Updated for 2023
There are so many ways to celebrate fall in Southern California. A Harvest Festival allows you to enjoy the best of autumn — the sights, the sounds, the smells, the tastes! Many people want you to believe we don’t have seasons here, but it’s obviously not true; we just have them California-style!
Harvest Festivals were traditionally meant to celebrate the end of the growing season, but since farmers here can grow food year-round, these events are a celebration of Fall, and a chance to experience all the pumpkins, all the hay bales, and all the delicious treats!
Some farms have really gone the extra mile and offer horse-drawn wagon ride tours, pig races, costume contests, corn mazes, and yes, amazing food, too. Check out these terrific Family-friendly events.
The Best Fall Harvest Festivals around Los Angeles and SoCal
Fall Festival
Johnny Carson Park
400 Bob Hope Dr., Burbank, CA 91505
Visit Johnny Carson Park on Saturday, September 30th from 4:00 pm to 9:30 pm for a Fall Festival. “Join us for The Nightmare Before Christmas 30th Anniversary movie showing, live concert performances, food trucks, family fun, and more!” Register online for this free event.
City of Westminster Fall Festival
Westminster Civic Center
8200 Westminster Blvd., Westminster, CA 92683
The City of Westminster is hosting its 2nd Annual Fall Festival on Friday, September 22nd (5 pm to 10 pm), Saturday, September 23rd (12 pm to 10 pm), and Sunday, September 24th (12 pm to 9 pm). The fun includes live musical performances, carnival games and rides, children’s activities, vendors, food, and more. Register online for this free event.
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Pumpkin Patch and Fall Fun Fest
Santa Anita Park
285 W. Huntington Dr., Arcadia, CA
The Pumpkin Patch and Fall Fun Fest at Santa Anita Park is happening during the last two weekends of October (Oct. 21-22 and Oct. 28-29). There are so many fun things to do there including pony rides, carnival games, face painting, crafts, inflatable bouncers, pumpkin painting, and more. Children 17 and younger are free. Details and ticket information are available online.
Fall Fun Festival
Norwalk Sports Complex
13000 Clarkdale Ave., Norwalk, CA 90650
Thinkers 4 Autism invites families to its Fall Fun Festival happening on Sunday, October 1st from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. The festivities include games, a costume parade, raffles, food, and more. Register online for this free event.
2023 Rosemead Moon Festival
Valley Blvd. (between Walnut Grove Ave. & Ivar Ave.), Rosemead, CA
The City of Rosemead is hosting its 2023 Moon Festival on Saturday, September 23rd from 3:30 pm to 11:00 pm. The fun includes live performances, food, games, over 100 food and merchandise vendors, and more.
26th Annual Fall Harvest Festival
Underwood Family Farms
3370 Sunset Valley Rd., Moorpark, CA 93021
Underwood Family Farms hosts its Annual Fall Harvest Festival from Saturday, September 30th through Tuesday, 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 corn maze, hay pyramids, and much more. Additionally, each weekend has a different theme. September 30th and October 1st it’s Friends of the Farm Weekend (Public Safety Weekend). On October 7th and 8th enjoy Farm Country Weekend, and Antique Tractor Weekend takes place on October 14th and 15th. October 21st and 22nd is Wild West Weekend. And October 28th and 29th it’s All About Pumpkins Weekend. Details are available online. Check the website for fees and a schedule of events. (Different activities may be available only on the weekends).
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 21st and Sunday, October 22nd. The festivities include a petting zoo, live entertainment, kids’ crafts, fall-themed games, and more. Check the website for more information as it becomes available.
Pacific Symphony Family Musical Mornings
Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa
615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Pacific Symphony invites young audiences to celebrate the rich tapestry of autumnal traditions from around the globe—be it Halloween, Día de los Muertos, Mid-Autumn Festival, Diwali, or beyond. Audience members can don a festive costume, illuminate a candle, or groove to infectious rhythms. No matter what the cultural heritage, young audiences will have an unforgettable experience of collective joy at “Halloween and Fabulous Fall Festivals,” the first of four Family Musical Mornings presented by Farmers and Merchants Bank.
The viewing experience will be enhanced with Image Magnification (IMAG) technology to bring the audience up close to the performers as well as images that will enhance the stories and traditions of each celebration.
Taking place on Saturday, Oct. 21, in the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa, the “Halloween and Fabulous Fall Festivals” performances begin at 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Tickets start at $15. Kid-friendly activities take place in the concert hall lobbies, themed to the cultural traditions being celebrated, and led by partner organizations. Activities begin at 9 a.m. for those attending the 10 a.m. concert and at 12:15 p.m. for the 11:30 a.m. audience.
Annual Fall Festival and Pacific Community Center & Park’s 20th Anniversary Celebration
Pacific Community Center
501 S. Pacific Ave., Glendale, CA 91205
The City of Glendale is hosting its Annual Fall Festival and Pacific Community Center & Park’s 20th Anniversary Celebration on Saturday, October 21st from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. The fun includes arts and crafts, a bounce house, pumpkin patch, carnival games, food, and more.
L.A. Fall Fair
La Prada Event Plaza
Whittier Narrows Recreational Area
1600 Rosemead Blvd., South El Monte, CA 91733
Visit the L.A. Fall Fair between Friday, October 20th and Sunday, November 5th. The “largest Fall Festival in Los Angeles County” features 12 acres of amusement rides, local artisans, carnival games, live music (on weekends), food, and lots of fun! Children under the age of 8 as well as seniors over 65 are free! Parking is free as well. Details are available online, including height restrictions for carnival rides. (Open: Thursdays 5 pm to 10 pm; Fridays 5 pm to 11 pm; Saturdays 2 pm to 11 pm; and Sundays 2 pm to 10 pm)
Asian Mid-Autumn Moon Festival
Bowers Museum
2002 N. Main St., Santa Ana, CA 92706
Bowers Museum invites families to its Asian Mid-Autumn Moon Festival happening on Sunday, October 8th from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. This free festival includes live performances, art projects, face painting, and more.
1st Annual West Covina Moon Festival
Historic Downtown West Covina
S. Glendora Ave., West Covina, CA 91790
The 1st Annual West Covina Moon Festival is happening on Saturday, September 30th from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm. Families will enjoy spectacular performances, vendors, food, and lots of family fun.
Autumn Festival
Aquarium of the Pacific
100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach, CA 90802
The Aquarium of the Pacific will host its annual Autumn Festival on Saturday, November 11th and Sunday, November 12th from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm each day. The Festival “highlights the traditions and cultures of Japan, China, Korea, and the Philippines.” Enjoy music and dance performances, craft demonstrations, cultural exhibits, and storytelling. The Festival is included in general Aquarium admission. Ticket information is available online.
Oktoberfest at Big Bear Lake
Big Bear Lake Convention Ctr.
42900 Big Bear Blvd., Big Bear Lake, CA 92315
Tickets to the 53rd Annual Big Bear Lake Oktoberfest are now on sale. The festivities take place over nine straight weekends from September 9th to November 5th. This year’s theme is “Embrace the Moment – Prost to the Memories.” Ticket options range from general admission, preferred seating options, Sunday Family-Fun Packages, and Über Bürgermeister Party Packs. Other big news for Big Bear Lake Oktoberfest is that two bands from Bavaria — Bohemian Street Musicians and Aalbachtal Express — will be performing for certain weekends in October. Special activities for children include bounce houses, a balloon artist, and special kids’ contests (such as the pretzel toss). Details are available online.
Oktoberfest at Biergarten Old World Huntington Beach
7561 Center Ave., Huntington Beach, CA
Visit Huntington Beach’s Old World Village for the 2023 Oktoberfest happening every Wednesday through Sunday from Sunday, September 17th to Sunday, November 5th. Visitors and locals can explore Old World’s cobblestone streets and enjoy a variety of authentic German beers, bites, and bands flown in from Germany. This Huntington Beach tradition is one you won’t want to miss – the event has been described as “Orange County’s Biggest Party Since 1977.” Details, including the age policy (certain times are for 21+), are available online.
Fall Begins
Pretend City Children’s Museum
29 Hubble, Irvine, CA 92618
Fall Begins is happening at Pretend City Children’s Museum on Sunday, September 24th. “Autumn is calling, and pumpkins are sprawling!” Children will have the opportunity to feel the inside of a real-life pumpkin with their bare hands. “Feel the squishy insides and pick out all the pumpkin seeds.” Fall Begins is included in general admission. Ticket information is available online.
Orange County Moon Festival 2023
Freedom Hall at Mile Square Park
16801 Euclid St., Fountain Valley, CA 92708
The Annual Orange County Moon Festival is happening on Sunday, October 1st from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. The Festival is a “traditional celebration dating back thousands of years and marks an important cultural event for Orange County’s Vietnamese-American community.” Families will enjoy live entertainment, children’s activities (including face painting and balloon animals), food, and more. Register online for this free event.
Mid-Autumn Festival at Walnut
Mt. San Antonio College – Park Lot B
1100 N. Grand Ave., Walnut, CA 91789
Celebrate Autumn at the Mid-Autumn Festival happening at Mt. San Antonio College on Saturday, September 30th and Sunday, October 1st from 11:00 am to 8:00 pm each day. “The Mid-Autumn Festival is a celebration that can be traced down centuries and is traditionally celebrated in both Chinese and Vietnamese cultures.” Celebrate the full harvest moon with live music, cultural demonstrations, food, mooncake samples, and more. Register online for this free event.
Calabasas Pumpkin Festival
Juan Bautista de Anza Park
3701 Lost Hills Road, Calabasas, CA 91301
The Calabasas Pumpkin Festival is happening on Sunday, October 22nd from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. The Festival features a marketplace, live musical performances, food, and a pumpkin patch. Parking and ticket information are available online. And here’s some fun trivia – Calabasas got its name from the Spanish word “calabaza” meaning “pumpkin” or “gourd.”
ESGVJCC 2023 Akimatsuri Fall Festival
East San Gabriel Valley Japanese Community Center (ESGVJCC)
1203 W. Puente Ave., West Covina, CA 91790
The East San Gabriel Valley Japanese Community Center (ESGVJCC) is hosting an Akimatsuri Fall Festival on Saturday, October 7th from 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm. This special event is “dedicated to the celebration of the coming of Fall and Japanese American culture in West Covina.” Families will enjoy games, special exhibits, Japanese food and drink, Taiko Drums and Martial Arts demonstrations and performances, and more. Register online for this free event.
Americana Harvest Festival
Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum
1419 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga, CA 90290
Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum is hosting its 1st Americana Harvest Festival on Sunday, October 8th from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm. “Welcome in autumn with some Folk and Country fun for the whole family.” The fun includes a local artisan marketplace, day-long entertainment, food, and more. The Festival is a fundraiser for the 2023 50th Anniversary Repertory Season. Ticket information is available online.
Wendy Kennar is a mother, writer, and former teacher who has lived her entire life in the same Los Angeles zip code. You can read more from Wendy at her website WendyKennar.com where she writes about books, boys, and bodies (living with an invisible disability).
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