Unique & Unusual Halloween Events Near Desert Hot Springs 2026

14 unique & unusual Halloween events near Desert Hot Springs.

Desert Hot Springs presents a number of Halloween happenings. If you're seeking a more distant drive for your scares, consider an event in Temecula. For a local experience that's family-friendly, Palm Springs offers a paint and sip occasion.

All Unique & Unusual Halloween Events Around Desert Hot Springs

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Illustration of costumed clay children and a witch playing among pumpkins, hay bales and tents on an autumn lawn

Family-Friendly Fall Activities

1 of 33 Howl-O-Ween at The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens Palm Desert

Trick-or-treat stations and fall festivities alongside more than 600 animals.

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 Illustration of a Halloween party at dusk with costumed characters around a punch bowl, a ghost, pumpkins and string lights

Food, Drink, and Parties

1 of 15 14th Annual Día De Los Muertos Dinner Celebration & Fundraiser Indio

Outdoor dinner celebration with mariachis, ofrendas, tequila tasting, and auctions.

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 Illustration of a small haunted cottage with glowing windows, ghosts, jack-o'-lanterns and a black cat under a pale moon

Haunted Experiences

1 of 15 Greenspot Farms Haunted Hayride & Trail Mentone

Haunted tractor hayride and nighttime walking trail through farm orchards.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can kids come on ghost tours in Desert Hot Springs?

Family-friendly early tours, usually the 7 pm slot, keep stories spooky but not graphic and welcome ages 8-plus; late-night tours lean into murder and macabre detail and often set 13+ or 18+ minimums. Check the tour's stated age guidance and pick the early slot for first-timers. Ninety minutes of night walking is the real limit for younger kids, so check the route length.

How should we dress for October outdoor events in Desert Hot Springs?

October is the swing month: afternoon events can be warm while anything after sunset drops fast, so the answer is always layers, base, zip layer, packable shell, plus closed shoes for grass and gravel venues. Toss gloves and a beanie in the bag after mid-October for night tours and outdoor screenings. Check the hourly forecast at event time, not the daily high.

How do we plan around lantern parades and night processions in Desert Hot Springs?

Stake out the route, not the staging area: arrive 30-45 minutes early at a mid-route spot with a wall or storefront at your back for kids' sightlines. Bring your own lantern or glow items only if the event invites it. Transit beats driving, since road closures wrap the route, and know the dispersal point so your group reunites after the crowd releases.

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