October is here, and that means it’s time for Halloween fun! If you’re looking for family-friendly activities to celebrate the spooky season with your kids, Los Angeles and Orange County have no shortage of exciting events. These local experiences are designed for young children – they arenāt scary, but instead create a festive environment. From pumpkin patches to trick-or-treating at the zoo, here are some of the best Halloween happenings for children in Southern California.
1. Pumpkin Palooza at Discovery Cube
The Discovery Cube is a hands-on childrenās science museum in Santa Ana with interactive exhibits. Pumpkin Palooza is a special seasonal festival held on select weekends in October, featuring a dance party, bumper cars, trick-or-treat stations, carnival games, and science demonstrations around pumpkins. The event requires a separate ticket in addition to general museum admission, and on Pumpkin Palooza days the museum stays open longer to let guests enjoy both the festival and the regular exhibits.
2. Halloween at Kidspace
Kidspace is a childrenās museum in Pasadena that has playful, hands-on activities inside and outside. Halloween at Kidspace runs from mid-September through October and features daily costume parades, spooky trike rides through a haunted house, and an āAdopt-a-Monsterā workshop for kids to invent their own friendly creature. The event includes additional fun such as the Witchās Kitchen potion area and Pumpkin Bowling games, and is included with general museum admission.
3. Sloomooween at Sloomoo Institute
The Sloomoo Institute is an immersive, hands-on slime experience venue where visitors can squish, stretch, swirl, and play with colorful, scented slime in a mess-contained environment. During Sloomooween, the venue transforms into a festive event on weekends in October, including costume contests, trick-or-treating, and Halloween-themed slime.
4. Carved at Descanso Gardens
Descanso Gardens is a large botanical garden in La CaƱada Flintridge, filled with native and cultivated plants, tranquil paths, and themed gardens. Carved is Descansoās signature fall event, where giant pumpkins are artistically carved and displayed across the garden grounds, illuminated at night to create a glowing, magical sculpture garden. Visitors can stroll the illuminated pumpkin trail after dusk, enjoy live musical performances, and have seasonal foods, drinks, and childrenās activities during the special event evenings.
5. Magic of the Jack Oā Lanterns at South Coast Botanic Garden
The Magic of the Jack OāLanterns event is a spectacular fall walk-through experience where thousands of intricately carved pumpkins glow along winding garden paths, creating a luminous spectacle of art, light, and seasonal wonder. It runs on select nights from around Mid-September through early November at the South Coast Botanic Garden in Palos Verdes, featuring themed pumpkin displays, illuminated pathways, a āFun Zoneā with bounce pads and slides, sāmores stations, and on-site food and beverages.
6. Night of Jack at King Gillette Ranch
Night of the Jack at King Gillette Ranch in Calabasas is an immersive lantern-and-pumpkin festival where thousands of hand-carved jack-oā-lanterns are displayed along themed trails illuminated under the night sky. The event runs select evenings in October, offering guests a scenic walk through artistic pumpkin installations, interactive displays, photo opportunities, and live entertainment.
7. Jurassic Fright at Hana Fields
The Jurassic Fright event is a seasonal, walk-through dinosaur-meets-Halloween attraction set inside a real cornfield at Hana Field in Costa Mesa, where visitors navigate through immersive, themed zones full of animatronic dinosaurs and spooky effects. The attraction features 11 uniquely themed zones, combining dinosaur thrills with Halloween ambience.
8. Boo at the LA Zoo
The Los Angeles Zoo hosts its annual Boo at the LA Zoo event, where trick-or-treating meets wildlife education. Kids are encouraged to come in costume and can collect treats at various stations throughout the zoo while learning about different animals. The event features Halloween-themed animal enrichment activities, where zoo animals receive special pumpkin treats, and children can watch how different species interact with their festive goodies.
9. Boo at the Santa Ana Zoo
The Santa Ana Zoo puts on its own spectacular Boo event. This family-friendly celebration includes trick-or-treating stations, costume contests, and special animal presentations with a Halloween theme. Kids can participate in crafts, face painting, and interactive activities while exploring the zoo’s exhibits.
10. Knott’s Spooky Farm
Knott’s Berry Farm’s daytime Halloween event, Knott’s Spooky Farm, is specifically designed for young children. Separate from Knottās Scary Farm, this non-scary celebration transforms the theme park into a whimsical wonderland with kid-friendly entertainment, trick-or-treating throughout the park, and fun Halloween activities. Children can meet friendly monsters, participate in costume contests, and enjoy special shows created just for them.
11. Boo-Tastic Halloween Party at Adventure City
Adventure City is a small, family-oriented amusement park in Anaheim that prides itself on fun without overwhelming crowds. Boo-tastic at Adventure City runs on select evenings in October and includes access to all rides, a āTrick-or-Treat Streetā for free candy and trinkets, a Halloween-themed Express Train ride, a scavenger hunt, a Spooktacular dance party, and free glow accessories for guests.
Making the Most of Halloween Season
With so many fantastic Halloween events happening throughout Los Angeles and Orange County, there’s something for every family. Whether your kids love science, animals, theme parks, or simply want to see amazing pumpkin displays, these events offer memorable ways to celebrate the season. Many of these activities book up quickly or have timed entries, so be sure to check websites for ticket availability and any reservation requirements.
This Halloween season, skip the same old routine and explore these incredible events that make October in Southern California truly special for families with children.