Bring your little ones and join OC Parks to learn more about turkeys! This fun and engaging program includes story time, an age-appropriate hike and themed craft.

The program begins at the Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center. Program content is tailored for the preschool level (ages 2 to 5), but all are welcome to attend. Please wear comfortable attire and closed-toe shoes. The trail for the hiking portion of the program is not stroller-friendly.

The program and parking are free.

Advance registration is recommended, but walk-ins are welcome. Learn more and register here.

Adverse weather will move the program indoors. 

For questions, please contact Resource Specialist Emma Arago at emma.arago@ocparks.com or call (657) 692-5401.

Join Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve staff and volunteers in enhancing the bay’s habitat for local wildlife. Activities may include non-native plant removal, planting natives, watering, removing trash and Butterfly Garden maintenance.

No experience necessary. Please bring a hat, sunscreen, snacks and a refillable water bottle. Water and tools will be provided.

Minors 16 and younger must be accompanied by a guardian. 

The program and parking are free. 

Walk-ins are welcome, but advance registration is recommended. Learn more and register here.

Adverse weather will cancel the program. 

For questions, please contact Resource Specialist Emma Arago at emma.arago@ocparks.com or call (657) 692-5401.

Join OC Parks for an interpretive bike ride around Upper Newport Bay! Participants will have the opportunity to raise their heart rate and pedal around the bay while learning about local ecology and history.

This moderately-paced ride will cover a 10-mile section of the Back Bay Loop Trail over the course of 2.5 hours with approximately 155 feet of elevation gain. We will stay on the paved portion of the trail and make interpretive stops along the way.

This program will begin and end at the Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center. The program and parking are free. 

Participants must provide their own bike and helmet. Minors must have a parent/guardian present at all times. 

Adverse weather will cancel the program.

Advance registration required. Learn more and register here.

For questions, please contact Resource Specialist Emma Arago at emma.arago@ocparks.com or call (657) 692-5401.

Join OC Parks staff and volunteers for a nature scavenger hunt that's fun for all ages!

Participants will find a series of interpretive tables and posts that are "hidden" along the trails near the Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center. There will be hands-on educational activities and prizes available for those who complete the scavenger hunt.

The program is designed for ages 7 to 12, but all are welcome. 

Participants may begin the scavenger hunt anytime between 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. It takes approximately 45 minutes to complete.

Advance registration is recommended, but walk-ins are welcome. Learn more and register here.

The program and parking are free. Adverse weather will cancel the program.

For questions, please contact Resource Specialist Emma Arago at emma.arago@ocparks.com or call (657) 692-5401.

*Please note advance registration is now REQUIRED for Wild Tales.*

Spending time outside is one of the best ways to nurture curiosity and instill a love of the natural world. Bring your young ones and join OC Parks staff to learn about Upper Newport Bay.

Wild Tales is offered every Friday from 10-11 a.m. and includes a story time, age-appropriate hike and themed craft. Each week will focus on a different topic that encourages young ones to learn about the outdoors.

The program begins at the Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center. Program content is tailored for ages 2 to 5, but all are welcome to attend. Minors under 18 must be accompanied by a guardian. Please wear comfortable attire and closed-toe shoes. Additionally, please note that the trail for the hiking portion of the program is not stroller-friendly.

The program and parking are free. Adverse weather may cancel the program or move it fully indoors.

Advance registration required. Learn more and register here. Registration opens two weeks prior to the program date.

For questions, please contact Resource Specialist Emma Arago at emma.arago@ocparks.com or call (657) 692-5401.

Join OC Parks staff and volunteers for our monthly program where art meets ecology! Come explore the natural world through the lens of creativity by making a faux stained glass art piece.

To celebrate Dia de los Muertos, this program will feature a brief talk and hands-on activity based on skulls. We’ll start by investigating real skulls from mammals living in Orange County then create our own faux stained glass calaveras!

All program materials will be provided. Please wear closed-toe shoes and clothes you don’t mind getting dirty. This program is designed for ages 14 and older.

The program and parking are free.

Advance registration is required. Learn more and register here.

Adverse weather will move the program fully indoors.

For questions, please contact Resource Specialist Emma Arago at emma.arago@ocparks.com or call (657) 692-5401.

*This program has been canceled due to park closure and predicted rain.*

Join us at Santiago Oaks Regional Park to lend a hand and help OC Parks staff prepare for a new butterfly garden! We will remove invasive species, clean up excess debris, trim large shrubs and prepare the area for native plantings.

The site is located next to the Santiago Oaks Nature Center. General purpose gardening gloves and long pants are recommended. Tools and gloves will be available on-site.

The program and parking are free for volunteers. Please notify the park attendant you are volunteering when you arrive. Bring plenty of water, sunscreen and snacks. The program will begin at the Nature Center.

This is a Level 2 difficulty rating for habitat restoration.

Advance registration required.  Learn more and register here.

For questions, please contact Resource Specialist Shelly Marshall at 657-253-3681 or shelly.marshall@ocparks.com.

**This event has been canceled due to wet and muddy conditions.

OC Parks invites you to discover Orange County’s ancient past through rare fossil displays on National Fossil Day. An OC Parks paleontologist will be on-site with a special pop-up fossil showcase on Wednesday, October 15 at the Visitor Center at Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park. 

This family-friendly drop-in interpretive experience will feature rare fossils from Orange County’s collection, offering a unique opportunity to explore the region’s prehistoric past. Come see fossils of ancient sharks, whales, seals and walruses, as well as strange animals like the mysterious Desmostylus. 

The program is free and parking is $3 per vehicle.

(Lake Forest, Calif.) – Join OC Parks and celebrate the spooky season at the fifth annual Fall-O-Ween at Heritage Hill Historical Park, Oct. 10-12 and 17-19.

Enjoy festive, family-friendly activities and explore the decorated historic grounds during special park hours. Grab your costumes and take your photo at a variety of fall and Halloween-themed photo opportunities, as well as enjoy a scavenger hunt for spooky surprises and a spirited straw maze. The event is free to attend with free parking.

“We’re thrilled to mark five years of Fall-O-Ween at Heritage Hill Historical Park,” said Supervisor Donald P. Wagner, Orange County Board of Supervisors. “This beloved tradition continues to bring friends and families together year after year, while also introducing them to one of Orange County’s treasured historic spaces.”

Costumes are highly encouraged. Pets are welcome on leashes no longer than 6 feet. Bring your cameras and join the tradition as OC Parks marks five years of fall festivities in one of Orange County’s most charming historic settings.

Fall-O-Ween
Dates: 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
Cost: Free
Parking: Free 
Public Contact: (949) 923-2230
Park Website

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OC Parks

OC Parks manages nearly 60,000 acres of parks, historical and coastal facilities and open space for the County of Orange as part of OC Community Resources. http://www.ocparks.com

(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
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
Cost: Free
Parking: Free

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
Cost: Free
Parking: $5 per vehicle

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
Cost: Free
Parking: $3 per vehicle

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
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
Cost: Free
Parking: $3 per vehicle

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
Cost: Free
Parking: $3 per vehicle

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
Cost: Free
Parking: Free

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
Cost: Free
Parking: Free

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
Cost: Free
Parking: $3 per vehicle

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
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
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
Cost: Free
Parking: Free