OC kids weekend: October 17 to 18, 2026

Boo at the Zoo

2026 nights are Oct 17, 18, 24, and 25.

Cost: GA $25 adult / $20 child (3–12); FOSAZ members and Santa Ana residents $10; buy online in advance

California Wine Festival

A coastal wine festival with the Saturday afterparty at Pacific City's "The Lighthouse." Tastings with an ocean backdrop, firmly a grown-ups' night out.

Cost: Ticketed; 21+

Family Storytime @ CdM

Cost: Free

Lowe's Kids Workshop (Rescue Plane)

Register online and choose your store.

Magic Market (metaphysical night market)

A metaphysical night market with 75 vendors, tarot, vintage finds, plants, and witch supply, on the Heritage Museum grounds. Quirky, moody, and a fun left-field date.

MotoBeach Classic

A beachside motorcycle and surf-culture festival with vintage bikes, live music, food, and vendors right on the sand.

Cost: Free general admission; VIP extra

OC Japan Fair

The 19th annual OC Japan Fair, a big Japanese culture festival with a cosplay show, a tuna-cutting show, performances, tastings, and a kimono meet-and-greet. One of the marquee events of the weekend.

Cost: $17.85 gate / $15.71 presale (through Oct 15); free for 6 and under and 65+; parking $15

Oktoberfest at Old World (Saturday night)

Old World's long-running Oktoberfest, German beer hall, bands, dancing, and contests. Saturday nights skew grown-up, so it is a cheap, lively date. @biergartenhb was posting Oktoberfest in mid-October.

Cost: Free advance / $5 door

Sunrise Run + Coffee

A sunrise group run that ends with coffee and hangout time. Pace is friendly, the point is the company as much as the miles.

Cost: Free

Taste of Santa Ana (11th annual)

The 11th annual Taste of Santa Ana tasting event at MainPlace Mall, local restaurants and bites in one evening. A solid food-focused date night.

Tustin Art Walk

The monthly art walk through Old Town Tustin, with local artists, makers, and a stroll-the-neighborhood feel.

Cost: Free

Bluey's Boo Bash

"Halloween at the Hangar" goes full Bluey this year. Expect themed photo moments, activities, and the kind of low-key chaos a preschooler loses their mind over.

Boo at the Oaks

An after-dark nature night at Santiago Oaks. Meet nocturnal critters, hit nature stations and crafts, and do a scavenger hunt once the sun goes down.

Fall Movie Night: Hocus Pocus

An outdoor screening of Hocus Pocus on the Hangar Lawn. Bring blankets and low chairs and make a night of it.

Family Art Experience: Pasta Mosaic

The monthly drop-in family art workshop at the Cultural Arts Center. This month the project is a pasta mosaic, so expect glue, dried noodles, and a surprisingly cute finished piece. Pick one of the three timed sessions.

Cost: $15 per family (up to 5 people)

Family Storytime

Cost: Free

Firefighter Family Storytime

Cost: Free

Free Pumpkin Giveaway

One pumpkin per person while supplies last, so it is a quick in-and-out, not an all-day festival.

Cost: Free

Ghosts, Candy + Halloween Science (free drop-in STEAM, added Oct 12)

Cost: Free

Haunted Lantern Tours at the Bembridge House

A theatrical haunted lantern tour of the historic Bembridge House, "Whisper in the Walls." The 2026 run is Oct 2–3, 9–10, and 16–17, so Saturday Oct 17 is the final night. Atmospheric and story-driven, not a gore haunt.

Howl-o-ween Festival

Trick-or-treat along the nature center trails instead of a parking lot. A not-spooky walk through the woods with candy stations, hosted by Long Beach Parks, Rec & Marine.

Cost: $5 per person suggested donation; free parking

Long Beach Sake Day (4th annual)

The 4th annual Long Beach Sake Day on the historic Rancho Los Cerritos grounds. A relaxed afternoon of sake tasting in a gorgeous setting.

Monster Mash Halloween Festival

Cost: Free

Phoenix Club Oktoberfest (Saturday 21+ session)

Authentic German Oktoberfest with food, live bands, dancing, and contests.

Cost: Ticketed (TicketSpice)

Silverado Days & Carnival (70th)

Buena Park's 70th annual Silverado Days, a full carnival weekend with rides, a chili cook-off, a car show, and live music. This is the big hometown festival of the weekend up north.

Southeast Asia Day

The Aquarium's annual cultural festival celebrating Southeast Asian communities, with performances, music, dance, and hands-on activities folded into a regular day at the Aquarium. It is a named one-off day, not just the standing exhibits.

Cost: With admission, $49.95 adult (12+), $34.95 child (3–11), under 3 and members free; reservations required

Boo Blast Carnival & Haunted House

Moulton Elementary PTA's fall carnival, with inflatables and a "Lost in Space" haunted house that has a sensory-friendly guide. A school and PTA event, so it is not on the city calendar, but it is open community fun.

Cost: Ticketed (presale Oct 1–15)

Casa Kids Workshop: Monster Pot

A hands-on gardening craft for kids at Casa Romantica, making a little "monster pot." A sweet, contained workshop in a gorgeous coastal setting.

Cost: $15

Dogapalooza (2nd annual)

Dana Point Harbor's 2nd annual Dogapalooza, a full day of dog-and-family fun with live music, pet pampering, a splash zone, kid and pet crafts, vendors, and food trucks.

Exploration Day: Agua Chinon & the Sinks

A guided access day into Limestone Canyon to see Agua Chinon and "the Sinks," a dramatic canyon formation usually closed to the public. Registration opened Oct 2 and parking is limited, so you must preregister.

Cost: Free (preregister; limited parking)

Fall-O-Ween (OC Parks, 6th annual)

Also runs Oct 23–25.

Cost: Free; free parking

H2O Show and Tell

Register everyone who is coming.

Cost: Free (register everyone attending)

Harvest Festival

A residents-only harvest festival for the Ladera Ranch community. Not open to the general public, you need to be a Ladera Ranch resident to attend.

Cost: Ladera Ranch residents only; wristband $20 (cashless), single tickets $1

Mega Night Market

A big two-day Southeast Asian night market at Great Park Live, with Lao, Khmer, Hmong, Iu Mien, Thai, and Vietnamese food, music, and dance. A named cultural festival, not a generic market.

Moms' Day Out: Gilmore Girls Fall Festival

A themed moms' social afternoon, fall vibes, good company, a break from the usual.

Night Market: Día de los Muertos

Mission Viejo's 3rd-Saturday night market, this month themed Día de los Muertos. Live entertainment, games, food vendors, and photo ops.

Cost: Free

Pumpkin Rescue

Kids jump in and "rescue" a pumpkin from the pool, then there is a decorating contest and music. A fun, splashy fall twist on a pumpkin patch.

Cost: $10 pre-sale / $15 door

Pumpkin Splash

A floating pumpkin-patch swim at the San Clemente Aquatics Center. Kids pick a pumpkin from the water and splash around. Easy, affordable fall fun.

Cost: $7 resident presale / $10 door / $4 spectator

Walk Against Drugs + Family Festival

Mission Viejo's 38th annual community walk, with inflatables, emergency vehicles for the kids to climb on, and family activities at Oso Viejo Village Green. A wholesome morning out.

Bilingual Día de los Muertos Storytime + Crafts

A bilingual Día de los Muertos storytime with author Patty Rodriguez (Lil' Libros) at Mercado González, plus arts and crafts.

Cost: Free; RSVP encouraged, not required; free book for the first 50 families (one per family)

Bump to Baby Expo

For pregnant and brand-new parents gathering their people and their intel.

Fall Faire & Pumpkin Patch (50th)

The Environmental Nature Center's 50th annual Fall Faire. A craft crawl, nature games, SavorOC food treats, and pumpkins, all on the nature center grounds.

Cost: Free entry (donations welcome); nominal activity fees

Hazeltine's Afternoon Tea

A seasonal fall-harvest afternoon tea at Sherman Library & Gardens. Think a pretty, calm outing among the gardens, not a toddler romp. Nice for an older kid who likes a special occasion or a grandparent date.

Kellogg House Ghost Tour (Haunted OC)

An evening guided ghost tour of the 1898 Kellogg House at the Heritage Museum. History plus a few chills, led by a guide. A good low-key Sunday-night date for the spooky-curious.

Big Fish, Little Fish

Touch tidepool animals, take a gallery tour, and this month's theme is sea otters.

Cost: $110.90 per adult-child pair including admission ($30 for a member pair)

Bookish Cozy Crawl

A guided crawl between bookish and cozy spots, with an optional movie screening in the middle. Low-key, social, and bookish.

Cost: Free to join; optional Verity movie screening $25

Learn Mahjong With the Moms

A beginner mahjong lesson with the Long Beach Moms group. Learn the rules, play a few rounds, meet some people. Repeats Nov 15 and Dec 13 if this one is full.

Cost: $60 beginner seat (social-play tables are SOLD OUT)

Meet the Author: Carter & Kathryn Lim

A special author storytime at Pretend City featuring Copy Cadie, with a book signing. Folds right into a regular Pretend City visit, so you get the museum plus the storytime.