Monday, October 7, 2024

Discover the Magic of Boney Island at the Los Angeles Natural History Museum

A group of skeletons holding signs welcome visitors to Boney Island at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles.
Visitors explore the whimsical displays at the latest iteration of Boney Island, unveiled on October 2, 2024, at the Los Angeles County Natural History Museum in Los Angeles, California. All photographs by Eric Harris / TTDILA.


By Eric Harris


If you're looking for a unique and enchanting Halloween experience in Los Angeles, look no further than Boney Island at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles. This interactive, illuminated event transforms the museum's Nature Gardens into a whimsical wonderland of spooky fun for all ages. Running from October 3 to 31, 2024, Boney Island promises a night of ghoulish delight and family-friendly entertainment.


What to Expect at Boney Island


Boney Island, created by Rick Polizzi, a producer on "The Simpsons," is a Halloween twist on Brooklyn’s Coney Island. The event takes place on the grounds of the Natural History Museum and features hundreds of colorfully decorated pumpkins and skeletons, interactive exhibits, live performances, photo opportunities, food trucks, a bar, and Boney Island and Natural History Museum branded pop-up stores.

A cheerful skeleton arranged in a yoga pose sits on a bush in front of Boney Island displays and dioramas.

According to the map, there are 30 main exhibits arranged into six themed zones: Walk of Fame, Primal Pass, Deadwood Forest, Skeleton Stroll, Skeletown, and Hauntington Gardens. The exhibits include physically or visually animated elements and interactive features such as life-size puppetry where skeletons are animated via visible strings.

A young woman snaps a photo of a stage where Conjuring Clavicle, a magician skeleton, performs a magic trick.

A couple admires the Skeletown Die-Ner located in the Skeletown area of Boney Island.

The main live performance at the media preview was a repeated magic show at the Boney Island Theatre Stage. Additionally, Maestro Maxilla’s water and light show, while not quite live, offers a captivating experience.

A magician and his assistant, who is holding an oversized die, perform a magic trick on the Boney Island Theater stage.

At Maestro Maxilla’s Water Show, vivid green jets of water and light spray and burst rhythmically to classical music, led by a skeleton conductor.

Halloween-themed snacks and beverages, such as decorated cupcakes and Witch’s Brew green apple lemonade, are available at the museum cafe. The food trucks and alcohol bar service are nice options; however, the food trucks on the preview night were the biggest letdown of the event in that the food options did not match the Halloween or carnivalesque atmosphere. 

Visitors order food from food trucks at the Boney Island interactive Halloween light-up event at the Natural History Museum in Exposition Park, Los Angeles, California.

All in all, Boney Island is a well-done and recommended Halloween experience. Budget around one to two hours to explore the grounds and shows. While billed as family-friendly, we recommend this event for school-aged children and up, as the skeletons, while often engaged in silly activities, may be considered scary for younger audiences. Costumes are encouraged.

A skeleton dinosaur waves to guests at Boney Island.


Plan Your Visit


Dates: October 3–31, 2024 (select dates)

Time: 6:30 PM – 10:00 PM

Location: Natural History Museum, 900 Exposition Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90007

Tickets: $25 General Admission, $15 Child (3-12) Admission. Children 2 and under are free. Available for purchase on the Natural History Museum website. Be sure to book in advance as this popular event sells out quickly.

Parking: $20


A skeleton uses a fishing rod to catch a skeletal fish.

A skeleton kneels while offering a bouquet of flowers to its admiring companion.

Vertical streams of green water burst forth in front of the skeletal conductor, Maestro Maxilla, during Maestro Maxilla’s Water Show.

Skeleton conductor, Maestro Maxilla’s smiles for guests during Maestro Maxilla’s Water Show.

At The Buried Bone Saloon in Skeletown at Boney Island, a skeleton bartender with glowing red eyes smiles while serving a drink.