Looking for family-friendly Halloween events in Orange County and around Cerritos this weekend? Here are sixteen to put on the calendar between Friday, October 23 and Sunday, October 25, 2026, from trunk-or-treats and a Halloween parade to a zoo day, a pool party, and a family movie night.
Want even more ideas? Our guides to 100+ things to do in Orange County in October and things to do in Cerritos in October cover the whole month. Prices, hours, and ticket rules can change, so check each event’s official page before you go.
Orange County: Friday Night, October 23
Westminster Halloween Spooktacular at the Westminster Civic Center (Friday, October 23)
Trunk-or-treat starts at 4:30 p.m., and an outdoor movie begins at 6:45 p.m. at 8200 Westminster Blvd. Listings mention food trucks, a ghost hunt, a maze, a photo booth, and games. Admission is free. The city’s own page is still showing last year’s event, so see this event listing and call Community Services at (714) 895-2860 to confirm the end time.
Fall-O-Ween at Heritage Hill Historical Park, Lake Forest (October 23 to 25)
OC Parks opens the historic grounds from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. for fall photo spots, a straw maze, and a scavenger hunt. Admission and parking are free, costumes are welcome, and leashed pets are allowed. The park is at 25151 Serrano Road. Details are in the OC Parks flyer.
Orange County: Saturday Festivals and Parades, October 24
Anaheim Fall Festival and Halloween Parade, Downtown Anaheim
The festival and classic car show run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Center Greens, next to Anaheim City Hall. The Halloween parade rolls through downtown at 7 p.m. The festival’s site does not list admission, so see the Anaheim Fall Festival website before you go.
La Palma Halloween Carnival at Central Park, La Palma
From 3:30 to 6 p.m. at 7821 Walker Street, the city hosts carnival games, costume contests, treats, and giveaways at no cost. Costume contests start at 4:15 p.m., and a burger truck and a dessert truck will be on site for purchase. See the City of La Palma page.
Stanton Halloween Festival at Stanton Central Park
The festival runs from 4 to 8 p.m. at 10660 Western Avenue, with games, entertainment, costume contests, and food trucks. Listings say it is free and no pre-registration is needed. The City of Stanton posted the date on its homepage, so check there for the contest schedule.
Newport Beach Halloween Spooktacular at Mariners Park
The city’s 9th annual Spooktacular runs from 3 to 6 p.m. at 1300 Irvine Avenue, with free entry, a haunted walkthrough, trunk-or-treat, a DJ, carnival games, bounce houses, pumpkin decorating, a costume contest, and food trucks. Parking is limited, so walking or biking is encouraged. See the city flyer.
Dana Point Halloween Spooktacular at the Dana Point Community Center
From 1:30 to 5 p.m. at 34052 Del Obispo Street, the free event has a Police Services trunk-or-treat display, a haunted maze and arcade games in the gym, and food trucks. A trolley runs between RH Dana and the Community Center from 1 to 5:30 p.m. See the Dana Point Chamber listing.
Boo at the Bay at the Muth Interpretive Center, Newport Beach
Kids can hear spooky stories, make creepy crafts, try science experiments, and meet animals from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 2301 University Drive. The event and parking are free, costumes are welcome, and rain cancels it. See the Visit Newport Beach listing.
Orange County: Animals and Water, October 24
Halloween Zoo-Tacular at the OC Zoo, Orange
The zoo’s Halloween day runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Activities are free with zoo admission, which is $2 per person (ages 2 and under are free). Parking is $5 per car on weekends, and zoo coupons and free passes are not valid for this event. See the OC Parks event page.
Irvine Monster Splash at the William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center
The City of Irvine’s Halloween pool party runs from 1 to 4 p.m. at 4601 Walnut Avenue. Advance tickets ended October 18, so check the City of Irvine page for door pricing and rules before you go.
In and Around Cerritos
Halloween Boo-Nanza at Cerritos Towne Center (Saturday, October 24)
From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Regal Edwards Courtyard at 12731 Towne Center Drive, kids can trick-or-treat at candy stations, meet characters, get their faces painted, and make Halloween crafts, with a live DJ. It is free, and costumes are encouraged. See the Eventbrite page.
Dog Man The Musical at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts (Saturday, October 24)
Shows are at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., adapted from Dav Pilkey’s Dog Man books. Ticket prices are not shown on the calendar, so see the CCPA events calendar or call the box office at (562) 916-8510.
Fallstivities Pumpkin Patch at Los Cerritos Center (through October 31)
Los Cerritos Center is hosting a month of festive fall activities, including its pumpkin patch, from October 1 to 31. Hours and costs are not listed, so see the mall events page or call (562) 402-7467.
Dia de los Muertos Movie Night at Artesia Cemetery (Saturday, October 24)
The cemetery hosts a family movie night from 6 to 9 p.m. with free entrance, kids’ activities, and a costume contest. The movie has not been announced yet, so watch the Artesia Cemetery District site for updates.
Museum of Mayhem at the Whittier Museum, Whittier (October 23 to 25)
On Saturday, October 24, the Main Event runs from 2 to 9 p.m. with a Halloween marketplace, street fest, VW car show, and trunk-or-treat, all free, plus a live band from 5 to 9 p.m. The haunted house and maze are $10, run from 5 to 9 p.m., and include scares. For a milder night, the museum’s Second Chicken Night on Friday, October 23, from 5 to 8 p.m. is $5 with no jump scares or scare actors. The Sunday encore, 5 to 9 p.m. at $10, brings the scares back. The museum is at 6755 Newlin Avenue. See the Whittier Museum events calendar for the latest.
Scarium Family Night at the Aquarium of the Pacific, Long Beach (Friday, October 23)
From 6:30 to 9 p.m., families get trick-or-treating with goodie bags, a scavenger hunt, a DJ, kids’ activity booths, photo stations, and vampire magician shows. General admission is $30.95, members pay $20.95, and children under 3 are free. Online reservations are not available, so call (562) 590-3100, ext. 0. Costumes are encouraged, but full-face masks, toy weapons, and flashlights are not allowed. See the aquarium event page.
Why Weekend Outings Matter When You Live in Southern California
Good neighborhoods are more than the house. A short drive to a free festival, a zoo day, or a movie night at a local park is part of why families love living in Orange County and Los Angeles County, and part of what to look at when you are deciding where to live. If you are thinking about a move, ask yourself which of these events are close to the neighborhoods on your list.
Looking Ahead
For more ideas, browse our guide to 100+ things to do in Orange County in October, our things to do in Cerritos in October guide, last week’s family-friendly October events roundup, or our Halloween Movie Calendar for a family movie night. Our SoCal pumpkin patch guide covers patches near Cerritos and Buena Park.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some free family Halloween events in Orange County this weekend?
The Westminster Halloween Spooktacular (Friday, October 23), Fall-O-Ween at Heritage Hill in Lake Forest (October 23 to 25), the La Palma Halloween Carnival, the Stanton Halloween Festival, the Newport Beach Halloween Spooktacular, the Dana Point Halloween Spooktacular, and Boo at the Bay (all Saturday, October 24) are free.
What is happening on Friday night, October 23, 2026?
Orange County has the Westminster Halloween Spooktacular with an outdoor movie and Fall-O-Ween at Heritage Hill in Lake Forest. Nearby, Scarium Family Night is at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach and the Whittier Museum hosts Second Chicken Night, a milder haunted walk-through.
What can families do in Cerritos this weekend?
On Saturday, October 24, Cerritos has the free Halloween Boo-Nanza from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Dog Man The Musical at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., and a free Dia de los Muertos Movie Night at Artesia Cemetery from 6 to 9 p.m. The Fallstivities Pumpkin Patch at Los Cerritos Center runs through October 31.
How much does the OC Zoo Halloween Zoo-Tacular cost?
Activities are free with zoo admission, which is $2 per person, and children 2 and under are free. Parking is $5 per car on weekends, and zoo coupons and free passes are not valid for this event.
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