Top 6 Ventura County Halloween 2026 Events for Families

Top 6 Ventura County Halloween 2026 Events for Families. Ventura County has a quieter but distinctive October. You can pick pumpkins at a working Moorpark farm, watch costumed paddlers glide through the harbor, or take the family trick-or-treating beside fishing boats and waterfront restaurants. Our six picks reflect real 2026 programming, including the fact that several distinct Halloween activities share the same Ventura Harbor Village venue.

Updated October 10, 2026. Event organizers can revise hours, cancel programs or sell out. Check each linked source before committing to travel. Our rankings are editorial selections, not visitor voting results.

Quick-view Halloween 2026 dates in Ventura County

Family activity	Where	When
Underwood Family Farms Fall Harvest Festival	Moorpark	September 26–October 31, 2026
Seaside Trick or Treat	Ventura Harbor Village	Friday, October 30, 2026, 4–6 p.m.
Witches & Warlocks Paddle	Ventura Harbor Village	Friday, October 30, 2026, 4–5:30 p.m.
HOWL-O-WEEN Dog Costume Contest	Ventura Harbor Village	Saturday, October 24, 2026, noon–2 p.m.
Thriller Zombie Dance	Ventura Harbor Village	Friday, October 30, 2026, 5:45–6 p.m.
Halloween Haunted History Cruise	Ventura Harbor / Santa Barbara Channel	Saturday, October 31, 2026, around 10 a.m.–3 p.m.

Our top 6 family Halloween and autumn picks

1. Underwood Family Farms Fall Harvest Festival

Location: Moorpark. Dates: September 26–October 31, 2026.

A major fall destination for families seeking more than a pumpkin display. The farm lists wagon rides, a corn maze, family play structures, photo opportunities and changing themed weekends. Weekend tickets are online-only; rates and availability vary, so plan ahead.

Official event details / destination listing →

2. Seaside Trick or Treat

Location: Ventura Harbor Village. Dates: Friday, October 30, 2026, 4–6 p.m..

This is the accessible family centerpiece of Halloween at the harbor. Children in costumes collect treats from participating restaurants and shops, with extra themed activities. Admission is free, but parking can cost money and some add-ons charge a fee; bring a treat bag.

Official event details / destination listing →

3. Witches & Warlocks Paddle

Location: Ventura Harbor Village. Dates: Friday, October 30, 2026, 4–5:30 p.m..

A memorable waterfront spectacle: costumed participants paddle kayaks and paddleboards across the harbor. Families can watch from the promenade while enjoying the village, without having to go onto the water. This activity coincides with the nearby trick-or-treating event.

Official event details / destination listing →

4. HOWL-O-WEEN Dog Costume Contest

Location: Ventura Harbor Village. Dates: Saturday, October 24, 2026, noon–2 p.m..

Families with pets can enjoy a parade of costumed dogs, judged for creativity. Even without entering a pet, the waterfront event makes a fun outing for children who love animals. Check participation rules, weather conditions and the wellbeing of any dog wearing a costume.

Official event details / destination listing →

5. Thriller Zombie Dance

Location: Ventura Harbor Village. Dates: Friday, October 30, 2026, 5:45–6 p.m..

A short live dance performance on the harbor’s Main Lawn makes a fun finale after waterfront trick-or-treating. Unlike a large haunted attraction, this is a scheduled performance rather than an hours-long destination; it may still be too spooky for very young children.

Official event details / destination listing →

6. Halloween Haunted History Cruise

Location: Ventura Harbor / Santa Barbara Channel. Dates: Saturday, October 31, 2026, around 10 a.m.–3 p.m..

For a family comfortable with several hours aboard a boat, Island Packers has advertised a Halloween-themed historic cruise with scenic wildlife and Channel Islands context. Check the operator’s ticket availability, weather and sea conditions, motion-sickness needs and minimum-age recommendations.

Official event details / destination listing →

Make a realistic family itinerary

Ventura Harbor’s trick-or-treating and Witches Paddle overlap on October 30, while the brief Thriller dance follows later. These are different activities at the same venue; do not mistake the six selections for six different cities or ticketed festivals.

Check costumes, accessibility, age limits, refunds, parking and weather-related closures before booking. Some options are community events while others are paid attractions; ticket availability can change quickly.

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

Plan more California stops

Explore our Ventura County year-round travel guide, or read Halloween 2026 selections across the state:

Plan a multi-county family getaway: find inspiration and organize your trip at OptionTrip.com →

2026 organizers and primary sources

California58 Editorial Desk. The selected venues are in Ventura County. Featured photo: illustrative stock image, Priscilla Du Preez / Unsplash; it does not document a specific 2026 event. OptionTrip promotional placements are separate from our editorial picks.

Explore Ventura County beyond Halloween

For county-specific communities, public services and local knowledge, visit the Ventura 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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