Looking for Halloween Events that are more fun than scary? We’ve compiled a list of Halloween themed festivals, kids friendly haunted houses, trick or treat zones, theme concerts and museum events that the whole family can enjoy.
1. Spooky Science Bug Invasion!
Where: Discovery Science Cube
2500 N. Main Street
Santa Ana, CA 92705
Tel: 714.542.2823
When: October 5 thru 31
Tickets: $15.95 Adult, $4.95 Children
About: Ever want to pet a tarantula or play with giant ants? That’s okay, you don’t have to, but if you’re not so squeamish, you can get hands on with Dr. Sue’s Insect and Anthropod Zoo. Guests can also navigate a 3-D maze, let loose their best werewolf howl at the phases of the moon learning station, join a costume parade, trick or treat and even make your own slime. Your littlest monsters (ages 5 & under) may even create their own Jack-O-Lantern.
Helpful Tips: The costume parade and other special events occur on weekends, so check the calendar. Expert pumpkin carvers will be showing off their handiwork during the Jack-O-Lantern fest on the 26th – 27th.
2. Toluca Lake Pumpkin Festival
Where: Toluca Lake Florist (Pumpkin Patch)
10601 Riverside Dr.
N. Hollywood, CA 91602
Tel: 818.505.8039
When: Oct 1 thru 31 (10am thru 9 pm)
Tickets: Call for prices
About: Features a wide selection of pumpkins, a petting zoo and a more fun than scary, haunted maze.
Helpful Tips: Looking for a fun place to host your Halloween party? The venue is available for private rentals.
3. Scarium of the Pacific
Where: Aquarium of the Pacific
100 Aquarium Way
Long Beach, CA 90802
562.590.3100
When: October 26-27, 2013
Tickets: Adults $17.95 (online) to $25.95 (general); Children $10.95 (online) to $14.95 (general)
About: Kids and their parents, if they so dare, can go face to face with the creatures culled from the depths of the aquarium. A weekend of Halloween activities, including a children’s costume contest, face painting, scary stories, a monstrous magic show, creepy crafts & coloring and underwater pumpkin carving.
Helpful Tips: Admission for children in costume is free, with online coupon.
4. Mickey’s Halloween Party
Where: Disneyland Resort
1313 S. Disneyland Dr.
Anaheim, CA 92802
Tel: 714.781.4000
When: September 27 thru October 31, 2013 (evenings)
Tickets: $59 to $74. Free for children 2 or under.
About: Who’s your daughter’s favorite princess? Snow White, Sofia the 1st or does she prefer the monstrous duo Mike & Sully? Whatever her preference, kids are welcome to dress in their favorite Halloween costume and trick-or treat throughout Disneyland Park too. And adults are encouraged to get into the spirit and dress up too. Tricksters are also welcome to visit the Villains Square, The Cadaver Dans and are invited to learn the “Scare Dance” at the Monsters University Dance Party.
Helpful Tips: The official event start time is at 6 or 7 pm, depending on the date, but you can gain entrance to the park up to 3 hours before the event, so show up early and sneak a few rides in.
5. The 2013 Calabasas Pumpkin Festival
Where: Juan Bautista de Anza Park
101 Freeway to Lost Hills Road in Calabasas and follow the signs.
Calabasas, CA
When: October 19-20 (1oam-5pm)
Tickets: $5 adults, kids 6 or younger in costume free, age 2 and under free.
About: Come for the stages of live music, food stands and fun. Kids can enjoy the giant slide and inflatable play areas, face painting, pumpkin painting and participate in the costume contest (on Saturdays). The festival also features carnival games, contests and a vintage car show.
Helpful Tip: Are you an adventurous eater? Then be sure stop by the pumpkin pavilion and sample the pumpkin salsa, pumpkin barbecue sauce or if you’re over 21, the pumpkin beer.
6. Pacific Symphony’s Halloween Masquerade
Where: Segerstrom Center for the Arts
Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall
615 Town Center Drive
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Tel: (714) 556-ARTS
When: October 26 (1oam & 11:30am)
Tickets: $19-$39
About: The symphony’s Family Musical Mornings are 45 minute concerts geared toward children 5 to 11 years old. The concert features musical selections from “Harry Potter”, “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” as well as “Dia de Los Muertos” inspired pieces.
Helpful Tips: Arrive an hour before the 10am concert to meet symphony and try your hand at playing musical instruments, singing, dancing and other music related activities. Concertgoers who attend the 11:30 concert, can stay late and do the same.
7. Boney Island
Where: Boney Island
4602 Morse Ave
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
When: October 19-20 & 24-31st (6-9pm Sun-Thurs & 6-10pm Fri-Sat)
Tickets: Free
About: Boney Island features a continuously running, nightly waterworks and dancing lights stage show, a variety of animatronic skeleton displays, magic tricks, Halloween song singing living bushes, a skeleton infested tree house (unfortunately off limits to the public), hosted by your skeleton emcee, Seymour Bones. Oh yeah, this is all in the front yard of some guy who helped produce some show called “The Simpsons”. Ever heard of it?
Helpful Tips: Celebrity watchers keep your eyes open. Halle Berry, Julie Bowen (Modern Family), Chris Noth (aka Mr. Big from “Sex and the City” and others, have been spotted at the event.
8. Boot Hill
Where: Boothill
16 Goldenrod
Irvine, CA 92614
When: October 18-20, 25-28, 30-31 (7-10pm & 6:30-10:30pm on Halloween)
Tickets: Free but accepting sponsors
About: An Irvine tradition. Neighbors and visitors line up down the block for this Old West themed haunted house.
Helpful Tips: Parking is available at nearby Springbrook Elementary School.
9. Anaheim Fall Festival & Halloween Parade
Where: Downtown Anaheim
Center Street Promenade
Anaheim, CA
Tel: 714-999-3456
When: October 26 Festival (11am-5pm), Parade (6pm)
Tickets: Free
About: Visitors can enjoy food, entertainment, games and a kid friendly haunted house, that is blood, gore and nightmare free. The children’s costume contest kicks off at noon, a dog costume contest follows at 3pm.
Helpful Tips: The parade starts at Walnut street, heads east down Broadway to Anaheim Blvd., so stake your spot out ahead of time, accordingly.
10. Village of Claremont, Halloween Spooktacular
Where: Claremont Village
Indian Hill & 2nd Street
Claremont, CA 91711
When: October 31st (3pm – 8pm-ish)
Tickets: Free
About: Kids can trick-or-treat at the local shops within the Claremont Village. Kids can enjoy free games, face painting and other child friendly entertainment, including the Animal Guys Halloween Presentation. There is a Howl-o-Ween dog costume contest and a Children’s Costume contest.
Helpful Tips: The Village is packed with restaurants and eateries, so keep an eye out for a restaurant that suits your taste. I recommend I Like Pie – their mini-pumpkin pie is worth saving room for.
11. Knotts Berry Farm, Camp Spooky
Where: Knotts Berry Farm
8039 Beach Blvd.
Buena Park, CA 90602
When: Weekends October 5 thru November 2
Tickets: $36.99 to $39.99 Adult, $29.99 to $33 Kids/Seniors
About: Intended for 3 to 11 year olds, Camp Spooky features trick-or-treating, parades, a stage show and very cool hay bale maze.
Helpful Tips: Looking for a bigger scare? Come back after hours without the kids, to Knotts Scary Farm and test your courage in their nerve rattling mazes and scare zones.
12. Kidz Block Party, 2013
Where: Downtown Brea
245 W Birch St
Brea, CA 92821
When: October 3, 2013 (5pm – 9pm)
Tickets: Free
About: This block party brimming with kid friendly fun, is quickly becoming a go to destination, on Halloween. The street is lined with food and games booths, a live musical performance stage and pony rides. There are balloon artists, face painters, a bounce house, a climbing wall, a petting zoo, raffles and of course, visitors are welcome to come dressed in costume.
Helpful Tips: Arrive early and park for free in the parking structure by the movie theater.