Family-Friendly Halloween Activities Near Orange, CA

When it comes to Halloween, there are plenty of fun ways to celebrate. Whether you prefer cozying up under a blanket for a scary movie marathon or showing off your artistic side by carving pumpkins, there’s something for everyone. However, it may seem like a challenge to find outings you can enjoy with your whole family. Our team at Mazda of Orange created this guide of family-friendly Halloween activities near the Orange, California, area to help you find out where to go this fall.

Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort

Visiting Disneyland is already a magical experience for the whole family, but Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort embraces the true spirit of the season. When you enter Disneyland Park, a giant Mickey Mouse pumpkin greets you at Main Street, U.S.A., and festive garland and pumpkins line the entire walk. As you make your way through the park, don’t miss your chance to experience Haunted Mansion Holiday, which is a unique overlay where Jack Skellington and the crew from “The Nightmare Before Christmas” take over the Haunted Mansion.

The fun continues in Disney California Adventure Park. Marvel fans can enjoy Guardians of the Galaxy – Monsters After Dark. This seasonal overlay takes thrills to new heights, as the drop ride takes place in complete darkness with a special soundtrack and new monster cut scenes. The Halloween overlays continue as Radiator Springs transforms into Radiator Screams to celebrate Haul-O-Ween, which includes decorations throughout Cars Land and characters from “Cars” dressed in their Halloween best.

Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort also includes a range of limited-time exclusives. For example, enjoy the Halloween Screams nighttime spectacular on select nights throughout September and October. You can also meet Mickey Mouse and his friends in special Halloween attire and feast on a variety of Halloween-themed snacks.

Most Halloween festivities require valid park admission and theme park reservations, but there are options for everyone to consider. For example, Oogie Boogie Bash is a special ticketed event at Disney California Adventure Park. If you’re looking for a more low-key way to celebrate, consider completing Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit, which is a scavenger hunt for pumpkins through Downtown Disney.

Knott’s Spooky Farm

Knott’s Berry Farm gets into the spirit with Halloween offerings for visitors of all ages. Knott’s Spooky Farm is family-friendly celebration that allows you to visit the park while it’s decked out with pumpkins, fall leaves, spiderwebs, and more. This daytime celebration includes trick-or-treating throughout the Calico’s buildings and shops, and the whole family is welcome to dress up in appropriate costumes.

Knott’s Spooky Farm also includes special entertainment offerings. There are meet-and-greet opportunities with members of the Peanuts family, who are all dressed up in their Halloween costumes, or you can check out these friends at the Great Pumpkin Palooza at the Camp Snoopy Theatre. Other entertainment offerings include shows like Dia de los Muertos Vivir! and a puppet show with the Bob Baker Marionettes.

One of the best things about visiting Knott’s Spooky Farm is that your daily admission price includes access to all the festivities. The event runs during the daytime Thursdays through Sundays from Sept. 29 to Oct. 30. Consider arriving earlier in the day to ensure your family has plenty of time to enjoy it before the much more intense Knott’s Scary Farm event begins.

Treats in the Streets

Treats in the Streets is an annual event hosted by the City of Orange. This local favorite returns for another year of free trick-or-treating and community fun. Families are all encouraged, and the event includes a costume parade for everyone to show off their outfits. Organizers encourage kids to bring buckets or bags to carry their own candy. The event also includes live entertainment, games, and food and beverages from local vendors.

Treats in the Streets will be held on Thursday, Oct. 27, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. It takes place at Old Towne Orange Plaza. The Orange Circle streets close around the event times to accommodate for it.

Halloween Carnival at Anaheim GardenWalk

Get into the Halloween spirit all October long at the Halloween Carnival at Anaheim GardenWalk. SpooksieBoo Events sponsors this family-friendly event that includes more than 50 retail vendors to shop from and over a dozen food vendors, food trucks, and live entertainment to enjoy. It also includes festive photo opportunities, making it easy for you to capture your family memories. Guests of all ages can wear costumes, but it may be helpful to review the costume guidelines.

Attending the Halloween Carnival is free, but it requires advanced registration. You can register directly on the event’s website. The carnival starts Sept. 30 and operates every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday through October. It runs from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Fridays and 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

Adventure City Boo-tastic Halloween Party

Adventure City Boo-tastic Halloween Party is another excellent option for a special event at a local theme park. This event includes a dance party, a magician, nearly a dozen rides, a scavenger hunt on the Express Train, and a journey through the dizzying Cosmic Vortex Tunnel. Of course, it wouldn’t be Halloween without trick-or-treating for the kids, and costumes are welcome.

The Boo-tastic Halloween Party is a limited-time event that runs for five nights in October from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. each night. Dates include Oct. 7, 14, 21, 27, and 28. Adventure City recommends purchasing tickets online before the event to ensure admittance. The price of your ticket also includes free glow accessories for the whole family to wear during the party.

Well, that brings us to the end of our list. We hope we were able to help you discover something new to try with your family this fall to celebrate Halloween. Do you know about a fun activity that we didn’t include on our list? Drop us a line to share your recommendation! We know our team here at Mazda of Orange would love to check it out with their own families.

Mickey Mouse shaped seasonal pumpkin wreath, Magic Kingdom. by Brian McGowan is licensed with Unsplash license