California really shines in autumn, whether you’re looking for warm beach days, mountain hikes with foliage, or festive harvest celebrations.
Take a deep dive into these leaf-peeping and Halloween goings-on around the state:
- Halloween festivals and haunted houses
- Halloween events at theme parks
- Top spots for California apple-picking
- 9 places in California for fall color
But it doesn’t end there. You‘ll also find winery grape stomps, beauty contests for scarecrows, and, if you’re taking a mid-fall trip with the kids, serious freebies in San Diego.
Here are more than 30 October events to plan a trip around in Northern, Central, and Southern California.
All Over the State
Pumpkin Patch Festivities
The Golden State is dotted with farms that take pumpkin season seriously during October, often with the added fun of hayrides, corn mazes, u-pick opportunities, petting zoos, or tractor rides. Here are some counties and towns with several pumpkin patches each:
- Butte County
- Sonoma County
- San Mateo County
- Half Moon Bay
- Fresno County
- San Luis Obispo County
- Temecula Valley
- San Diego County
Northern California
All month: Vegan Chef Challenge, Sacramento
Expand your palate during this monthlong celebration of vegan cuisine in the California state capital. Lots of local restaurants feature special vegan menu items, then diners can vote on their favorites. Typical participants include vegan-friendly spots such as River City Brewing Co., Orphan Breakfast House, and Matteo’s Pizza & Bistro.
All Month: Halloween at Inn Town Campground, Nevada City
For a gently thrilling camping trip, head to this campground in Nevada City, where skeletons climb trees and other decorations adorn the towering 130-foot pines. The campground invites guests to decorate their tents or RVs and typically shows outdoor movies this time of year.
Oct. 1–4: Aftershock Festival, Sacramento
Arguably the biggest festival for heavy metal, alt rock, and pop punk returns to Sacramento’s 275-acre Discovery Park this month. This year’s headliners include My Chemical Romance, Sublime, Limp Bizkit, and Wu-Tang Clan.
Oct. 1–4: Redwood Coast Music Festival, Eureka
Enjoy a wide range of American roots music—including jazz, swing, blues, zydeco, rockabilly, and Western swing—while soaking up the scenery of the charming Humboldt County town of Eureka. The four-day festival features more than 50 acts playing at seven different venues, including many historic buildings.
Oct. 1–11: Mill Valley Film Festival, Marin County
This high-powered yet low-key film fest, based in Marin County’s Mill Valley, is known for showcasing future Oscar winners. Watch screenings at several towns in the area, including Larkspur, Berkeley, San Rafael, and San Francisco. Select Nights: Red and White Fleet’s Floating Features, San Francisco
Board one of the Red and White Fleet’s boats for an evening cruise with views of the San Francisco skyline and the Golden Gate Bridge—plus whatever movie is on the agenda for the evening. This year’s October lineup includes Jaws, Us, and Hocus Pocus, and runs through Dec. 19 (with A Christmas Story).
Oct. 2–3: Sea Cruise Car Show, Crescent City
Check out the biggest classic car show in Northern California—with vintage vehicles, hot rods, motorcycles, and more—at Crescent City’s Beachfront Park. The two-day event includes a "show ‘n shine" and evening car cruise on Friday, then a full day of festivities on Saturday with live music, vendors, and more than 50 classes of cars. Saturday typically also includes the “Rumble at Noon” when all participants rev their engines for two full minutes.
Oct. 2–4: Annual Sidewalk Sale, St. Helena
Stroll Main St. in downtown St. Helena soaking up both Napa Valley ambience and sales: You’ll find a festive atmosphere along with deals on art, home goods, last-season clothing, and accessories. Don’t miss local favorites Woodhouse Chocolate and Wild Plum Books.
Oct. 2–4: Redding Rancheria’s Annual Stillwater Pow Wow, Redding
Experience a classic Pow Wow—singing, drumming, dancing competitions, and handmade goods—that represent tribes from across North America. Redding’s Rodeo Grounds hosts the free, family-friendly event, but you can also book limited camping spaces and rooms at the nearby Win-River Resort & Casino.
Oct. 3: Viking Classic Car Show, Solvang
Admire the lineup of vintage hot rods, sports cars, and muscle cars on display in downtown Solvang, which fully embraces its Scandinavian heritage. You’ll also find a beer and wine garden and a Viking burger bar.
Oct. 3: Many Moons Festival, Sebastopol
Sebastopol’s celebration of Asian American, Southeast Asian, and Pacific Islander culture features a plethora of delicious food, wine, beer, and sake, combined with cooking demonstrations, live music, and fashion shows. Don’t miss the lantern-lighting celebration at dusk.
Oct. 3–4: The Big Crush Harvest Wine Festival, Amador County
More than 50 wineries across Amador County celebrate the harvest with tastings, live music, and grape stomps. Your ticket grants you access to tastings and other events at select wineries each day, along with a commemorative glass.
Oct. 3–4: Johnny Appleseed Days, Paradise
This Butte County fair, which has been around since 1888, celebrates the classic fall fruit through pie and apples from Noble Orchards—plus sightings of a Johnny Appleseed character.
Oct. 4–12: Fleet Week San Francisco, San Francisco
Check out the Parade of Ships, take tours on the vessels, and watch the air show at this annual celebration of the sea services on the Marina Green along San Francisco’s waterfront. The week’s calendar also includes a free concert by the Marine Band.
Oct. 9-11: Vintage Revival Rodeo, Calistoga
Watch classic roping and riding events at this rodeo that also features plenty of wine tasting and Western culture. A general admission ticket gets you into the rodeo at the Calistoga Fair Grounds and offers access to the live music stages, as well as food and drink vendors.
Oct. 10: Auburn Wine, Ale and Food Festival, Auburn
Explore Old Town and Downtown Auburn while enjoying samples from 25 Sierra Foothill wineries and craft breweries, paired with cuisine from area restaurants. Don’t miss stopping in at the California Welcome Center, Auburn, one of the featured stops in the festival.
Oct. 10: McCloud Apple Harvest Festival, McCloud
Inhale that apple-cinnamon magic in Siskiyou County, watch the apple pie–baking competition, and enjoy live music, apple-pressing tastings, wagon rides, and a pumpkin patch. Don’t leave without picking up a few pies to go.
Oct. 10: Sonoma County Harvest Fair, Santa Rosa
Witness a world-class wine competition at this annual fair in Santa Rosa that brings in 900 wines made from Sonoma County grapes. Sip the Golds and Best of Class wines at the Grand Tasting and consider entering the Best Dressed contest.
Oct. 10: Corning Olive Festival & Car Show, Corning
Olive trees cover more than 13 square miles in Tehama County, the Shasta Cascade home of this festival that dates back to 1947. Sample the savory pitted fruit along with its accompanying oils and other products, then admire the autos in the car show.
Oct. 10–11: Harvest FestiFall at Columbia State Historic Park, Columbia
Celebrate autumn 1850s-style at Columbia State Historic Park in Tuolumne County, where the weekend features crafts, jewelry, and baked goods sold by vendors in their best 1850s cosplay. Watch weaving and spinning demonstrations and enjoy the live music and dancers.
Oct. 10–11: Old West Days, Groveland
Get a taste of Gold Country history in Tuolumne County's Groveland by walking through the half-scale replica of a classic Old West downtown—including the saloon, post office, and bank. Enjoy the reenactments, live music, and vendors, and fill up on barbecue and chili.
Oct. 11: Sierra Oro Farm Trail Farm-to-Fork Dinner, Chico
Enjoy the homegrown flavor of Chico at the CSU, Chico University Farm. Come in the afternoon for a farm tour, nibble on charcuterie, then enjoy a multicourse dinner featuring ingredients from local farms, ranches, and wineries, as well as beer from nearby Sierra Nevada Brewery.
Oct. 11: Humboldt Redwoods Marathon, Humboldt County
Jog among the redwoods at this annual race: choose from a 5K, a half-marathon, and a full marathon under a canopy of redwood trees on routes that pass through Humboldt Redwoods State Park.
Oct. 15–18: Taste: The Livermore Valley Wine Experience, Livermore
You can easily fill a long weekend sampling local wines at the 50-plus wineries in Livermore Valley Wine Country east of San Francisco. This year’s event starts with the food and wine pairing competition, Taste Our Terroir, held at Wente Family Vineyards, featuring 20 wineries. The rest of the weekend includes wine tastings, winemaker dinners, and vineyard tours.
Oct. 17: A Toast to Sausalito, Sausalito
Enjoy locally made adult beverages while browsing more than 100 vendors at this one-day event in Marin County’s Sausalito. Buy a wristband to enjoy tastes from wineries, breweries, and distilleries or take part in the free-admission festivities that include music, a kids’ zone, and sidewalks available for chalk drawing.
Oct. 17: Mountain Harvest Beer Festival, Quincy
Sample more than 20 small-town microbrews—as well as wine, hard cider, and local cuisine—at this afternoon event at the Plumas County Fairgrounds. Stay at a local hotel or take advantage of overnight camping at the fairgrounds.
Oct. 17–18: Yosemite Celtic Festival and Highland Games, Oakhurst
Join in the feats of strength at this celebration of Celtic heritage in the Yosemite gateway town of Oakhurst. Compete in Scottish Highland Athletics events such as stone putt and hammer throw or enter the bagpiping or mustache and beard showdowns—or just watch the contests play out while enjoying the live music, dancing, and cuisine including meat pies and turkey legs.
Oct. 17–18: Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival, Half Moon Bay
Located on the San Francisco Peninsula, Half Moon Bay is dense with pumpkin patches—it’s even the self-proclaimed “World Pumpkin Capital.” This beloved festival celebrates with enormous pumpkins and jack o’ lanterns, a Great Pumpkin Parade, pie-eating contests, and seasonal craft beer.
Come to town a little early if you want to catch the Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off on Oct. 12.
Oct. 17: Santa Cruz Band Review, Santa Cruz
Watch as 55 Northern California high school and junior high school marching bands compete for bragging rights along Santa Cruz’s famous Beach Boardwalk.
Oct. 24: Chili Cook-Off, Santa Cruz
A week after the marching bands, the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk hosts this chili-cookoff where your tasting ticket grants you eight samplings of chili from the dozens of competitors—and then you get to vote on the eventual winner.
Oct. 18: Truckee River Day, Truckee
Plan a weekend around fresh air and “voluntourism” in the North Lake Tahoe town of Truckee. Spend the morning planting native vegetation, mulching sensitive areas, and helping restore meadows. In the afternoon, participants typically gather at the Granite Flat Campground for live music and art projects.
Central California
All Month: Cambria’s Scarecrow Festival, Cambria
Here’s another good excuse to stroll this idyllic San Luis Obispo County town along Highway 1: Each October, hundreds of whimsically decorated scarecrows—classic versions as well as zombies, golfers, and coastal grandmas—take up residence on the streets of Cambria’s East and West Villages, Moonstone Beach, and nearby San Simeon.
All Month: Scarecrow Fest and Contest, Los Olivos
Explore Los Olivos in Santa Barbara County to spot the creative scarecrows on display and see who won awards such as Most Humorous and Best Natural Materials. Visit on Oct. 10 and you can also take part in the town’s beloved Day in the Country festival, which includes vendors hawking their wares, a small town–style parade
Oct. 2–4: California Avocado Festival, Carpinteria
The Golden State grows 90 percent of the nation’s avocados, so it makes sense that this free-admission avocado festival south of Santa Barbara is known for having the world’s largest vat of guacamole. “Get ready to guac” to the live music acts then watch the festival’s epic guacamole-making contest.
Oct. 2–4: San Benito County Fair, Tres Pinos
Enjoy a classic fall fair in Tres Pinos, located midway between Gilroy and Pinnacles National Park. Along with carnival rides and fair cuisine, the fair features a horse show, livestock exhibits, and live entertainment.
Oct. 3: Oxnard Multicultural Festival, Oxnard
Spend the day in the Ventura County town of Oxnard to browse booths and food trucks representing the local diverse communities, including those from Belize, China, Guatemala, and Kenya.
Oct. 9–11: Leaves in the Loop, June Lake
Take your leaf-peeping up a notch in the Mammoth Lakes area to see the gorgeous fall colors along the June Lake Loop. Embrace the scenery through photography and painting activities and a downtown history tour.
Oct. 9–11: Oakhurst Fall Festival, Madera County
Madera County’s annual festival, which dubs itself a “small town fair,” offers rides, food trucks, and character meet-and-greets. It’s also a good chance to sample the best of this under-the-radar wine region near Yosemite.
Oct. 10: Paso Robles Pioneer Museum and Pioneer Day, Paso Robles
Before there was wine in Paso Robles, there were cowboys—and this nearly century-old event celebrates that farming and ranching history. Watch the free parade, hosted by the local Pioneer Museum, filled with antique tractors and horse-drawn wagons along with marching bands, equestrian groups, and floats.
Oct. 11: 181st Wharf Birthday Party, Monterey
No one is expected to blow out 181 candles at this birthday celebration for Monterey’s Old Fisherman’s Wharf, which was built in 1845. Instead, take a guided wharf walk and enjoy a slice of sea-life-themed cake, live music, face painting, and giveaways.
Oct. 16–18: Harvest Festival Dinner & Grape Stomp, Paso Robles
Sample wines and stomp grapes at this three-day event at Opolo Winery in Paso Robles. The festivities feature a dinner of Balkan cuisine, authentic folk dancing, and the chance to get your feet wet, literally, in giant bins of grapes.
Oct. 17: Atascadero Colony Days, Atascadero
This town party in San Luis Obispo County celebrates Atascadero’s early-20th-century beginnings as a would-be utopian community. This year’s festivities include a parade, live entertainment, and small-dog races.
Oct. 17: Santa Barbara Vintners Weekend, Buellton
Taste wines from more than 70 wineries at the 42nd year of this festival, now held at Buellton’s Folded Hills Polo Field. Enjoy meet-and-greets with winemakers and pair wines with food from 25-plus regional restaurants.
Oct. 17–18: Pismo Beach Clam Festival, Pismo Beach
This Pismo Beach festival offers more than just mollusks: The weekend includes a clam dig and a chowder-making contest, as well as a wine and beer garden and the annual Clam Festival Parade.
Oct. 30: Annual Tarantula Awareness Festival, Coarsegold
Embrace the creepy-crawly vibes in the Madera County town of Coarsegold, where this annual festival combines arachnid education with pumpkin cheesecake, tarantula races, hairy leg contests, and spider-themed poetry contests.
Oct. 30–31: 110th City Birthday Party & Halloween Parade, Carmel-by-the-Sea
Carmel-by-the-Sea was founded on Halloween in 1916 and makes the most of its holiday birthday. Come for the weekend to watch town dignitaries, costumed kids, and even pets as they parade through downtown, then party on with trick-or-treating and more festivities at the village’s shops and boutiques.
Southern California
All Month: Kids Free San Diego
October is a fantastic month to take the family to San Diego: Kids 11 and under get free admission, discounts, and perks at attractions throughout the county, including SeaWorld San Diego and LEGOLAND California (age restrictions vary). The selection of deals also extends to many hotels, restaurants, and museums.
Oct. 1–3: Buccaneer Days 2026, Catalina
Get your arrr on at this 21-and-up pirate festival in Catalina’s Two Harbors, which features live music, DJs, treasure hunts, and pirate costume contests. You can camp at the Two Harbors campground or moor your boat nearby—just be sure to reserve ahead of time for both.
Oct. 1–Nov. 2: Día de Los Muertos, San Diego
Old Town San Diego starts its Day of the Dead celebration a month early: Stroll the state historic park to do the altar tour, listen to live music, and shop local arts and crafts. The event culminates on Nov. 1–2 when the park’s museums showcase more altars created by local artists and host hands-on activities such as sugar-skull painting.
Select dates in Oct.: Buy Mexican Marigolds at Sanchez Produce, Santa Clarita
Come to this family-owned farm in Santa Clarita that’s home to one of Southern California’s largest campos de cempasúchil—a field of golden and orange Mexican marigolds, along with pink celosias, grown for Día de los Muertos. Check the farm’s Instagram to see which dates the flowers will be available. Purchase flowers for your own ofrenda remembrance and browse the stand’s other produce and wares.
Oct. 2–4: Pacific Air Show, Huntington Beach
One of the biggest air shows in the nation, this annual event in Orange County happens far above Surf City USA’s signature waves. Watch international aviators—like the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, the Canadian Forces Snowbirds, and the U.K.’s Royal Air Forces Falcons Parachute Display Team—along with other aerial performances by aviators from around the globe.
Choose from several levels of admission, including reserved tent seating that stretches from the Huntington Beach Pier to Beach Blvd. Families will like the interactive exhibits at our NXTGN Stem Lab and the Pacific Airshow Kids Zone.
Oct. 2–Nov. 1: Carved at Descanso Gardens, Pasadena
Holiday lights come early to the Pasadena area at this giant display of illuminated carved pumpkins and glowing trees along a 1-mile walk in Descanso Gardens’ Camellia Forest. You can also watch demos to help boost your carving skills at home.
Oct. 8–11: Joshua Tree Music Festival, Joshua Tree
The global and eclectic music theme feels right at home at this camping-friendly festival in the desert town outside the national park. Groove to acts such as Cure for Paranoia, Acido Pantera, and The Breaks.
Oct. 8–11, 15–18: JazzTrax Festival, Catalina Island
The 39th year of this festival—reportedly the longest-running smooth jazz fest in the world—spans two extended weekends at Catalina’s classic Descanso Beach Club & Casino Ballroom. This year’s lineup includes Kirk Whalum, David Benoit, Acoustic Alchemy, and a David Sanborn tribute.
Oct. 9–10: Night Sky Festival, Twentynine Palms
Bask in the heavenly views in and around Joshua Tree during this weekend in Twentynine Palms. Besides stargazing opportunities, the weekend activities include telescope clinics, guided “constellation tours,” a happy hour, and a family-friendly glow party.
Oct. 10–11: CatCon, Pasadena
Cat people unite during this two-day feline-fest at Pasadena’s Convention Center. Not only can you admire show cats, shop cat merch, and meet adoptable kitties, you might spot a few celebs and influencers (comedian Margaret Cho has said she’s a CatCon fan herself). Some proceeds benefit the Pasadena Humane Society.
Oct. 15–18: Fall Modernism Week, Greater Palm Springs
The Greater Palm Springs area throws an epic 10-day party for its midcentury modern architecture every February, but this smaller fall version of the event still offers plenty of the aesthetic thrills and events that one typically finds during the winter—like guided walking or bus tours, home tours, films, and cocktail parties.
Oct. 16–18: 70th Annual Silverado Days, Buena Park
Take part in Buena Park’s classic Western-style fair at William Peak Park with a full complement of carnival rides, fair cuisine, a pie-eating contest, and a dog show. The fair offers free admission and parking—and makes an easy counterpart to the Halloween festivities at nearby Knott’s Berry Farm.
Oct. 17–18: Borrego Days Desert Festival, Borrego Springs
Fall means warm days and cool starry nights in the San Diego County desert. During this weekend, take in the natural beauty of Borrego Springs and the surrounding 600,000-acre Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, and enjoy a parade, car show, kids’ zone, beer garden, and food vendors.
Oct. 18: Celebrate the Craft, La Jolla
Soak up the oceanfront scenery at The Lodge at Torrey Pines during this annual food festival showcasing regional chefs, farmers, wineries, and craft breweries. Your admission covers small plates and drinks offered on the resort grounds, overlooking the coastline and the neighboring Torrey Pines Golf Course.
Oct. 25: Palm Desert Golf Cart Parade, Palm Desert
Some consider this event the kickoff of high season in Greater Palm Springs —a colorful parade of souped-up golf carts rolling through the shop-lined streets of El Paseo. Check out the nearby stores and food vendors and browse golf carts for sale.
