BLOCtober Halloween Celebration at The Bloc

The Bloc is running its BLOCtober Halloween party on Saturday, October 17, and the whole thing is free. It's an easy pick if you're hunting for things to do with kids LA can offer the weekend before Halloween. You don't need a yard full of decorations or a neighborhood with good candy traffic. The shops do the handing out.

The schedule

The evening splits into two parts. From 5 to 7 PM, participating retailers at The Bloc do trick-or-treating, so kids in costume can work their way around the storefronts with a bag. The same window has face painting, a kids crafting table, a pumpkin patch, photo ops themed around The Nightmare Before Christmas, and a live DJ keeping things moving in the plaza.

At 7 PM the plaza turns into an outdoor theater. The Nightmare Before Christmas plays on a big screen until about 8:30 PM. It's a smart movie choice for a mixed crowd. It's spooky enough for older kids and tuneful enough that little ones usually stay with it, and parents tend to know every word of "This Is Halloween" anyway.

About the pumpkins

The pumpkin patch comes with a catch. Free pumpkins go to members of The Bloc Rewards app, one per member, first come first served, while supplies last. The app is free to join, so download it before you go instead of fumbling with sign-ups in line. If your kid has their heart set on carrying a pumpkin home, arriving closer to 5 than 6:30 is the move.

Dogs and costumes

Well-behaved, leashed pets are welcome, and the organizers say costumes are encouraged for them too. So if the dog has been waiting all year to wear the hot dog suit, this is its night. The listing notes that anyone under 18 should come with a guardian.

Getting there

The Bloc is at 700 West 7th Street in downtown Los Angeles, on the block bounded by 7th, Flower, 8th and Hope. The 7th Street/Metro Center station sits right under it, which puts the A, B, D and E lines one escalator ride away. That's the low-stress option on a busy Saturday night downtown. If you're driving, The Bloc has its own parking structure, though rates and validation weren't listed for this event, so check before you commit.

Admission is free and the listing shows general admission as open, so there's no ticket to buy. Bring a bag for candy and a blanket or jacket for the movie; October evenings downtown cool off fast once the sun drops behind the towers.

Worth the trip?

For family events Los Angeles puts on around Halloween, this one hits a sweet spot. It's compact, it's walkable, it's transit-friendly, and it wraps up by 8:30, which works for bedtimes. It also makes a solid anchor if you're piecing together LA events this weekend and want one thing on the calendar that costs nothing but the train fare.

Browse more family events on OTBLA, or see what else is coming up around Los Angeles.