Even though you may not be able to tell when Summer ends and Fall begins in Los Angeles, doesn’t mean we don’t have some of the Best Fall Events around. LA parents can take their kids apple picking, to visit a pumpkin patch, find fall leaves, eat fried butter at the LA County Fair and celebrate under a harvest moon. There is no shortage of great things to do with kids in Los Angeles in the Fall.
Pumpkin Festival at AGRIscapes
4102 S. University Dr., Pomona, CA 91768
The annual Pumpkin Festival is happening on Saturday, October 5th and Sunday, October 6th at Cal Poly Pomona. This popular Festival features a corn maze, pony rides, petting farm, games, live music, demonstrations, food, and more. The Don B. Huntley College of Agriculture grows 40,000 pumpkins for this special event. Check the website for ticket information.
L.A. County Fair
1101 W. McKinley Ave., Pomona, CA 91768
Families can visit the L.A. County Fair from August 30th through September 22nd. (Remember, the Fair is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, excluding Labor Day.) This year the “LA County Fair Goes POP!” with a spotlight on pop culture. Families won’t run out of things to see, do, hear and eat at the Fair. Enjoy food, rides, animals, performances, and much, much more. Check the website for more information about tickets and schedule of events.
Autumn Equinox Event
Griffith Observatory
2800 E. Observatory Rd., Los Angeles, CA 90027
The Griffith Observatory is celebrating the Autumn Equinox on Monday, September 23rd. The Observatory offers brief talks twice a day — at local noon (not the same as 12:00 pm) and sunset. These events are free. Check the website for details.
22nd Annual Fall Harvest Festival
Underwood Family Farms
3370 Sunset Valley Rd., Moorpark, CA 93021
Underwood Family Farms hosts its 22nd Annual Fall Harvest Festival from September 28th through October 31st (from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm each day). The Festival includes lots of fun activities such as tractor-drawn wagon rides, live musical entertainment, a hay pyramid, access to Pick-Your-Own fields, a pumpkin playhouse, animal show, corn maze, and much more. Check the website for fees and a schedule of events. (Different activities may be available only on the weekends). Additionally, Friends of the Farm Weekend is happening on Saturday, September 28th and Sunday, September 29th; Farm Country Weekend is planned for October 5th and 6th, and Antique Tractor Weekend takes place on October 12th and 13th.
Fall Festival of Fun!
Pretend City Children’s Museum
29 Hubble, Irvine, CA 92618
The Fall Festival of Fun is happening at Pretend City Children’s Museum on Tuesday, September 24th from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm. This day-long event celebrates fall and fall-related things such as leaves, pumpkins, and gourds. Make art, play games, enjoy a story time, and much more. Check the website for a schedule of activities. The Fall Festival of Fun is included in general admission ($13.75 each, infants up to 12 months are free).
Calabasas Pumpkin Festival
Lost Hills Rd. And Juan Bautista de Anza Park, Calabasas, CA
The Calabasas Pumpkin Festival is happening on October 19th and 20th from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm each day. The annual Festival features live musical performances, vendors, pumpkin painting, professional pumpkin carving, food, pumpkin treats, and more. Ticket information is available online.
Fall Festival
The Original Farmers Market
6333 W. 3rd St., Los Angeles, CA 90036
The Original Farmers Market invites families to its annual Fall Festival on Saturday, October 12th and Sunday, October 13th. This free event is like a “favorite country fair in the heart of the big city!” Enjoy a petting zoo, pie-eating contests, live musical performances, arts and crafts, and more.
81st Annual Mid-Autumn Moon Festival
Central Plaza
943 N. Roadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012
The 81st Annual Mid-Autumn Moon Festival is happening on Saturday, September 14th from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm. The Festival “celebrates the full harvest moon and is a time to give thanks for a bountiful harvest.” Come “celebrate with our Los Angeles family in Chinatown style!” Families will enjoy live musical performances, traditional Chinese cultural demonstrations, the chance to view the moon through telescopes, Mooncake samples from Chinatown’s bakeries, food, and more. Check the website for details.
Big Horse Corn Maze and Harvest Festival
33320 Temecula Parkway, Temecula, CA 92592
Mark your calendar for the Big Horse Corn Maze and Harvest Festival which begins September 28th and continues through October 27th. Families will be in awe as they navigate the “largest corn maze in Southern California.” Specific activities may only be available on certain weekends, so check the website for a schedule of events. Generally, though, the fun each weekend includes a pumpkin patch, rock wall, pig races, face painting, hay rides, pony rides, games, and more. Check the website for a schedule of events.
Apple Picking in Southern California
Oktoberfest at Alpine Village
833 W. Torrance Blvd., Torrance, CA 90502
Alpine Village is “the home of the oldest Oktoberfest celebration in Southern California.” The celebration runs from October 4th through October 27th. While Friday and Saturday festivities are adult-only, Sundays are family days. Enjoy traditional food, music, and fun. Check the website for ticket information.
The Tanaka Farms Pumpkin Patch
5380 3/4 University Dr., Irvine, CA
The Tanaka Farms Pumpkin Patch runs from September 21st to October 31st from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm each day. At the Pumpkin Patch, families will enjoy a wagon ride, corn maze, petting zoo, pumpkin stand, and more. On the weekend, additional activities are planned including face painting, food, interactive activities for kids, games, and more. Check the website for details and to reserve your parking spot.
Fall Harvest Festival
Forneris Farms
15200 Rinaldi St., Mission Hills, CA 91345
The Fall Harvest Festival at Forneris Farms, from September 28th through October 31st, is a yearly tradition for many families. The fun includes a corn maze, pony rides, face painting, petting zoo, live entertainment, and more. Check the website for admission information.
Skirball Harvest Festival: A Sukkot Celebration
Skirball Cultural Center
2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90049
The Skirball’s annual Harvest Festival is a celebration of the fall harvest season as well as the Jewish holiday of Sukkot. The daylong festival its happening on Sunday, October 13th from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm and features musical and dance performances, interactive activities, and much more. Check the website for admission information.
Autumn Festival
Aquarium of the Pacific
100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach, CA 90802
The Aquarium of the Pacific hosts its annual Autumn Festival on Saturday, November 16th and Sunday, November 17th. The Festival is a celebration of Asian culture and gives families the opportunity to learn about the “arts, cuisines, cultures, and marine environments of Asia.” Enjoy arts and crafts, musical and dance performances, special exhibitions, and more. The Festival is included in general Aquarium admission.
Things That Go Bump In the Night
Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden
1500 N. College Ave., Claremont, CA 91711
Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden is hosting “Things Things That Go Bump In the Night” on Friday, October 11th and Saturday, October 12th from 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm each evening. Families will have a chance to learn about “nature’s nocturnal side.” “Discover insects, reptiles, carnivorous plants, and many other amazing organisms!” Advance ticket purchase is highly recommended, as this event generally sells out quickly. Check the website for ticket details.
Spider Pavilion
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
900 Exposition Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90007
Visit the Natural History Museum to check out its annual Spider Pavilion. The Pavilion runs from September 15th through December 1st and is the only Spider Pavilion in the United States. Stroll through the open-air pavilion and marvel at the many different spiders and their intricate webs. Can you find the goldenrod crab spider which can “change color from yellow to pink depending on the flower on which they sit.” Timed tickets are available online.
The Science of Scary
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
900 Exposition Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90007
And while you’re at the Natural History Museum, be sure to check out their newest exhibition “The Science of Scary” between October 10th and April 12, 2020. Learn about some of our favorite scary/horror movies “through science, history, and the art of filmmaking.” View “rare movie props, film footage, hands-on interactives, and specimens.” This exhibition is included in general museum admission.
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