Halloween Events for Kids Near Me: Discovery Cube LA Enchanted Halloween

Enchanted Halloween at Discovery Cube Los Angeles runs daily from 10 am to 5 pm through November 8, 2026, and it is included with regular admission, which starts at $17 for children and $20 for adults. The science center sits at 11800 Foothill Blvd in Sylmar, beside Hansen Dam, and parking is free. Valley parents searching halloween events for kids near me get a magic-trick workshop, a corn maze, pumpkin catapults and weekend trick-or-treat stations in one ticket.

The 2026 edition is themed ABRA-CUBE-DABRA, which the Cube describes as a magical playground of tricks and illusions. The centerpiece is the Magicians Workshop, where kids learn three tricks they can take home: a classic card trick, a cup-and-ball routine and a ring-on-a-string. It is hands-on rather than a show, so a seven-year-old can walk out able to fool a grandparent at dinner, which beats another plastic toy in the treat bag.

Around the workshop, the illusion displays do the work of a haunted house without the scares: a Cloning Room, a Head on a Platter, a Levitation setup, Magic Mirrors, a Mirage exhibit and hologram displays. Children who get anxious at jump-scare attractions can walk through these at their own pace with a parent, which is why the Cube bills the event for all ages.

The outdoor yard turns into a small harvest fair. There is a Haybale Maze sized for preschoolers, a taller corn maze for older kids, Tractor Trails where little ones ride kid-sized tractors, and Pumpkin Catapults where children launch small pumpkins at targets. The catapults are the station that draws the longest line by midday, so head outside first when doors open at 10 am and save the indoor illusions for the hotter afternoon.

The Magical Midway takes traditional carnival games and gives them a spellbook theme, while the Magical Creatures Corral has bouncy rides shaped like a unicorn, a frog and a two-headed dragon. A Magic Slide Bounce House shaped like a castle rounds it out. Expect a Valley sun on the yard even in late October, so bring hats and bottled water, which is the one drink the Cube lets you carry in.

This is the detail that matters most for planning. The themed Trick-or-Treat Stations, where kids collect trinkets, candy and small surprises, operate on weekends only. Every guest gets a reusable Discovery Cube trick-or-treat bag. If trick-or-treating is the main reason your child wants to go, a Tuesday visit will feel thin, and Saturday or Sunday is the right call even with bigger crowds.

Weekdays have their own advantage: shorter lines at the catapults and the corn maze, and more time in the Magicians Workshop. Families with toddlers who do not care about candy yet often do better on a weekday morning. Note that the Cube closes on several Mondays this fall, including October 19 and 26 and November 2, so a Monday plan will not work on those dates.

On weekends, the Cube books young magicians who have performed at Hollywood's Magic Castle. The posted lineup includes Josiah Guenther on October 24, Beau Koblick on October 25 and Tricky Tim on October 31, with Tricky Tim also performing during extended hours on October 30, when the Cube stays open until 8 pm. DJ Mavis takes November 1, and the run closes with Josiah Guenther on November 7 and Ian Gustafson on November 8.

The October 30 extended evening is the best choice for working parents, since it lets you arrive after school pickup and still get a full visit. It is also the closest this event gets to a nighttime Halloween feel. Anyone with a child already in magic lessons should plan around a performer date, since watching a teenager pull off a trick they just learned is the hook that keeps them practicing.

Discovery Cube started in Santa Ana, where the Orange County campus was founded in December 1998. The Los Angeles campus opened on November 13, 2014, in the Hansen Dam building first built for the Children's Museum of Los Angeles, giving the northeast San Fernando Valley its own hands-on science center. The Cube's stated mission is to inspire and educate young minds through science-based programs and exhibits, and the Halloween run follows that line with tricks kids learn rather than just watch.

The year-round content stays open during Enchanted Halloween, so a visit can mix magic tricks with the regular exhibits. The Cube's FAQ says the average visit runs about three hours, and families who do both the Halloween stations and the permanent galleries should plan for longer.

Children under 14 are not allowed in without an adult 18 or older. Outside food and drinks are not permitted, apart from bottled water, but the Cube Cafe sells grab-and-go food from 10 am to 5 pm. Strollers are welcome, and tickets are sold for specific dates, so pick your day before you buy. A Día de los Muertos ofrenda with candles and marigolds sits inside, a quiet stop worth pointing out to kids between louder stations.

The sweet spot is roughly ages three to ten. Teenagers will find the mazes small, and anyone looking for a fright should go elsewhere. One honest note: the bounce attractions get crowded fast on weekend afternoons, and if your child is under three, skip them and spend that time on the tractors instead.

The Cube's own directions put the parking lot entrance on Dronfield Avenue, reached from Osborne Street, between the Lake View Terrace Branch Library and the Hansen Dam Aquatic Center. Parking is free, which is a real saving compared with most Los Angeles museums. On weekends the doors open at 10 am, and getting there at opening gives you the outdoor catapults and mazes before the midday sun and the bigger crowds arrive.

After the visit, the Hansen Dam Recreation Area right next door is good for a picnic if you packed lunch in the car, since you cannot eat it inside the Cube. Running off leftover energy on the open grass before the drive home helps if you have a long ride back over the hill to the city.

Address: Discovery Cube Los Angeles, 11800 Foothill Blvd, Sylmar, CA 91342. Event: Enchanted Halloween, through November 8, 2026, 10 am to 5 pm, with extended hours to 8 pm on October 30. Admission: starts at $17 for children, $20 for adults and $18 for seniors, with prices varying by date; Halloween activities included. Trick-or-treat stations: weekends only. Parking: free. Closed: October 19 and 26, November 2.