California theme parks start Halloween early

If you can’t wait until Oct. 31 to celebrate Halloween, then a trip to one of Southern California’s theme parks can help you scare up some early holiday spirit.

Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm and Universal Studios Hollywood have opened their Halloween attractions. Here’s what you can see:

Disneyland

Along with continuing its Diamond Anniversary, Disneyland has launched its Halloween celebration, which will run through Nov. 1. This includes the transformations of Haunted Mansion and Space Mountain, plus special decor, themed foods and merchandise.

The “Haunted Mansion Holiday” in New Orleans Square has Jack Skellington from “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas” moving into the mansion. You can also visit the “Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy,” a Halloween-themed reimagining of the Tomorrowland ride.

There’s also the ‘Halloween Screams” fireworks display and a “Monster U Dance Party.”

In addition, you can buy a separate ticket to “Mickey’s Halloween Party,” where guests can visit in costume and trick-or-treat throughout Disneyland Park on 17 selected nights starting Friday, Sept. 25.

You can buy tickets for “Mickey’s Halloween Party” online and on mobile devices at Disneyland.com/party, as well as at the Disneyland Resort main gate or by phone at 714-781-4400.

Knott’s Scary Farm

The 43rd annual “Knott’s Scary Farm” returns for 24 nights starting Sept. 24 and ending Oct. 31. There are three new attractions this year: “The Haunting of Hayden Hill,” “My Bloody Clementine” and “The Dead of Winter.”

Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, is back with a new stage show.

This goes along with 11 themed mazes and haunted attractions, three scare zones across the park’s 160 acres and 1,000 monsters, ghosts, ghouls, goblins, freaks, mutants, maniacs and other beasts throughout the park

The dates are: Sept. 24, 25, 26; and Oct. 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17, 18, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 28, 29, 30, 31.

Universal Studios Hollywood

The theme park/movie studio’s “Halloween Horror Nights’ includes new mazes, a hip-hop dance show, a new Terror Tram experience and Scare Zones. Among the mazes and shows are “Guillermo del Toro Presents Crimson Peak: Maze of Madness” and “Insidious: Return to the Further.”

Tickets are available at www.halloweenhorrornights.com/hollywood. The “Horror Nights” are: Sept. 25, 26, 27; Oct. 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24, 25, 29, 30, 31; and Nov. 1.

This story was originally published September 19, 2015 at 4:00 AM with the headline "California theme parks start Halloween early."