The best Halloween events in Orange County for 2026 start with Knott’s Scary Farm in Buena Park and Oogie Boogie Bash in Anaheim. The 17th Door leads the extreme haunts. Families lean toward the Anaheim Halloween Parade, Adventure City, and free Fall-O-Ween at Heritage Hill.
This guide ranks eight OC Halloween events from full scare parks to free hometown nights. I checked official sites for 2026 dates, hours, and ticket rules before locking the list.
October weekends sell out fast. Buy Oogie Boogie Bash, Adventure City, and Scary Farm tickets as early as you can.
Need pumpkins too? Use our separate best pumpkin patches in Orange County guide. For the wider fall calendar, keep the Orange County events calendar open.
Scare levels jump a lot on this list. Read age notes before you drag toddlers into a maze built for screamers.
1. Knott’s Scary Farm
Knott’s Scary Farm is still the Halloween event I name first in Orange County. Knott’s Berry Farm turns into a full nighttime haunt with mazes, scare zones, shows, and more than 1,000 creatures.
The 2026 season runs select nights from September 17 through October 31. Thursday and Sunday hours run 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday run 7 p.m. to 2 a.m.
New 2026 mazes include Inked and Unearthed. Classic scare zones still spill into Ghost Town and Forsaken Lake.
Tickets, age rules, and Spooky Farm
Single-night Scary Farm tickets have listed around $164 online. Fright Lane and dining packages cost extra.
Knott’s does not recommend Scary Farm for kids under 13. Every guest needs a paid ticket, including infants.
Want daytime, scare-free fun at the same park? Knott’s Spooky Farm runs in Camp Snoopy on select days from September 24 through October 31. It is included with regular park admission.
Find the park at 8039 Beach Blvd, Buena Park, CA 90620. Plan through the official Knott’s Scary Farm page.
This is my pick when someone wants the biggest scream night in OC, not a short walk-through house.
2. Oogie Boogie Bash
Oogie Boogie Bash is the ticketed Disney Halloween party at Disney California Adventure. Treat Trails, villains, and the Frightfully Fun Parade fill the park after dark.
Select nights run from August 18 through October 31, 2026. Party hours typically run about 6 to 11 p.m.
Daytime Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort is separate. Décor and seasonal overlays run August 21 through October 31 with regular park admission.
Ticket prices and sold-out nights
2026 public tickets started around $139 on early August nights. Halloween night reached about $199. Peak October weekends sell out first.
If Bash tickets are gone, Halloween Time still gives Haunted Mansion Holiday, seasonal food, and character costumes during the day.
Enter Disney California Adventure at 1313 Disneyland Dr, Anaheim, CA 92802. Details live on the Oogie Boogie Bash page and the Halloween Time page.
This is my family Disney answer when you want villains and candy trails without Knott’s intensity.
3. The 17th Door
The 17th Door is Orange County’s extreme interactive haunt. It sits inside Buena Park Downtown Mall and runs a prison storyline with heavy tech and close-contact scares.
Visit Buena Park lists select nights from September 25 through November 10, 2026. Timed tickets sell through the official site and partners.
You sign a waiver. You get a safe word. This is not a passive walk-through for kids or casual screamers.
Who should buy VIP
Regular timed slots often start in the low-to-mid $40s, depending on the night. VIP shortens the wait. Backstage tour add-ons run later slots and cost more.
Go with friends who want intensity. Skip it if you only want fog and jump scares from a distance.
Map to 8420 On the Mall, Buena Park, CA 90620. Buy through the17thdoor.com.
This is my scariest non-theme-park Halloween event in OC when Scary Farm still feels too spread out.
4. Anaheim Fall Festival & Halloween Parade
The Anaheim Fall Festival and Halloween Parade is the free hometown classic. Volunteers and local groups fill downtown Anaheim for one big Saturday.
In 2026 that Saturday is October 24. The daytime festival and classic car show run 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Center Greens. The parade steps off at 7 p.m.
Costumes are part of the fun. The route starts near Anaheim Boulevard and Broadway, then works through Center Street Promenade and Broadway.
Parking and parade timing
Center Street Parking Garage and nearby structures are the easy play. Expect road closures around parade time.
For route maps and deeper tips, use our dedicated Anaheim Halloween Parade 2026 guide.
Daytime festival address: 305 E Broadway, Anaheim, CA 92805. Confirm updates on anaheimfallfestival.org.
This is my free all-ages pick when ticket prices feel ridiculous and you still want a real Halloween night.
5. Adventure City Boo-tastic Halloween Party
Adventure City’s Boo-tastic Halloween Party is the after-hours park night built for little kids. Eleven rides stay open. Trick-or-Treat Street hands out candy. Nobody is trying to scare your toddler.
Only ten nights run in 2026: October 2, 9, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 28, 29, and 30. Hours are 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Extras include a Halloween train, scavenger hunt, vortex tunnel, light show, and dance party. Costumes are optional and should stay family-friendly.
Tickets sell out early
Ages 1 and up need a special-event ticket. General admission is not valid. Several October dates already show sold out online.
Recent seasons priced tickets around the mid-$30s. Buy online if you can. Gate leftovers are not a plan.
Head to 1238 S Beach Blvd, Anaheim, CA 92804. Book on the Boo-tastic Halloween Party page.
This is my toddler-to-elementary answer when Oogie Boogie Bash is sold out or too expensive.
6. Fall-O-Ween at Heritage Hill
Fall-O-Ween turns Heritage Hill Historical Park into a free evening walk. Historic buildings get fall décor, photo spots, a straw maze, and a scavenger hunt for goodies.
OC Parks lists October 16 through 18 and October 23 through 25, 2026. Hours run 4:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Costumes are encouraged. Leashed pets are welcome on a six-foot leash. Light refreshments are sold on site.
Why locals love the free nights
There is no ticket queue and parking is free. South County families can do this on a school night without a big spend.
Go earlier if you want easier photos. Later slots feel darker and a little spookier for older kids.
Park at 25151 Serrano Rd, Lake Forest, CA 92630. Details sit on the OC Parks Fall-O-Ween page.
This is my free South County pick when you want atmosphere without a carnival ticket booth.
7. The Haunted Car Wash (Tunnel of Terror)
The Haunted Car Wash, long known as Tunnel of Terror, is OC’s drive-through Halloween oddball. You stay in the car. Fog, effects, and costumed characters work the wash tunnel.
Big Wave Car Wash in Anaheim runs select nights from October 2 through October 31, 2026. Evenings usually run about 6 to 10 p.m.
Put the car in neutral when staff say so. Keep hands off the wheel. One ticket covers the whole vehicle.
Who this works for
Per-vehicle tickets often land around $29 to $30, depending on the night. It is a short hit, not a three-hour park visit.
It works for mixed-age groups that will not agree on a haunt. Skip it if anyone gets anxious in tight tunnels.
Find Big Wave at 2219 Lincoln Ave, Anaheim, CA 92806. Check dates on thehauntedcarwash.com and local ticket listings before you line up.
This is my unique OC Halloween pick when you want scares without leaving the car.
8. Spooky Seas at the Ocean Institute
Spooky Seas is Dana Point’s harbor Halloween night. The Ocean Institute fills with a mad-scientist lab, trick-or-treating, crafts, music, and aquarium access.
The 2026 date is Saturday, October 24, from 5:30 to 9 p.m. That same evening also hosts the Anaheim Parade up north, so pick your coast or your downtown.
Optional Harbor Hayrides sell as a separate ticket and include Spooky Seas entry. The event stays all-ages and coastal, not extreme haunt.
Ticket tiers
Posted pricing runs about $20 for adults. Seniors 55+ and military pay about $18.50. Kids ages 19 months through 13 pay about $17. Kids under 18 months are free.
Buy ahead. Harbor parking fills on festival Saturdays.
Meet at 24200 Dana Point Harbor Dr, Dana Point, CA 92629. Tickets and updates live on the Ocean Institute Spooky Seas page.
This is my South County coastal pick when you want Halloween with boats in the background.
Halloween events comparison
| Event | City | Best for | Cost notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knott’s Scary Farm | Buena Park | Full scare park | ~$164 / night; ages 13+ recommended |
| Oogie Boogie Bash | Anaheim | Disney party night | ~$139–$199; sells out |
| The 17th Door | Buena Park | Extreme interactive haunt | ~$40s+; waiver required |
| Anaheim Halloween Parade | Anaheim | Free hometown classic | Free; Oct 24 |
| Adventure City Boo-tastic | Anaheim | Kids park party | Mid-$30s; ages 1+ |
| Fall-O-Ween Heritage Hill | Lake Forest | Free historic evening | Free |
| Haunted Car Wash | Anaheim | Drive-through scare | ~$29–$30 / vehicle |
| Spooky Seas | Dana Point | Harbor family night | ~$17–$20 |
How to choose in one minute
Pick Knott’s Scary Farm for the biggest scream night. Pick Oogie Boogie Bash for Disney villains and Treat Trails.
Pick The 17th Door if you want extreme contact. Pick the Anaheim Parade when the night must stay free.
Pick Adventure City for toddlers. Pick Heritage Hill for a free South County stroll.
Pick the Haunted Car Wash for a short drive-through hit. Pick Spooky Seas for a Dana Point harbor night.
More October ideas nearby
Beer fans can add Boo Ha Ha and Brewers Mash from our beer festivals guide. Pumpkin weekends stay on the pumpkin patches list linked above.
People Also Ask
Knott’s Scary Farm in Buena Park is the best overall Halloween event in Orange County for scares. Oogie Boogie Bash in Anaheim is the best Disney party night. The Anaheim Fall Festival and Halloween Parade is the best free hometown tradition.
Knott’s Scary Farm runs select nights from September 17 through October 31, 2026. Thursday and Sunday hours are 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday hours are 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. Confirm your exact night on the official Six Flags Knott’s page before you buy.
Yes if you want Treat Trails, Disney villains, and the Frightfully Fun Parade in one ticketed night. 2026 tickets ranged about $139 to $199 by date. If it is sold out, daytime Halloween Time still runs August 21 through October 31 with park admission.
The Anaheim Fall Festival and Halloween Parade on October 24 is free. Fall-O-Ween at Heritage Hill in Lake Forest is free on October 16–18 and 23–25. Many city trunk-or-treats are also free; check your city recreation calendar the week of Halloween.
Yes. Adventure City’s Boo-tastic Halloween Party is built for little kids. Knott’s Spooky Farm is the daytime scare-free option at Knott’s Berry Farm. Spooky Seas at the Ocean Institute and Fall-O-Ween at Heritage Hill also stay family-friendly.
The 2026 Anaheim Halloween Parade starts at 7 p.m. on Saturday, October 24 in downtown Anaheim near Anaheim Boulevard and Broadway. The daytime Fall Festival runs 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Center Greens, 305 E Broadway.
The 17th Door in Buena Park is the scariest interactive haunted house in Orange County for most locals. Knott’s Scary Farm is scarier as a full theme-park night with many mazes. Neither is a good fit for young kids.
Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort runs through October 31, 2026. Disney California Adventure décor begins August 18. Disneyland Park, Downtown Disney, and the hotels begin August 21. Oogie Boogie Bash is separately ticketed on select nights through October 31.
