Numerous spooky activities around the county prove that Halloween – and Día de los Muertos – are not just for kids anymore.
With events ramping up this weekend, the Halloween season presents a unique experience in Orange County. Activities range from innocent pumpkin patches all the way up to an extreme horror experience. It’s as diverse as the county and offers something for all ages and tastes.
Halloween
Festivals
Halloween festivals are family-friendly and full of activities like trick-or-treating, crafts, scavenger hunts, live entertainment and more.
Monster Mash
When: Oct. 25-27; Friday, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday, 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday, 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Where: Anaheim GardenWalk, 400 W. Disney Way, Anaheim
Cost: Event is free to enter. Check Anaheim GardenWalk for parking rates.
More Info: instagram.com/p/C_Tov5wyIIe/?img_index=1
All ages and even pets are welcome for trick-or-treating, live entertainment, crafts for children and 30-plus vendors. Don’t forget to check out the Halloween Slime Table.
Adventure City Boo-tastic Halloween Party
When: 5:30-9:30 p.m. Oct. 25, 30, 31
Where: Adventure City, 1238 S. Beach Blvd., Anaheim
Cost: $36.95 (ages 1+); free parking
Event activities include 11 rides, Trick-or-Treat Street for free candy and trinkets, and a scavenger hunt for even more candy. There’s also a Halloween-themed Express Train, a Spooktacular Dance Party and a musical light show.
Boo at the Bay: Family Halloween Party
When: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26
Where: Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center, 2301 University Drive, Newport Beach
Cost: Event and parking are free.
Families are invited to the Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center for a Halloween party full of spooky stories, creepy crafts, science experiments, animals and games. Booths and exhibits include the Orange County Bird of Prey Center, the Environmental Nature Center and the OC Parks Paleontology department. Guests are encouraged to wear costumes.
Halloween Zoo-Tacular at the OC Zoo
When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26
Where: OC Zoo, 1 Irvine Park Road, Orange
Cost: Activities are free with paid zoo admission ($2 per person, ages 2 and under are free). Parking is $5 per vehicle on weekends.
OC Zoo Halloween activities include a scavenger hunt, trick-or-treating and spooky crafts. Plus, guests can watch zoo animals receive treat-filled pumpkins throughout the day.
The Anaheim Fall Festival and Halloween Parade
When: Saturday, Oct. 26, festival from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and parade at 7 p.m.
Where: Center Street Promenade in downtown Anaheim
Cost: Event is free to enter.
More Info: anaheimfallfestival.org
Originating in 1923 as the city’s Halloween Carnival and Festival, the Anaheim Fall Festival was established to bring residents together and prevent Halloween mischief. Over 100 years later, the festival keeps true to its original mission with the help of volunteers. The festival features a Halloween tree, photo opportunities, game booths, live entertainment, arts and crafts, food, giveaways, a scavenger hunt and costume contests for children and dogs. The Halloween Parade includes a procession of more than a dozen handmade floats, school marching bands and folklórico dancers honoring Dia de los Muertos.
7th Annual Halloween Spooktacular at Mariners Park
When: 3-6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26
Where: Mariners Park & VJ Community Center, 1300 Irvine Ave., Newport Beach
Cost: Event is free to enter.
More Info: newportbeachca.gov
This family-focused community event includes music, trunk-or-treat area, haunted walk-through, carnival games, bounce houses, costume contests and food trucks. Costume contest categories include Spookiest, Funniest, Best Superhero, Best Duo, Best Family and Dog Costume. Parking is limited, so walking and biking are encouraged.
Spooky Seas
When: 5:30-9:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26
Where: Ocean Institute, 24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point
Cost: $25 for adults, $22 for children (19 months to 13 years old, toddlers (0 to 18 months) are free; free parking
More Info: oceaninstitute.org/event/spooky-seas-2024/
Experience an ocean-themed Halloween at Spooky Seas with activities including Bioluminescence Laser Tag and Biolum Room, a costume contest, photo booth, trick-or-treating, Mad Scientist Lab and Haunted Ship Tours. Guests will also have access to the Aquarium. Food, drinks, beer and wine will be available for purchase.
Seasonal Adventures Pumpkin Patch
When: Through Oct. 31; Monday through Thursday, 3 p.m. to 9 p.m., Friday, 3 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., closes at 7 p.m. on Oct. 31
Where: OC Fair and Event Center, Lot C, 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa,
Cost: Free to enter. Parking is free Monday through Thursday and $12 Friday through Sunday.
Pumpkin patch fans can visit the OC Fair and Event Center for some gourd-y family fun. There are inflatable slides, kiddie rides, a petting zoo and a train. You can pick a pumpkin or shop at the farmers’ market for fresh squash and gourds.
Haunted Attractions and
Theatrical Experiences
Haunted attractions can range from child-friendly to much more adult themes. There are larger theme parks putting together events, but many are also independent, smaller events designed for lovers of all things horror. There are also plenty of theater-based experiences that involve performances and something that’s outside of the typical maze concept.
Knott’s Scary Farm
When: 7 p.m. to 1 a.m., select nights through Nov. 2
Where: Knott’s Berry Farm, 8039 Beach Blvd., Buena Park
Cost: Starting at $59.99
More Info: knotts.com/events/scary-farm
For fans of Halloween and everything spooky, it’s hard to find an Orange County event more packed with scary things than Knott’s Scary Farm. This year features 10 mazes, including the new spider-themed Widows and new Eight Fingers Nine: The Boogeyman. There are also five scare zones and several shows and experiences, including “Yours Cruelly, Elvira Xxperience.” Scary Farm is recommended for those 13 and over.
The 17th Door
When: Select nights through Nov. 3, times vary
Where: 8420 On The Mall, Buena Park
Cost: Starting at $39
More Info: the17thdoor.com
This 35-minute extreme haunt experience is not for the faint of heart, but is for those who want to take their Halloween to the next level. Guests must sign a waiver and may be exposed to situations inducing claustrophobia, dizziness, suffocation and disorientation, electrical shocks, moving floors, water, 100+ mile-per-hour winds, foul scents, strobe lighting, projectiles, fog, total darkness and loud noises. There are also trigger warnings for themes related to rape, abuse and PTSD. There’s a recommended age of 16+ and anyone under the age of 18 must have a parent or legal guardian sign their waiver onsite. It is intense but is also designed for fun. The safe word is “mercy” if things get too intense. New this year is a Backstage Tour add-on where guests can go behind the scenes for 30+ minutes after their experience to witness how it all gets put together.
Haunted Carwash
When: 6-10 p.m., select nights through Nov. 2
Where: Big Wave Car Wash, 2219 Lincoln Ave., Anaheim
Cost: Starting at $30 per vehicle
More Info: thehauntedcarwash.com
Get scared while you get a car wash with this innovative Halloween experience. The Haunted Carwash sends you in your vehicle through an actual car wash — while monsters walk along eager to give you a good wash, and scare. For a more intense experience, leave your doors unlocked and the scare actors will get nice and close.
Santa Ana Haunt OC Nightmare
When: 6-11 p.m., select nights through Oct. 31
Where: Anaheim GardenWalk, 400 W. Disney Way Suite 199, Anaheim
Cost: Starting at $13
More Info: ocnightmare.com
Home-based haunted attraction Santa Ana Haunt has joined forces with OC Nightmare to create an entirely new scary experience this Halloween season. All ages are welcome.
Thriller NightMares — Cocktails and Horror Stories
When: 8 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25 and Saturday, Oct. 26
Where: Anaheim GardenWalk, 400 W. Disney Way, Suite 151, Anaheim
Cost: $50 including a flight of three hand-crafted, themed cocktails (or mocktails) served throughout the storytelling
More Info: room2party.com
Storytellers take guests through a three-part cocktail journey to learn about the origin stories of horror franchises including “Scream,” “A Nightmare on Elm Street” and “The Exorcist.” Thriller NightMares also features photo opportunities with iconic scenes from horror films. The experience is for those 21 and over.
VamPirates
When: Select nights through Nov. 3
Where: Pirates Dinner Adventure, 7600 Beach Blvd., Buena Park
Cost: General admission tickets are $78.39 for adults (ages 12+), $49.77 for children (ages 3-11) and free for infants (2 and under)
More Info: http://piratesdinneradventure.com
For the Halloween season, Pirates Dinner Adventure adds some fangs with its family-friendly, stunt- and aerial-acrobatics-filled show. A three-course dinner is included as part of this two-hour show.
Rocky Horror Picture Show Hallo-Queen Spooktacular
When: Friday Oct. 25; 7 p.m. for Hallo-Queen Spooktacular Drag Show and 8 p.m. for “The Rocky Horror Picture Show”
Where: Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Julianne and George Argyros Plaza, 600 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa
Cost: The event is free.
Segerstrom Center for the Arts is giving “Rocky Horror” fans a special Halloween treat with a free movie screening of this cult classic. Plus, the center’s Broadway Divas transform into the scream queens of Halloween with the return of their Hallo-Queen Spooktacular in a
drag pre-show. Costumes are encouraged. The first 200 guests will get a free prop bag full of all the essentials to engage with the film — from confetti to toast.
Día de los Muertos
Also known as Day of the Dead, Día de los Muertos is a Mexican tradition honoring loved ones who have passed. It’s also celebrated in other parts of Latin America and, of course, in the United States. It can take on a celebratory tone and include altars to loved ones along with music and dance.
Día de los Muertos stretches over two days, Nov. 1-2, with Nov. 1 known as All Saints Day, Day of the Children or El Día de los Inocentes, and Nov. 2 honoring deceased adults and sometimes called All Souls Day.
Viva La Vida
When: 3-10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2
Where: East end of 4th Street, Santa Ana
Cost: The event is free.
More Info: vivalavidasantaana.org
Community members pay tribute to their loved ones with altars adorned with photos, flowers, food and candles — all meaningful. There is also an extensive entertainment lineup, including Relampago del Cielo, Santa Ana High School Vocal Group and more. It’s a lively, celebratory event.
Heritage Museum of Orange County Día de los Muertos
When: 6-10 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 27,
Where: Heritage Museum of Orange County, 3101 W. Harvard St., Santa Ana
Cost: The event is free.
The HMOC Dia de Los Muertos celebration and community altar (ofrenda) is back with live entertainment, food, vendors, arts and crafts, and more.
Dana Point Día de los Muertos
When: 4-8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2
Where: La Plaza Park, 34111 La Plaza, Dana Point
Cost: The event is free.
More Info: visitdanapoint.com/event/dia-de-los-muertos/
The city of Dana Point invites the public to its first Día de los Muertos celebration, promising live bands, mariachi performers, dancing, ofrendas, street chalk art contest, crafts, food and more.
Mexican Day of the Dead
When: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 3
Where: Bowers Museum, 2002 N. Main St., Santa Ana
Cost: The event is free.
This family festival is a celebration of life, honoring the memories left by loved ones. The celebration is through music, dance, art and food. Guests can bring a photo to place on the ofrendas (memorial altars) to honor both human and animal loved ones who have left too soon. Art projects include sugar skull decorating, paper flower crafts and calavera masks. There will be musical performances by Mariachi Anacatlan and dance performance by Relampago Del Cielo as part of a full entertainment lineup.
MainPlace Día de los Muertos Celebration
When: 2-5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26
Where: MainPlace, 2800 N. Main St., Santa Ana
Cost: The event is free.
This is the 10th anniversary of MainPlace’s Día de los Muertos Celebration. It will offer interactive activities, including live art demonstrations, cultural games and educational experiences. There will be an Aztec dance performance by Kalpulli Hueyatl Wanawna, mariachi performance by Mariachi Los Santos, and musical storytelling and cumbia performance by Milpa.
