All events are subject to change. Please confirm with the event organizer before attending.
Free Day at The Huntington Library
EVERY FIRST THURSDAY: The first Thursday of every month is Free Day. Admission is free of charge with advance reservation.
Los Angeles Korean Festival | Seoul International Park, Los Angeles
October 1-4: Celebrate Korean culture with street food, shopping, live performances, traditional games, crafts, Hanbok photo opportunities, and more. FREE!
Kids Free San Diego
October 1-31: During the entire month of October, kids 12 and under receive free admission with a paid adult to more than 70 of San Diego County's favorite museums, historic sites, aquariums, gardens and more. Many are even free for the whole family!
Tiller Days Festival | Columbus Tustin Park
October 2-4: Enjoy a parade, carnival rides, entertainment, vendors, brewfest, and more.
California Avocado Festival | Downtown Carpinteria
October 2-4: Celebrate 40 years of the California Avocado Festival with 60+ bands, food, vendors, a Youth Stage, Strong Arm Contest, Guacamole Contest, and more. FREE!
Pacific Airshow® Huntington Beach
OCTOBER 2-4: Looking for your next big family day out? ✈️ Pacific Airshow® Huntington Beach takes over the coastline with unbelievable aerial action, world-class performers, skydivers, live entertainment and plenty happening on the beach. Get your crew up close to the action, engage in STEM activities, meet your heroes and watch some seriously impressive flying overhead. And with the ocean as your backdrop, it’s a pretty epic way to spend a weekend together.
Friday Fun | Madrona Marsh Nature Center, Torrance
Every Friday: Explore nature with story time, crafts, science, and guided activities designed for preschoolers. FREE!
Scare Down in Downtown | Historic Downtown Torrance, Torrance
October 3: Dress up for Trunk or Treat, live entertainment, games, prizes, spooky vendors, photo ops, and more at Downtown Torrance's Halloween celebration. FREE!
Open House | Discovery Isle Preschool, San Diego County
October 3: Tour the school, meet the teachers, and explore programs for infants (6 weeks) through Pre-Kindergarten. Learn about the Links to Learning curriculum, which offers a balance of learning and play to support growth through every stage.
Festival of Butterflies | Los Rios Park & Historic Town Center Park, San Juan Capistrano
October 3: Celebrate pollinators with family activities, environmental education, native gardening, and more in San Juan Capistrano.
Manhattan Beach Hometown Fair | Manhattan Beach
October 3-4: Enjoy live music, arts and crafts, a Community Showcase, plus Kid Country with a petting zoo, pony rides, games, and face painting. FREE!
OC Fire Authority Station Open Houses | Orange County
October 3: Meet firefighters, explore emergency vehicles, learn about fire and life safety, and enjoy hands-on activities at participating OCFA stations throughout Orange County. FREE!
Hot Wheels Legends Tour | Mattel Global Headquarters, El Segundo
October 3: See one-of-a-kind custom cars compete for the chance to become an official Hot Wheels die-cast vehicle at the Hot Wheels Legends Tour. FREE!
Harvest Festival | Gardena
October 3: Celebrate fall with music, vendors, and kids’ activities at Gardena’s Harvest Festival. FREE!
Battle of Dominguez Hill Reenactment | Rancho Dominguez
October 3: Come see a live reenactment of the Battle of Dominguez Hills. This historic event welcomes vendors, a taco truck, military encampments, activities, and, of course, a battle reenactment. FREE!
Muertos Artwalk | Olvera Street, Los Angeles
October 3: Shop artwork and handmade goods from 35+ local artists, plus enjoy live music, performances, face painting, and more at Olvera Street. FREE!
Lucky Strike Family Fest | Participating Lucky Strike Locations
October 3-4: Enjoy free bowling, arcade play for kids, food samples, a DJ, face painting, balloon art, giveaways, and more. RSVP required. FREE!
West Covina Moon Festival | West Covina City Hall, West Covina
October 3: Celebrate the Moon Festival with lion dancers, live entertainment, a cosplay contest, car show, Family Fun Zone, food, vendors, and more. FREE!
International Street Fair & Diversity Festival | Pioneer Boulevard, Artesia
October 3: Celebrate cultures from around the world with international food, cultural performances, vendors, family activities, and a live performance by The Two Lips. FREE!
Mehregan Family Festival | Bowers Museum, Santa Ana
October 4: Celebrate Mehregan with hands-on art, face painting, live music and dance performances, and a traditional Iranian sweet treat. FREE!
KCRW Family Day | Skirball Cultural Center, Los Angeles
October 4: Enjoy live music, interactive jam sessions, songwriting, artmaking, garden activities, museum galleries, and more at KCRW Family Day. FREE!
Shark Lagoon Nights | Aquarium of the Pacific, Long Beach
Sep 22, Oct 6, Oct 20, Nov 10, Nov 24: Touch bamboo sharks, see rays, and get up close with large sharks during free after-hours evenings at the Aquarium of the Pacific. Only Shark Lagoon is open; event is weather-dependent. FREE!
Free Ride Days: California Clean Air Day | Metrolink & Arrow
October 7: Ride Metrolink and Arrow trains for free all day, plus enjoy free rides on participating connecting transit systems across Southern California. FREE!
Kids Club | The Grove, Los Angeles
June 3–24: Enjoy weekly kids shows with music, puppets, and storytelling at AMC theaters.
Carnival Colossal | Vista Hermosa Sports Park, San Clemente
October 8-11: Enjoy four days of carnival rides, midway games, food trucks, plus weekend live music and a beer garden. Thursday includes a sensory-friendly hour. Admission is FREE!
Friday Fun | Madrona Marsh Nature Center, Torrance
Every Friday: Explore nature with story time, crafts, science, and guided activities designed for preschoolers. FREE!
Noche Latina | Renaissance High School for the Arts, Long Beach
October 9: Celebrate Noche Latina with student performances, cultural demonstrations, a Latin street food fest, art activities, an inflatable obstacle course, and more. FREE!
A Great Day in the Stoke | Huntington Beach Pier
October 10: Hit the beach for a surf competition, 5K run/walk, free surf lessons, wellness activities, Double Dutch, live music, vendors, and more. FREE!
Shakespeare Bridge Centennial Parade & Block Party | Los Feliz, Los Angeles
October 10: Celebrate the Shakespeare Bridge with a 1926-inspired parade featuring costumes, dogs, and vintage cars, followed by a block party with live music, kids crafts, food, and more. FREE!
Scarecrow Festival | Lions Park, Costa Mesa
October 10: Enjoy trick-or-treat stations, a kids costume parade, scarecrow contest, photo ops, live entertainment, music, and more. FREE!
Movie in the Park: Halloweentown | Penn Park, Whittier
October 10: Watch Halloweentown under the stars, plus enjoy crafts, giant lawn games, and music before the movie. FREE!
Antique Aircraft Display Days at Fullerton Airport
2nd Sunday of the Month: Owners of classic aircrafts are invited to display their aircrafts and visitors are invited to view the displays.
The Mole Fair | Gloria Molina Grand Park, Los Angeles
October 11: Celebrate Mexican flavors and traditions with 80+ food exhibitors, artisans, live music, cultural performances, culinary seminars, and a kids area. FREE!
Kids Club | The Grove, Los Angeles
June 3–24: Enjoy weekly kids shows with music, puppets, and storytelling at AMC theaters.
The Ranch Discovery Day | OC Fair & Event Center, Costa Mesa
October 15: Meet horses and farm animals, watch demonstrations, learn about horse care and bees, and join a kids stick horse rodeo. Reservations required. FREE!
Friday Fun | Madrona Marsh Nature Center, Torrance
Every Friday: Explore nature with story time, crafts, science, and guided activities designed for preschoolers. FREE!
Fall Open House | LePort Montessori, Orange County
October 17: Tour Montessori classrooms, meet the teachers, and discover Montessori programs designed to support children from infancy and beyond. Children learn through hands-on experiences with carefully chosen Montessori materials in mixed-age classrooms.
Free Miniature Train Rides at Fairview Park in Costa Mesa
THIRD WEEKEND OF EVERY MONTH: The Orange County Model Engineers offer public ride days every third full weekend of each month. To ride the trains, children must be able to walk and be at least 31" tall. A typical trip takes about 12 minutes and covers two loops of the park.
Lowe’s Kids Workshops
MyLowe’s Rewards Kids Workshops are free, hands-on DIY experiences designed just for kids. Feb 21: Birdhouse / Mar 21: Lawn Mower / Apr 18: Terrarium / May 16: Garden Basket / Jun 13: Trophy Cup / Jul 18: Mini Toy Box / Sep 12: Haunted House / Oct 17: Firefighting Plane / Nov 14: Holiday Engine / Dec 12: Holiday Trolley Car / Jan 16, 2027: Winter Play Lodge
Public Star Party | Griffith Observatory, Los Angeles
September 19, October 17, November 14, December 19: Look at the Sun, Moon, planets, and other objects through a variety of telescopes at Griffith Observatory's free monthly star party. Volunteer astronomers are on hand to answer questions and guide viewing. FREE!
Granada Hills Street Faire | Granada Hills
October 17: Enjoy 250+ vendors, live entertainment, a car show, farmers market, Kids Corner, food, shopping, and more. FREE!
Discovery Zone | Madrona Marsh Nature Center, Torrance
Third Saturday: Explore a hands-on space where kids can touch feathers, match animal tracks, build food webs, and learn how wetlands support plants, animals, and people. Through simple science activities and real marsh artifacts, young explorers discover why protecting nature matters. FREE!
Lucky Strike Family Fest | Participating Lucky Strike Locations
October 17-18: Enjoy free bowling, arcade play for kids, food samples, a DJ, face painting, balloon art, giveaways, and more. RSVP required. FREE!
Walt Disney’s Carolwood Barn Public Day | Griffith Park, Los Angeles
September 20: Tour Walt Disney's original home workshop and explore displays of backyard railroad history, an operating Mine Train Through Nature's Wonderland model, and restored railroad cars. FREE!
Shark Lagoon Nights | Aquarium of the Pacific, Long Beach
Sep 22, Oct 6, Oct 20, Nov 10, Nov 24: Touch bamboo sharks, see rays, and get up close with large sharks during free after-hours evenings at the Aquarium of the Pacific. Only Shark Lagoon is open; event is weather-dependent. FREE!
Kids Club | The Grove, Los Angeles
June 3–24: Enjoy weekly kids shows with music, puppets, and storytelling at AMC theaters.
Friday Fun | Madrona Marsh Nature Center, Torrance
Every Friday: Explore nature with story time, crafts, science, and guided activities designed for preschoolers. FREE!
Lucky Strike Family Fest | Participating Lucky Strike Locations
October 24-25: Enjoy free bowling, arcade play for kids, food samples, a DJ, face painting, balloon art, giveaways, and more. RSVP required. FREE!
Ektaa Diwali Fest | Great Park Live, Irvine
October 24: Celebrate Diwali with Indian music, cultural performances, food, shopping, henna, a traditional lamp lighting ceremony, and a drone show. FREE!
Kids Club | The Grove, Los Angeles
June 3–24: Enjoy weekly kids shows with music, puppets, and storytelling at AMC theaters.
Disclaimer: The Kidsguide team does their best to keep event details accurate at the time of posting, but information can change without notice! Be sure to double-check with the event organizer before heading out. Kidsguide is not responsible for any errors, omissions, or changes on our calendar—we’re just here to help you find the fun!
