Haunted Happy Hour
Friday, October 30, 2026 · Altadena
Save a window into LA’s past
Cemetery Tour + Mausoleum Soirée
Limited to 60 guests total · Dress code: all black
Benefiting the Pasadena Cemetery Association, a 501(c)(13) nonprofit, supporting historic stained-glass restoration.
About this tour
Raise a glass to the spirits of LA.
Join LA Explained for an extraordinary evening at Mountain View Cemetery: private guided cemetery tours exploring remarkable lives and Los Angeles stories, followed by a private cocktail party inside historic Pasadena Mausoleum.
Step from the cemetery grounds into a setting of marble, luminous stained glass and beautiful architectural details for cocktails and conversation. Three (3) spirits are included with the $99 ticket (21+). Prefer the evening without alcohol? Choose the $66 tour + party ticket for the same tours and private-party access.
A portion of all ticket proceeds will help preserve and restore the historic stained glass at neighboring Mountain View Mausoleum. Come for the stories. Stay for the spirits.
A closer look
Stone, light & storytelling.
From Mountain View Cemetery’s historic grounds to marble corridors and luminous stained glass: a closer look at the beauty behind the stories.
Pasadena Mausoleum photographs supplied by Cyndee Flores / Mountain View. Additional images supplied by LA Explained; cemetery photograph: Mountain View. Previous reception shown for atmosphere; this event’s setup may differ.
An evening with purpose
Help Save a Window into LA’s Past
An evening surrounded by history can help protect its future. A portion of all ticket proceeds will support Pasadena Cemetery Association’s campaign to preserve and restore the historic stained glass at neighboring Mountain View Mausoleum.
These windows are works of art—and part of the architectural heritage that makes this place extraordinary. Your ticket helps support their preservation for future generations.
The beauty next door
Built in 1923 and designed by Cecil E. Bryan, Mountain View Mausoleum brings together Judson Studios stained glass, richly patterned marble and a 180-foot Great Gallery beneath a ceiling painted by Martin Syvertsen.
Photos: Michael Choi
SAVE A WINDOW INTO LA’S PAST!Additional donations go directly through the campaign. Pasadena Cemetery Association is a 501(c)(13) nonprofit cemetery organization.
The experience
One evening. Two extraordinary settings.
5:30–8 PM · Guided cemetery tours
Explore the lives behind the legends.
Follow LA Explained through Mountain View Cemetery for stories of writers, architects, scientific breakthroughs and the people who shaped greater Los Angeles. Historic memorials and quiet paths become connections to the city beyond the gates.
Guided tours take place during this window. Check your event instructions for individual departure times and walking details.
8–9:30 PM · Private cocktail party
Then step inside Pasadena Mausoleum.
The evening continues indoors, surrounded by marble and stained glass. Gather with fellow history lovers, take in the architecture and raise a glass in a remarkable setting.
$99 ticket: three (3) spirits included (21+).
$66 ticket: private cemetery tour and party access.
Featured stops & stories
LA history, beyond the headlines.
From the cemetery’s historic grounds and family monuments to Pasadena Mausoleum, the evening connects remarkable places with remarkable lives.
Octavia E.
Butler
The Pasadena-born author whose imagined futures continue to reshape the way we see our world.
Paramount Pictures
George
Reeves
Television’s first Superman, whose cremated remains are interred inside Pasadena Mausoleum.
Caltech / USGS
Charles
Richter
The Caltech seismologist who helped give Los Angeles—and the world—a new way to measure earthquakes.
Brady-Handy · Library of Congress
Thaddeus
S. C. Lowe
The Union Army balloonist and Mount Lowe Railway founder who carried Southern California’s imagination into the mountains.
Wallace
Neff
The architect whose romantic California homes, from Pasadena estates to Hollywood hideaways, helped define Southern California style.
Ernest
Batchelder
The Pasadena artist and tilemaker whose handmade designs brought Arts and Crafts artistry into homes and landmarks across Los Angeles.
Ellen Garrison
Clark
An educator, abolitionist and civil-rights pioneer whose life connects Pasadena to a larger story of courage and equality.
Eva Scott
Fényes
The artist and arts patron whose paintings preserved California’s changing landscape—and whose Pasadena home is now part of Pasadena Museum of History.
Explore more notable lives & LA stories
From television’s Superman to the makers of Southern California’s buildings, books and scientific breakthroughs, these graves and interments connect the grounds to a much larger LA story.
- George Reeves — Television’s first Superman in Adventures of Superman. His cremated remains are interred inside Pasadena Mausoleum.
- Octavia E. Butler — Pasadena-born science-fiction author whose imagined futures grew from a life deeply connected to Southern California.
- Richard Feynman — Nobel Prize–winning physicist and Caltech teacher, part of Pasadena’s extraordinary scientific legacy.
- Charles Richter — Caltech seismologist whose earthquake-magnitude scale became familiar to generations of Angelenos.
- Wallace Neff — Architect whose Southern California homes helped define the region’s distinctive architectural character.
- Sylvanus Marston — Pasadena architect whose residential work helped shape the city’s architectural identity.
- Joseph J. Blick — Prolific Pasadena architect whose work traces the city’s growth around the turn of the twentieth century.
- Ernest Batchelder — Pasadena artist and tilemaker whose Arts and Crafts designs became a signature of Southern California interiors.
- Thaddeus S. C. Lowe — Union Army balloonist during the Civil War and the visionary behind the Mount Lowe Railway, which carried visitors into the San Gabriel Mountains.
- Amos G. Throop — Abolitionist, Pasadena civic leader and founder of the school that became Caltech.
- Ellen Garrison Clark — Educator and civil-rights pioneer who spent her final years in Pasadena; the community later honored her once-unmarked grave.
- Jabez Banbury — Early Pasadena settler and Union Army veteran whose family’s story is intertwined with the cemetery’s beginnings.
- John Hunt Painter — Abolitionist and early Pasadena settler who built the La Pintoresca hotel, a landmark of the growing city.
- J. Vernon McGee — Radio minister and longtime pastor of downtown Los Angeles’s Church of the Open Door; buried in Mountain View’s Radiant Meadow.
- Eva Scott Fényes — Artist, collector and arts patron whose mansion is now part of the Pasadena Museum of History; buried at Mountain View Cemetery.
Our guides explore a selection of these lives and memorials, connecting the cemetery’s historic grounds with the larger story of Los Angeles.
Tour photos
The details make the evening.
Good to know before you go.
A little planning makes for a much better haunting. Here’s what to know about Haunted Happy Hour, our Mountain View Cemetery walking tour and private Pasadena Mausoleum cocktail party in Altadena.
What do the Haunted Happy Hour tickets include?
Both ticket options include private guided cemetery tours and admission to the private cocktail party inside historic Pasadena Mausoleum. Choose $99 with three (3) spirits included (21+) or $66 for the private cemetery tour and party access. The event is limited to 60 tickets total across both options. A portion of all ticket proceeds also supports historic stained-glass preservation at neighboring Mountain View Mausoleum. Los Angeles history, extraordinary architecture and a toast to the past—all in one evening.
Is Haunted Happy Hour 21+?
The event is not restricted to guests 21 and over. Guests under 21 are welcome with the $66 tour + party ticket, which includes the cemetery tours and private-party admission. The $99 ticket and all alcohol service are strictly 21+; valid government-issued photo ID is required for alcohol service. The history is for everyone; the cocktails have an age limit.
When and where is this cemetery tour and cocktail party?
Join LA Explained on Friday, October 30, 2026, from 5:30–9:30 PM Pacific at Mountain View Cemetery and Pasadena Mausoleum in Altadena, near Pasadena. Guided cemetery tours take place during the 5:30–8 PM window, followed by the private mausoleum cocktail party from 8–9:30 PM. Your order confirmation will include the address and arrival information. Individual tour departure details will be provided before the event. Consider your Halloween-weekend plans considerably more spirited.
What will we discover on the Mountain View Cemetery walking tour?
Our guided walking tours connect historic graves, family monuments and cemetery architecture with the people who shaped greater Los Angeles. Expect stories of writers, architects, artists and scientific pioneers, including lives connected to Pasadena and Altadena. Our guides draw from the notable people featured on this page to bring the grounds to life through storytelling. The permanent residents have excellent stories; we’re here to do the talking.
Is the cocktail party inside Pasadena Mausoleum or Mountain View Mausoleum?
The private cocktail party takes place inside Pasadena Mausoleum, among its marble interiors, stained glass and historic architectural details. Neighboring Mountain View Mausoleum is a separate building and is not included in Haunted Happy Hour. Its stained-glass restoration is the cause this evening supports. Interested in exploring that building too? Use the Mountain View tour-updates button below to hear about our separate walking-tour offering.
Is Haunted Happy Hour a ghost tour?
Think Los Angeles history, cemetery architecture and atmospheric storytelling, followed by cocktails in a remarkable historic mausoleum. The evening focuses on real people and places; supernatural sightings are beyond our booking department. Come curious, enjoy the atmosphere and raise a glass to the spirits of LA. No séance required.
What should I wear and bring?
Dress code: all black. Think a chic evening among the spirits—black clothing, comfortable walking shoes and a warm black layer for the outdoor cemetery tour. Bring water, your ticket confirmation and, if you have the $99 ticket, valid government-issued photo ID. You’ll move from the cemetery grounds into an indoor reception, so choose something that works for both. Bring the drama in your outfit; spare your feet the horror story. Follow your guide, stay in designated areas and treat graves and memorials with care.
What should I know about walking and accessibility?
This experience includes an outdoor cemetery walking tour and an indoor mausoleum reception. If you have mobility needs or questions about walking distances, surfaces, steps, seating or access, email info@laexplained.com before booking so we can discuss the route and your needs. We want the stories to be memorable for all the right reasons.
How does my ticket help preserve the historic stained glass?
A portion of all ticket proceeds supports Pasadena Cemetery Association’s preservation and restoration efforts for the historic stained glass at neighboring Mountain View Mausoleum. These luminous windows are part of the architectural heritage of this Los Angeles-area landmark. You can also donate directly to the stained-glass restoration fundraiser. Raise a glass. Help save one.
Who can help with food, drinks or booking questions?
For questions about food, nonalcoholic options, ticket terms or your visit, contact info@laexplained.com. Review the applicable ticket terms before completing your purchase, and keep your event instructions handy for arrival. Questions are welcome—please don’t ghost us if you need a hand.
Another chapter, coming soon
More to discover next door.
A separate Mountain View Mausoleum walking tour is planned, exploring its stained glass, marble and painted ceilings. Its interments include actor Hugh Sanders, actress Cathrine Countiss and architect Cecil E. Bryan. These belong to the neighboring building and are not stops on Haunted Happy Hour.
Proudly presented by
LA Explained and our tours, events and experiences are proudly presented by Don Francisco’s Coffee.
Discover Don Francisco’s Coffee →Come for the stories.
Stay for the spirits.
Private cemetery tours + a private mausoleum cocktail party
$99 with three (3) spirits (21+) · $66 tour + party access
60 tickets total · Dress code: all black