35mm Ghostbusters and Halloween Festival, LA Theatre

Halloween lands on a Saturday this year, and the afternoon slot at the Los Angeles Theatre is the one built for people who want a scare-free, costume-friendly start to the holiday. A 35mm print of Ghostbusters plays inside the Broadway movie palace, and a daytime Halloween festival runs alongside it. If you are sorting through the things to do in Los Angeles on October 31, this one works for kids, parents and anyone who still knows the theme song by heart.

When: Saturday, October 31, 2026, 1:15 PM to 4:00 PM Where: Los Angeles Theatre, 615 South Broadway, Downtown LA Tickets: From $18.00 through AllEvents

What to expect

The listing describes the day as a family festival with costume parades, ice cream trucks, photo booths and food trucks, all wrapped around the screening. The film itself is the 1984 comedy about three out-of-work parapsychologists who start a ghost-removal business in New York, and it plays on actual 35mm film rather than a digital file. That means the grain, the warm color and the slight flicker that make a projected print feel different from a stream.

Dressing up is clearly part of the point. A flight suit with a proton pack will fit right in, but so will a pumpkin, a witch or a marshmallow man. Plan for photos, because the festival setup includes photo booths and the theater's lobby and auditorium are among the most photogenic rooms in the city.

Why the theater matters

The Los Angeles Theatre opened in 1931 and is one of the grandest of the historic Broadway movie palaces. Its French Baroque lobby and ornate auditorium make a classic comedy feel like a night out in another era, even when the show is in the afternoon. For a lot of Angelenos, a seat here is the whole reason to go, and the film is the bonus.

This is also one of several Halloween screenings the theater has lined up for the day, so it is worth checking the venue's schedule if you want to stack a second movie later in the evening. The afternoon showing is the gentlest of them, which makes it the natural pick for families.

Practical info

Tickets start at $18.00, with higher-priced options listed on the event page, so check the ticket link for what fits your group. If you are hunting for LA events this weekend or planning a few weeks out, buy ahead rather than counting on the door, since Halloween screenings in historic theaters tend to fill.

Downtown is easy to reach by Metro. The B and D lines stop a few blocks away at Pershing Square and 7th Street/Metro Center, and paid garages are scattered along Broadway and Spring Street. Give yourself extra time for parking and for the festival activities before the film starts at 1:15 PM.

For more film nights, browse the arts and culture listings, or see what else is happening in Downtown LA.