Halloween and Fall Events in Orange County
Haunted Nights, Pumpkin Farms & Unexpected Frights in Southern California
Orange County may be best known for its beautiful beaches, year-round sunshine and world-famous theme parks, but Halloween brings out a completely different side of Southern California. Theme parks fill with fog and frightening creatures, pumpkin farms come alive with glowing displays, ghost stories come to life, and even coastal communities find creative ways to celebrate the spooky season.
As an Orange County native who spent nearly 50 years living here, I have celebrated more Southern California Halloweens than I can count. I’ve returned to many of these events over the years, watched longtime traditions evolve and discovered which experiences are genuinely worth the time, cost and inevitable drive-through Orange County traffic.
This guide goes beyond Disneyland and Knott’s Scary Farm to help you discover even more Orange County Halloween experiences worth adding to your fall bucket list. Whether you want an elaborate haunted maze, a picture-perfect pumpkin patch, a family-friendly festival or something wonderfully strange, you’ll find the best Halloween happenings throughout Orange County right here.
👉 Planning a fall trip to Nashville instead? Explore haunted houses, themed pop-up bars, ghost tours in a hearse, pumpkin farms and festivals in my guide to Halloween in Music City!
🎃 Orange County Fall Events at a Glance
📍 Location: Orange County, California.
🍂 Season: Most Halloween celebrations begin in mid-to-late September and continue through October 31, although some haunted attractions remain open into early November.
👻 Known For: World-famous theme park celebrations, elaborate haunted houses, immersive scare attractions, picture-perfect pumpkin patches, seasonal performances and unexpected after-dark experiences.
⭐ Perfect For: Families, couples, groups of friends, devoted horror fans and anyone who loves an over-the-top Halloween experience.
🕒 Recommended Visit: One full weekend for two or three major experiences, or three to four days if you plan to include a full day at Disneyland or Knott’s Berry Farm.
🚘 Getting Around: Orange County’s Halloween attractions are spread across several cities, so having a car is the easiest way to reach them. Allow extra travel time on Friday and Saturday evenings for traffic.
🎟️ Plan Ahead: Many of the most popular events require timed tickets and can sell out weeks in advance, particularly on the weekends closest to Halloween.
2026 Orange County Halloween and Fall Event Highlights
🗓️ August 18–October 31: Oogie Boogie Bash on select nights at Disney California Adventure
🗓️ August 21–October 31: Halloween Time throughout Disneyland Resort
🗓️ September 11–13: Creep It Real OC at Heritage Museum of Orange County
🗓️ September 12–October 31: Tanaka Farms Pumpkin Patch and Irvine Park Railroad Pumpkin Patch
🗓️ September 17–October 31: Knott’s Scary Farm on select nights
🗓️ September 19–20: Sugar Skull! A Día de Muertos Musical Adventure at Segerstrom Center for the Arts
🗓️ October 22-25: Haunted Trails at Crown Valley Park in Laguna Niguel
🗓️ October 24: Anaheim Fall Festival and Halloween Parade in Downtown Anaheim
🗓️ October 24: Boo Ha Ha: Zombie Homecoming at the OC Fair & Event Center
🗓️ October 25: MUSE Burlesque: Ghosts of the Yost at the Yost Theater in Santa Ana
🗓️ October 31: Haunted HEAT, the Newport Beach Halloween Party Pub Crawl and the Titanic Masquerade Halloween Party Cruise
🗓️ November 1: Día de los Muertos celebrations at Bowers Museum, Heritage Museum of Orange County and La Plaza Park in Dana Point
🗓️ November 7: Noche de Altares in Downtown Santa Ana
Table of Contents
🎢 Orange County’s Iconic Halloween Experiences
Few places celebrate Halloween on the same scale as Orange County. Disneyland fills its parks with glowing pumpkins, costumed characters and seasonal attraction overlays, while Knott’s Berry Farm transforms from a nostalgic theme park into an eerie world of haunted mazes, sinister creatures and fog-filled streets after dark.
These are the experiences that put Orange County Halloween on the map. They require more planning and a larger budget than a neighborhood festival or pumpkin patch, but the elaborate sets, live entertainment and immersive details make them memorable enough to build an entire trip around.
Disneyland Halloween Time
📍 Location: Disneyland Resort, 1313 Disneyland Drive, Anaheim, California
📅 2026 Dates: August 21 through October 31, 2026
🌐 Website: Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort
🏮 Known For: Festive pumpkin-filled decorations throughout the park, seasonal attractions, costumed characters, Halloween entertainment and limited-time treats
⭐ Best For: Families, Disney fans and visitors who want festive Halloween fun without intense scares
Halloween Time transforms both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure with glowing pumpkins, seasonal food, costumed characters and playful Halloween details throughout the parks. Haunted Mansion Holiday, Halloween Screams and the wonderfully creative transformations throughout Cars Land are among the experiences that make this season feel completely different from an ordinary Disney visit.
✨ Pro Tip: Regular Halloween Time entertainment is included with standard park admission. Trick-or-treating and the private after-hours party require a separate Oogie Boogie Bash ticket.
Oogie Boogie Bash at Disney California Adventure
📍 Location: Disney California Adventure Park, 1313 Disneyland Drive, Anaheim, California
📅 2026 Dates: Select nights from August 18 through October 31, 2026
🌐 Website: Oogie Boogie Bash
🏮 Known For: Immersive treat trails, Disney villains, Villains Grove, Halloween entertainment, costumes and shorter attraction waits
⭐ Best For: Families, Disney lovers and anyone wanting an exclusive after-hours park experience with fewer crowds
Halloween at Disneyland has always been one of my favorite family traditions. I took my granddaughter every year from the time she could walk until she was about ten years old. At the time, the separately ticketed Halloween party was held inside Disneyland Park. We planned themed costumes, collected far more candy than she needed and shared the experience with different combinations of family and friends. One year, even my mom and brother joined us, making it an especially memorable multigenerational Disney Halloween.
In 2019, Disney moved the celebration to California Adventure and transformed it into Oogie Boogie Bash, but many of the reasons we loved it remained. Guests can arrive in costume, trick-or-treat throughout the park and enjoy entertainment created specifically for the party.
California Adventure closes to regular daytime guests before the five-hour event begins, creating a smaller, more exclusive experience. In addition to the treat trails and Halloween entertainment, ride and attraction lines are considerably shorter than they are during a normal park day. Event tickets include admission to California Adventure beginning at 3:00 p.m., with the party running from 6:00 to 11:00 p.m. after day visitors have gone home.
🎟️ Important: Oogie Boogie Bash requires a separate event ticket and routinely sells out. General admission tickets for 2026 are currently sold out, although availability and special-ticket opportunities should always be checked directly through Disney. Tickets may also appear through private third-party sellers, but they typically cost considerably more, so verify the seller and ticket terms carefully before purchasing and be careful of scams.
Knott’s Scary Farm
📍 Location: Knott’s Berry Farm, 8039 Beach Boulevard, Buena Park, California
📅 2026 Dates: Select nights from September 17 through October 31, 2026
🌐 Website: Knott’s Scary Farm
🏮 Known For: Elaborate haunted mazes, fog-filled scare zones, live shows, nighttime rides and more than 1,000 monsters throughout the park looking to scare you
⭐ Best For: Teenagers, adults, horror fans and visitors who genuinely want to be scared
Knott’s Scary Farm has been terrifying Southern California for more than 50 years and remains one of Orange County’s most iconic Halloween traditions. After dark, the entire theme park becomes an immersive nightmare filled with haunted mazes, elaborate scare zones, sinister live entertainment and creatures that appear from the fog when you least expect them.
I used to visit Knott’s Scary Farm with my church youth group and school friends each year, and those evenings remain some of my fondest childhood memories. It was genuinely scary, but there was something incredibly fun about screaming through the mazes and then laughing about it together afterward. The combination of friends, roller coasters, fog and the constant possibility (and likelihood) of something jumping out at us made it unlike any other Halloween event.
✨ Pro Tip: Knott’s Scary Farm requires a separate nighttime ticket and is not recommended for children younger than 13. This is a genuinely spooky celebration. The monsters roam freely through designated scare zones, and avoiding them is part of the challenge. Younger children will likely be afraid and may not enjoy it.
Knott’s Spooky Farm
📍 Location: Knott’s Berry Farm, 8039 Beach Boulevard, Buena Park, California
📅 2026 Dates: Select daytime dates during the Halloween season
🌐 Website: Knott’s Spooky Farm
🏮 Known For: Trick-or-treating in Ghost Town, Snoopy’s costume party, Halloween shows, pumpkin activities and friendly creepy critters
⭐ Best For: Families with younger children and visitors who want Halloween fun without the scares
Knott’s Spooky Farm offers a completely different experience from Knott’s Scary Farm. This daytime celebration replaces monsters and jump scares with trick-or-treating, costumes, games, live entertainment and Peanuts characters dressed for Halloween.
Children can collect candy throughout Ghost Town, join Snoopy’s Spooktacular Costume Party, encounter spiders and insects at the Creepy Critters Corral, and participate in seasonal activities. It is an excellent alternative for families whose children are not ready for the intensity of Knott’s Scary Farm.
✨ Pro Tip: The event is offered during regular daytime park hours and is designed to be playful rather than frightening so it’s great for younger kids. Check the official Knott’s calendar for the current operating dates before planning your visit.
Boo Ha Ha: Zombie Homecoming at the OC Fairgrounds
📍 Location: OC Fair & Event Center, 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, California
📅 2026 Date: October 24, 2026
🌐 Website: Boo Ha Ha
🏮 Known For: More than 100 craft beers, live music, elaborate costumes and a Halloween after-party
⭐ Best For: Adults, craft beer fans, groups of friends and anyone looking for a Halloween party rather than a haunted attraction
While some Halloween events are meant to scare you, Boo Ha Ha is all about fun and a tasting glass. Part craft beer festival, part costume party and part live concert, this adults-only celebration takes over the Orange County Fairgrounds with more than 100 beers from over 30 breweries.
The evening begins with three hours of unlimited tastings accompanied by live music and plenty of wildly creative costumes. When the beer tasting ends, the music keeps going and the festival shifts into a full Halloween after-party. If your ideal spooky season involves great beer, dancing and dressing up with friends, this is the Halloween event for you.
🎭 Costume Note: Costumes are encouraged, but full-face masks and costume weapons are not allowed.
✨ Pro Tip: Since tastings are unlimited, bring a designated driver or use a rideshare so everyone can enjoy themselves.
👻 Haunted Houses, Mazes and After-Dark Frights
Halloween is not complete without at least one good scare, and Orange County gives you plenty of ways to find one. Make your way through a monster-filled trail after dark or trade jump scares for ghost stories tied to some of the county’s most historic places. These are some of the best haunted attractions and after-dark experiences in Orange County.
The 17th Door
📍 Location: 8420 On the Mall, Buena Park, California
📅 2026 Dates: Select nights from September 18 through November 1
🌐 Website: The 17th Door
🏮 Known For: An extreme, interactive haunted-house experience that engages all five senses
⭐ Best For: Adults, older teens and serious haunt fans looking for something genuinely intense
The 17th Door is not a typical haunted maze where actors simply jump at you from behind walls. It’s a much more intense psychologcal thrill. The approximately 35-minute experience moves you through a series of elaborate rooms filled with actors, unsettling encounters and physical effects like water, wind, darkness, moving floors, confined spaces and unexpected contact.
For 2026, the story takes place inside Perpetuum Penitentiary where guests encounter a prison barber, death-row inmates, a sinister butcher and a merciless warden.
✨ Pro Tip: The 17th Door is recommended for ages 16 and older. If it becomes too intense, you can say the safe word, “mercy,” to ask an actor to back away, bypass a room or leave the attraction, but there are a few rooms you can’t exit once the scene has started.
Eulogy Collective: Shades of Hell
📍 Location: Anaheim GardenWalk, 400 Disney Way, Suite 168, Anaheim, California
📅 2026 Dates: Opens September 18, with tickets offered on select Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights
🌐 Website: Eulogy Collective
🏮 Known For: A theatrical, story-driven haunted maze hidden inside Anaheim GardenWalk
⭐ Best For: Visitors who want a concentrated burst of scares without committing an entire evening to a theme park
Eulogy Collective operates a year-round haunted attraction in the middle of Anaheim’s entertainment district, changing its storyline and environments throughout the year. Its newest production, Shades of Hell, sends guests into a place where every person’s version of the underworld looks a little different.
The experience lasts approximately eight to ten minutes, but it packs those minutes with live actors, dark rooms, sudden lighting changes, tight spaces, water effects and close-proximity scares. Its location at Anaheim GardenWalk’s makes it easy to combine it with dinner, drinks or another nearby Halloween event.
✨ Pro Tip: This is a good choice when you want a real haunted-house experience but do not want to pay theme-park prices or spend your entire night waiting in maze lines.
Haunted Trails at Crown Valley Park
📍 Location: Crown Valley Park, 29751 Crown Valley Parkway, Laguna Niguel, California
📅 2026 Dates: October 22–25
🌐 Website: City of Laguna Niguel Haunted Trails
🏮 Known For: An outdoor haunted trail filled with costumed monsters and unexpected scares
⭐ Best For: Older children, teens and adults who want something different from a traditional indoor maze
Haunted Trails moves the scares outdoors, where darkness and an open park setting make it much harder to anticipate what might be waiting for you. It’s filled with actors in costumes and staged encounters designed to catch you off guard as you make your way along the trail.
Because the experience takes place outside rather than inside a traditional haunted house, it feels less controlled and gives the monsters far more room to appear when you least expect them.
✨ Pro Tip: Haunted Trails is not recommended for children younger than ten. Presale tickets are less expensive than tickets purchased at the event, and a physical ticket is required for admission.
Haunted Orange County Ghost Walks
📍 Location: Multiple historic locations throughout Orange County, California
📅 2026 Dates: Offered on select dates throughout the year
🌐 Website: Haunted Orange County Ghost Tours
🏮 Known For: Guided walks combining Orange County history, local legends and reported paranormal activity
⭐ Best For: Visitors who prefer real history and ghost stories over staged haunted-houses
Haunted Orange County offers several very different ways to explore the county after dark. Rather than relying on elaborate sets and actors, these tours draw upon local history, reported hauntings, ghost sightings and the stories attached to some of Orange County’s oldest buildings and most mysterious places.
Choose the experience that sounds most interesting to you:
Old Town Orange Ghost Walk: Wander through the historic district while hearing stories connected to its restaurants, old buildings and former undertaker’s parlor.
Black Star Canyon Ghost Walk: Spend approximately three hours exploring one of Orange County’s most isolated and mysterious canyons after dark. This tour involves uneven terrain, wildlife and limited cell service.
Kellogg House Ghost Tour: Step inside an 1898 Victorian mansion while learning about the family that lived there and the unusual activity reportedly experienced inside.
Spirits and Legends of Bowers Museum: Explore the museum after hours while hearing stories connected to its collections, history and reported spirits.
✨ Pro Tip: Black Star Canyon is the most physically demanding of the choices and is for adults only. The other featured tours last approximately 90 minutes and are generally open to guests ages 12 and up.
Ghosts & Legends of San Juan Capistrano
📍 Location: San Juan Capistrano Historical Society, 31831 Los Rios Street, San Juan Capistrano, California
📅 2026 Dates: October 23–24
🌐 Website: Ghosts & Legends of San Juan Capistrano
🏮 Known For: A theatrical ghost walk featuring costumed characters along historic Los Rios Street
⭐ Best For: Families and visitors who enjoy local history with a playful, spooky twist
Ghosts & Legends of San Juan Capistrano is more than a traditional guided ghost tour. This annual Halloween production leads visitors down historic Los Rios Street, where costumed characters portray some of the people and legends connected to the city’s past.
Along the way, you may encounter Judge Egan, Modesta Avila, La Llorona, the Lady in White, Joaquin Murrieta and other ghostly visitors waiting to tell their stories. The atmosphere is spooky without being overwhelmingly frightening, making this one of the better choices for families or anyone interested in history and ghost stories.
✨ Pro Tip: This event is offered for only two nights, with several scheduled departure times each evening. Be sure to reserve your spot in advance, especially if you’re attending with a larger group.
🕯️ Unique Halloween Experiences You Might Not Expect
Some of Orange County’s most memorable Halloween experiences aren’t its pumpkin patches or haunted houses. They’re its unique and unusual experiences like wandering through a Venetian masquerade, listening to Halloween classics performed by candlelight, joining strangers around a séance table or keeping the windows closed as you drive through a tunnel full of monsters. These experiences offer something a little more imaginative than the usual fall outing.
Roger’s Gardens Moonlight Masquerade
📍 Location: 2301 San Joaquin Hills Road, Corona del Mar, California
📅 2026 Dates: Beginning August 28 and continuing throughout the Halloween season
🌐 Website: Roger’s Gardens Halloween Boutique
🏮 Known For: Elaborate Halloween displays and collectible seasonal décor
⭐ Best For: Anyone who loves decorating for Halloween, couples, photographers and those who prefer elegant over terrifying
Roger’s Gardens transforms its seasonal boutique into an immersive Halloween world filled with theatrical displays, elaborate characters and rooms you will want to examine slowly. The 2026 Moonlight Masquerade theme takes inspiration from Venice after dark, with gilded masks, flickering candles and a mysterious Palazzo of Whispers.
Although everything is beautifully staged, it’s still a boutique so you can shop for festive decorations, witches, skeletons, pumpkins and collectibles as you explore. It’s a fun way to get into the Halloween spirit.
✨ Pro Tip: Visit on a weekday morning when it’s less crowded.
Candlelight Halloween Concerts
📍 Location: Select venues in Yorba Linda, Laguna Beach and Costa Mesa, California
📅 2026 Dates: Select evenings from October 22 through October 30
🌐 Website: Candlelight Halloween Concerts in Orange County
🏮 Known For: Halloween music performed live beneath the glow of thousands of candles
⭐ Best For: Date nights, music lovers and anyone who enjoys atmosphere without jump scares
Candlelight concerts turn some of Orange County’s most beautiful venues into intimate Halloween settings filled with flickering light and live music. The 2026 schedule includes performances at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, Neighborhood Congregational Church in Laguna Beach and First United Methodist Church of Costa Mesa.
The experience feels dramatic and romantic rather than frightening, making it a refreshing alternative to haunted attractions. Each venue creates a slightly different atmosphere, so the setting may be just as important as the musical program when choosing your performance.
✨ Pro Tip: Compare the programs and venues before purchasing because the dates, musical selections and atmosphere vary between performances.
Night of the Living Dead at Maverick Theater
📍 Location: 110 East Walnut Avenue, Unit B, Fullerton, California
📅 2026 Dates: September 25 through October 31
🌐 Website: Night of the Living Dead at Maverick Theater
🏮 Known For: A live theatrical version of the cult zombie classic
⭐ Best For: Horror movie fans, theater lovers and unusual Halloween date nights
Rather than watching Night of the Living Dead from the safety of your couch, you can see the zombie story unfold inside an intimate Fullerton theater. The live production follows a group of terrified survivors barricading themselves inside a farmhouse while the dead gather outside.
The close quarters make the story feel more immediate than a traditional stage production, while the familiar plot gives classic-horror fans plenty to appreciate. It’s especially fun for anyone who wants something more creative than another haunted maze.
✨ Pro Tip: The theater is small and Halloween-weekend performances can sell out, so reserve your seats in advance.
Through the Veil: An Immersive Séance Experience
📍 Location: Broken Spirits, 549 South Anaheim Boulevard, Anaheim, California
📅 2026 Date: September 30, with sittings at 7, 8 and 9 p.m.
🌐 Website: Through the Veil Tickets
🏮 Known For: An intimate theatrical séance with only eight guests
⭐ Best For: Immersive-theater fans, small groups and adults seeking something genuinely unusual
Through the Veil brings a Victorian-style spirit show to Anaheim for an exceptionally intimate and eerie evening séance. Each sitting includes just eight guests gathered around the candlelit table during which their choices help shape how the story unfolds making it interactive and fun.
The experience uses theatrical storytelling and stagecraft rather than claiming to contact actual spirits. It’s inspired by historical true crime and traditional séances falling somewhere between live theater and an interactive mystery.
✨ Pro Tip: Capacity is extremely limited, so this is one experience you should not wait until the last minute to book.
Vampirates at Pirate’s Dinner Adventure
📍 Location: 7600 Beach Boulevard, Buena Park, California
📅 2026 Dates: Select nights during September and October
🌐 Website: Vampirates at Pirate’s Dinner Adventure
🏮 Known For: Vampire pirates, aerial acrobatics, sword fights and dinner aboard a galleon
⭐ Best For: Families, groups of friends and anyone looking for a Halloween dinner show
Pirate’s Dinner Adventure transforms itself into a Halloween-themed show each year full of vampire pirates, dramatic sword fights, and aerial performers. The action takes place around a full-sized replica of an 18th-century Spanish galleon while guests enjoy a three-course dinner. Costumes are encouraged, making it a great choice for families who want to turn dinner into a fun night out.
✨ Pro Tip: Place everyone in your group on the same reservation to improve your chances of sitting together, and book early for popular October dates.
Haunted Mansion Haunt
📍 Location: 28322 Millwood Road, Trabuco Canyon, California
📅 2026 Dates: Select nights from October 3 through November 1
🌐 Website: Haunted Mansion Haunt
🏮 Known For: A fan-created walk-through inspired by Disney’s Haunted Mansion
⭐ Best For: Haunted Mansion and Disney fans, families and anyone who appreciates an ambitious home haunt
What began as a neighborhood home haunt has grown into an impressive Halloween tribute to Disney’s Haunted Mansion. Elaborate sets, familiar characters, live performers and carefully created effects bring the attraction’s ghostly world to life in the middle of Trabuco Canyon.
The experience can be adjusted for different age groups, with a more intense version for older visitors and a gentler presentation for younger children. For older crowds, it’s filled with terrifying creatures, spooky settings, and hair-raising sound effects. For younger children, the organizers soften the scares, making the experience suitable for a wider range of ages
✨ Pro Tip: Reserve your time before making the drive and remember that this takes place in a residential neighborhood. Follow all arrival and parking instructions provided with your tickets.
The Haunted Carwash
📍 Location: Big Wave Carwash, 2219 Lincoln Avenue, Anaheim, California
📅 2026 Dates: Select nights from October 2 through October 31
🌐 Website: The Haunted Carwash
🏮 Known For: Monsters, lighting effects and scares inside a drive through working car wash
⭐ Best For: Families, groups and anyone who would rather face Halloween monsters from inside a locked vehicle
The Haunted Carwash may be the only Halloween attraction where you leave frightened and your car leaves cleaner. As your vehicle travels through the wash tunnel, costumed performers, eerie lighting and unexpected effects turn this into an unsual Halloween experience.
Everyone stays inside the vehicle, making it a fun alternative for visitors who enjoy a few scares but don’t want to walk through a dark maze or scary haunted house. Tickets are sold per vehicle, making this a fun option for families and groups..
🍂 Family-Friendly Events and Pumpkin Patches
Not every Halloween adventure needs to involve terror or scares. Orange County has plenty of family-friendly ways to celebrate the season from picking pumpkins on a working farm and riding a train through a regional park to exploring spooky marine science, trick-or-treating and watching zoo animals tear into pumpkins. Here are just a few experiences worth planning around.
Tanaka Farms Pumpkin Patch
📍 Location: 5380 3/4 University Drive, Irvine, California
📅 2026 Dates: September 12 through November 1
🌐 Website: Tanaka Farms Pumpkin Patch
🏮 Known For: Wagon rides, pumpkins growing in the fields and a real working-farm experience
⭐ Best For: Families, younger children and anyone who wants more than a parking-lot pumpkin patch
Tanaka Farms offers the kind of pumpkin-picking experience that can be surprisingly difficult to find in Southern California. Visitors ride a wagon through the working farm before heading into the field to choose a pumpkin. The experience also includes a barnyard, games, a U-pick vegetable patch and the always-popular pumpkin cannon.
I have taken both my niece and my granddaughter here, and watching children explore the farm is part of what makes it so much fun. It feels like a real fall outing rather than simply stopping somewhere to buy a pumpkin, and there is enough to do that families can easily spend several hours here.
✨ Pro Tip: Reservations are required, and the fields can be sunny, dusty and uneven. Wear closed-toe shoes and bring water, sunscreen and a hat.
Irvine Park Railroad Pumpkin Patch
📍 Location: Irvine Regional Park, 1 Irvine Park Road, Orange, California
📅 2026 Dates: September 12 through October 31
🌐 Website: Irvine Park Railroad Pumpkin Patch
🏮 Known For: Train rides, wagon rides, games and a full day of fun fall activities
⭐ Best For: Families with younger children and anyone wanting more than just picking out pumpkins
Irvine Park Railroad is located inside Irvine Regional Park in the city of Orange. Its annual pumpkin patch transforms the area behind the train station into a colorful fall playground filled with pumpkins, games and activities for kids.
When my son was young, spending time at Irvine Park became one of our annual fall traditions. We returned year after year with friends, family and the neighbors. Those visits remain some of my favorite memories from his childhood. The train ride, pumpkins and familiar park setting made it feel like the official beginning of fall, even when Southern California temperatures suggested otherwise.
Families can take a train or wagon ride, wander through a hay maze, decorate pumpkins and cookies, play carnival games, pan for gold and explore a mildly spooky haunted house designed with younger children in mind. There are also plenty of elaborate fall displays for family photos.
✨ Pro Tip: Reservations are required on weekends from September 26 through October 31 and may sell out. Paid activities require separate tickets, and the county charges an additional vehicle-entry fee. Visit on a weekday to avoid the larger crowds.
Fall-O-Ween at Heritage Hill Historical Park
📍 Location: 25151 Serrano Road, Lake Forest, California
📅 2026 Dates: October 16 through 18, and October 23 through 25, from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m.
🌐 Website: Fall-O-Ween at Heritage Hill Historical Park
🏮 Known For: Decorated historic buildings, fall photo displays, a straw maze and scavenger hunt
⭐ Best For: Families with young kids, history lovers and anyone seeking a free Halloween outing
Fall-O-Ween brings Halloween to the historic buildings and tree-lined grounds of Heritage Hill Historical Park. Families can explore the decorated property after hours, pose at fall-themed photo displays, find their way through a straw maze and complete a scavenger hunt for ghoulish goodies.
The historic setting gives this festival more character than most and the atmosphere is fun and playful, not frightening. Costumes are encouraged, and pets on leashes are welcome.
✨ Pro Tip: Admission, parking and the scavenger hunt are free, but prizes are available only while supplies last. Be sure to arrive early in the evening so you don’t miss out.
Spooky Seas at the Ocean Institute
📍 Location: 24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point, California
📅 2026 Dates: To be announced
🌐 Website: Ocean Institute
🏮 Known For: Marine science mixed with Halloween experiments, glowing activities and nautical frights
⭐ Best For: Curious children, ocean-loving families and anyone wanting something different this fall
Spooky Seas gives Halloween an unmistakably coastal Orange County twist. Rather than another traditional collection of carnival games, the Ocean Institute transforms marine science into an evening of strange experiments, glowing discoveries and nautical Halloween fun.
Past events have included bioluminescence laser tag, a mad scientist laboratory, haunted ship tours, aquarium access, costume contests and an optional harbor hayride with trick-or-treating aboard the boat. It is educational without feeling like school and spooky without being overwhelmingly scary.
✨ Keep in Mind: The Ocean Institute hasn’t announced its 2026 Spooky Seas dates or activities yet so be sure to check the official website calendar before including it in your itinerary.
Anaheim Fall Festival and Halloween Parade
📍 Location: Center Greens and Downtown Anaheim, California
📅 2026 Date: October 24, festival from 10-4 p.m. and parade at 7 p.m.
🌐 Website: Anaheim Fall Festival and Halloween Parade
🏮 Known For: A classic hometown Halloween parade, costume contests, crafts and live entertainment
⭐ Best For: Families and anyone looking for a nostalgic community celebration
The Anaheim Fall Festival begins with a full day of children’s crafts, costume contests, live performances, local vendors, food, a scavenger hunt and a classic car show. Families can enjoy the daytime celebration and then return for the parade at the end of the day.
The Halloween parade is the real highlight. Since 1923, this beloved Anaheim tradition has filled downtown with handmade floats, costumed performers and wonderfully nostalgic Halloween characters. It feels like the kind of hometown celebration most of us can remember from childhood.
✨ Pro Tip: Downtown streets begin closing before the parade, and some parking areas cannot be exited during the closure period. Review the parade route and parking information before choosing where to park.
Halloween Zoo-tacular at the OC Zoo
📍 Location: Orange County Zoo inside Irvine Regional Park, 1 Irvine Park Road, Orange, California
📅 2026 Date: October 24, from 10-4 p.m.
🌐 Website: Halloween Zoo-tacular at the OC Zoo
🏮 Known For: Animals receiving treat-filled pumpkins, children’s crafts and trick-or-treating
⭐ Best For: Animal-lovers and families with children ages 12 and younger
Halloween Zoo-tacular lets the animals take part in the Halloween celebration. Throughout the day, visitors can watch zoo residents investigate, open and devour pumpkins filled with their favorite treats. Children can also complete a scavenger hunt, make spooky crafts and trick-or-treat around the zoo in costume.
The event is surprisingly affordable, with activities included in the zoo’s regular $2 admission. Because the zoo primarily houses animals native to the American Southwest, it also gives children a chance to learn more about local wildlife while celebrating Halloween.
✨ Pro Tip: Combine Zoo-tacular with the Irvine Park Railroad Pumpkin Patch for a full fall day of fun. The pumpkin patch requires weekend reservations on October 24, so secure that time slot when planning your visit.
Dana Point Halloween Spooktacular and Trunk-or-Treat
📍 Location: Dana Point Community Center, 34052 Del Obispo Street, Dana Point, California
📅 2026 Date: October 24, from 2-6 p.m.
🌐 Website: Dana Point Halloween Spooktacular
🏮 Known For: Decorated vehicles, costumes and community trick-or-treating
⭐ Best For: Families with younger children
Dana Point’s Halloween Spooktacular offers a fun and safe alternative to traditional door-to-door trick-or-treating. Families move between creatively decorated vehicles while children collect candy and show off their costumes.
The event is easy to combine with a morning at the beach, Dana Point Harbor or other coastal attractions, making it especially convenient for families visiting or living in South Orange County.
✨ Pro Tip: Bring your own trick-or-treat bag and arrive before the final hour. Candy supplies and the best parking options may become limited later in the afternoon.
Treats in the Streets in Old Towne Orange
📍 Location: Old Towne Orange Plaza, 1 Plaza Square, Orange, California
📅 2026 Date: October 29, from 4-7 p.m.
🌐 Website: Orange Plaza Traditions
🏮 Known For: Trick-or-treating around the historic Orange Circle
⭐ Best For: Families, younger children and anyone who loves the atmosphere of Old Towne Orange
I absolutely love the historic Orange Circle having gone to college very nearby and spent a lot of time there. Treats in the Streets fills the plaza with costumed children, candy stations and community groups celebrating Halloween together. Participating businesses and organizations hand out treats to kids making their way around the circle.
The historic storefronts and central fountain give this event a sense of place that most neighborhood trick-or-treat celebrations cannot match. It is also free, making it an easy addition to any Orange County Halloween itinerary.
✨ Pro Tip: Streets surrounding the Plaza close before the event, and parking in Old Towne Orange can become challenging. Arrive early, park several blocks away and expect to walk into the event.
Día de los Muertos Celebrations
Día de los Muertos is a deeply rooted Mexican tradition that celebrates and honors loved ones who have passed away through colorful ofrendas, marigolds, music, dancing, food and shared memories.
Orange County offers everything from large community gatherings to intimate museum festivals and a theatrical production created especially for children.
Noche de Altares
📍 Location: Fourth Street between Ross Street and Broadway, Downtown Santa Ana, California
📅 2026 Date: November 7 from 12-9 p.m.
🌐 Website: Noche de Altares
🏮 Known For: Elaborate community ofrendas, Catrinas, cultural performances, artisans and traditional food
⭐ Best For: The largest and most immersive Día de los Muertos experience in Orange County
Noche de Altares transforms several blocks of Downtown Santa Ana into an enormous open-air celebration of life, memory and Mexican culture. Community-created ofrendas are the heart of the event, with families and organizations building these altars filled with photographs, candles, flowers and personal tributes in honor of their loved ones.
You can also expect live performances, Catrinas—elegant skeletal figures inspired by La Catrina—dressed in extraordinary costumes, elaborate face painting, local art and incredible food. There is a lot to see, but try to take time to really slow down to admire and appreciate the stories behind the altars as they are so much more than just decorations.
✨ Pro Tip: Arrive early in the day so you can enjoy the ofrendas before the evening crowd descends, then stay as candles and lights begin glowing after dark. Downtown Santa Ana’s First Saturday ArtWalk also takes place on November 7, so it will likely be crowded with limited parking.
Día de los Muertos at Heritage Museum of Orange County
📍 Location: 3101 West Harvard Street, Santa Ana, California
📅 2026 Date: November 1 from 5 to 9 p.m.
🌐 Website: Heritage Museum of Orange County
🏮 Known For: A community altar, live entertainment, food, vendors and activities on historic museum grounds
⭐ Best For: Families and anyone looking for a meaningful evening celebration
The historic homes and gardens of Heritage Museum create a stunning setting for this Día de los Muertos celebration. The evening includes live entertainment, food, local vendors, arts and crafts and a community altar dedicated to loved ones who have passed away.
✨ Keep in Mind: Guests can submit a photograph of a family member or beloved pet to be included on the community altar. Instructions for contributing a photograph are available through the museum’s event page.
✨ Pro Tip: Since most activities take place outside after dark, bring a light layer for the evening.
Mexican Day of the Dead at Bowers Museum
📍 Location: 2002 North Main Street, Santa Ana
📅 2026 Date: November 1 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
🌐 Website: Bowers Museum
🏮 Known For: Live performances, art activities, face painting and complimentary treats
⭐ Best For: Families, younger children and visitors wanting a daytime celebration
Bowers Museum holds a special place in my heart. Not only was it the destination of numerous childhood school field trips, but my grandfather, a local Santa Ana ophthalmologist, donated his impressive collection of antique spectacles to the museum back in the 1980s.
Each year, Bowers celebrates Día de los Muertos with a free family festival in its Key Courtyard. Music, dance, hands-on art projects and face painting offer an engaging introduction to the holiday and its traditions.
The courtyard celebration is free, although admission may still be required if you plan to explore the museum’s galleries and exhibitions, which I recommend doing if you have time.
✨ Pro Tip: Bowers Museum’s festival ends at 3 p.m. and the Heritage Museum celebration begins at 5 p.m. Because both are in Santa Ana, you can easily experience both of them on the same day with just enough time to grab an early dinner in between.
Dana Point Día de los Muertos
📍 Location: La Plaza Park, 34111 La Plaza, Dana Point, California
📅 2026 Date: November 1; time to be announced
🌐 Website: City of Dana Point
🏮 Known For: Community ofrendas, live music, dancing, art and food in a coastal park
⭐ Best For: Families and visitors staying in South Orange County
Dana Point’s celebration brings Día de los Muertos traditions to the coast with community altars, music, dancing, art and food inside La Plaza Park. It is a smaller and more locally focused alternative to the enormous celebration in Downtown Santa Ana, making it an especially convenient choice for anyone who lives in or is staying in South Orange County.
✨ Pro Tip: La Plaza Park is relatively small, so arrive early so you can find parking.
Sugar Skull! A Día de Muertos Musical Adventure
📍 Location: Samueli Theater at Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, California
📅 2026 Dates: September 19 and 20
🌐 Website: Segerstrom Center for the Arts
🏮 Known For: A colorful bilingual production filled with Mexican music, dancing and storytelling
⭐ Best For: Families, children and anyone who loves live theater
Sugar Skull! turns the meaning of Día de Muertos into an imaginative musical event. The story follows 12-year-old Vita Flores, who questions why her family continues celebrating the holiday until a lively candy skeleton leads her into a world where family stories, traditions and ancestors come vividly to life on stage.
The production blends English and Spanish with incredible music, dancing and colorful visuals, making it an especially fun way to introduce kids to the meaning behind the celebration.
✨ Pro Tip: This is only a two-day event, so reserve tickets well before the traditional Día de los Muertos celebrations begin.
Halloween Bars, Parties and Nightlife
Orange County’s Halloween fun does not end when the haunted houses close. Dress up for a theatrical burlesque show, spend the night dancing inside a transformed nightclub, wander between bars near the beach or celebrate aboard a masquerade yacht cruising Newport Harbor.
MUSE Burlesque: Ghosts of the Yost
📍 Location: Yost Theater, 307 North Spurgeon Street, Santa Ana, California
📅 2026 Date: October 25 from 6:30 to 11 p.m.
🌐 Website: Ghosts of the Yost Tickets
🏮 Known For: A glamorous Halloween burlesque spectacular inside a historic theater
⭐ Best For: Couples, friend groups and anyone looking for a theatrical adult night out
MUSE Burlesque brings its Halloween spectacular to the historic Yost Theater for an evening of elaborate costumes, seductive performances and ghostly glamour. It’s a unique alternative to the usual Halloween nightlife scene, livelier than a cocktail bar and more creative than an ordinary nightclub party.
✨ Pro Tip: Make an evening of it by having dinner in Downtown Santa Ana before the performance. Review the ticket page for age restrictions and seating options before booking.
Haunted HEAT Halloween
📍 Location: HEAT Ultra Lounge, 400 West Disney Way, Suite 214, Anaheim, California
📅 2026 Date: October 31 beginning at 9:30 p.m.
🌐 Website: Haunted HEAT Halloween
🏮 Known For: Nightclub scene, dancing, costumes and three elaborately themed areas
⭐ Best For: Anyone wanting a full-scale Halloween nightclub party
HEAT Ultra Lounge transforms into a sprawling Halloween party with three themed areas known as the Tunnel of Terror, Slaughter House and Spider’s Den. Costumes, dancing and dramatic décor make this the most traditional late-night party scene on the list.
Guests can join the guest list for complimentary admission before 10:30 p.m. or purchase admission that allows them to arrive later.
✨ Pro Tip: Do not assume joining the guest list guarantees admission. Arrive early, review the costume restrictions and purchase a ticket in advance so you don’t have to worry about the cutoff time.
Newport Beach Halloween Party Pub Crawl
📍 Location: Check-in at Baja Sharkeez, 114 McFadden Place, Newport Beach, California
📅 2026 Date: October 31 from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m.
🌐 Website: Newport Beach Halloween Pub Crawl
🏮 Known For: Costumes, multiple bars and a lively night near the Newport Beach Pier
⭐ Best For: Groups who would rather explore several bars than stay inside one nightclub
The Newport Beach Halloween Party Pub Crawl turns the bars surrounding the Newport Beach Pier into one large coastal costume party. Check in at Baja Sharkeez before following the crawl to participating locations throughout the evening.
Rather than spending the entire night at one venue, move between participating bars, enjoy the different atmospheres and stay as long as you like at each stop during this lively event.
✨ Pro Tip: Use rideshare rather than trying to find parking near the pier on Halloween night. Confirm the check-in window and participating bars shortly before the event because the final route may change.
Titanic Masquerade Halloween Party Cruise
📍 Location: Endless Dreams Yacht, 2431 West Coast Highway, Newport Beach, California
📅 2026 Date: October 31 from 7 to 10:30 p.m.
🌐 Website: Titanic Masquerade Halloween Party Cruise
🏮 Known For: Three decks, two DJs and a masquerade party on Newport Harbor
⭐ Best For: Couples and groups looking for a memorable alternative to the bar scene
The Endless Dreams yacht becomes a floating Halloween party with three decks, two dance floors and harbor views surrounding hundreds of costumed guests. Masquerade attire is encouraged, although other Halloween costumes are welcome.
The yacht leaves the dock at 7:30 p.m., making this one party where arriving fashionably late could mean missing the boat.
✨ Pro Tip: Boarding closes at 7:25 p.m., and tickets are non-refundable if you miss the boat. Allow plenty of time for Halloween traffic, parking and check-in. Consider using rideshare to save time.
🎃 Worth the Drive: Frankenstein’s Mad Scientist Cocktail Lab
📍 Location: Remix Room Hollywood, 6423 Yucca Street, Los Angeles, California
📅 2026 Dates: September 24 through November 1
🌐 Website: Frankenstein’s Mad Scientist Cocktail Lab
🏮 Known For: Bubbling drinks, test tubes, mysterious potions and interactive experiments
⭐ Best For: Date nights, cocktail lovers and anyone who enjoys immersive experiences
If you’re willing to venture beyond Orange County, Frankenstein’s turns an evening of cocktails into a wonderfully strange laboratory experiment. During the 90-minute experience, guests encounter bubbling beakers, shimmering elixirs, spooky photo opportunities and drinks that require a little participation in the making.
✨ Pro Tip: Your reservation includes a signature themed cocktail or mocktail, with additional drinks and private tarot readings available for purchase. Reserve ahead, particularly if you plan on attending on a Friday or Saturday evening.
Tips for Celebrating Halloween in Orange County
Halloween in Orange County can be incredible, but popular events sell out quickly, traffic is unpredictable and driving from one end of the county to the other takes longer than it might appear on a map. A little planning will help you fit more fun into your trip with less stress.
🎟️ Purchase popular tickets early. Oogie Boogie Bash, Knott’s Scary Farm, candlelight concerts and limited-capacity experiences can sell out very quickly, even weeks or months in advance.
🗺️ Plan each day by location. Combine Anaheim and Buena Park attractions, group Santa Ana and Costa Mesa events, and save Dana Point or San Juan Capistrano for a separate South Orange County day.
👻 Check the scare level before booking. Some attractions are created for young children, while experiences such as The 17th Door and Knott’s Scary Farm are deliberately intense and not good for young kids.
🎃 Don’t assume general admission includes Halloween events. Oogie Boogie Bash at Disneyland’s California Adventure and several other seasonal celebrations require separate event tickets, even if they take place at the same location.
👗 Read costume policies carefully. Theme parks, nightclubs and cruises often restrict masks, realistic weapons, long costumes or anything that interferes with visibility.
🚗 Allow extra time for traffic and parking. Weekend events especially near Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm, Newport Beach and Downtown Santa Ana can become especially congested.
📱 Confirm details shortly before leaving. Community events may change their hours, parking arrangements or activity schedules at the last minute especially when the original information was announced early in the season.
🧥 Bring a light layer for outdoor events. Orange County afternoons may still feel like summer, but evenings near the coast and in the canyons can become surprisingly cool. I lived in Southern California most of my life, and I always need a jacket after dark, especially near the beach.
📸 Arrive before dark if photography matters. Pumpkin patches, decorated gardens and historic locations are much easier to photograph during the late afternoon before it gets dark and the nighttime crowds arrive.
🍸 Use a rideshare or designate a driver for nightlife events. This is especially important for Boo Ha Ha, pub crawls, nightclub parties and the Newport Harbor cruise.
Frequently Asked Questions
These answers cover some of the most common questions about timing, tickets, costumes and choosing the right experience for you.
When do Halloween events begin in Orange County?
Halloween festivities typically begin in early to mid-September and continue through October 31. A few haunted attractions, Día de los Muertos celebrations and seasonal events continue into the first week of November.
What are the best Halloween events in Orange County?
The best event depends entirely on the experience you want. Oogie Boogie Bash and Knott’s Scary Farm are Orange County’s most iconic Halloween attractions, while The 17th Door delivers the most intense scares and isn’t suitable for young kids. For classic fall fun, visit Tanaka Farms or Irvine Park Railroad. Noche de Altares is one of the county’s most meaningful cultural celebrations.
Which Orange County Halloween events are best for families?
Disneyland Halloween Time, Oogie Boogie Bash, Knott’s Spooky Farm, Tanaka Farms Pumpkin Patch and Irvine Park Railroad Pumpkin Patch are among the best family-friendly choices. Spooky Seas, Halloween Zoo-tacular and community festivals are also good for younger children.
What are the best Halloween events for adults?
Adults can brave Knott’s Scary Farm or The 17th Door, attend MUSE Burlesque at the Yost, sample craft beer at Boo Ha Ha or dress up for one of Orange County’s nightclub, pub crawl or yacht parties.
Do Orange County Halloween and fall events require advance tickets?
Major theme-park events, haunted houses, performances and nightlife experiences generally require tickets, and the most popular dates often sell out early. Many community festivals and Día de los Muertos celebrations are free and you don’t need tickets.
Can adults wear costumes at Disneyland?
Guests ages 14 and older generally cannot wear costumes during regular Disneyland operating hours. However, adults attending Oogie Boogie Bash may dress in costume as long as they follow Disney’s event-specific costume guidelines. In fact, every year I have attended, I dressed up.
How many days do you need for an Orange County Halloween trip?
Two days are enough for one major nighttime attraction and a few daytime activities. Three or four days will give you time to combine theme parks, pumpkin patches, haunted experiences and coastal communities without racing from one end of Orange County to the other.
Where should you stay for an Orange County Halloween trip?
If Disneyland and Knott’s Berry Farm are your priorities, I suggest staying in Anaheim or Buena Park. Costa Mesa or Irvine provides a convenient central base, while Newport Beach, Laguna Beach or Dana Point works well for coastal events and South Orange County attractions.
