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Top Free Halloween Events in Los Angeles
Submitted by Kylie Williams on
Free Halloween events in Los Angeles might sound like a trick, but they are actually a treat. They'll have you saying, "BOO-ya!"
There's nothing mysterious or scary about free Halloween events. No witchful thinking is necessary—Ghouls can have fun for free—pumpkin spice up your October with these hauntingly free happenings all over the city. Save your cash for other Halloween goodies and enjoy scary good, free Halloween events in Los Angeles during the spooky season without playing any tricks on your wallet.
Looking for more ghostly fun? Check out our Halloween Fun and Activities Guide for Los Angeles & Orange County families, where you'll find lists of the best pumpkin patches in LA, the best trick-or-treat spots in Los Angeles, and the most creative costumes for kids.
Best Halloween Events in Los Angeles for Kids and Families
Submitted by Toby B on
Halloween events are creeping up on us, bringing chills and thrills, bags full of sweets, and loads of Halloween events in Los Angeles—including Boos at Zoos, Halloween haunts, cemetery tours, and harvest festivals.
Among the Halloween events in Los Angeles we're looking forward to are Carved at Descanso, Boney Island at the Natural History Museum, Boo at the LA Zoo, and tons of Halloween movie screenings, including Hocus Pocus.
Some kids (and adults) like the spooks and scares while other kids prefer gentler Halloween activities, so in our Halloween Fun and Activities Guide for Los Angeles & Orange County Kids, you'll find our picks for not-so-scary events for preschoolers as well as scary Halloween haunts for big kids—plus free Halloween events in Los Angeles for kids, and much more.
31 Fall Day Trips from Los Angeles—Plus Weekend Getaways
Submitted by Mike Horelick on
Fall day trips with kids from Los Angeles make for fun, seasonal adventures. Or, if you have time, to get out of town for the whole weekend. Although Los Angeles is known as a city without seasons, we all know that is not exactly true. Favorite fall activities are easily within a day's drive, from apple picking to fall foliage, alpine lakes, and national parks.
The next time you have a day with no plans, hop in the car for one of these fall day trips from Los Angeles. Pack a bag, as you might want to stay longer and turn it into a long weekend away.
Check off all the fall fun in our LA fall bucket list for kids and discover more road trips from Los Angeles for a weekend family getaway. Plus, get inspired for additional local adventures in our Weekend Getaway and Day Trip Guide for Los Angeles Families.
39 Things to Do With Kids in Long Beach
Submitted by Kylie Williams on
I've been to Long Beach like most Angelenos—but until recently I had never considered taking a weekend getaway there. Mainly, my family was excited to visit the beloved Aquarium of the Pacific. We quickly learned that the aquarium, while wonderful, is not the only attraction for kids in the area.
Long Beach is packed with family-friendly fun, all at a consistent forecast of "sunny and 75" (well, most of the time!). Keep reading for more suggestions on maximizing a trip with kids in Long Beach. Take a look at some of the activities for kids in Long Beach in our Instagram Reel!
While you're in Long Beach, take the ferry to Catalina Island with kids, discover more exciting road trips from Los Angeles for a weekend family getaway, and plan all the family adventures with our Weekend Getaway and Day Trips for Los Angeles Families Guide.
Best Pumpkin Patches near Los Angeles for a Perfect Family Day
Submitted by Roberta B on
Looking for pumpkin patches near Los Angeles, specifically ones where you can go pumpkin picking? To find perfect pumpkin patches near Los Angeles for your family, you've got some decisions to make because they run the gamut from small to large and from folksy to commercial.
There are festival-type pumpkin patches with extra activities, farms where kids can do their own pumpkin picking, and smaller pumpkin patches in every neighborhood in town. The good news—all of our top picks are photogenic and will make for timeless fall family memories. So, pick a pumpkin, snap a Halloween photo, and maybe even take a pony ride at one of these pumpkin patches.
Find a corn maze near LA and more things to do in Los Angeles in the fall in our Fall Fun Guide for Los Angeles and OC Kids. And if a pumpkin patch visit is your first foray into Halloween festivities this year, you definitely want to find all the best Los Angeles Halloween activities in our Los Angeles Halloween Guide.
Free and Cheap Afterschool Programs in Los Angeles
Submitted by Roberta B on
Afterschool programs provide enriching and fun activities for kids in Los Angeles when school's back in session. It's even better when those afterschool programs are free and affordable. Options for kids' sports activities, arts programs, and other activity classes for kids in Los Angeles are essentially endless, but let's be honest, the price tag can be tricky sometimes.
The good news is there are several inexpensive and free afterschool programs for kids in Los Angeles. You don't have to throw your paycheck at afterschool care with these classes to engage your little one's mind and body at a price you can afford.
For more enriching activities during the school year, browse our Classes Guide for Los Angeles Kids.
Best Farms near Los Angeles for Family Fun: Discover the Cream of the Crop
Submitted by Melissa Bean St... on
Many family farms near Los Angeles allow city kids to test life on the farm. Visits to local farms are things you can do multiple times a year while kids are still little, such as pumpkin patches, corn maze wanderings, strawberry picking, and animal visits.
Read on to discover our favorite farms near Los Angeles, where kids can learn about how things grow, taste homegrown (and homemade) goodies, take part in seasonal festivals, meet animals, and play in the dirt. These farms range from giant farms with loads of animals, pick-your-own fields, bounce houses, and tractor rides to smaller spots where city kids can learn about planting and get their hands in the dirt.
Visit the best pumpkin patches in Los Angeles, see the top farms for strawberry picking, and find more farm fun in our guide to the Best Berry Picking and Animal Farms in Los Angeles.
Best Fall Festivals and Fairs in Los Angeles for Fall Family Fun
Submitted by Toby B on
Fall festivals in Los Angeles do exist, even if the warm beach weather says otherwise. While other places have a season called fall, LA has something more like extended summer weather with back-to-school fun and a pumpkin aisle at Trader Joe's.
Of course, the beauty of an endless summer that fades gently into Halloween or Thanksgiving—usually right up until that guy in the red suit arrives—is that family-friendly fall festivals keep going strong through November. Check out some of our favorite annual faux fall festivals in Los Angeles, from Labor Day through Day of the Dead.
For more fall fun, visit the best pumpkin patches in Los Angeles, go apple picking near LA, and see what other seasonal activities should be on your fall bucket list in our Fall Fun Guide for Los Angeles and OC Kids.
