Halloween Events in Orange County
October 14, 2022
By Jacob Castro
Fall-O-Ween
Oct. 14 through 16 and 21 through 23
At this free family event at Heritage Hill Historical Park, you can take a decorated tour of the grounds, find your way through a hay maze, and complete a scavenger hunt for ghoulish goodies. Costumes and leashed pets welcome. Lake Forest, ocparks.com/sites/ocparks/files/2022-09/HEHI_Fall-o-ween_2022_Flyer.pdf
Monsters & Marionettes at Laguna Art Museum
Oct. 15
This family event features a spooky performance by the Bob Baker Marionette Theater. Characters include Dracula and Vampira, Black Cat, and Grumpy Pumpkin. After the show, kids can create their own Halloween art projects. Laguna Beach, lagunaartmuseum.org/events/family-halloween-day-at-lam/
Halloween Wigged Out 5K
Oct. 21
Get your Halloween festivities off to a healthy and energetic start by competing in irvine’s Halloween Wigged Out 5K race. The event will be held Friday at noon. Irvine, raceentry.com/halloween-wigged-out-5k/race-information
Halloween Pub Crawl
Oct. 22
The 2nd-annual Santa Ana Halloween Pub Crawl will have games, prizes, photo ops, giveaways, and more, so you don’t want to miss out on the fun! Your wristband gives you access to food specials as well as $5 drink specials at all pub crawl locations during the event. Check-in begins at 4 p.m. and the event is from 4:30 to 9 p.m. Guests must purchase a $12 ticket online in advance. Santa Ana, eventbrite.com/e/santa-anas-2nd-annual-halloween-pub-crawl-tickets-308395187307
Halloween Carnival
October weekends
Attend the Spooksieboo Halloween Carnival at the Anaheim GardenWalk every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday throughout the month of October. The carnival features more than 50 retail vendors, 12 food vendors, multiple food trucks, entertainment, photo ops, and more. Admission is free but you must RSVP ahead of time. Anaheim, spooksiebooevents.com
Boo at the Zoo
October 22, 23, 28, and 29
Costumes are encouraged at this family-friendly event featuring “merry, not scary” decorated Halloween trails throughout the zoo. Santa Ana Zoo, Santa Ana, santaanazoo.org/boo.htm
Halloween Night Market
Oct. 23
The Inn at the Mission San Juan Capistrano is hosting this special night market featuring local small businesses. Enjoy gourmet food, craft cocktails, and handmade goods as well as live performances, trick-or-treating, and a pumpkin patch. Come dressed up for the costume contest. The free event is from 4 to 8 p.m. San Juan Capistrano, innatthemissionsjc.com/events/halloween-night-market
Halloween Swingthing
Oct. 27 through 30
Halloween Swingthing 2022 involves dancing, workshops from top professionals, and competitions with friends. Guests in attendance will be entertained by a full staff, multiple MCs, and several DJs. This event also features hotel room trick-or-treating, a Friday night meet-and-greet, food trucks, karaoke, and a pre-party on Thursday night. The Doubletree by Hilton Hotel, Santa Ana, allevents.in/mobile/amp-event.php?event_id=200022963745400
Creepy Casa Haunted House
Oct. 28 through 30
Recommended for families with kids ages 8 and up, this spooky event at Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens features a walkthrough of a 1920s-themed haunted house with werewolves, vampires, and ghosts around every corner. Costumes are encouraged. San Clemente, casaromantica.org
HorrorBuzz’s Horror Movie Night: Halloween III
Oct. 28
Attend a horror movie night at the Frida Cinema and watch a 40th-anniversary screening of “Halloween III: Season of the Witch.” Preshow begins at 7:30 p.m., and the movie begins at 8 p.m. The film is rated R and the running time is 98 minutes. Santa Ana, thefridacinema.org/film/horrorbuzzs-horror-movie-night-halloween-iii-season-of-the-witch/
After Midnight: Halloween Bachata Salsa, Zouk and Kizomba Festival 2022
Oct. 28 through 31
If you are looking to party hard and dance the night away, you’ll want to attend the 2nd-annual Halloween Bachata, Salsa, Zouk, and Kizomba Festival. Guests in attendance will have access to all-level dance workshops, nightly showcases, pool parties, DJs, and dancing. Purchase your tickets ahead of time online to save money. The festival will feature different dance instructors and DJs from all over the U.S. Irvine, danceus.org/event/166388463228524/after-midnight-halloween-bachata-salsa-zouk-kizomba-festival-irvine-ca/
5th-Annual Halloween Spooktacular
Oct. 29
This year’s Halloween Spooktacular features live music, trick-or-treating, a haunted maze, food trucks, games, bounce houses, and more. Make sure to come dressed up because there will be costume contests as well. All money made from food purchases will go towards the students at Mariners Elementary. Come early to ensure you secure a parking spot as it usually fills up fast. The event will be held on Saturday from 3 to 6 p.m. Mariners Park and VJ Community Center, Newport Beach, visitnewportbeach.com/events/halloween-spooktacular/
Anaheim Fall Festival and Halloween Parade
Oct. 29
Come and attend a part of Anaheim tradition that’s been going on since 1924. The event typically features carnival rides, games, food stalls, live entertainment, a Ferris wheel, pumpkin patch, haunted house, and more. There are costume contests for kids and dogs. The event is from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the Center Street Promenade and the parade begins at 7 p.m. from city hall. Anaheim, anaheimfallfestival.org
ImprovCity’s Zombie Show
Oct. 29
This show will feature improvised games, scenes, and songs with a Halloween twist—the peformers are transformed into zombies and lose limbs as the show goes on! Costumes are encouraged, so come dressed up in your wildest zombie or Halloween attire. Purchase tickets ahead of time online as the event usually sells out. Tustin, improvcityonline.com
Nightmare on Center Street Halloween Farmers Market
Oct. 27
Attend the Halloween farmers market prepare for October 31. The event will feature a meet-and-greet with the character of Winnie Sanderson from the film “Hocus Pocus.” There are dozens of vendors that range from food stalls, jewelry crafters, agriculture stalls, and Halloween booths where you’ll be able to buy spooky candles, Halloween jewelry, witchy items, and much more. West Center Street Promenade, Anaheim, eventbrite.com/e/nightmare-on-center-street-halloween-farmers-market-tickets-406506199987