; pedestrians would have to walk two extra miles to go around it, which isn’t reasonable. Station Cafe, which used to operate at the train station’s building, closed in 2020.

The nearest dining options accessible via public transit can be found at the Irvine Spectrum (670 Spectrum Center Drive). Passengers can take bus 403 from the station to the Irvine Spectrum Center. Bruegger’s Bagels (3991 Irvine Blvd.) and Maast Indian (15358 Alton Parkway) can be reached by taking the 86 bus from the Irvine train station.

Tustin

The Tustin Station is located in an industrial area, with no easily accessible dining options outside of fast food joints, like a nearby Subway Sandwich (3017 Edinger Ave.) and Jack In the Box (3089 Edinger Ave.).

From kid-friendly hay mazes, carved pumpkin displays and parades to some seriously terrifying pop-up independent haunts, monster-filled hay rides, spooky bars and immersive horror theater productions, there’s a lot of spooky stuff going on.

ALSO SEE: Haunted theme park events in Southern California: What you need to know

Here are 31 of the major Halloween happenings in Southern California.

Real Fear Lives Here

17th Door Haunt Experience

When: Select evenings through Oct. 31

Where: 8420 On The Mall, Buena Park

Tickets: Starting at $34-$48 at The17thdoor.com

This haunt, which moved to a new location in Buena Park this year, is not for the faint of heart. Seriously, it is frightening. The actors can touch you and yell at you. There are also points where you’ll have to crawl on your hands and knees and complete various tasks. There’s also an add-on Field Trip, where a van takes you to some undisclosed location for even more terror.

All Saints Lunatic Asylum

When: 7-10 p.m. every Friday and Saturday on Sept. 29-Oct. 31

Where: 22521 Shawnee Road, Apple Valley

Tickets: $13 at allsaintsasylum.com.

Tour an old, rundown asylum that may or may not still contain some restless spirits in this walk-thru experience that explores the hospital, which was shut down nearly five decades ago.

Castle Dark at Castle Park

When: Select dates through Oct. 29

Where: Castle Park, 3500 Polk Street, Riverside

Tickets: $19.99-$44.99 at castlepark.com

The annual haunt is debuting various new mazes, including one with an all-female cast dubbed Shipwreck Cove. There’s also interactive shows, special tricks and treats. There’s also a family-friendly daytime Dia de los Muertos celebration with live entertainment, trick-or-treating and more every Saturday and Sunday.

Coffin Creek

When: 7 p.m.-Midnight on Fridays-Saturdays; 7 p.m.-10 p.m. on Sundays Oct. 6-29

Where: Riverview Recreation Park, 14600 Baron Drive, Corona.

Tickets: $17-$69 at coffincreek.com

This scary haunt is celebrating its 16th anniversary with five walk-thru mazes where guests will get chased by zombies, trapped in an asylum and in a carnival of nightmares. There’s also a vendor area for those who want to terrorize their wallets.

Fearplex Presents Lights Out

When: 6-11 p.m. select evenings through Oct. 31

Where: Fairplex, 1101 W. McKinley Ave. Pomona

Tickets: $27-$33 for general admission; $29.99 for Lights Out and Oktoberfest combo tickets at fairplex.com/lightsout.

This new attraction is made up of walk-thru mazes infested with zombies, psychotic clowns, circus freaks and a black light experience dubbed Toxic Terror. There will also be live music, lots of food and other treats, a vendor village and a Zombieball (paintball) Experience.

Laguna Niguel Haunted Trails

When: 6:30 p.m. Oct. 13-15

Where: Crown Valley Park, 29751 Crown Valley Parkway, Laguna Niguel

Tickets: $13 in advance or $15 day of at cityoflagunaniguel.org

Walk among the undead and monsters along this city-organized haunted trail. Yes, it can be scary. so it’s not recommended for younger kids.

Los Angeles Haunted Hayride

When: Various dates and times through Oct. 31

Where: Griffith Park, 4730 Crystal Springs Dr., Los Angeles

Tickets: $29.99-$119.99 at losangeleshauntedhayride.com

Take a hayride on a wagon through the dark and haunted woods while all sorts of creatures jump out at you. Those who survive can roam around the haunted town of Midnight Falls and enter several themed walk-thru mazes.

ALSO SEE: Halloween 2023: Where to find pumpkin patches in Southern California

Reign of Terror

When: 7 p.m. select evenings Sept. 29-Nov. 4

Where: Reign of Terror,  225 N. Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks

Tickets: $35-$65 at rothauntedhouse.com

This haunt experience features 10 connected mazes and more than 100 separate rooms that will take guests through cemeteries, an asylum, an infected hospital, a haunted mine and a clown-infested funhouse.

ScareScape

When: 6 p.m. select evenings Sept. 29-Oct. 29

Where: Heritage Hill Event Venue, 28701 Los Alamos Heights Road, Murrieta

Tickets: $25-$55 at scarescapehaunt.com

There’s no escaping your phobias at this new haunt located at the top of eerie Heritage Hill. The mazes are centered on common phobias, so expect to walk through total darkness, meet with terrifying clowns and mingle with ghosts inside a haunted house. There’s also a vendor marketplace and a Spirit Lounge Bar with classic circus sideshow performers.

Shaqtoberfest

When: Various dates and times through Oct. 31

Where: The Queen Mary, 1126 Queens Highway, Long Beach

Tickets: $29.99-$109.99 at shaqtoberfest.com

NBA star Shaquille O’Neal hosts this Halloween party that includes a carnival, music and several walk-thru mazes, including one aboard the Queen Mary. There’s also several themed bars, a marketplace, pumpkin patch, a hay maze, live music and pop-up performances.

The Haunted Harvest 

When: 7 p.m. Thursdays-Sundays Sept. 29-Oct. 29

Where: Frosty’s Forest, 14861 Ramona Avenue, Chino

Tickets: $30 at frostysforest.com

This corn maze includes several haunts including one inspired by a popular video store chain, which here is dubbed Hauntbuster, where you’re trapped after hours with the Notflix Killer.

Theatrical Terror

“Angel of Light”

When: Various dates and times through Oct. 31

Where: Los Angeles Theatre, 615 S. Broadway, Los Angeles

Tickets: $59-$84 at feverup.com/m/138323

This theatrical experience will take people back to 1935, putting them in the middle of a story about a hexed girl named Rota Krisha. Expect demonic characters, light projections, music and jump scares.

“Deathtrap”

When: 8 p.m. opening night Wednesday, Oct. 18; 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays Oct. 19-Nov. 5

Where: International City Theatre, 330 East Seaside Way, Long Beach

Tickets: $35-$89 at ictlongbeach.org

The Tony-nominated comedy thriller is a murder mystery play about a playwright who receives a manuscript from a former student. While he likes the play, he’s not fond of sharing credit.

Delusion: “Nocturnes & Nightmares”  

When: Various dates and times through Nov. 12

Where: Phillips Mansion, 2640 Pomona Blvd., Pomona

Tickets: $94.99-$154.99 at enterdelusion.com

The historic Phillips Mansion in Pomona becomes the home of an interactive horror theater experience with a new story dubbed “Nocturnes & Nightmares,” where guests become key players in an hour-long, immersive sinister haunt.

“Frankenstein 1930”

When: 8 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays and 1 p.m. Sundays through Oct. 21

Where: Long Beach Playhouse, 5021 E. Anaheim St., Long Beach

Tickets: $20-$30 at lbplayhouse.org

The classic horror tale comes to the stage with a stone walled laboratory, angry villagers and an unexpected new ending.

The Vampire Circus

When: Various dates and times through Oct. 31

Where: The Montalbán Theatre, 1615 Vine Street, Hollywood

Tickets: $44-$49 at thevampirecircusexperience.com

Bloodsuckers have taken over this circus of horror. The vampires mix acrobatic performances, dance and macabre theatrical performances in an all-ages show.

Urban Death Tour Of Terror

When: Various times Fridays-Mondays through Oct. 31

Where: Zombie Joe’s Underground Theatre Group, 4850 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood

Tickets: Tickets are $22-$27 at zombiejoes.com

Known for dark and disturbing, yet fascinating theatrical performances, the company’s “Urban Death” show will bring the guests face to face with monsters and spirits.

Fun Frights

Anaheim Fall Festival 

When: 11 a.m. Oct. 28

Where: Downtown Anaheim at Anaheim Blvd. and Broadway Street

Tickets: Free admission. Get more information at anaheimfallfestival.org

The festival and parade takes place at downtown Anaheim and Anaheim City Hall. There will be themed food booths and trucks and a kid-friendly haunted house. The festival starts at 11 a.m. and runs through 6 p.m. The parade begins at 7 p.m.

Boney Island

When: 6-8 p.m. and 8-10 p.m. Thursdays-Sundays and Oct. 30 and 31

Where: Natural History Museum, 900 Exposition Blvd., Los Angeles

Tickets: $25 per person and $20 for members at nhm.org/boney-island-nhm

The museum’s Nature Gardens transforms into a haunting and whimsical interactive light-up show. Expect to see skeletons performing rope tricks and levitating through hoops and shadow puppetry.

Halloween Bu-Bash

When: 2-4 p.m. Oct. 27

Where: Bluff’s Park, 24250 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu

Tickets: $8 per child at malibucity.org

This Halloween celebration is for the very little ones and includes carnival games, a costume contest, face painting and trick-or-treating.

Magic of the Jack O’Lanterns

When: Various dates and times through Oct. 31

Where: Whittier Narrows Park, 750 S. Santa Anita Ave., South El Monte

Tickets: Tickets start at $19.99 for children and $24.99 for adults at magicofthejackolanterns.com

All ages larger-than-life pumpkin experience with hand-carved jack-‘o-lanterns, light displays and a walk-thru a nautical seascape. There’s also various food vendors, bars and a build-your-own s’mores experience.

Nights of the Jack

When: Open select evenings 6-10 p.m. Sept. 29-Oct. 31

Where: King Gillette Ranch, 26800 Mulholland Highway, Calabasas

Tickets: $39.99-$64.99 at nightsofthejack.com

An immersive Halloween experience featuring a nearly one mile walking trail lined with thousands of carved jack-‘o-lanterns and light displays. There’s also photos ops, pumpkin carving demonstrations, kids activities, popular Los Angeles-area food trucks and pop-up bars with theme cocktails and more.

Tunnel of Terror Haunted Car Wash

When: 6-10 p.m. various dates Oct. 5-30

Where: Big Wave Car Wash, 2219 Lincoln Ave. in Anaheim and Carwood Car Wash, 2729 E. Carson Street, Lakewood

Tickets: $30-$40 per car at thehauntedcarwash.com

Get scared and your car clean as you cruise through the car wash, which is filled with creepy performers, props and special effects and new scary surprises each night.

Creepy Cons

Horrorcon Los Angeles 

When: Noon-7 p.m. Sept. 30-Oct. 1

Where: Los Angeles Convention Center, 1201 S. Figueroa Street, Los Angeles

Tickets: $31-$57 at horrorconla.com

Meet celebrities, check out vendors selling all sorts of horror related goods and listen in on panels. Cosplayers are welcome so dress up as your favorite horror figure.

Son of Monsterpalooza

When: 6-11 p.m. Oct. 13 and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Oct. 14-15

Where: The Marriott Burbank Hotel, 2500 N. Hollywood Way, Burbank

Tickets: $35-$75 at monsterpalooza.com

This horror convention includes Halloween vendors, movie screenings, panels, costume contests and celebrity appearances by genre icons like “Evil Dead” director Sam Raimi, Cassandra Peterson as Elvira Mistress of the Dark, “Chucky” star Devon Sawa, Harvey Guillen of “What We Do in the Shadows” and others.

Halloween: 45 Years of Terror

When: 10 a.m. tour on Sept. 29; 11-7 p.m. show on Sept. 30; 11-5 p.m. show on Oct. 1

Where: Pasadena Convention Center, 300 E. Green Street, Pasadena

Tickets: $30-$60 halloween45.com

This convention celebrates the 45th anniversary of the slasher classic “Halloween.”  Many of the cast members from all of the franchise movies will be there and there will be a tour of filming locations as well since the movie was made in Pasadena.

Dark Dates

Black Lagoon

When: Open nightly with various timeslots Oct. 1-31

Where: Lost Property Bar, 1704 Vine Street, Los Angeles

Tickets: $25 at Instagram.com/blacklagoonla

This Halloween pop-up bar mixes drinks with terror with themed cocktails, people dressed up in spooky outfits and there’s live entertainment.

Beetle House L.A.

When: Open nightly

Where: Beetle House, 7080 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles

Tickets: $60 for adults; $22 for children under 12; Reservations after 9:30 p.m. are for 21-and-older only at beetlehousela.com

This Halloween-themed restaurant is inspired by horror culture and magic. There’s various horror-themed food and drinks and ever-changing dining room shows including magicians, singers and sideshow acts. It gets busy, so make a reservation.

Street Food Cinema’s Boo-Ze, Bites & Frights 

When: 5:30 p.m. Oct. 20-21

Where: Heritage Square Museum, 3800 Homer Street, Los Angeles

Tickets: $34 at streetfoodcinema.com

Street Food Cinema presents the two-night Boo-ze, Bites & Frights events with a double header of horror films each night, adult trick-or-treating, drinks, a DJ spinning spooky vibes, photo ops and guided tours of hauntingly beautiful Victorian mansions. Come dressed up.

The Spirit Lounge

When: Various dates and timeslots through Nov. 11

Where: The Set, 10555 Mills Ave., Montclair

Tickets: $20 at experiencetheset.com

This horror themed bar turns into the Macabre Manor for Halloween where guests can step into a haunted mansion for photo ops and drink high-end themed cocktails.

Thriller Nights: A Throwback Horror Party

When: 7-11 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays Sept. 29-Oct. 31

Where: Anaheim Garden Walk, 400 Disney Way, Suite 199, Anaheim

Tickets: $50-$125 at room2party.com

This Halloween party is for lovers of ’80s and ’90s horror flicks. Expect to see horror film villains stalking the party, as well as photo ops that recreate movie scenes, themed cocktails and a DJ rocking retro hits. The event is 21-and-older only.