What you should know
- The Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens in San Marino
- Friday 21 October (Huntington Premier level members) and Saturday 22 October (public)
- Opera, acrobatics, lectures, strange exhibits, cocktails and spooky delicacies
As the sun shines on the Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Garden with blinding frequency, a permanent mood of mystery hangs over San Marino’s landmark, an invisible veil that adds oodles of atmosphere and character.
Maybe it’s because of the destination’s decades-long history, or because of the incredible array of fictional and non-fictional documents in its fabled stacks, or because of all those wonderfully weird flowers and plants that seem to come from a far-off world.
But the sense of mystery at The Huntington is amplified near Halloween, when two evenings devoted to quirkier pursuits begin to sprout in multiple locations around the vast property.
Strange Science: Into the Dark is a sleek, velvety, and oh-so-Huntington-esque take on the most haunting vacation.
Instead of maze-based horrors and candy-scented horrors, the garden features two nights of opera, acrobatics, cocktails, and opportunities to stagger through the scenic space in a fancy costume if you like. (And many creatively dressed revelers certainly do.)
Dates for 2022 have just been announced and, like 2021, the evenings are expected to sell out quickly. Tickets for Friday 21st October are available for purchase by The Huntington Premier Level members, while the general public can purchase tickets for Saturday 22nd October.
LA Opera artists will perform and present selections from Romeo + Juliet and other iconic works, while CirqueSanity will provide pure thrills.
Prepare to compile all of your smartest and quickest answers in The Poisonous Pub Quiz, then stop by to see a Poe-perfect presentation of the Guild of St. George.
Themed cocktails are on offer at a trio of pop-up bars with memorable nicknames, including The Cauldron, The Wytch Wood and The Wizard’s Sanctum.
A Discovery of Witches author Deborah Harkness will also be in attendance on Saturday night to chat about ancient elixirs and potions.
This annual treat, too, will sell out faster than a potion’s smoke dissipates in the chilly night air. Summon your entry now by visiting The Huntington’s Strange Science page.
