Boney Island at NHM

An interactive Halloween light-up experience

A flat cutout house at night with jack-o-lanterns in the windows, a skeleton character standing in the doorway and audience members watching the performance

General Info

- $25 per person; $20 for Members
Thursday–Sunday, plus October 30 and 31
Entry Times: 6–8 pm and 8–10 pm
Event hours may vary by date
Get tickets

Get ready for a bone-chilling adventure like no other! This Halloween season, join us for Boney Island, an interactive light-up experience at the Natural History Museum.

On select dates beginning September 28 through Halloween, NHM’s Nature Gardens transform into an illuminated wonderland of fun and frights. 

Explore ghoulishly glowing exhibits, fascinating creatures of the night and prehistoric past, and lots of thrilling surprises! 

Nature Gardens Transformed

  • Festively fiendish animals celebrating Halloween in the Deadwood Forest
  • Talking and singing plants in the Hauntington Gardens
  • Prehistoric creatures in the Prime Evil Pass
  • Haunted Hallowe’en Light Trail
  • Skeleton orchestra 
  • Haunted-mansion cauldron water show
  • *Magic Theater performances, surprise demonstrations from NHM’s Live Animals team, Museum Collection showcases, and more! 

Plus,

  • Food trucks 
  • Family-friendly photo ops 
  • Limited edition Boney Island merchandise

* Schedule of performances, demonstrations, and showcases vary by night and are subject to change. 

Visitors walking through a gated entryway with a banner with text in capital letters and an illustrated skull between Boney and Island on an orange background.
Audience members seen from behind, facing a stage with two performers with a sign above that reads Boney Island Theatre in capita letters with an illustration of a rabbit coming out of a top hat
A stage with two replica skeletons, one holding a hood and the other suspended horizontally through the hoop
A replica Saber-toothed cat skeleton on a stage and a replica cat skeleton crawling up a curtain with blue lighting against a black backgroung
Pathway with shrubbery along one side with replica plants that look like mouths in orange inside on green on the outside
A child seen from behind, facing a stage with pumpkins and a replica skeleton wearing a striped jacket and a hat

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Parking 

Parking for Boney Island is available in the Blue Lot in Exposition Park. Please be advised that concurrent events taking place in Exposition Park may lead to an increase in traffic and reduced parking in the area. Please check our website prior to your visit for more information. Public transportation is encouraged. 

COstume Guidelines

We encourage costume-wearing! Please follow these basic guidelines for a safe, inclusive, and family-friendly experience for everyone: 

  • No functional props or weapons allowed 
  • No masks that cover the entire head and face
  • Costumes of realistic depictions of American law enforcement, current American military uniforms, first responders, emergency medical personnel, or any official government agent are prohibited
  • Costumes must not obstruct or impede the flow of traffic or entryways 

Boney Island at NHM is an All Ages/Family Friendly event and all costumes must be respectful of all guests.

ABOUt boney Island

Boney Island was created by The Simpsons producer, Rick Polizzi, for his family more than 20 years ago. A play on Brooklyn’s iconic Coney Island, it grew from a front yard display to a huge affair in Griffith Park with a cult-like following of Halloween lovers of all ages. The attraction closed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, after a three-year hiatus, NHM is excited to partner with Boney Island to bring back the crowd-pleasing event.