Here are the best ways to celebrate the fall season in Orange County.
From Sept. 1 to Oct. 31, experience Disneyland's Halloween Screams spectacular. PHOTO COURTESY OF DISNEYLAND RESORT
Happy hauntings abound in both Disneyland Park and the adjacent Disney California Adventure Park Sept. 1 through Oct. 31. Both characters and rides get the spooky treatment—don’t miss the Haunted Mansion, Guardians of the Galaxy – Monsters After Dark, Luigi’s Honkin’ Haul-O-Ween and Mater’s Graveyard JamBOOree—while Sleeping Beauty’s Castle and Main Street also receive a Halloween-approved makeover. Finally, wear your own costume and party the night away on select dates during the annual Oogie Boogie Bash with dining specials, parades and more.
The ghoulish entryway at The Witching Hour Halloween Boutique at Roger's Gardens, PHOTO COURTESY OF BRAND
The Witching Hour Halloween Boutique at Roger's Gardens
Prep for your own Halloween party or simply deck out your home for the trick-or-treaters with help from the Roger’s Gardens team and its seasonal themed boutique. Available to shop both online and in-person in Corona del Mar Sept. 1 through Oct. 31, the haunted store features a curated collection of haute Halloween goods ranging from bubbling cauldrons to spellbinding tinctures. It’s a shopping trip that’s an experience in itself!
See eight-time Tony Award-winning play Les Misérables Sept. 19 to Oct. 1 at Segerstrom Center for the Arts. PHOTO BY MATTHEW MURPHY/MURPHYMADE
Broadway Shows and Seasonal Fun at Segerstrom Center for the Arts
A slew of top-notch Broadway shows will take the stage at Segerstrom Center for the Arts this fall. Gather your fellow theater lovers to enjoy The Book of Mormon (Sept. 5 to 10), Les Misérables (Sept. 19 to Oct. 1) and Ain't Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations (Oct. 17 to 29). You'll also discover seasonal events, including a screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show (Oct. 13), the Halloween & Fabulous Fall Festivals extravaganza (Oct. 21) and a showing of the 1925 silent film Phantom of the Opera (Oct. 22), set to live music by accompanist Dennis James.
The Tanaka Farms Pumpkin Patch
Open Sept. 16 to Oct. 30, Irvine's Tanaka Farms features a real pumpkin patch, where guests can pick their pumpkin right off the vine. Feel the seasonal spirit by taking a wagon ride, exploring the corn maze, playing festival games and watching the famous pumpkin cannon.
Not for the faint of heart, Knott's Scary Farm returns Sept. 21. PHOTO BY SEAN TEEGARDEN
Knott's Scary Farm 50th Anniversary
Dodge blood-thirsty vampires and evil monsters as Knott’s Scary Farm toasts its 50th year. Running Sept. 21 through Oct. 31, visitors are in for a fright as they walk through the park and come face-to-face with creepy clowns, lurking ghosts and vengeful witches. Recommended for visitors age 14 and up, the park's 29 nights of frights will include 10 mazes, five sinister scare zones and four spine-tingling live shows.
Seasonal Adventures Pumpkin Patch
Head to OC Fair & Events Center in Costa Mesa Sept. 29 through Oct. 31 to enjoy free admission to this seasonal pumpkin patch, which includes inflatable slides, rides for the little ones, a petting zoo and a train. Pumpkins will be available for purchase and you can shop farm-fresh squash and gourds at the farmers' market.
The beautiful Giracci Vineyards and Farms in Silverado will host this year's OC Wine & Spirit Fest. Save the date for Sunday, Nov. 5 for this Día de los Muertos-themed event, where your ticket includes unlimited wine and spirits tastings, live music, access to food trucks and more.
Enjoy pours from hundreds of California wineries at the California Wine Festival Nov. 10 and 11. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ACE AGENCY
Toast the 20th anniversary of the California Wine Festival as it returns to Pasea Hotel & Spa in Huntington Beach. Taking place Nov. 10 and 11, the two-day affair begins Friday evening during the Sunset Rare & Reserve Tasting featuring pours of rare trophy wines and sparkling sips. The fun culminates during Saturday's Beachside Wine Festival, where oenophiles will discover hundreds of California wines, local craft beers and a wide variety of bites as a live band sets the mood.
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