9 Best Halloween 2026 Events for Families in Los Angeles County. Los Angeles County is big enough to celebrate Halloween in entirely different ways: a gentle morning with zoo animals, a walk among illuminated pumpkins in the foothills, a working farm in Pomona, or a museum outing where real spiders replace plastic props. For 2026, our picks balance preschool-friendly activities with memorable evenings for older children and teens. These are editorial recommendations, not a popularity vote, ranked for range of experiences, family suitability and clarity of organizers’ 2026 information.

Geographic focus: Griffith Park, La Cañada Flintridge, Pomona, Exposition Park and the Palos Verdes Peninsula. Information checked October 10, 2026. Dates, admission prices, capacities and weather policies may change; confirm directly with the operator before traveling.

At a glance: Los Angeles County Halloween 2026 calendar

Family event Location 2026 schedule
Boo at the L.A. Zoo Griffith Park, Los Angeles October 24–25 and October 31–November 1, 2026
Carved at Descanso Gardens La Cañada Flintridge Select evenings in October through Halloween 2026
Halloween Day at Descanso La Cañada Flintridge Saturday, October 31, 2026, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Cal Poly Pomona PumpkinFest Pomona Weekends October 10–31, 2026, 10 a.m.–7 p.m.
Natural History Museum Spider Pavilion Exposition Park, Los Angeles September 20–December 6, 2026
Frightful Fun at the Natural History Museum Exposition Park, Los Angeles Saturday, October 31, 2026, 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m.
Magic of the Jack O’Lanterns South Coast Botanic Garden, Palos Verdes Peninsula Selected evenings September 18–November 1 (confirm your date before booking)
Trick-or-Treat at Carved Descanso Gardens, La Cañada Flintridge Saturday, October 31, 2026, 6–10 p.m.
Los Angeles Haunted Hayride — older teens only Griffith Park, Los Angeles Selected nights in fall 2026; verify ticket date

Our top 9 family Halloween and fall picks in Los Angeles County

1. Boo at the L.A. Zoo

Where: Griffith Park, Los Angeles. When: October 24–25 and October 31–November 1, 2026.

Best easygoing daytime Halloween option for animal lovers. Costumes, candy stations, keeper talks, pumpkin animal enrichment and photo spots make this fun for elementary-school children without the intensity of a haunted maze. Bring a trick-or-treat bag. Halloween activities are included with paid zoo admission or eligible membership.

Verify / reserve: Official organizer or destination listing.

2. Carved at Descanso Gardens

Where: La Cañada Flintridge. When: Select evenings in October through Halloween 2026.

After dark, follow illuminated pumpkin installations and glowing garden scenes. The attraction is designed around atmosphere and visual wonder rather than jump scares; it’s an excellent multigenerational evening, though children who tire early might prefer daylight plans. Timed admission and advance reservations are recommended.

Verify / reserve: Official organizer or destination listing.

3. Halloween Day at Descanso

Where: La Cañada Flintridge. When: Saturday, October 31, 2026, 9 a.m.–5 p.m..

A calmer alternative to Halloween night: the gardens’ daytime celebration includes trick-or-treating, seasonal activities and the Pumpkin Express. It’s especially useful for families with younger children who would rather celebrate before sunset. Included with standard daytime admission or membership.

Verify / reserve: Official organizer or destination listing.

4. Cal Poly Pomona PumpkinFest

Where: Pomona. When: Weekends October 10–31, 2026, 10 a.m.–7 p.m..

This is the big-pumpkin-patch outing: a farm setting, hands-on demonstrations, interactive programming and themed weekends. October 10–11 focuses on pumpkins, while October 17–18 features the Insect Festival. Capacity is limited, and admission tickets may sell out, so don’t drive to Pomona assuming same-day entry.

Verify / reserve: Official organizer or destination listing.

5. Natural History Museum Spider Pavilion

Where: Exposition Park, Los Angeles. When: September 20–December 6, 2026.

Take the Halloween theme in a scientific direction. Visitors see orb-weaving spiders in an outdoor enclosure and learn about tarantulas and other species from museum educators. This works particularly well for curious school-age children; it is a seasonal exhibition rather than a trick-or-treat event, and special admission is extra.

Verify / reserve: Official organizer or destination listing.

6. Frightful Fun at the Natural History Museum

Where: Exposition Park, Los Angeles. When: Saturday, October 31, 2026, 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m..

A Halloween-day museum program of monster-inspired storytelling, unusual bones and encounters with real creatures. It’s a practical weatherproof-ish option for families that value learning as much as candy, with activities included in standard museum admission. Check the museum’s age guidance and arrival details.

Verify / reserve: Official organizer or destination listing.

7. Magic of the Jack O’Lanterns

Where: South Coast Botanic Garden, Palos Verdes Peninsula. When: Selected evenings September 18–November 1 (confirm your date before booking).

A sprawling light-up pumpkin walk near the coast, with artistic displays and illuminated trails at South Coast Botanic Garden. Best for families that like photos and a later bedtime; reserve online because capacity is limited. This is separate from Descanso Gardens’ Carved event.

Verify / reserve: Official organizer or destination listing.

8. Trick-or-Treat at Carved

Where: Descanso Gardens, La Cañada Flintridge. When: Saturday, October 31, 2026, 6–10 p.m..

For families whose ideal Halloween is actually October 31 after dark, this special Carved evening adds treat collecting, a miniature pumpkin patch and a dance party. This is a separate schedule from the gardens’ daytime celebration and requires admission to Carved; organizers recommend booking ahead.

Verify / reserve: Official organizer or destination listing.

9. Los Angeles Haunted Hayride — older teens only

Where: Griffith Park, Los Angeles. When: Selected nights in fall 2026; verify ticket date.

If your family includes teenagers who actively want a scary attraction, Griffith Park’s Haunted Hayride offers theatrical fright rather than a gentle pumpkin outing. Do not treat this as a default suggestion for toddlers or easily frightened children; check organizer age recommendations and effects before purchasing.

Verify / reserve: Official organizer or destination listing.

How to make the most of Halloween weekend

For young children, pair a morning museum or zoo visit with a short early-evening walk. Pomona and Palos Verdes are far apart: don’t schedule them back-to-back without checking traffic. If the family includes a nervous child, favor daytime activities over the haunted hayride.

For any event, review admission terms, access, costumes, parking, rain policies and the latest schedule on the organizer’s website. A booked ticket to one attraction never guarantees admission to a different event.

Explore California Halloween 2026 by county: See California58’s statewide Halloween events and family travel directory for the growing collection of published county guides.

More California family travel ideas

For year-round inspiration, read the Los Angeles County attractions and travel guide. Explore Halloween events across California in our other county articles:

Planning a trip beyond Halloween? Visit OptionTrip.com to start organizing travel ideas and destinations.

Official event information and 2026 source links

California58 Editorial Desk. Editorial selection, not a ticket-sales listing or reader-voted ranking. Events and schedules current as of October 10, 2026, subject to organizer changes. Disclosure: OptionTrip is a featured travel-planning partner; its promotion does not affect the listed event facts. Featured image is illustrative stock photography (Meg von Haartman / Unsplash), not a photo of the listed 2026 event.

Explore Los Angeles County beyond Halloween

For county-specific communities, public services and local knowledge, visit the Los Angeles County reference profile. You can also browse all California58 travel guides. Halloween 2026 events are seasonal and may change; check each organizer’s current calendar before traveling.

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