All events are subject to change. Please confirm with the event organizer before attending.
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 60 of San Diego County's favorite museums, historic sites, aquariums, gardens and more. Many are even free for the whole family!
Tustin Tiller Days Festival & Parade
October 3-5: Enjoy a parade, carnival rides, entertainment, vendors, brewfest, and more.
Mr. Jack O’ Lanterns Pumpkins in Torrance
October 3 - November 2: Mr. Jack O’ Lanterns Pumpkin Patch features games and activities include pumpkin bowling, pumpkin decorating, farm animals, and more.
Scaredown in Downtown Torrance
October 4: Trick-or-treat, meet Addams Family’s Sean Cassidy, and explore Spooky Trails. FREE.
The Tamagotchi USA Road Trip at Irvine Spectrum
October 4–5: Decorate Tama cases, snap pics with characters, and check out exclusive merch at the Tamagotchi Road Trip stop in Irvine. FREE!
Making Scents of the Ancient World: Pylos Perfume Workshop at the Getty Center
September 21 - January 10: In this free, drop-in, perfume-making workshop, you can create your own perfume inspired by an ancient recipe from Pylos, in southern Greece.
Free Home Depot Kids Workshops
FIRST SATURDAYS: Join your local Home Depot on the first Saturday of each month between 9am - noon for free in-person Kids Workshops. While supplies last.
Harvest Festival in Gardena
October 4: Celebrate fall with music, vendors, kids’ activities, and a cornhole tournament at Gardena’s Harvest Festival. FREE!
Battle of Dominguez Hill Reenactment in Rancho Dominguez
October 4: 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!
Mid-Autumn Festival at Mt Sac College
October 4-5: Celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival with food, shopping, and live performances in Walnut.
Ektaa Diwali Fest at Great Park Live Amphitheater in Irvine
October 4: Celebrate Diwali with food, music, dancing, and a lamp-lighting ceremony in Irvine. FREE!
International Street Fair & Diversity Festival in Artesia
October 4: Eat, dance, and celebrate culture at Artesia’s International Street Fair. FREE!
Moon Festival at Arcadia City Hall Lawn
October 4: Enjoy mooncake making, live entertainment, and kids’ activities at Arcadia’s Moon Festival. FREE!
International Observe the Moon Night at Orange Coast College
October 4: View the waxing gibbous moon through high-powered telescopes and engage with knowledgeable astronomy students and faculty, who will be on hand to share fascinating insights about the moon's craters, mountains, and seas. FREE!
Events at Long Beach Public Libraries
Ongoing: Explore free events at Long Beach Public Libraries, including storytimes, workshops, book clubs, and hands-on activities for all ages!
Creepy Crawlers in Arboretum & Botanical Garden at CSUF
October 5: Explore garden critters with crafts and stories for kids. FREE!
Community Day at Back Bay Science Center in Newport Beach
Sundays: Tour labs, touch sea creatures, wander the trails, and watch animal feeding during this free drop-in open house. FREE!
Asian Mid-Autumn Moon Festival at Bowers Museum
October 5: Celebrate with live performances, art making, and a taste of mooncake. FREE.
PCH Explorer Kids Club at 2ND & PCH in Long Beach
June – December: Join themed kids’ club parties at 2ND & PCH featuring crafts, performances, animals, and more. Held outdoors on select Tuesdays with extra summer dates.
Nites on Pine in Los Alamitos
August - October: Enjoy live music, food, and family fun at Nites on Pine, a monthly evening street fair.
Halloween Fright Fest Market at Anaheim GardenWalk
Weekends, October 10-26: Enjoy live music, spooky vendors, free crafts, and giveaways at GardenWalk in Anaheim. FREE!
Haunted Escape Room at the Mission Viejo Library
October 10-12: Test your problem-solving skills and your ability to work in a team while trying to escape the curse. FREE!
Little Seedlings Story Time at Sherman Gardens
EVERY FRIDAY: Join Sherman Library & Gardens to share favorite stories, picture books and poems. Perfect for preschool children and their caregivers.
Long Beach Zombie Walk & Halloween Party
October 11: Zombies take over Shoreline Village in Long Beach with a family-friendly Kids Zone, live music, spooky eats, costume contests, and the iconic Zombie Walk. FREE!
Rail Giants Train Museum in Pomona
2nd Weekends: Climb aboard historic locomotives and explore rail history at RailGiants Train Museum in Pomona.
Halloween Parade and Costume Contest in Norwalk
October 11: This free, community event includes marching bands, costume contests, and parade entries. Parade begins at 11am at the corner of Norwalk Blvd. and Mapledale St. and concludes at Hermosillo Park.
Scarecrow Festival in Costa Mesa
October 11: See scarecrows displayed on the lawn, enjoy a kids costume contest, face painting, trick-or-treat stations, pumpkin decorating, music, food trucks, and more.
Harvest Festival at Green Hills in Rancho Palos Verdes
October 12: Pick a pumpkin, explore the maze, ride the hay wagon, and get creative with arts and crafts. FREE!
LA Korean Festival
October 16-19: Celebrate and learn about Korean culture with street foods, regional specialties, a marketplace, and performances from Korean musicians, artists and more.
YMCA of OC Trunk or Treats
October 17-25: Families can enjoy safe trick-or-treating, decorated trunks, costumes, games, music, and plenty of festive fun at branches across the county. October 17: Newport Beach • October 18: Laguna Niguel • October 24: Huntington Beach • October 24: Mission Viejo • October 25: Fullerton. FREE!
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 Workshop for Kids
June 21 - October 18: Lowe's offers monthly in-store workshops where children ages 4 and older are invited to build memories and basic DIY skills with their families. Advanced registration required.
Boo at the Oaks at Santiago Oaks Regional Park in Orange
October 18: The night will include fun activities like nature stations, creative crafts, a scavenger hunt for prizes and guided night hikes throughout the evening! Costumes are welcome.
Haunted Night Market at the Inn at Mission San Juan Capistrano
October 19: Shop 30+ vendors, enjoy live music, trick-or-treating, a pumpkin patch, and costume contests at The Haunted Night Market in San Juan Capistrano.
Haunted Jail & Safety Expo in Lakewood
October 23: A spooky family event featuring kids spooky maze, haunted jail, games, attractions, and a display of first responder vehicles. FREEish!
Halloween at Redondo Beach Pier
October 24: Halloween celebration with trick-or-treating along the pier and boardwalk, sponsored giveaways, and a themed selfie station. FREE!
Free Saturday Family Theatre in Long Beach
March 1, May 3, June 21, September 13, October 25: A free opportunity for kid of all ages to experience the magic of theatre. These free shows are open to all. Reservations are required.
Free Halloween Dance Class at Burgess Cotillion in Long Beach
OCTOBER 27: Try out Burgess Cotillion at their Halloween-themed "Spooky Spectacular" this month, with a free class for anyone new to the program. Participants enjoy dancing, refreshments, games, and prizes.
Treats in the Streets Autumn Festival in Orange
October 30: More info coming soon
OktoBOOfest at Downtown Fullerton Plaza
October 30: Get spook with a trick-or-treating, kids parade, pie-eating contest, food, and brews at OktoBOOfest in Fullerton. FREE!
Shark Lagoon Nights at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach
SELECT FRIDAYS, JANUARY - NOVEMBER, 2025: Get up close with the ocean’s ultimate predators and have a chance to touch smaller sharks such as bamboo sharks. You will also see rays and large sharks in the Aquarium’s Shark Lagoon. Coffee, hot cocoa, and snacks are available for purchase. Shark Lagoon Nights are weather-dependent and can be canceled due to inclement weather.
Free Entrance Day to National Parks
Come experience the national parks! Mark your calendar for these free entrance days in 2025!
Orange County Children’s Book Festival
September 20: Come join the fun at Orange Coast College! Meet and get autographs from some of your favorite superstar authors and illustrators. Enjoy professional storytellers, family-friendly entertainment, FREE admission and parking, and so much more.
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!
