Night events give reasons for disguising in costume
By Daily Bruin Staff
Oct. 30, 2000 9:00 p.m.
 Knotts Berry Farm Knotts Scary Farm is going on tonight
in Knotts Berry Farm for the last time this year.
By Barbara McGuire
Daily Bruin Senior Staff Halloween is the only holiday that gives
participants a Cinderella’s chance to don a completely new
identity for just one night, before returning to reality the next
day. Though many may claim that past the age of 13 it is completely
immature to dress up and celebrate the holiday, in reality,
Halloween is just about the only day that has corresponding
activities that become better with age. No matter what age an
individual reaches, the underlying myths of Halloween still have
the potential to scare even the toughest non-believer. It’s
hard to deny the fact that seeing a black cat on Halloween seems
somewhat ominous and creepy. In light of this fact, the following
are a few activities that are just part of the joy of being old
enough to celebrate the holiday maturely.
West Hollywood “Halloween
Carnival”
For those who don’t have a lot of money to spend on
Halloween adventures, the West Hollywood-sponsored “Halloween
Carnival” is the perfect place to go. Located on Santa Monica
Boulevard, this event features music, contests and unlimited fun.
Budweiser and LA Tribe as well as Kiis FM, Star 98.7, Mega 92 and
KBIG 104 are co-sponsoring the evening. There’s only one
recommendation: everyone attending should be in costume. Those who
don’t dress up tend to feel very left out. “Halloween
Carnival” is like a crazy, amazing and unique one-night art
exhibit. Creativity is the flavor of the evening, as those
celebrating the holiday parade up and down Santa Monica Boulevard
showing off their costumes. The street is closed from 1 p.m., Oct
31, until 6:30 a.m. the next day, from La Cienega to Doheny. The
streets are typically packed full of people, and multiple stages
featuring various types of music from trance to hip-hop are
provided. A main stage, the “Cross-Over Costume Stage,”
located on the cross street of Huntley, offers a costume contest.
Finals for the contest begin at 10 p.m. Margaret Cho is the
honorary mayor of “Halloween Carnival,” and will be
located at the San Vicente Stage. A “Disco Dance” stage
will be featured on the cross street of Hilldale, with two others
on La Pier and La Cinega. The only problem with this event is
finding parking, though the City of West Hollywood promises to lift
all permit parking restrictions from 5 p.m. on Oct. 31 to 7 a.m.
the following morning. A party-goer’s best bet is to attempt
to locate a spot in either one of the many parking structures on
Santa Monica, or to find a spot in the surrounding residential
areas and walk. For information call the City of West Hollywood at
(323) 848-6503.
Knott’s Scary Farm’s “Halloween
Haunt”
Filled with freaky mazes, transformed horror rides and bizarre
shows, “Halloween Haunt” goes beyond just adding a
Halloween splash to the park, Knott’s Scary Farm really takes
guests into an alternate reality. Hosting its 28th annual
“Halloween Haunt,” this year’s Knott’s is
filled with 11 mazes, five “scare zones” and seven
shows ““ all promising to convert the family theme park into
“the scariest place on earth.” Over 1,000 ghouls,
mutants, beasts and other horrifying creatures roam the park,
scaring visitors by following them closely and jumping in front of
them. “CarnEVIL” is a new zone, which holds true to its
name. This zone is filled with horrific and frightening clowns, who
aren’t always smiling. “Carnival of Carnivorous
Clowns” features a special 3D section to increase the scare,
in addition to its unprecedented maze decor. Brave souls who enter
the maze are taken through a wide variety of mutated carnival
rooms, ranging from an altered nursery to a neon paint-speckled
black hole. The shows are equally entertaining. “Festival of
Freaks” provides gruesome, stomach-clenching performances,
while “The Crypt Keeper Presents “˜Tales From the
Inquisition'” is full of laughs. While the park is
completely transformed into a Halloween-themed arena, a few extreme
rides are open for those who want to be thrilled. “Supreme
Scream,” for example, a ride featuring a 30-story drop, is
open till 12 midnight, as well as many others. Knott’s Scary
Farm was the first park to ever transform itself into a Halloween
scare, making the tickets no doubt worth the $35 presale, and $40
at the park. Tickets can be purchased at any Ticketmaster location
or by calling (877) 858-7234 or (213) 365-3535.
“Maggie’s House of Horrors, Costume
Ball”
Offering a night filled with some very non-traditional Halloween
activities, “Maggie’s House of Horrors” is not
actually a haunted house exhibit, but a rave taking place on
Halloween night. The party features five full bars, five dance
floors on four different levels and a special VIP
“torture” area. It will be held at the Variety Arts
Center located across the street from Staples Center. Close to 30
DJs will be spinning through the night, providing a wide variety of
techno music. Jungle beats can be found on floor five with
well-known DJ Shagee, while hard-core tunes will be located on
floor four with DJs such as R.A.W. and Curious. Trance music can
also be found here, and featured at the party are such well-known
names as Juan Atkins, Jason Blakemore, Thee-O and Eli-Star. With a
2,500-capacity level, “Maggie’s House of Horrors”
has definitely planned a night full of music that will keep
participants awake. The Halloween event also features live
performances from bands such as Ugly Duckling and The Shape
Shifters. “Maggie’s House of Horrors” promises to
not exclude those who don’t fully engage in the festivities
by dressing up, but offers rewards for those who do. Those in
costume do not have to wait in line and receive a special discount
at the door.
Tickets are $15 presale and can be purchased through www.groovetickets.com or by
calling (877) 71-GROOVE. Tickets are also available at the door of
the Variety Arts Center at 940 S. Figueroa St in downtown Los
Angeles. For information, call (310) 281-8110.
