There are so many fun Fall activities in and around the Orange County area to participate in with the whole family. From pumpkin patches to haunted houses and hay rides, here are some of the highlights that you won’t want to miss this fall.
Grand Park/Town Center Amphitheater
6101 City Lights Dr, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656
October 20th 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Come out and enjoy the annual Fall Harvest Festival and Food Drive hosted by the Aliso Viejo Community Association on October 20th. Guests will enjoy crafts for kids, fun carnival games, balloon twisters, entertainment, and more. Participants are invited to dress up and join the costume parade at 10:30 a.m. Guests who donate five or more canned food items or pet food, or make a donation to South County Outreach will receive a wristband for a free pony ride for their child. Pony rides will only be available to those who bring a donation.
Anaheim Fall Festival & Halloween Parade
Downtown Anaheim
Broadway & Clementine, Anaheim, CA
October 27
All day; Parade begins at 6:00 p.m.
The community of Anaheim has taken to the streets for nearly 100 years, celebrating the season with a Fall Festival and Halloween Parade. Guests 12 and under are invited to dress up in their best Halloween attire and take part in the Kiddie Costume Contest. The best-dressed pets can take part in the Halloween Pooch Pawrade. The parade travels down Center Street Promenade through Downtown and ends at the Anaheim Packing House. The first Anaheim Halloween parade was held in 1924, and led by baseball legends Babe Ruth and Walter Johnson. At the peak of popularity, the Anaheim parade drew nearly 150,000 spectators into the streets, and the event was televised in Los Angeles and Orange County.
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Apple Picking in Oak Glenn
12201 S. Oak Glen Road, Yucaipa, CA 92399
Labor Day – Thanksgiving Weekend
Tuesday-Sunday 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Not in Orange County, but about an hour’s drive takes you to Oak Glen where you can enjoy one of the best fall tradition – apple picking. Riley’s Farm is the original destination for this activity and they have more than just apples. Visitors can participate in a variety of activities (for a fee) including tomahawk and knife throwing, cider pressing, and archery. Enjoy a delicious lunch on weekends at the snack bar with BBQ chicken apple sausage, apple pie, sub sandwiches, cider floats, and raspberry shakes. Riley’s also features a gift shop and native wood for sale so you can stock up on logs for cozy fall evenings by the fireplace. There are several other ranches, orchards, and restaurants in the area to explore including Riley’s at Los Rios Rancho with picnic grounds and nature trails to explore.
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Catalina Island 5K, Triathlon, and Duathlon
Avalon, Catalina Island
November 3
Check in begins at 7:30 a.m.
The Catalina Island event is part of the Renegade Race Series and features some of the best racing in Southern California. High level competitors can take part in the triathlon to run, bike, and swim the island course, or for those who choose not to swim, take part in the duathlon to run, bike, run the course. For others, the 5K walk/run is the perfect way to take part in the fun and enjoy the island beauty on race day.
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Cal State Fullerton – 800 N. State College Blvd, Fullerton, CA
Saturday, November 3
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Every year, Discovery Cube OC teams up with Cal State Fullerton for a smashing STEM event. Pumpkin Launch contestants use their engineering skills to build trebuchet machines that launch pumpkins into the sky at the Cal State Fullerton Athletic Field. In addition to watching pumpkins launch and smash into targets, spectators will enjoy a variety of fun challenges and hands-on activities. Food trucks will be on site for visitors to purchase food and drinks at this fun annual event.
Fall Faire & Pumpkin Patch
Environmental Nature Center
1601 East 16th Street, Newport Beach, CA 92663
October 14
10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
The Environmental Nature Center will be hosting the 43rd annual Fall Faire & Pumpkin Patch on October 14th. Choose your favorite pumpkin from the pumpkin patch, enjoy fun games, live entertainment, and face painting, and get to know the resident live animals. With the purchase of a $5 reusable ENC bag, kids will be invited to participate in crafting fun to make egg carton squirrels, leaf pencil holders, cork birds, and more. Pony rides and a petting zoo will also be available for a fee. All funds raised at the event will benefit educational programs at ENC. Savor OC will also take place during the Fall Faire and guests will enjoy delicious tastes from restaurants such as Mi Casa, Cafe Gratitude, SOHO Taco, Greenleaf Chop Shop, Bluewater Grill, and Sensitive Sweets.
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Great Park Balloon Jack-O-Lantern
6950 Marine Way, Irvine, CA 92618
September 26
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Hocus Pocus Halloween Boutique at Roger’s Gardens
2301 San Joaquin Hills Rd., Corona del Mar, CA 92625
August 31-October 21
Roger’s Gardens in Corona Del Mar is transforming into the Hocus Pocus Halloween Boutique where visitors can wander through a magical school for wizards and witches. There will be plenty to explore including the Headmaster’s Study, a Potions Classroom with magical experiments, and a room full of oddities. Come see what mythical creatures are lurking on the grounds of the castle and get into the Halloween Spirit at Roger’s Gardens.
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Irvine Park Railroad Pumpkin Patch
1 Irvine Park Road, Orange, CA 92869
September 15-October 31
Weekdays 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Weekends 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Every year, the Irvine Park Railroad transforms into the Great Pumpkin Patch. This popular family event draws crowds from all over Southern California. There are a variety of free activities including a (not so) Haunted House and a Hay Maze. Wander the huge pumpkin patch and pick your favorite pumpkin to turn into jack-o-lanterns for Halloween. Prices for pumpkins vary based on size. Purchase tickets for $5 each or a book of 15 tickets for $60 to use for a variety of exciting paid activities including the train ride, moon bounce, face painting, ring toss, carnival games, hay ride, panning for gold, cookie decorating, and John Deere races. Capture the moment at one of the many fall and Halloween-themed photo stands throughout the area. Don’t miss the Great Pumpkin Weigh-Off on Saturday, September 22 at 10:00 a.m. to see who has the biggest pumpkin!
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OC Turkey Trot 5K
Irvine Valley College
5500 Irvine Center Drive, Irvine, CA 92618
November 22
8:00 a.m.
The OC Turkey Trot 5K is coming to Irvine Valley College. Bring the whole family to kick off Thanksgiving Day. There will be a Diaper Dash for kids 2 and under, and a Tot Trot for kids 3-12. Turkey Trot medals will be given to all race participants. The Turkey Trot is a great way to work up your appetite for your Thanksgiving celebration.
Spooktacular Fun Days at the Orange County Great Park
6950 Marine Way, Irvine, CA 92618
October 13-14
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
The Orange County Great Park will host the annual Spooktacular Fun Days. This fun family event will include a treat town, petting zoo, pumpkin patch, entertainment, crafts, inflatables, face painting, community booths, carnival games, food concessions and more. Organizers of the event ask participants to bring donations of non-perishable food items that can be donated to local organizations Community Action Partnership of Orange County’s (CAPOC) Orange County Food Bank and Second Harvest Food Bank to help fight hunger. Bring the kids in costume and enjoy the Spooktacular fall festivities.
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Tanaka Farms Pumpkin Patch & Fall Harvest Festival
5380 3/4 University Drive, Irvine, CA
September 29th-October 31st
Daily 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Admission is $3 per person
Come out to the best Pumpkin Patch in town at The Tanaka Farms Pumpkin Patch. Visitors can wander the acres of fields and choose their own pumpkin from acres of pumpkins. During the week, visitors can enjoy wagon rides; a petting zoo with goats, sheep, and an alpaca; a corn maze; and a u-pick vegetable patch. On weekends during October, Tanaka Farms hosts the Weekend Fall Harvest Festival. In addition to the regular weekday activities, guests will also have access to ATV rides, games, interactive activities for kids, face painting, a pumpkin cannon, and food to purchase and enjoy. Tickets are required for the activities and may be purchased for $1 each, or 22 for $20. Weekends are busy during the month of October and parking passes are required. The free passes must be obtained online at the Tanaka Farms website.
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Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot 5K & Fun Run at Angel Stadium
2000 East Gene Autry Way, Anaheim, CA 92806
Thursday, November 22
8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
The Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot and Fun Run is brought to you by Caren Ware Events and is fun for the whole family. The race starts and finishes under the Big A at Angel’s Stadium. All racers will receive a medal. In addition to the race, pumpkin pancakes will be served, aid stations will be available, and there will be awards handed out to those with the most festive costume. There will be a raffle with prizes from Angel’s Stadium and all 5K racers will receive a t-shirt.
Turkeys On Trails
Irvine Regional Park and Santiago Oaks Regional Park
1 Irvine Park Rd., Orange, CA 92869
November 10
Check In begins at 7:00 a.m.
The Turkeys on Trails event by Rock It Racing will include a 5K, 10k, and a Lil’ Turkeys 1 mile kids run. All participants will receive a medal and the event includes t-shirts, aid stations and post-race snacks. Racers must bring their own container or pack for water/drinks as this is a cupless event. Racers will enjoy running on the beautiful trails of Irvine and Santiago Oaks Regional parks.
Veterans Day 5k, 10k, 15k, Half Marathon
Bolsa Chica State Beach
17243 CA-1, Huntington Beach, CA 92649
November 10
Check in at 7:00 a.m.
A Better World Running is hosting the Veterans Day race at Bolsa Chica State Beach in Huntington Beach. Racers will park in the parking lots behind Jack in the Box at PCH and Warner and check in at the start of the beach path. All races will take place on an open course along the paved beach path just steps from the ocean’s edge. An aid station for hydration and energy boosters with water, Gatorade, bananas, granola bars and Gu gel is available at 4.36 miles and restrooms and drinking fountains are available along the entire route. All finishers receive medals at the Veterans Day race event.
Heidi Deal is the author of the 6th edition of the Newcomers Handbook to Living In Los Angeles (includes Orange County), an expert at exploring all that Orange County has to offer, and a children’s book author specializing in history and improving human rights.
