Spooky season is officially upon us! Think: theme park haunts, after-hours parties, pumpkin patches, ghost tours, and plenty of trick-or-treating.
Here are some of the biggest Halloween happenings to check out in October.
Halloween Time at Disneyland® Resort
Halloween takes over Disneyland® Resort through October 31 with seasonal décor, specialty treats, costumed characters, and Halloween-themed attractions across both parks.
At Disneyland® Park, Haunted Mansion Holiday returns alongside the Halloween Screams nighttime spectacular. Over at Disney California Adventure® Park, Cars Land transforms into Radiator Screams, while Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! gives way to its after-dark Monsters After Dark adventure.
Oogie Boogie Bash also returns on select nights throughout the season with immersive treat trails, Disney villains, and special entertainment after hours. And new for 2026 is Madame Leota’s Swinging Wake – A Haunted Mansion Street Party.
Anaheim Fall Festival & Halloween Parade | October 24
Celebrate Halloween with a tradition that’s been part of Anaheim for generations. The free Anaheim Fall Festival returns to Downtown Anaheim on October 24 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with local artists, vendors, live entertainment, kids’ crafts, costume contests, a classic car show, and more.
Then come back that evening for the Anaheim Halloween Parade, which kicks off at 7 p.m. and winds its way through Downtown Anaheim.
Celebrate Anaheim’s Halloween History at Muzeo | through November 3
Take a trip through Halloween history at Muzeo Museum and Cultural Center in Anaheim. Muzeo’s “Hallowe’en Greetings and Tricks, Treats, and Traditions” explores the origins and evolution of Halloween while highlighting Anaheim’s own longstanding connection to the holiday.
Boo-tastic Halloween Party at Adventure City
Adventure City gets a Halloween makeover on select nights throughout October with its family-friendly Boo-tastic Halloween Party.
The after-hours celebration includes Trick-or-Treat Street, a Halloween-themed train ride, scavenger hunt, Vortex Tunnel, light show, dance party and access to 11 rides. Events take place October 2, 9, 15–16, 21–23, and 28–30 from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Knott’s Scary Farm at Knott’s Berry Farm
Just down the road from Anaheim, Knott’s Berry Farm offers two very different ways to celebrate Halloween.
After dark, Knott’s Scary Farm transforms the park with haunted mazes, scare zones, sinister performers and late-night thrills on select nights from September 17 through October 31.
Visiting with little ones? It also offers a much friendlier daytime celebration Thursdays through Sundays from September 24 through Halloween, with trick-or-treating, characters and seasonal family activities.
The 17th Door
Think you’re difficult to scare? The 17th Door in Buena Park might put that to the test. Known as one of Orange County’s scariest Halloween attractions, this immersive experience goes beyond your typical haunted maze with elaborate rooms, physical effects and interactive scares. Guests even have to sign a waiver before entering.
Pick a Pumpkin at Tanaka Farms
For something decidedly less terrifying, head to Irvine for one of Orange County’s quintessential fall traditions. The Tanaka Farms Pumpkin Patch is open throughout October with acres of pumpkins alongside farm activities and plenty of cozy photo opportunities. Unlike many pop-up pumpkin lots, Tanaka Farms is a real working farm where visitors can spend time among the fields where the pumpkins actually grow.
Pumpkin Palooza at Discovery Cube
Halloween gets a scientific twist at Discovery Cube Orange County in Santa Ana. Pumpkin Palooza returns October 3–4, 10–11, 17–18, 24–25 and 31 with Halloween-themed science and plenty of hands-on seasonal fun. It’s a great option for families looking for something festive without the scares of a traditional haunted attraction.
BOO at the Zoo | October 18, 24 & 25
Spend Halloween alongside some real creatures at the Santa Ana Zoo. BOO at the Zoo returns for two weekends with Halloween activities, festive decorations, and plenty of family-friendly fun. The evening celebration runs from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and is geared especially toward families with younger children.
Take a Haunted Tour of Fullerton
Want your Halloween scares with a little local history? The Haunted Fullerton Walking Tour explores some of Downtown Fullerton’s most mysterious stories and reportedly haunted landmarks.
Led by the Fullerton Museum Center, the popular walking tour mixes local history with tales of unexplained happenings around the city, with tours scheduled on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays in October and an extra-special Halloween edition on October 31.
Spooky Seas at the Ocean Institute | October 24
Halloween takes a splash with Spooky Seas at the Ocean Institute in Dana Point. Taking place October 24 from 5:30 to 9 p.m., this family-friendly evening combines Halloween fun with the Ocean Institute’s marine setting. Expect activities like bioluminescence laser tag, a Mad Scientist Lab, haunted ship tours, night-time aquarium access, a costume contest, and more.
Treats in the Streets in Old Towne Orange | October 29
Historic Old Towne Orange gets into the Halloween spirit with its annual Treats in the Streets Autumn Festival. On October 29, the streets surrounding the historic Orange Plaza welcome costumed families for an evening of Halloween fun. The longtime community celebration traditionally includes trick-or-treating, entertainment, games, food, and plenty of reasons to show off your best costume.