Best Things to Do in Orange County in October 2026: Fall Festivals, Pumpkin Patches & Local Events

Event details can change. Always confirm current information with the organizer before heading out.

What Are the Best Things to Do in Orange County in October 2026?

• Tustin Tiller Days — Oct 2–4, Columbus Tustin Park. Carnival, music and a classic community festival.
• Hana Field Pumpkin Patch opening — Oct 3, Costa Mesa. Pumpkins, flower field and corn maze.
• Old World Oktoberfest — Wednesdays–Sundays all month, Huntington Beach.
• Costa Mesa Scarecrow Festival — Oct 10, Lions Park. Free.
• Newport Beach Concert at Marina Park — Oct 11, Diego's Garage.
• Old Town Tustin Art Walk & Artisan Market — Oct 17, 80+ local artists.
• Boo at the Oaks — Oct 17, Santiago Oaks Regional Park. Free nature night.
• Fall-O-Ween at Heritage Hill — Oct 17, 18, 24 and 25, Lake Forest.
• OC Zoo Halloween Zoo-tacular — Oct 24, Irvine Regional Park.
• Newport Beach Halloween Spooktacular — Oct 24, Mariners Park. Free.

Looking specifically for trick-or-treating and Halloween events? See our dedicated Orange County Halloween guide for the full list.

Tustin Tiller Days — October 2–4

Tustin Tiller Days celebrates the city's agricultural roots and is one of Tustin's signature community events — a classic Orange County weekend for families and anyone who wants a true local festival.

Expect a carnival and rides, live music and entertainment, food, vendors, community activities, contests, a beer and wine garden, and the Backyard Brewfest. Explore more in the Tustin city guide.

Hana Field Pumpkin Patch — Costa Mesa

Hana Field has pumpkins growing in the field, a flower field, the Jurassic Fright Corn Maze, a cow train, pumpkin activities and barn animals. Opening day adds a Tractor Show & Mullet Contest (Oct 3, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM), and Pumpkins & Pups returns Oct 10 (10:00 AM – 4:00 PM). Check the official Hana Field site for current ticket and parking prices.

Hana Field is operated separately from the Tanaka Farms location in Irvine — the settings and experiences differ.

Tanaka Farms Pumpkin Patch — Irvine

Tanaka Farms, at 5380 3/4 University Drive in Irvine, is one of Orange County's best-known fall farm traditions, and its pumpkin patch continues through October. Hours, activities and reservation requirements can change through the season, so confirm details on the official Tanaka Farms website before you go. More in the Irvine city guide.

Tanaka Farms in Irvine or Hana Field in Costa Mesa?

Tanaka is a long-running working farm in the Irvine hills; Hana Field is an urban field near South Coast Plaza with its own maze and flower field. They feel different enough that many families visit both.

Old World Oktoberfest — Huntington Beach

October is peak season for the longest-running Oktoberfest in Orange County: German bands, live music, traditional dancing, yodeling contests, stein-holding competitions, German food and a lively festival atmosphere. Age restrictions differ by day and time — some sessions are all ages, while Friday and Saturday evenings may be 21+. Review the official Old World schedule before buying tickets. See the Huntington Beach guide.

More Verified October Events

Costa Mesa Scarecrow Festival — Oct 10

Free, 2:00–6:00 PM at the Lions Park Event Lawn, 1845 Park Ave. Trick-or-treat stations, a scarecrow contest, kids costume parade, photo spots, arm painting, live entertainment and music.

Newport Beach Concert at Marina Park — Oct 11

For an October afternoon that still feels distinctly coastal Orange County, catch Diego's Garage live at Marina Park, 4:00–5:30 PM.

The Ranch Discovery Day — Oct 15

Free admission and parking, reservations required. 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM at The Ranch Community Center, OC Fair & Event Center, 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa. Meet horses, chickens and rabbits, watch horse-care and grooming demonstrations, learn about horses in the military and bees, and let kids try the stick-horse rodeo. See the Costa Mesa guide.

Old Town Tustin Art Walk & Artisan Market — Oct 17

11:00 AM – 5:00 PM along Main Street and El Camino Real. Spend a Saturday walking Old Town Tustin, browsing work from more than 80 local artists — paintings, photography, sculpture, ceramics and jewelry — plus artisan vendors, a plein-air contest, live music, a Kids Art Village, guided walking tours and beer and wine tasting.

Boo at the Oaks — Oct 17

Free event and parking, advance registration required. 5:30–9:00 PM at Santiago Oaks Regional Park, 2145 N. Windes Dr, Orange. Nature stations, crafts, a scavenger hunt, guided night hikes and nocturnal wildlife education. Costumes must be safe for dirt trails; no pets.

Fall-O-Ween at Heritage Hill — Oct 17, 18, 24, 25

4:30–8:30 PM at Heritage Hill Historical Park, 25151 Serrano Rd, Lake Forest. Decorated historic grounds, photo spots, a straw maze and scavenger hunt. Costumes encouraged; leashed pets welcome; light refreshments may be available for purchase.

OC Zoo Halloween Zoo-tacular — Oct 24

10:00 AM – 4:00 PM at the OC Zoo in Irvine Regional Park, 1 Irvine Park Rd, Orange. Scavenger hunt, trick-or-treating for kids 12 and under while supplies last, crafts and animals enjoying pumpkin treats. Included with zoo admission (listed at $2 per person, 2 and under free; weekend parking listed at $5 per vehicle) — no reservation needed. Confirm current pricing before you go.

Newport Beach Halloween Spooktacular — Oct 24

Free, 3:00–6:00 PM at Mariners Park & VJ Community Center, 1300 Irvine Ave. Trunk-or-treat, music, a haunted walkthrough, carnival games, bounce houses, costume contests, pumpkin decorating while supplies last and food trucks.

Best Pumpkin Patches in Orange County This October

Best October Events That Aren't Halloween

What can you do in Orange County in October besides Halloween? Plenty: Tustin Tiller Days, Old World Oktoberfest, the Old Town Tustin Art Walk, the Marina Park concert in Newport Beach, Ranch Discovery Day in Costa Mesa, and the pumpkin patches at Hana Field and Tanaka Farms.

Best October Events for Families

• Tustin Tiller Days
• Hana Field Pumpkin Patch
• Tanaka Farms Pumpkin Patch
• Ranch Discovery Day
• Costa Mesa Scarecrow Festival
• Fall-O-Ween at Heritage Hill
• OC Zoo Halloween Zoo-tacular

Old World Oktoberfest has some all-ages sessions, but not all — check age rules before planning a family visit.

Free Things to Do in Orange County in October

These have verified free admission (food, optional activities and some parking may cost extra):

• Costa Mesa Scarecrow Festival — Oct 10
• Ranch Discovery Day — Oct 15 (free parking; reservations required)
• Boo at the Oaks — Oct 17 (free parking; registration required)
• Newport Beach Halloween Spooktacular — Oct 24

Best October Date Ideas in Orange County

• Old Town Tustin Art Walk, then dinner in Old Town
• An evening at Old World Oktoberfest (check 21+ sessions)
• A golden-hour pumpkin patch date at Hana Field or Tanaka Farms
• A Sunday concert at Marina Park, then a harbor walk
• A walk through Irvine Regional Park followed by a seasonal activity

Orange County Events by Weekend — October 2026

October Events by Orange County City

October Is a Great Month to Explore Orange County Communities

One of the best ways to understand the personality of an Orange County community is to experience it outside of a home showing. Tustin Tiller Days feels completely different from an evening in Huntington Beach, an afternoon at an Irvine farm or a waterfront concert in Newport Beach.

Lauren Greaves is an Orange County real estate agent with the Lily Campbell Team at First Team Real Estate, helping buyers and sellers throughout Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Tustin, Costa Mesa, Orange, Westminster and surrounding communities. The Lily Campbell Team has been recognized as the #1 resale real estate team in Orange County for multiple consecutive years.* Explore the city guides, Fountain Valley, Orange, the September events guide, or meet Lauren.

Frequently Asked Questions

*Based on information provided by Trendgraphix© for residential resale homes in Orange County from January 1, 2020, through December 31, 2025. Event details are compiled from organizer information and can change; confirm with each organizer before attending.