The Forgotten Circus Final Friday Maze in Hermosa Beach

The last Friday of October is the final regular night to walk The Forgotten Circus, and it lands the evening before Halloween weekend peaks. Not Shockboxx, an artist-forward gallery in Hermosa Beach's Cypress Arts District, spends every Friday in October as a haunted art maze, and this is the closing Friday run. If you are sorting through things to do in Los Angeles around Halloween, this one rewards the drive down to the South Bay.

What to expect

The maze is a twisted gallery filled with original installations, sinister performers and the remnants of an abandoned big top. Local artists, builders and scare actors from across the South Bay creative community made it. The tone is creepy and theatrical rather than bloody, so it suits date nights, friend groups, and older kids and teens who want a Halloween outing without heavy gore.

It is a walk-through, not a three-hour show. Ticket holders can arrive any time during the 6 to 9 PM window on their selected Friday and move through at their own pace. Afterward the night continues next door at The Studio with games, strange diversions and other sideshow fun.

The people behind it

The Forgotten Circus is creatively directed by Mark "Debo" DiBenedetto, produced with Boomz Pharm and Geist Monster Media, and curated by artists Joel Geist and Claudia Berman. Community sponsors include Patrick Molloy's, Poney, Hermosa Brewing Company, Dunn-Edwards Paints and Creamy Boys Ice Cream.

Plan your visit

When: Friday, October 30, 2026, 6 to 9 PM (arrive any time in that window) Where: Not Shockboxx, 636 Cypress Ave, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254 Price: $15

The listing's own date field carries a different Friday, so confirm that your ticket is for October 30 on the official listing before you go. The organizers note that schedules can change, so check with the venue if plans are tight.

Remember that Saturday, October 31 is a separate, separately ticketed Halloween party with the full installation and a live DJ. A Friday ticket does not cover it.

Parking in the Cypress Arts District can fill up on busy nights, so give yourself a few extra minutes or consider a rideshare, especially if you plan to stop at one of the neighborhood sponsors afterward. Looking for LA events this weekend that go beyond the usual haunted-house formula? This is a handmade alternative. More picks live on our arts and culture page.