Halloween Train Rides at Southern California Live Steamers

Halloween in the South Bay gets a slower, spookier pace this month. On Friday, October 23 and Saturday, October 24, the Southern California Live Steamers turn their miniature railroad at Charles H. Wilson Park in Torrance into an evening ride through a Halloween display, complete with lights, sound effects and plenty of costumes. If you're collecting things to do with kids LA families can actually enjoy after dark without a long drive or a huge crowd, this one belongs on the list.

When: Fri-Sat, October 23 and 24, 2026, 4:45 PM to 8:15 PM Where: Southern California Live Steamers, Wilson Park, Torrance Ages: Riders must be at least 32 inches tall Price: See the note on tickets below

What to Expect

The club's real, hand-built locomotives pull open passenger cars along the park's track, and for these two nights the route is dressed up for the season. Expect decorations along the rails, atmospheric lighting and spooky sound effects rather than anything truly scary, so the ride suits most elementary-age kids and the adults sitting next to them. Costumes are strongly encouraged, which turns the line at the depot into a small parade of pirates, pumpkins and princesses.

The club asks that infants and children under 1 year old not board the trains, and every rider needs to clear the 32-inch height mark. If you have a toddler right around that height, bring a tape measure or plan on a quick check at the depot.

Tickets and Planning

The event flyer says tickets are sold at the depot on the day of the event, at $10 per rider. The listing itself publishes no price, so treat the flyer figure as the one to confirm before you go, and check the club's Instagram, @socal.live.steamers, for any last-minute changes. Arrive early on Saturday if you want a shorter wait, since evening rides at a small volunteer-run railroad build lines quickly.

The window is a long one, more than three hours each night, so you can pick the time that fits your family's dinner and bedtime. Dress in layers, because the South Bay cools off fast once the sun goes down in late October, and bring a flashlight or phone light for the walk back to the car.

Making a Night of It

Wilson Park is a good base for an early evening. Come a little before your ride to let kids burn off energy, then head out for a quick bite nearby afterward. For more ideas on family events Los Angeles parents are lining up this fall, browse our family category. Halloween train rides like this one are the kind of small-scale tradition that makes October in the South Bay feel like a neighborhood event rather than a theme-park production.