Not So Scary Halloween Events for Orange County Kids

Here are our favorites:

Irvine Park Railroads (FREE) Kid-Friendly Haunted House 

September 16th-October 31st • Weekdays 10:00am–5:00pm / Weekends 8:00am-6:00pm

1 Irvine Park Rd. Orange, CA 92869

Irvine Park Railroad’s Pumpkin Patch in Orange County is fun for the entire family. Come out and enjoy the many activities for kids of all ages. The Pumpkin Patch is located just behind the train station and admission is FREE. Please note that a gate entrance fee will be charged by the County of Orange for each vehicle that enters Irvine Regional Park.

Children’s Halloween Festival

October 30th • 4:00-5:00pm

Rogers Gardens 2301 San Joaquin Hills Road Corona del Mar, CA 92625

Roger’s Gardens will change up their usual schedule of gardening workshops and cooking demonstrations in favor of a children’s festival on the day before Halloween. Stop by the Newport Beach-based center for the Children’s Halloween Festival, where kids can test out their costumes a day early and participate in interactive holiday arts and crafts. There will also be a special trick-or-treat parade that will wind throughout the gardens; children can hop in line and get some goodies to take home with them. The free, hour-long event will start at 4 p.m.

Mickey’s Halloween Party

October 3rd-31st (Dates Vary) • 6:00pm

Disneyland Resort 1313 Disneyland Drive Anaheim, CA 92802

It’s no surprise that Disney is responsible for one of the most exciting child-friendly Halloween events in the region. Mickey’s Halloween Party has continued to grow more and more popular each year since its inception, offering special events of spooky excitement within the famed theme park. In addition to the fun slew of rides and attraction, this special ticketed party offers Halloween décor, trick-or-treating lines offering candy and healthy treats, a themed fireworks show and unique parades and performances. This year, for the first time, Disney’s California Adventure is open for the party as well. Certain rides—like the Haunted Mansion, Space Mountain and Guardians of the Galaxy—Mission: Breakout!—have been transformed for the holiday as well.

Anaheim Fall Festival and Halloween Parade

October 28th • 6:00pm

Center Street Promenade Between Harbor and Anaheim Boulevards Anaheim, CA 92805

Now in its 94th year, the Anaheim Fall Festival and Halloween Parade is one of the longest running Halloween events in Orange County, and it’s perfect for kids. This year’s event takes place on October 28, offering guests a chance to enjoy local food, fun games and contests, vendor booths and live music. The Miss Anaheim Fall Festival scholarship program is also a part of the festival each year. Then, after the fair has ended, stick around for the annual Halloween parade. Beginning at 6 p.m., a slew of costumed witches, goblins and ghouls from nearby businesses, schools and community organizations will travel along the Center Street Promenade entertaining the crowd.

“Spooky Science”

Now-October 31st 10am-5pm

Discovery Cube OC 2500 North Main Street Santa Ana, CA 92705

For an educational Halloween event, check out Discovery Cube OC’s “Spooky Science” exhibit. Filled with scientific experiments to view and do, the exhibition provides an array of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) activities in fields like chemistry, electricity and optical illusions as well as early learning concepts like shapes, colors and creative play. Children will explore as students in a Monster Academy, learning from some familiar characters. In addition to a monster talent show where these characters will showcase some scientific talents, kids can make their own Halloween slime and learn about Frankenstein’s Van de Graaff generator in his laboratory. The exhibit is open daily this year through October 31.

Knott’s Spooky Farm

Weekends September 30th-October 29th, and October 31st

Knott’s Berry Farm 8039 Beach Boulevard Buena Park, CA 90620

While Knott’s Scary Farm is a thrilling haunt for teens and adults, Knott’s Spooky Farm brings the spirit of Halloween to the theme park each day for younger guests. Join Snoopy and the Peanuts gang for a celebration of fall and all things spooky. Taking place in various parts of the park (though mainly Camp Snoopy), children can trick-or-treat through the streets of Ghost Town, enter the Peanuts costume content, join in on a Peanuts dance party, decorate a pumpkin, learn about creepy critters and get Dia de Los Muertos face painting in Fiesta Village. Some rides will be transformed, including the Timber Mountain Log Ride as Halloween Hootenanny and the Grand Sierra Railroad, and special shows like “The Monsters Are Coming, Charlie Brown” will take place in Camp Snoopy’s theater.

Boo at the Zoo

October 21st, 22nd, 28th & 29th• 5:30–8:00 pm

Santa Ana Zoo1801 East Chestnut Avenue Santa Ana, CA 92701

For two weekends before Halloween, the Santa Ana Zoo will host its annual Boo at the Zoo event. This is a great chance to get up close and personal with animals through special presentations as well as to view those that call the zoo home. But, even more than that, it’s a chance to celebrate the spooky holiday in a family-friendly way. Other highlights of this kid-centric event include the chance to dress up in Halloween costumes and visit 10 stations along the trick-or-treat trail, live storytelling and entertainment, games, a parade and hot dog dinners. Teens can also check out the Teen Scream haunted house, included with admission.

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