From Fall Festivals to Zombie Crawls, These Events Are Sure to Get You in the Halloween Spirit
Hey, boo! Yeah, you. It’s officially fall, which means we’re feeling a little batty for bubbling cauldrons and bump ins with black cats. We love towns that lean into the Halloween spirit, and Orange County is stirring up toil and trouble this month. You can’t spell “Hocus Pocus” without “OC” and “us,” and our lucky number this month is 13, so we’ve conjured up 13 Halloween happenings haunting Orange County this October.
Halloween Festivities at The District at Tustin Legacy
Dates: Select days throughout October
This year, The District at Tustin Legacy is pulling out all the stops to make fall exciting with a variety of events and parties aimed less at tricking and more at treating. Throughout the entire month of October, visitors can enjoy the Fall Cocktail Tour, where participating restaurants are featuring the flavors of fall paired with seasonal bites and desserts, so you can get your pumpkin spice and apple fix all in one spot. On Oct. 14 from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m., The District is hosting a spooky Makers Hive Market featuring local artists and eateries, live music, and more to get you into the Halloween spirit! Then don’t miss District Night’s Fall Carnival Themed Sip & Stroll on the following Thursday, Oct. 19 from 5 p.m to 9 p.m., where you can enjoy games, live music and, of course, the OC Beer Truck! And finally, mark your calendars for Oct. 28 for the ultimate Halloween party from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.—The District’s Halloween Bazaar. Don your most creative costume and enter to win a variety of prizes, shop the variety of local artists, enjoy live music and games, as well as sip and stroll their outdoor Promenade bar; at the very least, you’ll get to decorate your own Halloween tote!
Location: Tustin
Roger’s Gardens Halloween Boutique
Dates: Open now!
One of our all-time favorite Halloween haunts is the boo-tique at Roger’s Gardens. A small but mighty display of ghoulish (and sometimes gross) goods, this haunted house is home to some of the best Halloween decor in town. If the life-size witch at the entry doesn’t do it for you, the spooky soundtrack scoring your tour around the boutique will get you in a menacing mood. They have an impressive display of skeletons, both in the human and dog form, and a frighteningly life-like alligator in a bathtub for those who are really committed to the cause. If you’re hungry, saunter over to their on-site restaurant, Farmhouse, for a deliciously fresh bite or artisan adult beverage.
Location: Corona del Mar
Witches Brew Night Market
Dates: Sept. 30, Oct. 14-15, Oct. 21
Are you a farmers market girlie? Yeah, we are too. The Witches Brew Night Market is like if your favorite Saturday farmers market got spookified. Featuring over 35 vendors, this electric event takes place Sept. 30 and Oct. 21 from 5-10 p.m., with a special two-day event at the Anaheim Packing District on Oct. 14-15 from 4-9 p.m. Set your GPS to 125 North Broadway in Santa Ana and prep your bank account. This is a super fun spot to get some devilish decor or a sinister scent from Sniff Slut. There’s items from all ages, just be sure to properly caffeinate at Requiem Coffee House beforehand to fuel your fantastical finds foray.
Location: Santa Ana and Anaheim
Knott’s Spooky Farm
Dates: Thursdays through Sundays until Halloween
Love Knott’s Scary Farm but want a more family-friendly option? Enter: Knott’s Spooky Farm. This daytime event takes place Thursdays through Sundays until the end of October with activities and attractions like a costume contest, a pumpkin patch, trick-or-treating throughout the theme park, a costume contest, a petting zoo of creepy critters, themed rides like the Halloween Hootenanny log ride and much more! Walk through the haunted towns and catch the live performances. This is Knott the one to miss. Oh, and be sure to get out of there by nightfall to avoid the super scary stuff.
Location: Buena Park
11/23
Anaheim’s Fall Festival
Date: Oct. 28
Ring toss on a witches hat, anyone? On Oct. 28, Anaheim will be hosting its 100th Annual Fall Festival, and it’s filled to the brim with plenty of boos and even some booze. This free event will take place on the Center Street Promenade from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., just steps from one of our favorite Disney-area destinations, the Anaheim Packing District. This is a fun, kid-friendly event and your little ones will love the jack-o’-lantern cookies and quirky characters.
Location: Anaheim
The 17th Door
Dates: Select days in October
Are you a sucker for scary experiences? Look no further than The 17th Door, an interactive and intense haunted house that’ll send chills up your spine and screams out of your mouth. Located in Buena Park, this attraction is not for the faint of heart as attendees will be overstimulated by screams, sadistic storylines and sinister sights. I mean, you have to sign a waiver before you partake—need we say more? Ticket prices range from $36 to $48 depending on the day, and the experience lasts from 35 minutes up to 80 minutes if you do the “field trip” add-on. The FAQs on the site warn that you may get grabbed, have to hold your breath, get wet or have things fall on top of you. They even impose a safe word (“Mercy”) for those who want to get out quickly, though there are three rooms where the safe word does NOT work. This is not a beginners boo-a-thon; this is an escapade for experts in evil. There’s a reason it was dubbed the scariest haunted house in the United States. Godspeed.
Location: Buena Park
Tunnel of Terror
Dates: Oct. 5-30
Love the idea of a haunted house but want to do it from the safety of your vehicle? Say no more. The Tunnel of Terror is a haunted car wash at Big Wave Car Wash in Anaheim, and it’s the creepiest way to get your car clean, like, ever. New nightmare: unlocked. Tickets range from $30 to $40, but the convenience of getting to stay in your car (and get it cleaned) is priceless. This is probably not the best family-friendly outing but would be fun with a group of friends looking for a pregame fright. Open Oct. 5-30, you won’t want to miss this unique Halloween experience.
Location: Anaheim
Fall-O-Ween at Heritage Hill
Dates: Oct. 22-23
Heritage Hill in Lake Forest is hosting a Halloween extravaganza called Fall-o-ween, complete with photo-friendly displays and impressive decorations. This free event runs from 4:30-8:30 p.m. on Oct. 22-23. Kids are encouraged to dress up, make their way through the on-site maze and complete a spooky scavenger hunt. This is a very family-friendly offering (take the pets, too) and did we mention it’s free?
Location: Lake Forest
Halloween Zombie Crawl
Date: Oct. 28
Ever felt the desire to mix drinking with danger? Look no further than the Halloween Zombie Bar Crawl through the streets of Huntington Beach—one day only on Oct. 28. Tickets are $25 if purchased in advance and $35 if bought the day of. This event gets a whole lot of boys and ghouls out and about to terrorize the town—over 300 people usually participate each year. Nearly a dozen local bars participate by offering drink deals, so you’ll be sure you turn into a zombie by morning. Seriously, you’ll be dead the next day. Dress up and get ready to drink!
Location: Huntington Beach
Nightmare on Center Street Farmers Market
Date: Oct. 26
Want to attend an event that is to die for? Check out the Nightmare on Center Street Farmers Market. It’s good, wholesome Halloween fun with spooky vendors, trick-or-treating, and more! Mark your calendars for Oct. 26 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. to check out all of the amazing vendors signed up to participate on their Eventbrite! This event is another free one, which we love, and is a fun way to kill an afternoon with the kids.
Location: Anaheim
Corgi Beach Day Howl-o-ween
Date: Oct. 28
Yes, you read that right: There is a local event dedicated to a corgi costume contest, and it is a must-attend for anyone who wants to see dogs dressed as demogorgons, divas and delivery men. This is all about good, clean fun and seeing how creative these corgi owners can get with their costumes. The event, happening on Oct. 28, will have gourmet food trucks, photo ops, a marketplace with pet-friendly finds and the ever-popular corgi kissing booth. Be sure to walk the boardwalk and scope out anything going on at Pacific City while you’re in that part of town.
Location: Huntington Beach
Pageant of the Monsters
Dates: Oct. 27-29, 31
We know you’ve heard of Pageant of the Masters, but have you heard of Pageant of the Monsters? This freakish festival in Laguna Beach is resurrected every five years, and this year promises to be the creepiest rendition yet. Alien autopsies? Check. Demented chef side shows? Check. Minotaur maze? Check, check and check. There will be plenty of tricks and lots of treats at this highly anticipated Halloween classic. Taking place on Oct. 27, 28, 29 and 31, Pageant of the Monsters tickets are going for $20 in advance or $25 at the door; children are $10.
Location: Laguna Beach
Laguna Niguel Haunted Trails
Dates: Oct. 12-15
The Haunted Trails are back for the 23rd year in a row. Scaring starts promptly at 6:30 p.m. from Oct. 12 to 15, once the sun goes down. Get your steps and your scares in all at the same time! This is one way to murder multitasking. There’s a ghoulish group rate where groups of 10+ can purchase tickets at $10 per person; otherwise, you will pay $13 or $15 if tickets are bought at the event. Check out the Facebook page for additional details and the address! This event is not recommended for children under the age of 12.
Location: Laguna Niguel
