It’s time for all things spooky and creepy — or maybe just orange and pumpkin-spiced, depending on your mood. You can spend a fortune at scary theme parks, but why? Here are 21 fun things to do without spending any money. Free is good, right? We like free.
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Oct. 9 — Pasadena: Like felines? Then check out the Spooky Doodle Party at Tailtown Cat Cafe from 5 to 6 p.m., sponsored by the Altadena Library. Anyone age 18 and over can attend. You’ll doodle creepy cats and ghastly ghosts among the cafe’s friendly cats. (Normal cost to spend an hour here is $20.) Tailtown Cat Cafe, 1780 E. Washington Blvd.Space is limited. (They need room for the cats.) Registration and release form are required. Register to attend here: altadenalibrary.libnet.info/event/17196327
Oct. 9-11 — Mission Viejo: How about a Haunted Escape Room where you and your friends must solve eerie puzzles and clues to solve the mystery and get out? And what if it were entirely free, sponsored by the Mission Viejo library? Interesting, right? It’s only for three days and you’d better sign up now because spots are starting to be snapped up. Each seat you sign up for is actually for up to four people. List all the participants when you sign up. For ages 8 and up. Library Heritage Room,100 Civic Center. cityofmissionviejo.libcal.com/calendar/libraryprograms
Oct. 15 — Long Beach: Want to paint and decorate your own miniature papier-mache skeleton? Then get thee to the downtown Main Library in Long Beach at 4 p.m. Meet in the Studio. Materials will be available for the first 15 arrivals. While you work, you’ll learn about the artists who influenced this art form, especially for Mexico’s Day of the Dead. This is for ages 12 and up. Call 562-570-7500 to learn more. Billie Jean King Main Library, 200 W. Broadway. longbeach.gov/library/events/
Oct. 15 — Monterey Park: The city’s 8th annual “Monster Mash” Halloween event is from 4 to 7 p.m. at Barnes Park. Admission is free. This is in conjunction with the farmers’ market. Live entertainment and fun. Bring your own bag for goodies. Live entertainment, games, freebies and more. Barnes Park Field, 350 S. McPherrin Ave. montereypark.ca.gov/1329/Monster-Mash
Oct. 16-18 and Oct. 23-25 — Lake Forest: Enjoy this fall tradition for six nights at the Heritage Hill Historical Park with the sixth annual Fall-O-Ween. It will be open special hours from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. Costumes are encouraged. Family activities include a spooky straw maze, scavenger hunt, photo opps, giveaways while supplies last and more. 25151 Serrano Road. parks.oc.gov/events/fall-o-ween
Oct. 16 — San Jacinto: Join the Riverside Animal Services at its San Jacinto campus from 2 to 6 p.m. for a free, fun trunk-or-treat event with candy, live music and … free animal adoptions all day long! Rescue a homeless pet and get free candy too. (No private pets allowed, sorry.) 581 S. Grand Ave. San Jacinto.rcdas.org/events/trunk-or-treat-2026-san-jacinto-valley
Oct. 17 — Eastvale: Head to the Eek!Vale Halloween Festival from 4 to 10 p.m. with trunk-or-treating, live entertainment, haunted maze, kids’ costume contest, characters, a community ofrenda, food vendors and more. Free parking. 13200 Citrus St. rivcodistrict2.org/events/eastvale-eekvale-halloween-festival
Oct. 17 — Jurupa Valley: Yes, it’s the Jurupa Valley Boo-Rupa with tricks, treats, games and more fun with Halloween at Rancho Jurupa Regional Park. Trunk-or-treat with the VW Car Club, go on a hayride, play games, go through a Halloween maze and more. This runs from 5 to 10 p.m. Free trick-or-treat bags for the first 500 kids. 4800 Crestmore Road. rivcodistrict2.org/events/jurupa-valley-boo-rupa
Oct. 24 — Anaheim: Get ready for the annual Anaheim Fall Festival and Halloween Parade, including live performances across multiple stages, a marionette show, kids and dog costume contests, kids crafts, a classic car show, scavenger hunt, Davey B. Gravey’s Tiny Cinema and more. Free parking. The car show starts at 10 a.m. and continues with other festivities through 4 p.m. Check the registration times for the contests. Parade starts at 7 p.m. This year it’s centered on Center Greens, adjacent to City Hall. 305 E. Broadway. Beware of road closures. anaheimfallfestival.org
Oct. 24 — Canyon Lake: This popular event’s been going on now for 33 years. It’s the annual Canyon Lake Parade of Frights, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Canyon Lake Town Center. Trick-or-treating, games, a costume parade at 11:30 and costume contests, along with a DJ. 31780 Railroad Canyon Road. rivcodistrict2.org/events/canyon-lake-parade-frights-0
Oct. 24 — Dana Point: Head to the city’s Halloween Spooktacular & Trunk or Treat from 1:30 to 5 p.m. at the Dana Point Community Center. There will be a haunted house maze, crafts, cookie decorating, games, trick-or-treating with police bloodhounds, the bomb squad, horse unit, K-9 dogs and more. Kids costume contest at 6 p.m. Free hot chocolate, popcorn and candy. Food for sale. 34052 Del Obispo St. danapoint.org/Community
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Oct. 24 — Hawthorne: Head to City Hall for this year’s Hawthorne Halloween Spooktacular, from 3 to 6 p.m. There will be a trunk-or-treat, live dance performances, fun games, bounce jumpers, a costume contest and more. 4455 W. 126th St. instagram.com/p/Dd8L_LmERxd/
Oct. 24 — La Palma: Get on over to Central Park from 3:30 to 6 p.m. for the city’s annual Halloween Carnival. There will be costume contests for kids, groups and pets, games, treats and giveaways. Sign up in advance on site for the costume contests. The Kiwanis Club will sell food and drink. 7821 Walker St. lapalmaca.gov/365/Halloween-Carnival
Oct. 24 — Newport Beach: Visit the Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for a family-friendly Boo at the Bay Halloween party at the Muth Interpretive Center. Costumes are encouraged. Spooky stories, creepy crafts, strange animals, games and wacky science experiments will ensue. Also, booths and exhibits. Free parking. Bad weather cancels. 2301 University Drive. letsgooutside.org/activities/2026/10/24/boo-at-the-bay-family-halloween-party-6/
Oct. 24 — Pasadena: Drop by Victory Park from 3 to 6 p.m. for the city’s annual Fall Festival, including costume contests, free food and family fun. 2575 Paloma St. cityofpasadena.net/parks-and-rec/event/fall-festival-2/
Oct. 24 — Torrance: It’s time for the annual Halloween Movie in the Park with plenty of Halloween-themed fun, entertainment and more. There’ll be a costume parade, display of carved pumpkinds, a cheer performance, kid zone, DJ and food for sale. The event starts at 4 p.m. and “Toy Story 5” screens at 6:30 pm. Bring your own low-back chairs and blankets. Wilson Park, 2200 Crenshaw Blvd. torranceca.gov/Our-Community/Events/Halloween-Movie-in-the-Park
Oct. 24-25 — Marina del Rey: Check out the family fun at the Marina Spooktacular … Halloween by the Harbor, a two-day festival at Burton Chace Park. It runs from 4 to 10 p.m. both days, and gets scarier after dark. DJ, juggling, magic shows and more. Beware of the Haunted Blackout Maze of Terror. All ages. Burton Chace Park, 13650 Mindanao Way. RSVP here: eventbrite.com/e/marina-spooktacular-tickets-1999539797360
Oct. 29 — Canyon Lake: It’ll be Nashville time for Halloween at the Canyon Lake Towne Center, when its Pumpkin Bash is held from 4 to 9 p.m. The headliner will be Ella Nation, a tribute band to Ella Langley, from Nashville. There will also be kids activities and Halloween fun. Costumes and boots are encouraged. 31780 Railroad Canyon Road. rivcodistrict2.org/events/canyon-lake-pumpkin-bash
Oct. 29 — Orange: Come on over to the Orange Circle in Old Towne for the Orange Treats in the Streets event, from 4 to 7 p.m. Stores will be handing out candy to trick-or-treaters and there will be a family costume parade. Enjoy the entertainment, games and more. Old Towne Orange Plaza, 1 Plaza Square. optevents.org/orangeinternationalstreetfair-2
Oct. 31 — Brea: Bring the kids in costume for Brea Downtown Treats on the Street. Kids can trick-or-treat at downtown shops and other merchants around Birch Street and Brea Boulevard from 5 to 7 p.m. breadowntown.com/events/
Oct. 31 — Los Angeles: Head to the historic Union Station for its 7th Annual Boonion Station from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The South Patio will be transformed into a free party for the whole family. There will be face painting, stilt walkers, crafts, dancing, balloon artists, trick-or-treating, a DJ and costume contests. Event is free; parking on site is $8 or ride the Metro. unionstationla.com
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