Halloween lands on a Saturday this year, so OC gets a full three-day run: downtown trick-or-treats from HB to Brea, a Laguna block party, ghost walks in Fullerton and a strong lineup of Día de los Muertos celebrations on Sunday.
Plans change, especially around Halloween, so check the organizer’s link before you head out.
Friday, Oct 30
Día de los Muertos: Magic of the Altars
- When: Fri Oct 30, 4–6 PM
- Where: Roosevelt-Walker Community Center, 816 E. Chestnut Ave., Santa Ana
- Cost: Free; registration required
- Info: santa-ana.gov
A city-built altar plus art, games and traditions for all ages.
Day of the Dead: A Night of Community & Culture
- When: Fri Oct 30, from 5 PM
- Where: Downtown Anaheim Community Center / Center Greens, 250 E. Center St., Anaheim
- Cost: Free
- Info: communitycalendar.anaheim.net
Anaheim’s free celebration with altars, live performances, food and family activities.
Halloween Movie Night at Great Park Live
- When: Fri Oct 30; gates 5:30 PM, Minions & Monsters 6 PM, Hocus Pocus 8 PM
- Where: Great Park Live, 8000 Great Park Blvd., Irvine
- Cost: Free admission and parking
- Info: www.greatparklive.com
Bring a blanket or low-back chair. Leashed dogs welcome; no outside food.
Haunted Fullerton Walking Tour
- When: Fri Oct 30, 5:30–8:30 PM; Halloween edition Sat Oct 31 (ends 8:30 PM)
- Where: Departs Fullerton Museum Center, 301 N. Pomona Ave.
- Cost: Ticketed
- Info: www.fullertonmuseum.com
About 1.5 miles of ghost stories, stairs included. Not recommended for kids under 13. Ticket price and Saturday start time: confirm on the official site.
Saturday, Oct 31
Surf City Spooktacular (our pick)
- When: Sat Oct 31, 4–7 PM; trick-or-treat 4–6 PM
- Where: Main Street and Fifth Street, Downtown Huntington Beach
- Cost: Free
- Info: www.hbdowntown.com
Trick-or-treating at downtown shops, the Monster March and costume contests: sign up 4–5 PM at Olive & Main, pets at 5 PM, kids at 5:30 PM.
Bella Terra Boo Bash + Trick-or-Treat
- When: Sat Oct 31, 1–5 PM (store trick-or-treat 1–3 PM, Boo Bash on The Green 2–5 PM)
- Where: Bella Terra, 7777 Edinger Ave., Huntington Beach
- Cost: Free
- Info: www.bellaterra-hb.com
Live music, stiltwalkers, crafts, games and a photo booth.
Halloween Boo Bash at Anaheim Marketplace
- When: Sat Oct 31, 12–4 PM
- Where: Anaheim Marketplace, 1440 S. Anaheim Blvd.
- Cost: Free
- Info: www.eventbrite.com
Trick-or-treat, trunk-or-treat, games, face painting and a costume contest.
Halloween Boo-Nanza
- When: Sat Oct 31, 11 AM–1 PM
- Where: Anaheim Hills Festival, 8020 E. Santa Ana Canyon Rd., Anaheim
- Cost: Free
- Info: anaheimhillsfestival.com
Trick-or-treat at the center’s shops, plus a DJ, face painting and balloon twisting.
Treats on the Street
- When: Sat Oct 31, 5–7 PM
- Where: Birch St. and Brea Blvd., Downtown Brea
- Cost: Free
- Info: www.breadowntown.com
Evening trick-or-treat downtown. Meet at Birch & Brea Blvd.
Laguna Beach Halloween Block Party
- When: Sat Oct 31, 4:30–9:30 PM
- Where: Oak St. and Brooks St. between Catalina St. and Temple Terrace, Laguna Beach
- Cost: Free
- Info: www.lagunabeachcity.net
Laguna’s neighborhood trick-or-treat tradition. The streets close to traffic, so walk in.
Spooktacular Stroll
- When: Sat Oct 31, 10 AM–3 PM
- Where: Newport Coast Shopping Center, 21101 Newport Coast Dr.
- Cost: Free
- Info: www.dreamersmarkets.com
A family-friendly pop-up market with local makers and food vendors.
Once Upon a Nightmare Before Christmas
- When: Fri Oct 30 (evening); Sat Oct 31, 11 AM–4 PM
- Where: Once Upon a Christmas, 114 Agate Ave., Balboa Island
- Cost: From $39.99 per guest over age 1
- Info: onceuponanisland.net
A live walk-through with Jack, Sally and Zero. A little spooky, never scary. Friday showtimes: confirm on the official site.
Hocus Pocus at The Lido
- When: Sat Oct 31, 7 PM
- Where: The Lido Theater, 3459 Via Lido, Newport Beach
- Cost: Ticketed
- Info: www.thelidotheater.com
The witchy classic on the big screen. (Friday at 10 PM: Rocky Horror with a live shadow cast.) Ticket price: confirm on the official site.
Topside Spooky Soirée
- When: Sat Oct 31, 6–11 PM
- Where: Topside Roof Deck, Lido House, 3300 Newport Blvd., Newport Beach
- Cost: From $25
- Info: visitnewportbeach.com
DJ, cocktails and sunset views from the roof deck.
Halloween Masquerade Ball: Into the Deep
- When: Sat Oct 31, 8 PM
- Where: Laguna Lab, Laguna Beach
- Cost: Ticketed
- Info: lagunalab.org
Masks on for a Halloween night out in Laguna. Price: confirm on the official site.
Nightmare Halloween Party (18+)
- When: Sat Oct 31, 10 PM–2 AM
- Where: OC Fair & Event Center, 88 Fair Dr., Costa Mesa
- Cost: Ticketed
- Info: ocfair.com
Late-night party for 18+ (21+ to drink). Ticket price: confirm on the official site.
Sunday, Nov 1
Bowers Museum Día de los Muertos Family Festival
- When: Sun Nov 1, 11 AM–3 PM
- Where: Key Courtyard, Bowers Museum, 2002 N. Main St., Santa Ana
- Cost: Free
- Info: www.bowers.org
Music, dance, art making, face painting and a community ofrenda. Bring a photo of a loved one.
Muckenthaler Día de los Muertos Festival
- When: Sun Nov 1, 12–4 PM
- Where: Muckenthaler Cultural Center, 1201 W. Malvern Ave., Fullerton
- Cost: Free
- Info: themuck.org
Live music, artisans, food, kids’ crafts and ofrendas on the hilltop grounds.
Día de los Muertos at Anaheim Marketplace
- When: Sun Nov 1, 12–4 PM
- Where: Anaheim Marketplace, 1440 S. Anaheim Blvd.
- Cost: Free
- Info: www.eventbrite.com
Live music, traditional food, art activities and ofrendas.
Heritage Museum of OC Community Día de los Muertos
- When: Sun Nov 1, 5–9 PM
- Where: Heritage Museum of Orange County, 3101 W. Harvard St., Santa Ana
- Cost: Free
- Info: heritagemuseumoc.org
An evening of entertainment, food, vendors, crafts and a community ofrenda.
Laguna Beach Chamber Singers at Laguna Art Museum
- When: Sun Nov 1, 3–4 PM
- Where: Laguna Art Museum, 307 Cliff Dr., Laguna Beach
- Cost: Ticketed
- Info: lbchambersingers.org
A Sunday afternoon choral program at the museum. Ticket price: confirm on the official site.
All weekend
Día de los Muertos Weekend at Treehouse (21+)
- When: Fri Oct 30, 4 PM–midnight; Sat noon–midnight; Sun noon–10 PM
- Where: Treehouse on PCH, Paséa Hotel, 21080 Pacific Coast Hwy., Huntington Beach
- Cost: Free entry
- Info: www.paseahotel.com
Rooftop décor, a DJ and cocktails. Catrina face paint encouraged.
Irvine Park Railroad Pumpkin Patch (final days)
- When: Fri–Sat Oct 30–31; weekdays 10 AM–6 PM, Saturday 8 AM–6 PM
- Where: Irvine Regional Park, Orange
- Cost: Reservations $16–$22 plus $5 fee; activity tickets $8; park entry $5 per car on weekends
- Info: www.irvineparkrailroad.com
The patch wraps Halloween day. Reservations include a train or wagon ride.
Tanaka Farms Pumpkin Patch (final weekend)
- When: Through Sun Nov 1
- Where: Tanaka Farms, Irvine
- Cost: $27 Fri after noon and weekends; $12 weekend parking
- Info: www.tanakafarms.com
Wagon rides and pumpkins before the season wraps. Timed reservations required.
Old World Oktoberfest
- When: Weekends through Nov 8
- Where: Old World Village, 7561 Center Ave., Huntington Beach
- Cost: Varies
- Info: www.oldworldhb.com
Still going: beer, bratwurst and polka.
Have a OC event we should know about? Send it our way, and have a happy (and safe) Halloween.