If you are planning to study English in the United States, especially in Los Angeles, experiencing Halloween can be a fun way to learn more about American culture while practicing English outside the classroom.
Halloween is celebrated every year on October 31st and is one of the most recognizable holidays in the United States. From children going door to door asking for candy to elaborate costumes, decorated houses, pumpkin patches, parties, and large street celebrations, Halloween offers international students a unique opportunity to experience American culture.
And if you are studying English in Los Angeles, October is a particularly interesting time to explore the city.
Where Did Halloween Come From?
Halloween has a history that goes back more than 2,000 years. Its origins are often traced to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, which marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter.
Over time, different traditions and religious celebrations influenced the holiday. The name “Halloween” comes from All Hallows’ Eve, meaning the evening before All Saints’ Day.
Today, Halloween in the United States is primarily a cultural celebration. People of all ages participate in different ways, from wearing costumes and decorating their homes to attending parties, visiting pumpkin patches, and taking children trick-or-treating.
What Happens on Halloween in the United States?
One of the most traditional Halloween activities in the United States is trick-or-treating.
Children dress up in costumes and visit houses in their neighborhoods, usually accompanied by their parents or another adult. When someone opens the door, the children traditionally say:
“Trick or treat!”
The homeowner then gives them candy, chocolate, or another small treat.
In Los Angeles, trick-or-treating is especially common in residential neighborhoods. Families often walk around their communities with their children, visiting houses that are participating in the tradition.
Some neighborhoods go all out with Halloween decorations. You may see houses covered with pumpkins, skeletons, ghosts, spider webs, lights, and other Halloween decorations.
For international students who have never experienced Halloween in the U.S., seeing an entire neighborhood filled with children in costumes can be a memorable experience.
Halloween Costumes in the USA: Much More Than Scary
One thing that often surprises international visitors is how creative Halloween costumes can be in the United States.
When people think about Halloween, they may imagine witches, ghosts, vampires, zombies, or other scary characters. Those costumes are definitely popular, but Halloween costumes in the U.S. can be almost anything.
People may dress up as:
- Famous singers or celebrities
- Movie and TV characters
- Superheroes
- Historical figures
- Video game characters
- Internet personalities and memes
- Food and everyday objects
- Funny or completely unexpected characters
Someone might dress up as Justin Bieber or Beyoncé, for example, while someone else may choose a funny costume that has nothing to do with horror.
The creativity is part of the fun.
In cities like Los Angeles, costumes can be particularly elaborate and detailed. People may spend weeks planning their outfits, creating makeup looks, buying accessories, or putting together an entire character.
For international students, this can be one of the most surprising parts of experiencing Halloween in Los Angeles. You may see costumes that are funny, creative, glamorous, nostalgic, scary, or completely unexpected.
Pumpkin Patches: A Popular Fall Tradition
Another experience you may notice throughout October is the pumpkin patch.
Pumpkin patches are seasonal locations where people can choose and buy pumpkins. Many of them are decorated with pumpkins, hay bales, fall decorations, photo areas, and Halloween-themed displays.
People visit pumpkin patches with their families, friends, couples, or classmates. Besides choosing a pumpkin, many people go simply to take photos and enjoy the fall atmosphere.
For international students, visiting a pumpkin patch can be a completely new cultural experience.
You may hear someone say:
“Let’s go to a pumpkin patch this weekend!”
Or:
“We need to pick out a pumpkin for Halloween.”
These are useful everyday English expressions that you may hear during October.
Depending on the location, some pumpkin patches also have seasonal food, games, activities, photo opportunities, and attractions for children and adults.
If you are studying English in Los Angeles, visiting a pumpkin patch can be a fun way to practice English while experiencing American fall culture.
Halloween in Los Angeles
Halloween in Los Angeles is not limited to one night.
Throughout the entire month of October, you can find Halloween-themed activities, decorations, parties, and events throughout the city.
Residential neighborhoods often prepare for Halloween by decorating their homes. Families may plan costumes for their children and prepare candy for trick-or-treaters.
At the same time, adults and college students may attend costume parties, nightlife events, concerts, and Halloween-themed celebrations.
Los Angeles is also known for its diverse communities, which means you can experience Halloween in many different ways throughout the city.
For international students, October can be a great opportunity to experience American culture outside the classroom while practicing English in real-life situations.
Halloween Parties in Los Angeles
Halloween parties are a major part of the celebration in Los Angeles.
Many bars, nightclubs, restaurants, hotels, and entertainment venues organize special Halloween events throughout October. People often come dressed in costumes, and the costumes can be anything from scary characters to celebrities, movie characters, or funny ideas.
The biggest night is, of course, October 31st, when many venues organize special Halloween parties.
But you don’t necessarily have to wait until Halloween night. Many Halloween events and costume parties take place throughout the month.
People also frequently organize Halloween parties at home, inviting friends and family and asking everyone to come dressed up.
For international students, attending a Halloween party can also be a fun way to practice conversational English, meet new people, and learn expressions that you may not hear in an English textbook.
West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval
One of the most recognizable Halloween celebrations in the Los Angeles area is the West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval, held on Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood.
The event transforms a section of Santa Monica Boulevard into a large Halloween celebration, with the street closed to traffic. People come dressed in elaborate and creative costumes, and the celebration includes entertainment, music, food, and a stage.
For 2026, the Halloween Carnaval is scheduled for Saturday, October 31, from 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., along Santa Monica Boulevard between North Doheny Drive and North La Cienega Boulevard.
The atmosphere differs greatly from a traditional family Halloween in a residential neighborhood.
Instead of children going door to door for candy, the West Hollywood celebration is a large street event where adults come to show off their costumes, take pictures, listen to music, and enjoy the Halloween atmosphere.
For someone visiting Los Angeles for the first time, seeing Santa Monica Boulevard filled with people wearing elaborate costumes can be a memorable part of the Halloween experience.
Useful Halloween English Expressions
Halloween is also a great opportunity to expand your English vocabulary.
“Trick or treat!”
The traditional phrase children say when they go from house to house asking for candy.
Example:
“Happy Halloween! Trick or treat!”
“Costume”
The clothes or outfit someone wears to dress up as a particular character or person.
Example:
“I love your Halloween costume!”
“Candy”
In American English, “candy” refers to sweets such as chocolate, gummies, lollipops, and other treats.
Example:
“The kids collected a lot of candy tonight.”
“Spooky”
Something that is slightly scary, mysterious, or associated with Halloween.
Example:
“That house looks really spooky!”
“Scary”
Something that makes you feel afraid.
Example:
“That Halloween movie was really scary.”
“Creepy”
Something that makes you feel uncomfortable or gives you an unpleasant feeling.
Example:
“That Halloween decoration is creepy!”
“Dress up”
To wear special clothes or a costume, especially for a party or celebration.
Example:
“Are you dressing up for Halloween?”
“Pumpkin patch”
A seasonal place where people can choose or buy pumpkins.
Example:
“We’re going to a pumpkin patch this weekend.”
“Pick out a pumpkin”
To choose a pumpkin.
Example:
“The kids are picking out a pumpkin for Halloween.”
“Haunted house”
A house or attraction designed around ghosts and scary experiences.
Example:
“We’re going to a haunted house for Halloween.”
“Jack-o’-lantern”
A carved pumpkin, usually with a face, traditionally displayed around Halloween.
Example:
“They put a jack-o’-lantern outside their house.”
More Halloween Vocabulary to Practice
If you are learning English, here are some additional Halloween words to add to your vocabulary:
Witch – a woman traditionally associated with magic
Ghost – the spirit of a dead person
Vampire – a mythical creature that drinks blood
Zombie – a fictional undead creature
Skeleton – the bones that form a person’s body
Spider web – the web made by a spider
Monster – a fictional frightening creature
Costume party – a party where people wear costumes
Scary movie – a movie designed to frighten people
Haunted – believed to be visited by ghosts
Pumpkin – a large orange fruit commonly associated with fall and Halloween
Fall decorations – decorations associated with the autumn season
Halloween Is a Cultural Experience for International Students
For international students, studying English in the United States is about more than learning grammar and vocabulary in a classroom.
Daily experiences such as ordering food, talking to local people, visiting different neighborhoods, attending community events, and celebrating American holidays can give students opportunities to practice English in real-life situations.
Halloween is a great example.
You can learn new vocabulary, hear different accents, talk to people about their costumes, understand American traditions, visit a pumpkin patch, attend a Halloween party, or experience trick-or-treating in a residential neighborhood.
These experiences can help you understand how English is actually used in everyday American life.
Experience Halloween While Studying English in Los Angeles
If you are considering studying English in Los Angeles, October can be an exciting time to experience the city.
You can spend an afternoon visiting a pumpkin patch, take photos with friends, explore neighborhoods decorated for Halloween, attend a costume party, or watch families go trick-or-treating.
On October 31st, you can also experience major Halloween celebrations such as the West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval.
Whether you are planning a short-term English vacation program or considering a longer F-1 student program, experiencing American holidays can become an important part of your cultural experience.
For international students, these moments provide opportunities to use English naturally, meet people, learn American expressions, and experience life in the United States beyond the classroom.
Planning to Study English in Los Angeles?
If you are thinking about learning English in Los Angeles, there are different study options depending on your goals, schedule, and immigration status.
Students interested in a short-term experience may explore eligible English vacation programs, while students planning a longer academic experience may explore an F-1 student program.
Before making travel, visa, or enrollment plans, students should always verify the requirements that apply to their specific immigration status and individual circumstances.
Ready to experience Los Angeles while improving your English?
Explore your English study options and discover what life as an international student in Los Angeles can be like.
