Fun events in Orange County this Fall
Its officially the holiday season. The pumpkins have come out along with all the laid back fall activities. While the rest of the country is experiencing the changing leaves of fall our trite and true sunny Southern California remains the sunshine state. Moving to fall means light jackets, pumpkin everything, family gatherings, comfort food, Halloween costumes and an endless number of events all over SoCal to bring you that Fall feeling. Sandwiched in between Los Angeles and San Diego the events are endless and Orange County is coming to play in style with our Orange County events driving thousands from surrounding areas to seek out the new, the different, the uniquely OC things to do. From hot air balloon rides to pumpkin palooza’s here are Orange County’s fall events. All events are linked in the highlights below.
Whether you’re looking for your cities local events or events sought out by people all over the country we’ve got you covered. From carnivals, night markets and festivals to Halloween events, specialty craft markets and pop ups that make their way to OC once a year. Orange County is an epicenter of fun all Holiday long.
One of the most sought after destinations in the world is none other than Orange County’s very own Disneyland. Driving millions to visit every year. One of only six Disneyland’s worldwide your sure to meet and experience Disney’s Fall magic with people from around the globe. Since 1955 the famed theme park has driven visitor to Orange County. Home of Disneyland and California Adventure the city of Anaheim is a go to destination for family fun. The holiday’s alone draw in major crowds to experience Disneyland’s Magic. Disney’s eerily fun Oogie Boogie Bash is a Halloween treat at Disney’s California Adventure. Let the kids explore the treat trails, watch the Frightfully Fun Halloween Parade, stop into the Villains grove where Villains like Ursula, Cruella de Vil, The evil Queen and the rest of the gang celebrate Halloween. Each year Disney completely makes over the Haunted Mansion into a Nightmare before Christmas’ themed adventure. The Disneyland park is completely transformed each Fall, everything from the Fireworks show to the Anaheim Garden Walk complete with their Halloween Night Markets all October long. Halloween themed décor, treats and costumes fill the streets for a Halloween season like only Anaheim can do. Anaheim is the center of family fun each Halloween with pop up including the Anaheim Fall Festival and Parade and the Anaheim Plaza Trick or Treat the weekend of Halloween. Want more events in Anaheim? Here are the 5 best Fall events in Anaheim.
The Tunnel of Terror is back in Anaheim for some spooky Halloween fun this Fall. The Haunted Car Wash, yes… its a haunted car wash brings you two things at once a frightfully one of a kind experience while taking care of one of your chores! Sweet! The car wash is filled with slasher type ghostly ghouls and goblins as you slowly make your way down a tunnel you can’t escape from well until your car is washed. Creepy performers and special effects make this a car wash you won’t soon forget.
Anaheim Halloween events are not just for the kids local Speakeasy The Blind Rabbit in Anaheim invites guests to their Halloween Themed bar with a full drink and food menu themed for spooky season. This years theme is Down the Rabbit Hole a mix of Alice in Wonderland meets Stranger Things. How cool is that?!
Halloween not your thing? Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure both transition during the Fall to a softer Fall Theme with Fall colors and falling leaves through Downtown Main Street as Thanksgiving approaches combined with an ever changing menu of park foods themed to the season. Celebrate Dia de los Muertos with Disney, the event celebrates the everlasting bonds of family and is held at the Plaza de la Familia at Disney’s California Adventure in late October with displays, live Mariachi’s and authentic Mexican Food.
Oktoberfest’s pop up all over Orange County starting in September. This Fall event is a Bavarian Festival celebrated worldwide. The Oktoberfest themed events just keep growing. The annual Beer Festival kicks off Fall events every year with local OC brew fests all over the county. The longest running Beerfest in OC is the Biergarten in Huntington Beach. Transport yourself to Europe right here in the heart of SoCal at European themed center Old World. September kicks off with Rocktoberfest at the Biergarten with SoCal bands rocking out all through the week, Oktoberfest comes into full effect in October with specialty German beers and food, activities, shows and fun all month long.
OC Boo Haha has taken over Orange County the last few years. The one night event combines together Oktoberfest and Halloween with live music, specialty beers and costumes making this one of the most popular events of the season. The event changes destinations each year to different cities as its popularity continues to grow and beer and Halloween lovers unite. Don’t count out the Orange County restaurants that bring the fun with free admission to their annual Oktoberfest events like GameCraft Brewing and SteelCraft.
For those who crave terror the Halloween events in Orange County are continuously evolving to evoke bone chilling fear with some of Southern California’s most popular events right here in Orange County. Knott’s Spooky Farm is Southern California’s largest haunt fest. The walking dead, zombies, witches and things out of your wildest nightmares walk the park lurking around every corner to terrorize you. Hand crafted mazes, spooky rides, Halloween themed horror throughout for an immersive night of horrifying Halloween fun. Want more Halloween events in Buena Park? You’re in luck here’s the full list of Halloween events in Buena Park.
Darkness takes over at the Adult centered Halloween event The 17th Door in Fullerton. One of the newest Orange County Halloween experiences. A full on Haunted house with field trip add-ons, virtual reality, a safe word complete with a waiver to sign your life away. The 17th Door is one of the most elaborate and technical Halloween events in the world. This one is so terrifying that its an adult only specialty Halloween event. There is something frightening around every corner in one of the scariest haunted houses in all of Southern California.
Halloween’s spooky fun for everyone all October long with light hearted family events throughout Orange County like the Irvine Great Park’s Hot Air Balloon Ride, SoCal pumpkin patches popping up that are perfect for Halloween and Thanksgiving. Here are the best pumpkin patches in Orange County. Orange County has Halloween events that are uniquely SoCal like Dana Points Spooky treat trolley that passes out candy to the kids along the Trolley route down PCH. Each city has a Trunk- Or- Treat providing a fun safe place for kids to participate in holiday events.
The Irvine Park Railroad kicks off Fall with Family fun. This SoCal pumpkin patch is filled all Fall long with something for everyone. Take a ride on the train or a hayride through the field. Let the kids pan for gold or bounce in the moon bounce. There are carnival games, mazes and picture ops. The highlight of the season is their Pumpkin weigh off with participants walking away with cash prizes for growing the largest pumpkin. This years winning pumpkin weighed in at 1,240 lbs. Now that’s a big pumpkin!
Celebrate the day of the dead Día de Los Muertos with events celebrating the bond of family at the end of October. The Muck celebrates the day of the dead with its annual event and Día de los Muertos festival with stage performances and alters to honor the dead. Don’t rule out the Much at Halloween! The Muckenthaler invites you to share the season with events like After Dark: Beyond the black veil sharing the Muck’s own story of paranormal activity with the resident benevolent spirit shared by world renowned psychic Dr. Ryan Joseph. Complete with a tarot reading this event will share a different side of Halloween. For more information about the events at the Muckenthaler.
Looking for FREE events in Orange County to celebrate all Fall? The city libraries hold events all throughout the year to celebrate and inspire the local communities. Some of our Fall favorites are the The Creatures of the night event at Sherman Garden’s Library and the Dana Point Library’s annual pumpkin decorating contest.
The Orange County cultural centers and museums are another great place to find informational, fun, and inexpensive Fall events. The Bower’s Museum in Santa Ana is free for kids 12 and under, adult admission is $15, and seniors are $12. The Bowers Museum holds a day of the dead festival each year to honor the dead and highlight the importance of family and community. The Heritage Museum in Fullerton holds events all year long with their yearly anticipated fall events like the Fall Festival Tea Party, the Kellogg House Ghost Tour, as well as their Día de Los Muertos event. The entry fee for the Heritage Museum is $10 and they also offer monthly memberships. It’s a great, low-cost option to celebrate the seasons all year round. Pretend City children’s museum located in Irvine puts together several different Fall events for the kids with costume week during Halloween, a Diwali celebration, Día de Los Muertos event and Thanksgiving celebration.
Dia De Los Muertos events during the Fall offer an opportunity for remembrance, education, a celebration of life, family and community celebrated in different ways all throughout Orange County. Día de los Muertos events are held at the Anaheim Town Center & Downtown Anaheim, The Muzeo Museum and Cultural Center, Bella Terra in Huntington Beach, the St. Isidore Historical Plaza in Los Alamitos, Moreno’s restaurant in Fullerton, the Viva La Vida Día de Los Muertos Celebration and the El Centro Cultural de Mexico in Santa Ana as well as a number of churches and cemeteries throughout Orange County.
Orange County is filled with Fall events for everyone. It’s no wonder OC attracts so many Southern California locals and visitors during the fall. Good weather and great fun. Want to read more about OC? Check out our latest blog posts below or sign up for our newsletter!
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