Five Un-Boo-Lievably Cute, Spooky, and Affordable Dates Around USC and LA
photo credit: Natasha
by Tamanna Sood ‘24
Spooky season is finally upon us! Known for monsters, pumpkins, and colder weather, another great aspect of this season is the opportunity to snuggle up with your boo (get it hehe)! With midterms in full swing and Halloween just around the corner, let me take over the search for wallet friendly and fun dates off your plate. Here are five affordable, cute, and spooky dates in the Los Angeles and USC area that are great to welcome in the season.
Halloween Crafts and Decorating from Target
The best way to learn about your bae is to do something fun with them! While classic Halloween crafts like carving pumpkins and making felt ghosts never go out of style, they aren’t necessarily the most convenient crafts. Carving a pumpkin and making felt ghosts require lots of supplies and can lead to a messy aftermath. Don’t get me wrong, I love them! However, if you want something a little more lowkey, Target has amazing, cheap Halloween crafts like these Paint-Your-Own Wood Ghosts and Bat Kits and Halloween Lit Ceramic Haunted House Kits that average between $5-10. They will provide you and your partner with the same joy with half the cost and half the commitment!
Pro Tip: Purchase these crafts through the Target website and pick them up in the Village to ensure that they will be available. Sometimes pick-up takes a couple hours after you order, so make sure you place it ahead of time.
Scary Movie Night (there just too many great options!)
There’s no better way to get closer to your partner this Halloween than by watching a scary movie! One of the easiest and most affordable ways to do this is by hosting a cute movie night at home. Creating the perfect ambiance can elevate your movie night experience. Buying inexpensive candles and fairy lights from Target and some Halloween themed treats from Trader Joes can instantly make the movie watching experience even more special!
If you and your beau are sick of staying inside, check out a movie night on campus! Late Night SC, a series of free late night programs and events offered to all USC students by USC Campus Activities, is hosting a Halloween Friday Movie Night on October 27th at the TCC Grand Ballroom! The movie for the night has yet to be announced, but be sure to follow @usccampusactivities on Instagram for updates!
photo credit: cinespia
If you and your partner do want to venture out of the USC area, Cinespia is the perfect movie-watching experience! Cinespia is a historic LA based cinema organization that “brings movie magic to life with screenings of classic films.” Cinespia hosts over 30 events each year at iconic venues including at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. From new films like Totally Killer (2023) to cult classics like The Ring (2002), Rosemary’s Baby (1968), and Harry Potter And The Order of The Phoenix (2007), Cinespia is playing weeks of Halloween films. On Halloween, Cinespia not only screens a cult classic, this year is Rosemary’s Baby, but also hosts a large Halloween party and requires all participants to dress up to enjoy a fun night with music and drinks.
Ghosts of USC: A Historical Immersive Haunt
This date idea is perfect for the horror and mischief aficionados! Students from the School of Dramatic Arts are hosting an “interactive, long-form improvised theatrical experience” from Thursday October 26th to Saturday October 28th at Kerckhoff Hall! The event will “transport audiences to 1880, when USC was founded, and to the explosive history of Los Angeles at the turn of the century.” It’s free and is in the Fryft zone! Not only is this a unique and affordable date that is close to campus, but it’s also a great way to show up for your peers and support the talent of SDA. While tickets are going fast, stand-by tickets are available 30 minutes prior to showtime! Learn more about the show and tickets here!
Fall Fest on McCarthy Quad
If midterms season is sucking the blood out of you and your lover, and if you prefer to stick to events on campus, Late Night SC has you covered! On Saturday, October 28th at 8 p.m., join Late Night SC on McCarthy Quad for Fall Fest! This is an annual free event open to all students that provides visitors with quite the spook! The festival includes a variety of seasonal activities, vendors, and booths including caricature artists, photo ops, snacks, and, most importantly, a haunted maze! Nothing says love quite like a silly caricature drawing of a couple, so make sure you don’t miss out. RSVP through EngageSC to save the date or feel free to pop by on campus on the day of! Remember to bring your student ID and wallet to grab a couple snacks!
photo credit: LA Zoo
Boo at the LA Zoo
For the animal loving pair, this date is absolutely the perfect choice! The last two weekends of October(21/22 and 28/29), the Los Angeles Zoo hosts their annual “Boo at the LA Zoo” event! The event is included in the Zoo admission ticket and costs $22! The event runs all day and features multiple “Boo-tiful Activities” including Creature Treats where visitors can watch animals chomp down on seasonal treats, Fang-Tastic Photo Spots all around the park where you and your sweetheart can snap a cute picture, and The Lair where you can see rare snakes, poisonous frogs, and venomous lizards to really amp up the terror this Halloween season. Costumes are encouraged but not required. Make sure to check the animal feeding schedule to see your favorite animals chow down on some Halloween treats here.
Pro Tip: Optimize your budget by checking out discounted tickets through the USC Ticket Office.
If you want to even more ways to get in the Fall and Halloween spirit, check out more suggestions from staff writer Ela: “Fall Festivities: Fall and Halloween Bucket List LA”
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