Best Things to Do in Orange County in September 2026: Events, Festivals & Fall Fun

• Tanaka Farms Irvine Pumpkin Patch Opening — Irvine, September 12: the first major pumpkin patch of the season opens for daily visits, with reservations required.
• Maker Faire Orange County — Costa Mesa, September 12–13: a two-day celebration of makers, inventors and hands-on creativity at the OC Fair & Event Center.
• ARTventure — Costa Mesa, September 12–26: a juried exhibition of local artwork at the Norma Hertzog Community Center.
• Irvine Spectrum SunWheel Grand Opening — Irvine, September 19: a full day of live music, a DJ, pop-up treats and giveaways at the Irvine Spectrum Center.
• Costa Mesa Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration — Costa Mesa, September 19: a community cultural celebration at Lions Park.
• Coastal Cleanup Day at Upper Newport Bay — Newport Beach, September 19: a morning of volunteering along one of Orange County's most important estuaries.
• Sand Sports Super Show — Costa Mesa, September 18–20: three days of dune buggies, UTVs, sand rails and off-road gear at the OC Fair & Event Center.
• Concert at Marina Park — Newport Beach, September 20: an outdoor waterfront concert with Knyght Ryder.
• Foods of Garden Grove Live — Garden Grove, September 25: free admission to an evening of local restaurant tastings, live music and family activities at Village Green Park.
• Newport Beach Surf Championships — Newport Beach, September 26–27: an amateur surf competition on the sand to close out the month.

Tanaka Farms Pumpkin Patch Opens for 2026

If you want an easy way to ease into fall while it's still 80 degrees outside, this is it. Tanaka Farms opens its Irvine Pumpkin Patch on Saturday, September 12, 2026 — the first major pumpkin patch opening of the Orange County season.

Expect pumpkin-related farm activities and seasonal farm experiences on the property. Because reservations are required and September weekends fill quickly, book your entry time before you drive over. Plan Your Visit on the official Tanaka Farms site for current activity details and pricing.

Tanaka Farms sits just off University Drive in Irvine, which makes it an easy add-on to a morning in the Irvine area or an afternoon near the coast.

Maker Faire Orange County — Costa Mesa

Maker Faire Orange County returns to the OC Fair & Event Center for a weekend built around makers, artists, tech enthusiasts, inventors and hands-on creativity. It's one of those rare events where curious kids and curious adults get equal value out of the day.

Irvine Spectrum SunWheel Grand Opening

One of the most visually interesting September events in Orange County: the Spectrum SunWheel Grand Opening Celebration takes over the Irvine Spectrum Center on Saturday, September 19 with live entertainment, a DJ, pop-up treats and giveaways.

Event details and giveaways are subject to availability and change — check the Irvine Spectrum event page before you go.

ARTventure Juried Art Exhibition — Costa Mesa

ARTventure runs September 12–26, 2026 at the Norma Hertzog Community Center and leans into Costa Mesa's identity as the "City of the Arts." The juried exhibition showcases work from local artists, with an opening reception and awards ceremony on the first day.

Reception and awards times follow the City of Costa Mesa's current published schedule; confirm on the city calendar before attending.

Costa Mesa Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration

The City of Costa Mesa has confirmed its Hispanic Heritage Month celebration for Saturday, September 19, 2026 at the Lions Park Event Lawn and Stage (1845 Park Ave). It's a community cultural celebration, and the city posts the final lineup of performances and activities closer to the date — check the Costa Mesa city calendar for public hours before you head over.

Coastal Cleanup Day at Upper Newport Bay

On Saturday, September 19, 2026, Coastal Cleanup Day comes to Upper Newport Bay through OC Parks and the Newport Bay Conservancy. If you're looking for something outdoors, community-minded and genuinely meaningful to do in Orange County this September, this is the one. Confirm the exact check-in location and hours with OC Parks before the morning of the event.

Sand Sports Super Show — Costa Mesa

The Sand Sports Super Show fills the OC Fair & Event Center September 18–20 with a major dune and off-road expo: UTVs, ATVs, side-by-sides, sand rails, accessories, apparel and a long list of exhibitors.

Newport Beach Outdoor Concerts and an Easy Family Night Out

Newport Beach keeps its outdoor community entertainment programming running into September, which is the best time of year for it — warm evenings, no summer crowds.

• Concert on the Green — Sunday, September 13, 2026: Flashback Heart Attack performs as part of Newport Beach's outdoor community entertainment series. Confirm the final location and time on the City of Newport Beach calendar.
• Movie in the Park: "Hoppers" — Friday, September 18, 2026: an easy, low-cost family night out. Check the official City of Newport Beach event page for the exact park and start time.
• Concert at Marina Park — Sunday, September 20, 2026: Knyght Ryder plays an outdoor waterfront concert at Marina Park. Confirm the performance time on the city event page.

Foods of Garden Grove Live 2026

This is one of the best food events of the month — and admission is free. Foods of Garden Grove Live brings food and drinks from Garden Grove restaurants to Village Green Park, alongside family-friendly activities and live music nearby at the Garden Amp. It's part of the City's Foods of Garden Grove initiative.

Newport Beach Surf Championships

The most distinctly coastal thing you can do in Orange County this month: the Newport Beach Surf Championships run September 26–27, 2026, amateurs only, starting at 8:00 AM according to the current City of Newport Beach calendar. Confirm the exact beach location and heat schedule before you go.

Garden Grove Labor Day Family Fun Festival

If you're reading this in the first week of the month, the 68th Annual Labor Day Family Fun Festival takes place Monday, September 7, 2026 from 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM at the Garden Grove Elks Lodge, 11551 Trask Ave, Garden Grove, CA 92843.

Best September Events for Families

• Tanaka Farms Pumpkin Patch (Irvine, opens September 12): a farm setting with seasonal activities and daytime hours that work around naps and early bedtimes.
• Maker Faire Orange County (Costa Mesa, September 12–13): hands-on making and demonstrations, with children 4 and under admitted free.
• Irvine Spectrum SunWheel Grand Opening (September 19): music, treats and giveaways in a walkable outdoor center with plenty of food options nearby.
• Movie in the Park (Newport Beach, September 18): an outdoor movie night that's easy to pack a blanket for.
• Foods of Garden Grove Live (September 25): free admission, live music and family-friendly activities in one park.

Free Things to Do in Orange County This September

• Foods of Garden Grove Live — free event and concert admission (food tasting tickets are a separate purchase)
• Coastal Cleanup Day at Upper Newport Bay — free community volunteering
• Costa Mesa Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration — a public city celebration at Lions Park
• ARTventure at the Norma Hertzog Community Center — a public exhibition of local juried artwork
• Irvine Spectrum SunWheel Grand Opening — free to attend; SunWheel rides and food are separate

Free admission doesn't always mean a free day out. Parking, food, tasting tickets and optional activities may still cost extra — the Maker Faire and Sand Sports Super Show, for example, are ticketed events with $15 parking at the OC Fair & Event Center.

Best September Date Ideas in Orange County

• Catch the Marina Park concert in Newport Beach on September 20 and walk the waterfront afterward.
• Visit the Tanaka Farms pumpkin patch later in the month, when the September light is at its best.
• See ARTventure in Costa Mesa, then grab dinner nearby in the Costa Mesa restaurant scene.
• Go to Foods of Garden Grove Live on September 25 and make dinner a tasting crawl.
• Spend an evening at Irvine Spectrum during the SunWheel festivities — DJ Eternal plays into the early evening, then Hiatus until 9:00 PM.

September Events by Weekend

September 12–13

• Tanaka Farms Irvine Pumpkin Patch opening day — September 12
• Maker Faire Orange County, OC Fair & Event Center — September 12–13
• ARTventure opening reception and awards, Costa Mesa — September 12
• Concert on the Green with Flashback Heart Attack, Newport Beach — September 13

September 18–20

• Sand Sports Super Show, Costa Mesa — September 18–20
• Movie in the Park: "Hoppers," Newport Beach — September 18
• Irvine Spectrum SunWheel Grand Opening — September 19
• Costa Mesa Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration — September 19
• Coastal Cleanup Day at Upper Newport Bay — September 19
• Concert at Marina Park with Knyght Ryder, Newport Beach — September 20

September 25–27

• Foods of Garden Grove Live, Village Green Park — September 25
• Newport Beach Surf Championships — September 26–27

Orange County September Events by City

Pumpkin Patch Season Starts in September

Pumpkin patch season in Orange County starts earlier than most people expect. Tanaka Farms opens its Irvine Pumpkin Patch on September 12, 2026, which makes it the first real fall outing of the season here.

Hana Field in Costa Mesa does not open until October 3, 2026, so plan around that if it's on your list — it is not open during September.

Planning ahead for October? Our October Orange County events guide will include more pumpkin patches, fall festivals and seasonal events.

Exploring Orange County Beyond the Home Search

Community events are one of the easiest ways to experience what different parts of Orange County actually feel like. A Saturday in Irvine feels different from a waterfront evening in Newport Beach or a local food festival in Garden Grove — and those differences are part of what makes choosing the right Orange County community so personal.

I'm Lauren Greaves, 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 Orange County communities. The Lily Campbell Team has been recognized as the #1 resale real estate team in Orange County for multiple consecutive years.

If you're weighing neighborhoods, start with our Orange County city guides, browse the home search, or get in touch and we'll talk through it.

Orange County September 2026 Events FAQ

Event dates, hours, admission and locations are subject to change. Always confirm details with the organizer, venue or city before heading out.