(Orange County, Calif.) – OC Parks is welcoming autumn with an expansive lineup of free fall and Halloween-themed events and programs for all ages across Orange County this October.
Explore the decorated historic grounds during special park hours at the fifth annual Fall-O-Ween at Heritage Hill Historical Park, Oct. 10-12 & 17-19. Guests are encouraged to dress in costumes and participate in family-friendly activities, including fall and Halloween-themed photo opportunities, a scavenger hunt for spooky surprises and a ghoulish straw maze. The event and parking are free.
Head over to Santiago Oaks Regional Park after dark Saturday, Oct. 18 to discover creepy critters at the annual Boo at the Oaks. The event offers nighttime nature activities with crafts, scavenger hunts and guided hikes. Costumes are welcome but must be safe for hiking on dirt trails. Advance registration is required.
Halloween Zoo-Tacular returns to the OC Zoo Saturday, Oct. 25 with fun festivities for the whole family. Guests can watch animals enjoy treat-filled pumpkins and participate in themed crafts for kids, a scavenger hunt and trick-or-treating, while supplies last.
The festive fun continues Saturday, Oct. 25 with the annual Boo at the Bay at Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve featuring spooky science experiments, creepy crafts, bizarre animals and interactive exhibits. The event will also include booths and exhibits from community partners such as Orange County Bird of Prey Center, Environmental Nature Center and Critter Squad: Wildlife Defenders. Guests are encouraged to attend in costume.
Halloween Animal Art Preschool Program
Date: October 3, 10, 16 & 29
Time: 10:15 – 11:15 a.m.
Location: OC Zoo at Irvine Regional Park
Address: 1 Irvine Park Road, Orange, CA 92869
Website: ocparks.com/oc-zoo
Cost: $5 per child (one parent included)
Parking: $3 per vehicle
Registration: Call (714) 973-6846 to register
Bats: Heroes of the Night
Date: October 3 & 11
Time: 5:15 – 7:15 p.m.
Location: Limestone Canyon Nature Preserve
Address: 13333 Black Star Canyon Rd., Silverado, CA 92676
Website: ocparks.com/events
Cost: Free
Parking: Free
Registration: letsgooutside.org/activities
Dusk Discovery: Bats in Clark Park
Date: October 4
Time: 6 – 8 p.m.
Location: Ralph B. Clark Regional Park
Address: 8800 Rosecrans Ave, Buena Park, CA 90621
Website: ocparks.com/events
Cost: Free
Parking: $5 per vehicle
Registration: letsgooutside.org/activities
Little Explorers: Spiders!
Date: October 9
Time: 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Location: Nix Nature Center at Laguna Coast Wilderness Park
Address: 18751 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach 92651
Website: ocparks.com/events
Cost: Free
Parking: $3 per vehicle
Registration: lagunacanyon.org/events
Fall-O-Ween
Date: October 10-12 & 17-19
Time: 4:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Location: Heritage Hill Historical Park
Address: 25151 Serrano Road, Lake Forest, CA 92630
Website: www.ocparks.com/heritagehillhistoricalpark
Cost: Free
Parking: Free
Kids Ghost Rock Hike!
Date: October 11
Time: 8:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Location: Laguna Coast Wilderness Park
Address: 18751 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Website: ocparks.com/events
Cost: Free
Parking: $3 per vehicle
Registration: lagunacanyon.org/events
Autumn Birdwatching
Date: October 15
Time: 7:30 – 9:30 a.m.
Location: Peters Canyon Regional Park
Address: 8548 E. Canyon View Ave., Orange, CA 92869
Website: ocparks.com/events
Cost: Free
Parking: $3 per vehicle
Registration: letsgooutside.org/activities
Critter Investigation: Terrific Tarantulas
Date: October 15
Time: 10 – 11 a.m.
Location: Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center at Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve
Address: 2301 University Drive, Newport Beach, CA 92660
Website: ocparks.com/events
Cost: Free
Parking: Free
Registration: letsgooutside.org/activities
Boo at the Oaks
Date: October 18
Time: 5:30 – 9:30 p.m.
Location: Santiago Oaks Regional Park
Address: 2145 N. Windes Drive, Orange, CA 92869
Website: ocparks.com/events
Cost: Free
Parking: Free
Registration: letsgooutside.org/activities
Nature Creativity: Fall Glass Jars
Date: October 24
Time: 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Location: Laguna Coast Wilderness Park
Address: 18751 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Website: ocparks.com/events
Cost: Free
Parking: $3 per vehicle
Registration: lagunacanyon.org/events
Halloween Zoo-tacular at the OC Zoo
Date: October 25
Time: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Location: OC Zoo at Irvine Regional Park
Address: 1 Irvine Park Road, Orange, CA 92869
Website: ocparks.com/events
Cost: Free with paid zoo admission ($2 per person, ages 2 & under are free)
Parking: $5 per vehicle
Boo at the Bay: Family Halloween Party
Date: October 25
Time: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Location: Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center at Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve
Address: 2301 University Drive, Newport Beach, CA 92660
Website: ocparks.com/events
Cost: Free
Parking: Free
Wild Tales: Spooky Edition
Date: October 31
Time: 10 – 11 a.m.
Location: Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center at Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve
Address: 2301 University Drive, Newport Beach, CA 92660
Website: ocparks.com/events
Cost: Free
Parking: Free
Registration: letsgooutside.org/activities
