All events are subject to change. Please confirm with the event organizer before attending.
Star Light, Star Bright Night Hike at Carbon Canyon Regional Park in Brea
See Carbon Canyon Regional Park in a completely different setting - in the dark! Park rangers will lead a starlit hike showcasing the natural wonders that can only be seen at night. Plus hot cocoa and cookies!
Junior Ranger Day at the Bay in Newport Beach
Earn your Junior Ranger Badge and Certificate at Upper Newport Bay. Participants will go on a guided hike, complete a short service project, and take the junior ranger oath.
Nature Hike at Caspers Wilderness Park in San Juan Capistrano
Join Caspers Park Foundation volunteers for a one-mile guided nature hike in the beautiful Bell Canyon area of Caspers Wilderness Park.
Kids’ Fishing Derby at Mile Square Regional Park in Fountain Valley
March 14: OC Parks, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Angler Chronicles host the 20th Annual Kids' Fishing Derby at the North Lake at Mile Square Regional Park.
OC Parks Drive-In: The Sandlot
August 14-16: Join OC Parks for a drive-in movie event featuring “The Sandlot" at Craig Regional Park.
OC Parks Drive-In: Hocus Pocus – Fountain Valley
OCTOBER 23-25: OC Parks will host a drive-in movie at Mile Square Regional Park featuring "Hocus Pocus." Tickets must be purchased online in advance. Tickets available October 13.
OC Parks Spooky Series
OCTOBER 26-31: Join OC Parks for a frightfully fun week of virtual Halloween offerings happening on social media.
Monthly Hike to the Redwoods with OC Parks
FIRST SATURDAYS: Join OC Parks' trained staff on the first Saturday of the month for an easy 1.1-mile early morning hike to the park's coastal redwood grove. You will use your five senses to engage with nature as you stroll to the redwoods.
Bouncing Bats Nighttime Activity at Irvine Regional Park
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 11: After the sun has set, the night sky fills with small but mighty flying bats. Enjoy an evening discovering how important bats are to our ecosystems. Groups will walk around the lake to search for these nighttime flyers as they race around catching their dinner.
Monarch Butterfly Day at Mile Square Regional Park in Fountain Valley
SATURDAY, AUGUST 14: Learn all about monarch butterflies and get an up-close look at these magnificent creatures. Kids can plant their own butterfly garden and enjoy crafts, face painting, and a balloon artist.
Family Hike at Black Star Canyon in Silverado
SUNDAY, AUGUST 15: Hike along a flat trail and cross a creek and watch for red-tailed hawks and mule deer. The hike will average 3-4 miles round trip at an easy pace with a medium level of interpretation.
Bats: Heroes of the Night Activity at Limestone Canyon Nature Preserve in Silverado
SUNDAY, AUGUST 15: As the day starts to settle into the night, bats awaken, stir and streak into the evening sky. Come hear fascinating tales and head out towards a popular roosting location to observe bats in flight.
Family Hike at Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park in Foothill Ranch
SUNDAY, AUGUST 22: Hike along the Borrego Canyon trail and the Red Rock Canyon trail to the destination for approximately 2 miles (4 miles in total). Total climbing elevation is around 500 feet.
OC Parks Summer Concert Series
THURSDAYS, JUNE 24 - AUGUST 26: OC Parks Summer Concert Series returns with 10 free concerts across OC Parks each Thursday from June 24-August 26. Enjoy live music, delicious bites, and fun for all ages under the summer sky.
Free Kids’ Fishing Derby at Mile Square Regional Park in Fountain Valley
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 16: Join OC Parks for a fun-filled day of fishing at Mile Square Regional Park. The North Lake will be stocked with more than 1,000 pounds of trout and catfish for kids (ages 6-15) to try and catch. Registration is required at the OC Parks check-in table on the day of the event.
Toddler Treks: Fluffy Clouds at Irvine Regional Park
JANUARY 11: Is that a rabbit, a dragon, or spilt milk? Our fluffy clouds can take on lots of shapes. Let’s use our imagination to create a new type of clouds! This fun program is for ages 2 – 6 years. Program is free but space is limited.
Toddler Treks: The Unlovables at Irvine Regional Park
FEBRUARY 15: Lots of fluffy cute animals typically get all the love and cuddles, but what about the slimy, scaly and stinky animals? Let’s learn about the "unlovables" in nature and send them some Valentine’s Day love! This fun program is for ages 2 – 6 years. Program is free but space is limited.
Toddler Treks: Spring into Green at Irvine Regional Park
MARCH 15: Spring is just around the corner and what better time to enjoy all things green! Wear your favorite green clothes and join this fun St. Patrick’s Day program in the park! This fun program is for ages 2 – 6 years.
Star Party at Caspers Wilderness Park in San Juan Capistrano
SATURDAY, APRIL 2: Public family-friendly stargazing event at Caspers Wilderness Park with astronomer and astrophotographer, Allan White.
Bear Awareness Day at OC Zoo
SATURDAY, APRIL 9: Activities include crafts for kids, special keeper chats about bears, and a learning station where you can find out more about bear conservation and research, how to "bear proof" camping sites, and what to do if you see a bear.
Fossils Are Fun at Black Star Canyon
SUNDAY, APRIL 24: Make your own fossil, then take a 2-3 mile hike looking for fossils. Ages 8 and up.
Family Hike in Round Canyon
JUNE 19: Enjoy nature with friends and family in Round Canyon, hike along a fairly flat trail while watching red-tailed hawks and mule deer!
Crafty Kids Sunday at Newport Beach
JUNE 26: Features FREE craft activities in the Muth Interpretive Center’s Discovery Classroom. All ages are welcome.
Starry, Starry Night at Black Star Canyon Wilderness Park
JUNE 26: Come join for an interactive evening under the stars and immerse yourself in a scaled-down version of our solar system!
Beginning Archery Class in Fountain Valley
JUNE 11 - AUGUST 20: Join OC Parks staff and OC Parks volunteers for a beginning archery course for first-time archers.
Orange County Moon Festival in Fountain Valley
SEPTEMBER 10: The OC Moon Festival will have a variety of food vendors, family entertainment, performers, and children’s activities. Free moon cakes and lanterns for kids. Free admission and parking.
Toddler Trek: Daylight, Star Night at Irvine Regional Park
SEPTEMBER 20: Learn about daytime critters and their matching nighttime friend. Then make your own craft to take home.
Starry, Starry Night at Black Star Canyon
SEPTEMBER 25: Enjoy an interactive evening under the stars. The hike will average 2-3 miles round trip at an easy, slow pace. Designed with kids ages 5-12 in mind.
Irvine Regional Park 125th Anniversary Celebration
OCTOBER 1: Activities include live music, dance and Shakespeare performances, crafts, historical demonstrations, interpretive programs, commemorative giveaways and more!
Candlelight Walk at Heritage Hill Historical Park
DECEMBER 9-11: Enjoy an evening stroll through the decorated grounds as well as live musical performances, holiday crafts for kids and a visit with Santa Claus!
Christmas Concert at Mile Square Park
DECEMBER 10: This family-friendly holiday concert features performances by The All-American Boys Chorus and the Bolsa Grande High School Choir. There will also be free hot cocoa, coffee, and pastries and free photo with Santa Clause and antler headbands for kids.
Holiday Lights at Heritage Hill Historical Park
DECEMBER 16-19: Wander through twinkling light displays during special park hours. Please note that no additional entertainment or refreshments will be provided at Holiday Lights.
Family Hike in Round Canyon
FEBRUARY 12: Enjoy nature with friends and family in Round Canyon. Hike along a fairly flat trail and watch for red-tailed hawks and mule deer.
Toddler Stroll & Storytime at Clark Regional Park in Buena Park
FEBRUARY 16: Bring your little ones for a story, kid-friendly craft, and walk in the park. Activities are designed for ages 2-4, but all are welcome.
Civil War Living Historian at Irvine Regional Park
FEBRUARY 19: Come chat with a Civil War living historian at the cannon in Irvine Regional Park. The volunteer will share the history of the 1853 Howitzer cannon and how it came to be at its current location.
Ducks Day at the OC Zoo
MARCH 4: Wear your Ducks gear to get free entry into the OC Zoo! Meet and take photos with an Anaheim Ducks Alumni player. Watch animal demonstrations and receive fun giveaway items.
Annular Solar Eclipse Viewing Party
OCTOBER 14: Join OC Parks at Caspers Park Nature Center to view an annular solar eclipse. Complimentary eclipse viewing glasses will be available for registered participants.
Toddler Treks in Newport Beach
EVERY FRIDAY, MARCH: Bring your little ones to learn about Upper Newport Bay, includes story time, age-appropriate hike, and a themed craft. Each week will focus on a different topic.
Summer Citrus Harvest at Key Ranch in Placentia
AUGUST 3: Crafts, educational exhibitors, live music performances, blacksmith demonstrations, and docent-led tours of the Key Ranch home.
Prehistoric OC at Ralph B. Clark Regional Park
OCTOBER 12: Join OC Parks for Prehistoric OC, a free event inviting families to explore the natural and cultural history of Orange County. Enjoy fun and educational activities presented by OC Parks archaeologists and paleontologists.
Family Hike in Black Star Canyon
SATURDAYS, JANUARY 11 - MARCH 29, 2025: Enjoy an afternoon family hike in Black Star Canyon, part of OCParks’ Irvine Ranch Open Space. Hike along a flat trail and cross a dry creek and watch for red-tailed hawks and mule deer.
Family Hike at OCPark’s Irvine Ranch Open Space
February 15 - March 30: Enjoy afternoon hikes on select weekend days with Irvine Ranch. The hikes will average 3-4 miles round trip at an easy pace with a medium level of interpretation.
Rancho Days Fiesta at Heritage Hill Historical Park
May 3: Celebrate the rancho era with cultural performances, Charro demonstrations, historic tours, and hands-on crafts at this free, family-friendly fiesta.
Spring into Summer at Old Orange County Courthouse
May 31: Dance to live Latin music, make crafts with the kids, and explore California history at this free kickoff to summer.
Summer Citrus Festival at George Key Ranch Park in Placentia
June 14: Tour a historic home, craft with the kids, and learn about OC’s citrus-growing past. Live music and orchard views round out the day.
Fall-O-Ween at Heritage Hill Historical Park in Lake Forest
October 10–12 & 17–19: Celebrate five years of Fall-O-Ween with costumes, photo ops, a straw maze, and a spooky scavenger hunt at Heritage Hill Historical Park. FREE!
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.
Boo at the Bay: Family Halloween Party at Upper Newport Bay
October 25: Visit the Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center for a fun family Halloween party featuring spooky stories, creepy crafts, wacky science experiments, bizarre animals, and hair-raising games.
Wild Tales | Upper Newport Bay, Newport Beach
Every Friday: Wild tales is offered every Friday and include an outdoor story time in the newly-renovated amphitheater, an age-appropriate hike, and a craft project in the classroom. FREE!
Wild Tales at Upper Newport Bay in Newport Beach
Every Friday: Wild tales is offered every Friday and include an outdoor story time in the newly-renovated amphitheater, an age-appropriate hike, and a craft project in the classroom. 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!
