Fall on the west coast might not be as rambunctious as in other parts of the country, but it has its own perks. Sure, we may not get to enjoy the changing foliage as dramatically as in other cities, but you can feel the change in the air. For one, school is back in session, football season has kicked off, and baseball playoffs get into full swing as the holidays approach. To compensate for the missing green alps of Colorado, Orange County celebrates the season with parades, festivals, pumpkins, and haunted houses.
Here is our handpicked list of some of the most fun fall activities in Orange County, CA, to enjoy with friends and family, or even solo (if that’s your preference).
Get Spooky With Anaheim Fall Festival and Halloween Parade
Fall has a unique charm for many reasons but mainly due to holidays like Halloween and Thanksgiving. If you’re in Anaheim, you definitely don’t want to miss the Anaheim Fall Festival and Halloween Parade. You and your family will have a chance to experience everything from artists, crafts, entertainment to outdoor performances, and contests.
If that’s not enough to get a rise out of you, there will be Halloween costume competitions too. Contests include home decorating, kiddie costumes, pet costumes, and pumpkin art. The main stage will host a myriad of activities including musical performances and magic tricks. Catch the Drive-Thru Halloween Parade on Saturday, October 29th at the Center Street Promenade.
Pick Out Pumpkins at the ENC Annual Fall Faire
Fall activities would be incomplete without a visit to a pumpkin patch. The Environmental Nature Center (ENC) is offering the Fall Faire, Pumpkin Patch, and Fall Wine Walk in the fall. At the Fall Wine Walk, you can savor several high-quality wines from local wineries. It’s an excellent way to bond with your friends, spouse, family, or co-workers.
If you decide to burn some calories while you are wine tasting, you can never go wrong walking along mesmerizing trails while sipping wine. Those with a penchant for live music have much to enjoy, including pop, jazz, classical, and folk songs from Velvet Bow Strings on the trail. You can even bid on unique and rare items in their silent auction. And for a perfect climax to your wine tasting, you can end your walk with a dessert and Kean coffee.
Last but not the least, don’t forget to swing by the ENC pumpkin patch to pick out pumpkins for the entire family. If you’re an ENC member, you will receive a free pumpkin! To capture a glimpse of the fun you will have on this day, don’t forget to capture some photographs to look at later.
Try Festive Treats at The Hello Kitty Grand Cafe
If you have children who are obsessed with Hello Kitty, then this might be a fitting way to give them a special day they won’t forget for a long time. Walking into the Hello Kitty Grand Cafe at the Irvine Spectrum is always a treat, no matter how old you are. It’s hard not to fall in love with these Hello Kitty-themed treats that include pumpkin spice latte, hot chocolate, apple cider, tarts, and maple-glazed doughnuts!
Additionally, they also have outdoor seating, a dine-in area, and takeout services. Whether you are looking to keep your kids engaged while you shop or just want to spend a day full of exciting fall activities, head over to the Hello Kitty Grand Cafe.
Head Over to Knott’s Berry Farm Theme Park
For thrill-seekers, there’s no better way to kick off the Halloween season than with a visit to Knott’s Berry Farm theme and amusement park. It’s renowned for its tasty fried chicken dinners and boysenberries. It features an invigorating roller coaster ride, old west adventures, going on a High Sierras adventure with Snoopy (the cutest beagle in the world), and many other attractions including a theme park that you don’t want to miss.
Knott’s Scary Farm offers events and activities that are sure to give you goosebumps. It features haunted attractions, sinister shows, and mazes with over 1,000 scary creatures hiding in every corner of the park. You may even find a horrific monster sitting right next to you. Ticket prices start as low as $48.
Knott’s Spooky Farm is a Halloween event designed for kids ages 3 to 11. Kids can experience trick-or-treating in the Ghost Town where they’ll collect their favorite sweet and savory treats. Or you can take your children on the Timber Mountain Log Ride and see some family-friendly surprises. The farm is included in the standard park admission or season pass.
Pay Homage to Our Fallen Heroes at Huntington Beach Civil War Days
The Huntington Beach Historical Society will be hosting another iteration of its annual Civil War Days in Central Park from September 3-4. The event will see people experiencing various recreations of events from the Civil War era. The entire event will be facilitated by generous volunteers and, as a result, it is a free-for-all event.
The Huntington Beach Society has played a huge role in preserving historical sites and promoting stories from our past that have helped shape the nation we see today. So if you are looking to dive into the past with your loved ones this fall, head over to Huntington Beach Civil War Days between 3-4 September.
[Huntington Beach Civil War Days]
Create Your Unique Piece of Art at an Orange County Succulent Workshop
Are you looking for fun fall team-building activities? Or maybe you love gardening and would love to make your own succulents. If so, relieve your stress and express your artistic side with Soulful Succulents workshops. These workshops, also called “Sip n Succs,” are where you’ll sip on a drink of your choice like wine or cider while designing gorgeous arrangements of succulents.
They sell unique house plants, tropical plants, and air plants to complement your home. Their first workshop this year will be held on the 6th of October. This is where you use the pumpkin as the plant holder and design the succulent inside the pumpkin. If your kids are obsessed with crafting or you just want a low-key date with your partner, head over to Soulful Succulents to make this fall memorable.
Indulge Yourself with World-Class Food at Newport Beach Wine & Food Festival
Are you a foodie or wine connoisseur? The Newport Beach Wine-and-Food Festival is the most intimate, exclusive, and world-class epicurean lifestyle event in Orange County. At this amazing festival, guest features include stars such as Brian Malarkey, Aarti Sequeira, Duff Goldman, Aaron Sanchez, and many more. You’ll even get front-row seats to celebrity chef cooking demonstrations, interactive mixology courses, and master sommelier tasting panels. Of course, there will be alcohol tastings from craft-style brews, spirits, and wines.
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