Though the weather is still hot here in Orange County, the calendar says it’s officially autumn. And you know what that means…pumpkins, pumpkins, and more pumpkins! With Halloween season in full swing this month, here’s our short list of the most interesting and family-friendly October 2018 activities in our area!
Tanaka Farms Pumpkin Patch – Irvine
Now through October 31
This super popular pumpkin patch takes place at local favorite Tanaka Farms. This family-owned and operated farm converts into a fall wonderland with fields full of pumpkins as far as the eye can see. Other weekend activities include a wagon ride, corn maze, petting zoo, u-pick veggies, and even a pumpkin launcher demonstration. Please note that Hello Kitty will not be making any appearances in October.
The Entry Package is $12 and includes Admission, Wagon Ride, and Petting Zoo. If you’d like to pay separately, admission is $4 per person (Children 2 years and under are free.) The Wagon Ride is $6 (unlimited rides.) The Petting Zoo is $4. Game and Activity Tickets are $4 each. Parking passes are $5 and required on the weekends.
Howl-O-Ween Time at Great Wolf Lodge – Anaheim
Now through October 31
Great Wolf Lodge is a fun, family-friendly resort with the most fantastic indoor water park we’ve ever experienced. We recently reviewed our fabulous stay there in this post. It’s basically the Disneyland of water parks. During Halloween season, the entire resort is transformed into a Howl-O-Ween celebration with even more fun features for the kiddos! There’s Halloween-themed crafts, Un-BOO-lievable Character Meet, Greet & Treat, a Trick-Or-Treat Trail that spans from one end of the hotel to the other, Spooktacular Storytime, and a Costume Parade.
October rates as low as $199.99 per night for up to 6 people using the code HOWL (expires October 31). All these Howl-O-Ween activities, plus entry into the water park, are included with your hotel stay!
Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort – Anaheim
Now through October 31
It’s never too early to scare up some Halloween Time fun right? We got a sneak preview of some of the Halloween decor at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure during the CHOC Walk. And boy oh boy is it going to be pumpkin-riffic! Certain rides will be getting limited-time-only Halloween theming and story changes. Entire lands will be revamped in the spirit of the season! Orange you glad I’m telling you about this?? (Sorry, I just can’t help myself with these bad puns!)
My favorite from last year was Haul-O-Ween at Carsland. It looks like Mater will be back at it this year with Mater’s Graveyard JamBOOree, and many more festive, family-friendly touches. And don’t even get me started on all the Halloween-themed menu items and sweet treats! Let’s just say that this mummy is very excited for what is going to be a frightfully fun time at the Disneyland Resort!
One day one park tickets for Disneyland or Disney California Adventure start at $91 for kids 3-9. $97 for adults. Children 2 and under are free. You can also buy tickets to Mickey’s Halloween Party, an after-hours celebration on select evenings starting September 19th.
Knott’s Spooky Farm – Buena Park
Saturdays and Sundays in October, plus October 31
From their website: “Enjoy the spooktacular Halloween season at Knott’s Spooky Farm, a family-friendly Halloween celebration geared for kids ages 3-11. Newly expanded trick-or-treating through Ghost Town, little ghouls can stop through Calico to collect sweet Halloween treats. Fun Halloween-themed shows are in store as a friendly magician mystifies little ones with spell-binding tricks. Camp Snoopy Theater plays host to the “Monsters are Coming” show where children are encouraged to participate in the daily costume contest. The Halloween Hootenanny returns as The Timber Mountain Log Ride transforms with spooky but family-friendly surprises.”
Knott’s Spooky Farm is included with general admission or a 2018 Season Pass. One day admission tickets start at $48 online. AAA and other discounts available.
Orange County International Auto Show – Anaheim
October 4-7
If you’ve got a kid who loves vehicles, this is the event for you. While only adults can test drive over 100 vehicles there, kids can enjoy racing simulators, a kid-friendly test track using real vehicles, scavenger hunt, and more. When we attended a few years ago with our son, he loved being able to climb into a wide variety of vehicles on the show room floor and play at the steering wheel. The joy on his face from being able to “drive” every car he’d ever seen on the road was well worth the cost of admission.
Ticket prices: Adults $12. Seniors $10. Military and First Responders are free Thursday and Friday and $10 on Saturday and Sunday. Children 12 and under are free. Parking on site at the convention center is $16.
Acorn Day At O’Neill Regional Park – Trabuco Canyon
October 6
From the press release: “This free, family-friendly event offers crafts for kids, a live butterfly enclosure, active games, face painting, live music and introductory ukulele lessons, nature and animal exhibits, a very special storytelling session with painting on water, acorn and oak tree planting and much more! Guided nature hikes to the Water Tower will be offered at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Families can also enjoy presentations throughout the day, including The Hummingbird Nest Story, a book signing with the author of “How to draw 60 Native CA Plants and Animals: A Field Guide,” followed by a live butterfly release at 1:30 p.m. by Western Monarch Guardian.”
Free admission and parking.
Autumn Harvest Festival – Lake Forest
October 6
From their website: “The Halloween adventure arrives early this year at the Autumn Harvest Festival. The park will once again be costumed and dressed as an adventure filled festival. Some of the attractions will include The Superhero Village, The Under the Sea Adventure Maze, “Harry Potter’s School House,” and Storytelling Adventures. The adventure does not stop there because there will be games, face painting, costume parade on stage, the ever popular “Lake Forest All-Stars Glow Party,” Princess Pumpkin Patch and a movie screening of “The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown.” Don’t forget to stop by all the trick or treat stations. So come ready in costume with trick or treat bag in hand as the adventure will take you places beyond your imagination.”
$5 Adults & Children 3 years and older. Children 2 years and under are free. Entrance fee includes attractions and games. Food for an additional cost.
Golden West College’s 13th Annual Chefs for Scholarships Event – Huntington Beach
October 7
Love to eat? Love supporting education? Then this is the perfect activity for you! This family-friendly event includes food tastings from 30 local restaurants, wine/beer tastings, entertainment, and kids activities. There’s also a silent auction and an opportunity drawing that includes exciting prizes such as a trip to Maui, Pedego electric bike, and an Apple Watch! Better still, 100% of the event proceeds go right into student scholarships at Golden West College. It’s a win-win for everyone!
Adult tickets: $45/advance, $50/at the door. Student tickets: $20/advance, $25/at the door. Children 12 and under are free! Free parking too.
Touch-A-Truck – Costa Mesa
October 13
From their website: “Touch-a-Truck is an interactive hands-on experience where children can learn about their favorite trucks and vehicles, honk their horns, and interact with the drivers. Featured vehicles at the event will include a fire truck, police vehicles, construction trucks, and vintage vehicles, just to name a few. There will be opportunities for kids, along with their families, to win prizes by visiting the OC Market Place booth in the South Event Space during Touch-a-Truck. The Orange County Market Place, an outdoor shopping market, is equipped with a variety of vendors, concessions, and live entertainment, and will open from 8am to 4pm, making it a fun outing for the whole family. So sip, shop, and stroll with us!”
Free. There will be a “no honking” period during the last half hour of the event, from 1:30-2pm. This is for children and families who want to experience the event without any loud distractions.
Nitro Circus at the Honda Center – Anaheim
October 13
From their website: “Nitro Circus’ biggest moments, and some of its most notorious crashes, have come from the mind of Travis Pastrana. The global icon often encourages his fellow riders to go big or go home. In some cases, despite their better judgment! Now, with the You Got This tour, Travis and company ramp up the action for the greatest, stupidest, funniest show in Nitros history. You Got This will feature Travis along with Nitros best athletes in FMX, BMX, Scooter and Inline, including X Games medalists and Nitro World Games champions. Its new production will debut huge ramps and crazy contraptions. Expect ridiculous stunts and sketchy challenges. Who will take them up? With this crew you never know what will happen. But without a doubt You Got This will have more thrills and fun than ever before.”
Tickets for this two hour stunt show spectacular start at $43 plus taxes/fees. VIP packages include premier seats, pre-show riding practice viewing, and autograph session meet & greet with some of the performers. VIP pass holders also receive a souvenir laminate and the opportunity to win swag.
Great Pacific Airshow – Huntington Beach
October 19-21
From their website: “This year’s high-flying action will feature many exciting military and civilian performers including the US Air Force Thunderbirds! Now in it’s 3rd year this FREE family friendly, patriotic event is the largest over-the-water airshow in the United States!” We’ve attended the past two years and it’s a fun experience for the whole family. You’ll see the planes flying overhead from anywhere in Huntington Beach, but the best views are by PCH since all the planes do fly-bys parallel to the beach.
Free to watch from the ground. Tickets for VIP viewing and Ocean-Front RV Camping available for an additional cost.
OC Zoo’s Halloween Zoo-tacular – Orange
October 27
From their website: “Join us for Halloween fun at the OC Zoo! Activities include trick-or-treating*, spooky kids crafts, a scavenger hunt*, and fun games! The first 100 children in costume receive a free gift!* Come see the zoo animals receive treat-filled pumpkins throughout the day! *Children ages 12 & under.”
Activities are free with paid zoo admission ($2 per person, ages 2 & under free). Parking is $5 per vehicle. Zoo coupons and free passes are not valid for this event.
