Updated for 2024
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 7th from 4:00 pm to 8:30 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 3rd Annual Fall Festival on Thursday, September 26th (5 pm to 9 pm), Friday, September 27th (5 pm to 11 pm), Saturday, September 28th (12 pm to 11 pm), and Sunday, September 29th (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 91007
The Pumpkin Patch and Fall Fun Fest at Santa Anita Park is happening during the last two weekends of October (Oct. 19-20 and Oct. 26-27). 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 20th from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The festivities include games, a costume parade, raffles, food, and more. Register online for this free event.
2024 Rosemead Moon Festival
Valley Blvd. (between Walnut Grove Ave. & Ivar Ave.), Rosemead, CA 91770
The City of Rosemead is hosting its 2024 Moon Festival on Saturday, September 14th from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. The fun includes live performances, food, games, over 100 food and merchandise vendors, and more.
27th 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 28th through Thursday, October 31st (from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. 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.
Each weekend has a different theme. September 28th and 29th it’s Friends of the Farm Weekend (Public Safety Weekend). On October 5th and 6th enjoy Farm Country Weekend, and Antique Tractor Weekend takes place on October 12th and 13th. October 19th and 20th is Wild West Weekend. And October 26th and 27th 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 19th and Sunday, October 20th. 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 Dr., Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Pacific Symphony invites young audiences to enjoy a “spooktacular celebration”! Listen to a lively morning concert of Halloween hits emceed by Maestro Jake and Leopold, a music-loving puppet. Audience members can don festive costumes and have an unforgettable experience listening to music from popular fandoms like Frozen, Star Wars, Harry Potter, and more. This series is sponsored by PBS SoCal, Avenue of the Arts Costa Mesa, and Classical California KUSC.
The viewing experience will be enhanced with Image Magnification (IMAG) technology to bring the audience up close to the performers as well as images of the conductor.
Taking place on Saturday, Oct. 19th in the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa, the “Halloween Fandemonium!” performances begin at 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Check online for ticket prices and availability. Kid-friendly activities take place in the concert hall lobbies beginning 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 21st Anniversary Celebration
Pacific Community Center
501 S. Pacific Ave., Glendale, CA 91204
The City of Glendale is hosting its Annual Fall Festival and Pacific Community Center & Park’s 21st Anniversary Celebration on Saturday, October 26th from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The fun includes arts and crafts, a bounce house, a 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 25th and Sunday, November 3rd. It’s the “largest Fall Festival in Los Angeles County” and 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: Fridays 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Saturdays 2 p.m. to 11 p.m.; and Sundays 2 p.m. to 10 p.m.)
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, September 8th from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. This free festival includes live performances, art projects, face painting, and more.
2nd Annual West Covina Moon Festival
Historic Downtown West Covina
S. Glendora Ave., West Covina, CA 91790
The 2nd Annual West Covina Moon Festival will happen on Saturday, September 21st from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Sunday, September 22nd from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. 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 16th and Sunday, November 17th from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 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 Center
42900 Big Bear Blvd., Big Bear Lake, CA 92315
Tickets to the 54th Annual Big Bear Lake Oktoberfest are now on sale. The festivities will take place over nine straight weekends from September 7th to November 2nd. This year’s theme is “54! Poor Some More….”. Ticket options range from general admission, preferred seating options, Sunday Family-Fun Packages, Über Bürgermeister Party Packs, and Love Shacks.
Other big news for Big Bear Lake Oktoberfest is that three bands from Germany — including Frankenrebellen Express, Die Aalbachtler, and Mat’s Infinity — will be performing for certain weekends in October. Special activities for children include game booths, a climbing wall, and special kids’ contests (such as the pretzel toss). Details are available online.
Oktoberfest at Biergarten Old World Huntington Beach
7561 Center Ave. #49, Huntington Beach, CA 92647
Visit Huntington Beach’s Old World Village for the 2024 Oktoberfest happening every Wednesday through Sunday from Sunday, September 8th to Sunday, November 3rd. 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 Saturday, September 21st. “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.
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 14th, and Sunday, September 15th from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. 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 20th from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 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 2024 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 5th from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. 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.
Orange County Moon Festival 2024
Freedom Hall at Mile Square Park
16801 Euclid St., Fountain Valley, CA 92708
The Annual Orange County Moon Festival is happening on September 14th. 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.
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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