It is officially fall here in Southern California! Not that we still have any use for jackets, scarves or boots. It is going to be 100 degrees this week but that doesn’t stop us from wanting to cozy up with some fun fall activities! Here are my top 5 happenings to go out and do this autumn season.
5. Descanso Gardens
Pasadena, CA
Go and see a plethora of carved pumpkins at the beautiful Descanso Gardens. This is a nighttime event where you can see hundreds of carved pumpkins lighting up the beautiful botanical gardens. There plenty of activities such as a hay maze and holiday treats. You can also watch artists carving pumpkins and there is a special Día de Los Muertos installation in their amphitheater. There are also special UV blacklight experiences. Tickets are only available online so be sure to purchase before heading out for a cozy Halloween themed night.
4. Underwood Family Farms
Moorpark, Ca
This adorable farm is open all year round and is genuinely one of my favorite places to visit every season. But the fall festival brings out a special quality to this farm making it far more special than your average pumpkin patch. There are so many wonderful fall activities for the entire family or this is also a very cute date spot.
Take a tractor ride around the property, grab a wagon and pick a pumpkin and other seasonal fruits and vegetables. Get lost in the corn maze or go feed the various animals on the property. Better yet, go and pet the animals in the petting zoo and brush the goats. Visit the market stand for delicious and fresh produce.
For you Instagram fans, there are plenty of cute photo ops as well including the pumpkin house. You also have 50 acres to wander through the beautiful landscapes.
On the weekends during the fall festival, they have live entertainment. They also have lots of festival food booths and you’ll find more offerings on the weekends.
The fall festival is October 1-31. Online tickets are required for weekend entry. Be sure to check out their website for all up to date information and offerings.
3. Outdoor Movies
This is typically my favorite summer activity but thanks to Street Food Cinema, they have extended outdoor movies through the fall showing some Halloween favorites. Films such as Hocus Pocus, The Nightmare Before Christmas and Edward Scissor Hands are great for all ages. There are loads of food trucks so get there early, set out a blanket and enjoy an entire evening out with delicious food and a movie.
Street Food Cinema is at various locations around Los Angeles and a lot of locations are dog friendly, be sure to check their site to see which ones your doggos can join you on! My pug loved going to these events. Find a location near you and enjoy a wonderful day out!
Another great option is outdoor movies hosted by Cinespia at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. This year they are showing classics like The Craft, The Thing, Carrie, and Dracula. Pack up a picnic and enjoy these spooky films in the cemetery. There is even a DJ that plays before and after the movie. Pro tip: bring a blanket that has a plastic bottom or a tarp to put under your blanket. The grass gets damp in the evening, and you’ll end the night with a slightly soggy blanket. All of it can be avoided with proper equipment. You can also bring low chairs.
2. Theme Park Horror Mazes
If you are a fan of being terrified in a horror maze, you have 3 great options in socal.
Six Flag Magic Mountain- Fright Fest
Knott’s Berry Farm- Knott’s Scary Farm
Universal Studios Hollywood- Halloween Horror Nights
All three locations have terrifying mazes but each location shines for different reasons. Six Flags not only has horrifying mazes, but their roller coasters are some of the best in the country and are equally bone chilling. This is where you go if you are a thrill seeker who wants to ride massive roller coasters in between mazes.
Knott’s Scary Farm will, by miles, have the best food options. If you want to gorge yourself on incredibly decadent treats (I’m looking at you, bananas foster funnel cake) in between screaming whilst someone jumps out at you from the fog, this is your place. Foodies, go nuts! Another bonus is that Knotts has a new chaperone policy, no one under the age of 17 is admitted without an adult. This has cut back on crowds considerably.
Universal Studios is by far the most terrifying and has the best mazes. The tram is iconic, and you get to even spend time in the backlot while being chased by monsters. It’s a thrill that’s for sure. Those looking to get intense scares should go here. But keep in mind, they have the reputation of having the best mazes which means you will have much denser crowds.
Overall, all three locations will have bigger crowds the closer you get to Halloween. My advice is to go earlier in the season. I just went to Knott’s Scary Farm on the 23rd and every maze was a five-minute line.
1. Halloween at the Disneyland Resort/ Oogie Boogie Bash
Anaheim, CA
This is no surprise to anyone who knows me. I love Halloween decorations, but I’m not into being scared which makes Disneyland the absolute best. California Adventure, specifically, has the best Halloween décor. While the adorable Mickey Mouse jack-o-lantern is over on Main Street in Disneyland, beyond main street the bulk of Halloween décor stops there.
California Adventure is completely decked out. Check out Cars Land which has the best décor. Enjoy Halloween specialty food/drink items, merchandise and if you were lucky enough to snag tickets to the sold out Oogie Boogie Bash, get ready for specialty characters to be out. Sid from Toy Story and Ernesto De La Cruz are all big hits at this year’s Boogie Bash.
Don’t fear if you didn’t get tickets, the park still has plenty to offer during without going to the special ticketed event. Visit the Plaza De Familia for Coco Dia de los Muertos activities and shows.
Disneyland has the best Halloween fireworks ever, but they don’t show them every day so be sure to check the calendar online. During the week they switch it out for projections which…suck. Sorry, there is no other way to put it. But don’t miss those fireworks! It is probably my favorite firework show they do all year.
Bonus Fall Activities to do Near You:
While these are all locations specifically for the LA crowd, there are tons of things you can do near you to put you in a autumnal mood!
-Host A Scary Movie Night
-Carve Pumpkins, save those seeds and roast them!
-Find an orchard near you and go apple picking, then bake a pie!
-Snuggle up with a spooky book, anything by Stephen King is going to be good.
-If you are near the beach, grab a blanket and have a bonfire, if permitted. Angelinos, Dockweiler beach is set up with fire pits for bonfires and a great location to have a fall birthday gathering. Parking can be tricky in some areas of the beach.
-Go Hiking! The weather is finally cool enough for those of us in SoCal to enjoy a longer time outside. Those who live elsewhere, I’m sure your foliage is stunning and actually changing colors, so go out and enjoy it!
-Make hot apple cider or mulled wine. Both are cozy and DELICIOUS.
-Visit any local pumpkin patch!
-Find local haunted mazes in your area.
-Go wine tasting, it is a beautiful time to visit wineries. Grapes are harvested here in California through October. I have a guide for those in SoCal!
I hope you all have a safe and wonderful fall season!
