Santa Cruz Family-Friendly Fall Activities 2026

Get ready for a celebration of autumn's abundance at the first annual Harvest Festival! Enjoy a day filled with fun, food, and festivities under the crisp fall sky. This family-friendly event brings together a wide variety of local performers, artisans,...

Little witches, goblins, ghosts, and superheroes can enjoy a delightful trick-or-treating experience on the beautiful Santa Cruz Wharf. Stroll along the wharf, visit favorite businesses for sweet surprises, and meet special guests offering candy and photo opportunities. Don't miss the...

Celebrate Halloween at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk with a day of festive fun. Enjoy trick-or-treating from 12-7pm, where a special package includes a candy bag and a $10 MyBoardwalk Card for games. Show off your costume in the contest...

All aboard for a spooktacular adventure with Thomas and Percy! This special Halloween Party Train Ride offers a delightful experience for the whole family. Enjoy a festive journey filled with Halloween spirit and fun activities, making it a memorable autumn...

Rodoni Farms invites visitors to its annual pumpkin patch and corn maze, set against the stunning backdrop of the California coast. Roam through fields to select the perfect pumpkin and challenge yourself in their 5-acre corn maze, redesigned each year...

Celebrate the harvest season at the Felton Farmers Market's annual Pumpkin Decorating Bonanza! This beloved tradition invites kids and adults to get creative with pumpkins, transforming them with veggies, string, and more. Enjoy seasonal treats, live music, and explore a...

Get ready for a spooktacular adventure at Santa Cruz / Monterey Bay KOA Holiday's Halloween Weekend II! This family-friendly event is packed with frights and festive fun, featuring a Haunted Carnival, trick-or-treating, and a popular costume contest. Enjoy themed meals...

Join the Downtown Candy Crawl for a delightful Halloween experience in Watsonville. Children aged 13 and under can trick-or-treat at participating downtown businesses, filling their bags with goodies. Don't miss the Halloween parade, where participants can show off their festive...

Experience a quintessential fall day at Rancho Siempre Verde's annual Pumpkin Patch & Fall Festival. This family-friendly event offers a chance to pick your own pumpkins, cut fresh flowers, and create a beautiful fall wreath. Enjoy classic farm activities like...

Join the Creepy Crawly Halloween Trick-or-Treat in Downtown Campbell for a festive community costume party. This popular event offers candy and freebies as children and pets in their best costumes fill the streets for a lively celebration.

Dive into fall fun at the Floating Pumpkin Patch! This unique event invites attendees to swim around and pick their perfect pumpkin directly from the pool. Beyond the pumpkin hunt, enjoy a variety of spooky games and get creative with...

Gilroy Gardens transforms into a Halloween wonderland for 'The Great Big BOO!', offering a not-too-spooky experience for the whole family. Guests can enjoy safe trick-or-treating along the BOO Trail, live musical shows with charming characters, and interactive themed experiences. Delight...

Spina Farms Pumpkin Patch offers a delightful fall experience with rides, dinosaurs, and delicious food. Navigate a challenging corn maze, enjoy thrilling hayrides, and test your skills with pumpkin blasters. New for 2025, discover the Pumpkin Cup Ride, meet a...

Discover the Moreland Pumpkin Patch, a vibrant community event supporting local schools. They offer a family-friendly atmosphere with carnival games, craft activities, and movie nights. Dare to explore their haunted trails, including the 'Curse of the Pirate Coast' and the...

Join the fun at the Morgan Hill Farmers' Market for a spirited Halloween Costume Parade and Contest. This event celebrates creativity with a parade showcasing fantastic costumes, followed by a contest where participants can win prizes. It's a perfect way...

Experience a spooky and fun family outing on the Morgan Hill Halloween Haunt Trolley Tour. This 20-25 minute ride takes you through neighborhoods adorned with Halloween decorations, accompanied by festive music. It's an unforgettable way to celebrate the season with...

Join thousands for the highly anticipated Silicon Valley Fall Fest! This vibrant community event offers a full day of fun for all ages, featuring live music, a cultural parade, a robotics competition, and an expanded Kid's Zone with rides and...

Santana Row hosts its annual Halloween Family Festival, inviting families for a morning of festive fun. Attendees can enjoy trick-or-treating along The Row, live music, pumpkin decorating, and entertainment from stilt-walkers. It's a free, public event designed for a memorable...

Get ready for a fang-tastic time at the annual Monster Mash Halloween Bash! This family-friendly event at the Quinlan Community Center invites attendees to don their most creative costumes for an evening filled with games, trick-or-treating, spooky crafts, and pumpkin...

Visit LJB Farms for their annual Pumpkin Patch event, a cherished tradition for over a century. Explore the farm, select the perfect pumpkin, and experience the authentic charm of a family-run business dedicated to providing fresh, vine-ripened produce. It's a...

Experience a unique Halloween celebration at Deer Hollow Farm's Spooky Times. This special event transforms the historic working farm into a festive fall destination. Visitors can get up close with the farm's animals, including goats, pigs, sheep, and chickens, and...

Get ready for a spooktacular time at the Children's SpooktaClara Halloween Party! This free event is perfect for kids aged 10 and under, offering a delightful afternoon of Halloween fun. Families can enjoy Trick or Treat Row, carnival games with...

Celebrate the magic of the Autumn Moon Festival with a day of cultural discovery perfect for kids and families. Experience traditional Chinese and Vietnamese customs, enjoy a dynamic lion dance performance, and get creative with hands-on activities like making playdough...

Families with children aged 2-15, particularly those with autism, can enjoy a 'frighteningly fangtastic' Halloween at the Children's Discovery Museum. This special event offers a sensory-friendly experience with limited attendance, reduced noise, and dimmer lights, ensuring a comfortable and fun...

Celebrate the autumn season at Pumpkins in the Park, a beloved family festival in Downtown San Jose. This event offers a festive atmosphere with live performances, community booths featuring crafts and games, and the chance to receive a free pumpkin....

Discover a fantastic selection of gently used Halloween costumes for children at the Mission Branch Library's annual costume swap. This community event offers a free, sustainable way to find the perfect outfit for your little ones, available on a first-come,...

Monterey's Old Fisherman's Wharf transforms into a Halloween wonderland for its 7th Annual Halloween on the Wharf. This free, family-friendly event invites everyone to enjoy trick-or-treating, spooky tunes from a live DJ, and a thrilling costume contest with cash prizes....

Celebrate Halloween in San Jose's Japantown with a festive community event. Enjoy treats from local businesses and organizations, and be captivated by energetic taiko drumming performances. Roving drummers will fill the streets with rhythm, creating a unique and spirited atmosphere...

The City of Seaside hosts its annual Halloween Bonanza, a festive event packed with activities for children. Attendees can enjoy games, a haunted house, and interactive crafts. A highlight is the children's costume contest, offering prizes for the best costumes....

Celebrate Halloween with family at the Del Monte Shopping Center's Pumpkin Pandemonium. Attendees can grab free pumpkins, enjoy kid-friendly activities, and capture memories at a fun fall photo backdrop. Candy and glow sticks will also be distributed.

Join Special Kids Connect for a fun-filled Halloween event designed exclusively for families with special needs. Enjoy carnival games, face painting, and crafts. Kids will receive a plastic pumpkin tote upon entry to fill with prizes and giveaways throughout the...

Experience the vibrant Carmel City Halloween Parade, a beloved community tradition. This festive event is part of the city's annual birthday celebration, offering a delightful spectacle for all ages. Don't miss the unique 'Pumpkin Roll down Ocean Avenue' for a...

Get ready for Carmel's unique Annual Pumpkin Roll! Watch as pumpkins race down Ocean Avenue, a spectacle lined with hay bales and fencing for a thrilling view. Participants can grab a pumpkin and join the fun, making it a memorable...

Get ready for a monstrously good time at Monster Bash! This family-friendly Halloween celebration transforms Rengstorff Park into a hub of spooky fun. Attendees can explore a Treat Trail, enjoy live performances, and participate in a variety of games and...

Discover the enchanting Glass Pumpkin Patch of Carmel, a beloved annual event celebrating its 13th year. Browse thousands of exquisite, hand-blown glass pumpkins created by acclaimed artists Nick Leonoff and Kevin Chong. This vibrant festival also features a Kids Zone...

Get ready for a monstrously good time at LEGOLAND Discovery Center Bay Area's Brick-or-Treat: Monster Party! Families can dive into Halloween fun with creative potion-making, a pumpkin-decorating station for the Monster Garden, and a thrilling scavenger hunt. Don't miss the...

Discover a vibrant pumpkin patch at Webb Ranch, offering a delightful fall experience for all ages. Browse a wide selection of pumpkins, many grown organically on their 30 acres, alongside decorative fall items. Weekends bring a host of exciting activities,...

Gamble Garden hosts its annual Halloween For Families event, offering a delightful celebration for all ages. Attendees can enjoy face painting, creative crafts, a thrilling scavenger hunt, and engaging trivia. A special highlight includes a visit from Eloise, the Bay...

Arata's Pumpkin Farm offers a classic fall experience with a vast selection of pumpkins, a challenging two-acre hay maze, and a spooky haunted barn. Families can enjoy pony rides, a petting zoo, hayrides, and a miniature train. The farm is...

Swank Farms transforms into a fall wonderland, offering a beloved tradition for over 25 years. Visitors can get lost in a 7-acre corn maze, pick the perfect pumpkin from a 2-acre patch, and enjoy classic farm games and rides. For...

Join the PAL Center for their annual Pal-O-Ween Block Party, a vibrant family-friendly celebration. Attendees can look forward to a spooky trail, receive candy bags, and enjoy a dedicated photo station. The event promises an evening filled with food and...

Join the Pacific Commons Shopping Center for a frightfully fun Halloween Spooktacular! This free event invites families to enjoy an afternoon filled with festive activities, including face painting, a photo booth, and complimentary balloons and cotton candy. Treat bags will...

Casa de Fruta invites families and groups for an unforgettable fall outing at Pumpkin Junction. This event offers a delightful mix of activities, including pumpkin picking, a historic train ride, gemstone mining, and a unique butter-making experience. It's an ideal...

Experience the vibrant Newark Days Celebration, a four-day festival packed with fun for all ages. Enjoy thrilling carnival rides, a diverse food festival with over 25 vendors, live stage shows, and a spectacular parade. This beloved community event commemorates Newark's...

Harbor Light Church hosts a free Trunk or Treat event for families this Halloween. Kids are encouraged to wear their costumes (non-scary preferred) and enjoy an evening filled with candy, games, and jump houses. It's a safe and festive way...

Get ready for a spooktacular night at the Fremont Trick-or-Treat Event! This family-friendly celebration offers a magical trick-or-treat experience for children ages 2-10 in a wonderland of miniature houses. Enjoy included carnival games and capture festive memories. Food trucks will...

The 53rd Annual Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival returns October 18-19, 2025, transforming Main Street into a vibrant celebration of autumn. This iconic event showcases the 'Great and Almighty Gourd' with the spectacular Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off,...

Discover the magic of fall at Pastorino Farms with their popular field trips and educational tours. Families and school groups can choose from various packages that include a pumpkin, hay ride, railless train ride, jump house, pony rides, and a...

Discover a festive fall experience at Pastorino Farms' annual pumpkin patch. Families can choose from a vast selection of pumpkins, enjoy exciting children's activities like hay and train rides, and interact with friendly farm animals. Weekends come alive with a...

Lemos Farm transforms into a Halloween Palooza, offering a vibrant pumpkin patch with pumpkins in every size and color. Visitors can enjoy a wide array of attractions, including pony rides, a haunted house, train rides, and a petting zoo. Indulge...

Discover the charm of Farmer John's Pumpkin Farm, a beloved local tradition offering a delightful fall experience. Visitors can enjoy classic hayrides, explore a vast selection of pumpkins including the giant Atlantic Giant variety, and capture memories with iconic farm...

Join the "Running Dead 5K Fun Run & Walk" for a thrilling Halloween-themed community event. Participants race to the finish line while dodging "zombies" who aim to steal their flags. Medals are awarded to top finishers in multiple age and...

Get ready for a spooktacular time at Boos and Brews on B Street! This family-friendly event transforms Downtown San Mateo into a Halloween wonderland. Enjoy trick-or-treating with local businesses, engaging kids' activities, and creative arts and crafts. Don your best...