All events are subject to change. Please confirm with the event organizer before attending.
Hallowe’en Spooktacular | Bob Baker Marionette Theater, Los Angeles
September 5 - November 8: Celebrate Halloween with 100+ spirited puppets, silly songs, spooky fun, a Día de los Muertos sequence, and costume parades in October.
Disney’s Beauty and the Beast | Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Costa Mesa
September 22 – October 11: Watch Disney's Beauty and the Beast take the stage in its first North American touring production in over 25 years. The beloved musical features all-new sets, dazzling costumes, and the classic Oscar-winning score.
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!
Boo-tastic Halloween Party | Adventure City, Anaheim
Select nights, October 2-30: Trick-or-treat, enjoy 11 rides, hop aboard the Halloween Express Train, explore the Cosmic Vortex, join a scavenger hunt and dance party, and more.
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!
Spooktacular Season Fan Event: Hocus Pocus & The Nightmare Before Christmas | El Capitan Theatre, Hollywood
October 9 & 16: Celebrate Spooktacular Season with special Hocus Pocus and The Nightmare Before Christmas in 4D Fan Events featuring introductions, a live drawing demo, photo ops, and more.
Annual Night Sky Festival | Twentynine Palms
October 9-10: Explore the Mojave Desert's night skies with telescope viewing, hands-on science, Family Space Camp, astronomy lectures, a Glow Party, and a Night Star Party.
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!
CatCon in Pasadena
October 10-11: Celebrate cat culture with kittens, cat celebs, pop-up shops, workshops, giveaways, and more. All ages welcome.
Sensory Friendly Saturdays | GRAMMY Museum, LA
2nd Saturdays: Explore the GRAMMY Museum in a calmer, sensory-friendly environment with softer lighting and reduced noise levels.
Soar into STEM: Glider Day | Flight Path Museum & Learning Center, Los Angeles
October 10: Build and tune your own glider while learning about aerodynamics, then test your creation in a flight-line distance competition. Advance registration required.
Placentia Heritage Festival | Tri City Park, Placentia
October 10: Celebrate America's 250th anniversary and Placentia's centennial with a parade, car show, and live entertainment. Bounce on inflatable games, browse food vendors, and visit the beer and wine garden.
Turtle & Tortoise Day | Madrona Marsh Nature Center | Torrance
October 10: Meet live turtles and tortoises up close during this hands-on, all-ages event. This popular event is back again for another year. FREE!
Barks & Boos | Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden, Arcadia
October 10: Bring your pup for adoptable pets, free dog portraits, an agility course, garden strolls, vendors, food, and a Halloween dog costume contest.
Turtle and Tortoise Day | Madrona Marsh Preserve, Torrance
October 10: Meet baby turtles and tortoises, learn about these amazing animals, and discover adoption opportunities during a special visit from the California Turtle and Tortoise Society.
Irvine Global Village Festival | Great Park, Irvine
October 10: Celebrate 25 years of Irvine Global Village with international food, music and dance, cultural exhibits, a global marketplace, Kids Village activities, and more. FREE!
Fall Fantasy Book Faire | Autry Museum Lawn, Los Angeles
October 10-11: Enter a fantasy world of books, authors, cosplay, magical merchants, storytime, live knights, crafts, games, and immersive activities. Kids 10 and under are free.
Fur-Ever Friends Fall Festival | Mission Viejo Animal Services Center, Mission Viejo
October 10: Meet adoptable dogs, cats, bunnies, and reptiles, plus enjoy kids crafts, hands-on activities, wildlife education, and animal meet-and-greets.
Oktoberfest & Beerfest | Wild Rivers, Irvine
October 10: Celebrate Oktoberfest at Wild Rivers with live Oktoberfest music, German food specialties, local breweries, and a festive atmosphere.
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!
Night of Alebrijes & Trunk or Treat | Willard Intermediate School, Santa Ana
October 10: Celebrate Halloween with treats, costumes, colorful alebrijes, a spooky maze, and more at the 2nd Annual Trunk or Treat.
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!
$5 Play Day | The Children’s Museum at La Habra
February - December: The Children's Museum at La Habra hosts its first $5 Play Day with full access to all exhibits. Ride the carousel, explore the Dino Garden, and hop aboard the historic train car.
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!
O-Town Walls Block Party | Downtown Ontario
October 16-17: Celebrate the finale of O-Town Walls Mural Fest with two nights of breaking battles, workshops, a street skate park, food trucks, and more surrounded by newly created murals.
OC Japan Fair | OC Fair & Event Center, Costa Mesa
October 16-18: Experience Japanese culture with food, J-POP and traditional performances, a tuna cutting show, cosplay, crafts, anime merchandise, family games, and more.
Nat at Night | San Diego Natural History Museum, San Diego
Sep 19, Oct 16, Nov 20, Dec 18: Explore exhibitions and the rooftop deck at the San Diego Natural History Museum at night on select Fridays, open until 11 PM. The whole family is welcome — grab dinner in the Atrium or on the rooftop and explore until bedtime. Admission is half-price after 5 PM.
Friday Fun | Madrona Marsh Nature Center, Torrance
Every Friday: Explore nature with story time, crafts, science, and guided activities designed for preschoolers. FREE!
Spooktacular Season Fan Event: Hocus Pocus & The Nightmare Before Christmas | El Capitan Theatre, Hollywood
October 9 & 16: Celebrate Spooktacular Season with special Hocus Pocus and The Nightmare Before Christmas in 4D Fan Events featuring introductions, a live drawing demo, photo ops, and more.
Mega Night Market Asian Food, Music & Cultural Festival | Great Park Live, Irvine
October 17-18: Celebrate Asian cultures with street food, live music and DJs, traditional dance, cultural performances, and more. Admission is $5.88; wear cultural attire for FREE admission Sunday.
Southeast Asia Day | Aquarium of the Pacific, Long Beach
October 17: Celebrate Southeast Asian cultures with music, dance, cultural craft demonstrations, and special programming representing Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, and more.
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.
Journeying Japan: Tohoku Day | Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum, San Diego
October 17: Explore Japan's Tohoku region with a Kokeshi doll exhibit, prefecture information booths, a stamp rally, and an optional Kokeshi Doll Painting workshop.
Los Angeles Printers Fair | International Printing Museum, Carson
October 17–18: Browse letterpress, printmaking, book arts, and paper arts from artists across the Southwest and beyond. Shop custom posters, hand-printed cards, handmade paper, and antiquarian books, all surrounded by the world's largest collection of working antique presses.
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.
Fall Festival | The Original Farmers Market, Los Angeles
October 17-18: Celebrate the harvest season with a petting zoo, pumpkin patch and games, equestrian activities, fall crafts, photo ops, live music, and more.
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!
Moto Beach Classic | Bolsa Chica State Beach, Huntington Beach
October 17: Watch motorcycle racing, stunt and FMX shows, kids e-bike races, and live music, plus explore custom bikes, art, vendors, demos, and more on the beach. FREE!
Family Festival: LA and Mexico in Focus | Getty Center, Los Angeles
October 17: Enjoy mariachi, ballet folklórico, bilingual storytelling, live music, and hands-on art workshops celebrating Mexican culture and LA's Chicano/a communities. 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!
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!
