Top Spots for Family-Friendly Halloween Fun in Orange County

Families looking to get into the Halloween spirit without scaring the little goblins will want to check out Orange County’s family-friendly offerings this fall. This Southern California region is the epicenter of family fun with amusement parks, beaches, top-notch dining and shopping around every corner. Just 85 miles north of San Diego and 35 miles south of Los Angeles, Orange County in the fall offers some of the best weather all year, making it the perfect time for a visit.

Your first stop should be at Knott’s Spooky Farm in Buena Park, where the theme park gets fully decked out in the Halloween spirit. Little ghouls can don their costumes and trick or treat throughout the park and then watch Halloween-themed shows where a friendly magician mystifies everyone with spell-binding tricks. “The Monsters are Coming, Charlie Brown” takes the stage at the Camp Snoopy Theatre and the Halloween Hootenanny returns as The Timber Mountain Log Ride transforms with spooky but family-friendly surprises. This seasonal event is designed with the youngest Knott’s Berry Farm visitors in mind so you don’t have to worry about any scary characters, only Halloween fun!

Tiny tots flock to Pretend City Children’s Museum in Irvine for their special Halloween events from costume parties to Frankenstein Friday where they’ll celebrate the big green giant with monstrously-fun activities. You can also meet the OC Ghostbusters when they visit for an extra-special photo op!

Mark your calendar and head to Peak Park in Buena Park for the Annual Fall Silverado Days. This festival, now in its 63rd year, has games, crafts, contests, rides and enough family fun to pack the whole weekend. Try your luck at the pie-eating contest and show your strength during the World Amateur Arm Wrestling Championship. New for 2019 is the American Corn Hole Tournament that’s sure to get the family in on the action.

Buena Park’s Historic District gets in on the spooky fun with the Old Tyme Fall Festival. You’ll get a day full of on-stage entertainment, food trucks, activities for kids and storytelling. You might even get to hear about local ghosts during haunted tours of the Whitaker-Jaynes Estate.

More than your average pumpkin patch, Tanaka Farms in Irvine offers a full day of Halloween fun for families. Take a ride on the wagon, visit the petting zoo and try your hand at some games before you pick that perfect pumpkin to take home with you.