Free entry, free admission days and free hours from every section.
5 picks
Section: Free and Budget-Friendlyevent
Wild Tales: A Halloween Adventure (Upper Newport Bay)
Fri, Oct 30, 2026Free
OC Parks preschool nature program (ages 2-5, all welcome) with story time, an age-appropriate hike and a craft about the spooky critters of Upper Newport Bay; costumes encouraged. Advance registration required (opens Oct 23); not stroller friendly.
Dates
Fri, Oct 30, 2026
Hours
10:00-11:00am
Cost
Program and parking free
Where
Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center, Upper Newport Bay
Volunteer-led OC Parks nature hike of 2.5-3 miles through Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve, one of Southern California's key coastal wetlands. Minimum age 6; not stroller friendly; walk-ups welcome, registration recommended.
Dates
Sun, Nov 1, 2026
Hours
9:30-11:30am
Cost
Program and parking free
Where
Upper Newport Bay, Newport Beach, CA (directions shared on registration)
Historic Spanish-style estate with museum exhibitions, ocean views and botanical gardens, plus Wednesday storytime and children's activity booklets; free for all on the first Sunday of every month. Currently closed: the Amphitheater & Woodland Garden and the Native Bowl.
Hours
Tue-Thu 10am-4pm; Fri-Sun 10am-2pm; closed Mondays and federal holidays
Cost
General $8 ($10 starting January 2027); 12 and under and active military free; free for all on the first Sunday of each month
Laguna Beach art museum on Cliff Drive, wheelchair accessible with an elevator between floors; free on First Thursday evenings. Nov 5 First Thursday: free 5-6pm for one gallery only; after 6pm registered attendees only
General $15; students 20+, seniors and military $10; 19 and under free; free first Thursday of each month 6-9pm; Nov 5: free 5-6pm only (one gallery); after 6pm registered attendees only
Seal and sea lion rescue center in Laguna Canyon; visit the Bob Barker Visitor Yard, rehabilitation pools and interactive displays with volunteer docents. Free, reservations encouraged.
Hours
Daily 10am-4pm except Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas and New Year's Day
Family-friendly events, hands-on activities and outings for all ages.
10 picks
Section: Family Outingsfarm
Hana Field X Jurassic Fright (Tanaka Farms)
On now through Nov 1, 2026
Tanaka Farms' Costa Mesa fall field: admission covers the pumpkin and flower fields, wagon rides, barnyard, Jurassic Fright Corn Maze, kids play area, photo ops and education stations.
Volunteer-led OC Parks nature hike of 2.5-3 miles through Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve, one of Southern California's key coastal wetlands. Minimum age 6; not stroller friendly; walk-ups welcome, registration recommended.
Dates
Sun, Nov 1, 2026
Hours
9:30-11:30am
Cost
Program and parking free
Where
Upper Newport Bay, Newport Beach, CA (directions shared on registration)
1,400-square-foot interpretive center at the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve with aquariums (swell shark, sea stars), live local reptiles, taxidermy birds and panels on wetland ecology and history.
Hours
Mon 9am-1pm; Tue-Sun 9am-4pm
Cost
Free parking (lots fill quickly on weekends)
Where
3842 Warner Avenue, Huntington Beach, CA 92647 (North Lot)
Historic Spanish-style estate with museum exhibitions, ocean views and botanical gardens, plus Wednesday storytime and children's activity booklets; free for all on the first Sunday of every month. Currently closed: the Amphitheater & Woodland Garden and the Native Bowl.
Hours
Tue-Thu 10am-4pm; Fri-Sun 10am-2pm; closed Mondays and federal holidays
Cost
General $8 ($10 starting January 2027); 12 and under and active military free; free for all on the first Sunday of each month
Small zoo inside Irvine Regional Park focused on animals and plants of the southwestern U.S., many injured, orphaned or not releasable: black bear, mountain lion, bald eagle, ocelot and more, plus a barnyard with goats and sheep.
Hours
Mon-Fri 10am-3:30pm; Sat-Sun 10am-4:30pm
Cost
$2 per person ages 3+; 2 and under free; plus Irvine Regional Park entry $3/vehicle weekdays, $5 weekends ($7-$10 major holidays)
Ocean education center in Dana Point Harbor with interactive marine science and maritime history exhibits for all ages; weekend whale and marine life cruises and tall ship sails.
Hours
General admission Sat-Sun 10am-3pm; gift shop daily 7am-4pm
Cost
Adults $16; children (19 months-13) $12; seniors (55+) and military $14; under 19 months free
Seal and sea lion rescue center in Laguna Canyon; visit the Bob Barker Visitor Yard, rehabilitation pools and interactive displays with volunteer docents. Free, reservations encouraged.
Hours
Daily 10am-4pm except Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas and New Year's Day
City of Santa Ana zoo with weekend and Friday rides; free for Santa Ana residents on the third Sunday of each month. Zoo Lane between 1st St and Chestnut Ave closed to through traffic through Oct 30. Zoo Lane between 1st St and Chestnut Ave closed to through traffic through Oct 30, 2026; enter parking from Chestnut
Surf City Nights Certified Farmers Market & Street Fair
Pets OK
Every Tuesday Main Street closes to traffic for Huntington Beach's only certified farmers' market, plus crafters, specialty food booths and live music; families and "fur babies" welcome.
Hours
Tuesdays 4:30-8:30pm (weather permitting)
Cost
90 min free parking at Main Promenade Parking Structure, 200 Main Street
Dogs
Organizer welcomes "fur babies"; no leash rules stated.
Where
Main Street between Pacific Coast Highway and Orange Avenue, Huntington Beach
Pacific Symphony pops concert with Idina Menzel, the original Elphaba in Wicked and the voice of Elsa in Frozen, at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall.
Dates
November 6 & 7, 2026
Hours
8pm
Cost
Tickets via Pacific Symphony (pacificsymphony.org Buy Now); price not listed
Where
Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Pacific Symphony: Nobu Plays Rachmaninoff's Mighty Third
November 19, 20 & 21, 2026
Pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii plays Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 3 with Pacific Symphony, paired with Bartók's Concerto for Orchestra; preview talk at 7 p.m. Led by Alexander Shelley.
Dates
November 19, 20 & 21, 2026
Hours
8pm
Cost
Tickets via Pacific Symphony (pacificsymphony.org Buy Now); price not listed
Where
Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Santa Ana museum of world art and culture ("Bringing the World to You") with current and permanent collection exhibitions, the Ada's Table restaurant and a gallery store; free on Sundays for Santa Ana residents.
Hours
Museum and Gallery Store Tue-Sun 10am-4pm; Ada's Table restaurant Tue-Sun 11am-3pm; closed Mondays, Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day; closes 2pm Christmas Eve
Cost
Adults $18; seniors (62+) and students (12+) $15; members and children under 12 free; Santa Ana residents free on Sundays; parking $7
Laguna Beach art museum on Cliff Drive, wheelchair accessible with an elevator between floors; free on First Thursday evenings. Nov 5 First Thursday: free 5-6pm for one gallery only; after 6pm registered attendees only
General $15; students 20+, seniors and military $10; 19 and under free; free first Thursday of each month 6-9pm; Nov 5: free 5-6pm only (one gallery); after 6pm registered attendees only
Senior discounts, accessible venues and community centers.
2 picks
Section: Senior Outingsmuseum
Bowers Museum
Indoor
Santa Ana museum of world art and culture ("Bringing the World to You") with current and permanent collection exhibitions, the Ada's Table restaurant and a gallery store; free on Sundays for Santa Ana residents.
Hours
Museum and Gallery Store Tue-Sun 10am-4pm; Ada's Table restaurant Tue-Sun 11am-3pm; closed Mondays, Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day; closes 2pm Christmas Eve
Cost
Adults $18; seniors (62+) and students (12+) $15; members and children under 12 free; Santa Ana residents free on Sundays; parking $7
Laguna Beach art museum on Cliff Drive, wheelchair accessible with an elevator between floors; free on First Thursday evenings. Nov 5 First Thursday: free 5-6pm for one gallery only; after 6pm registered attendees only
General $15; students 20+, seniors and military $10; 19 and under free; free first Thursday of each month 6-9pm; Nov 5: free 5-6pm only (one gallery); after 6pm registered attendees only
One of Orange County's largest stretches of natural seashore, with tide pools, sandy coves, canyons and a Historic District of 46 vintage 1930s-40s beach cottages.
Hours
Day use 6am-sunset; Historic District 6am-10pm
Cost
Vehicle day use $15; $20 special holiday/seasonal/weekend rate
Dogs
Dogs on paved areas only; not on the beach, in the backcountry or in Deer Canyon, Lower Moro and Upper Moro campgrounds.
California's first state beach and an Orange County surfing mecca. The beach has a tide pool and a visitor center with several aquariums and educational displays.
Hours
Daily 6am-10pm
Cost
Vehicle day use $15; seniors (62+) $14; higher summer weekend and holiday fees (Memorial Day weekend-Labor Day weekend)
Dogs
Leashed, attended dogs allowed; not on beaches (service animals excepted).
Surf City Nights Certified Farmers Market & Street Fair
Pets OK
Every Tuesday Main Street closes to traffic for Huntington Beach's only certified farmers' market, plus crafters, specialty food booths and live music; families and "fur babies" welcome.
Hours
Tuesdays 4:30-8:30pm (weather permitting)
Cost
90 min free parking at Main Promenade Parking Structure, 200 Main Street
Dogs
Organizer welcomes "fur babies"; no leash rules stated.
Where
Main Street between Pacific Coast Highway and Orange Avenue, Huntington Beach
Parks, trails, beaches, gardens and nature reserves.
8 picks
Section: Outdoors and Naturenature center
Bolsa Chica Conservancy Interpretive Center
Indoor
1,400-square-foot interpretive center at the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve with aquariums (swell shark, sea stars), live local reptiles, taxidermy birds and panels on wetland ecology and history.
Hours
Mon 9am-1pm; Tue-Sun 9am-4pm
Cost
Free parking (lots fill quickly on weekends)
Where
3842 Warner Avenue, Huntington Beach, CA 92647 (North Lot)
One of Orange County's largest stretches of natural seashore, with tide pools, sandy coves, canyons and a Historic District of 46 vintage 1930s-40s beach cottages.
Hours
Day use 6am-sunset; Historic District 6am-10pm
Cost
Vehicle day use $15; $20 special holiday/seasonal/weekend rate
Dogs
Dogs on paved areas only; not on the beach, in the backcountry or in Deer Canyon, Lower Moro and Upper Moro campgrounds.
California's first state beach and an Orange County surfing mecca. The beach has a tide pool and a visitor center with several aquariums and educational displays.
Hours
Daily 6am-10pm
Cost
Vehicle day use $15; seniors (62+) $14; higher summer weekend and holiday fees (Memorial Day weekend-Labor Day weekend)
Dogs
Leashed, attended dogs allowed; not on beaches (service animals excepted).
OC Parks regional park in Orange with ranger programs such as Jr. Ranger adventures and lakeside bird walks. The 495-acre park has children's pony rides daily except Mondays.
Hours
Daily 6am-6pm fall-winter; 6am-9pm spring-summer
Cost
Parking $3 per vehicle Mon-Fri, $5 Sat-Sun; higher some holidays and events
Seal and sea lion rescue center in Laguna Canyon; visit the Bob Barker Visitor Yard, rehabilitation pools and interactive displays with volunteer docents. Free, reservations encouraged.
Hours
Daily 10am-4pm except Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas and New Year's Day
Art, history and science museums, with hours and prices from each source.
5 picks
Section: Museumsmuseum
Bowers Museum
Indoor
Santa Ana museum of world art and culture ("Bringing the World to You") with current and permanent collection exhibitions, the Ada's Table restaurant and a gallery store; free on Sundays for Santa Ana residents.
Hours
Museum and Gallery Store Tue-Sun 10am-4pm; Ada's Table restaurant Tue-Sun 11am-3pm; closed Mondays, Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day; closes 2pm Christmas Eve
Cost
Adults $18; seniors (62+) and students (12+) $15; members and children under 12 free; Santa Ana residents free on Sundays; parking $7
Historic Spanish-style estate with museum exhibitions, ocean views and botanical gardens, plus Wednesday storytime and children's activity booklets; free for all on the first Sunday of every month. Currently closed: the Amphitheater & Woodland Garden and the Native Bowl.
Hours
Tue-Thu 10am-4pm; Fri-Sun 10am-2pm; closed Mondays and federal holidays
Cost
General $8 ($10 starting January 2027); 12 and under and active military free; free for all on the first Sunday of each month
Laguna Beach art museum on Cliff Drive, wheelchair accessible with an elevator between floors; free on First Thursday evenings. Nov 5 First Thursday: free 5-6pm for one gallery only; after 6pm registered attendees only
General $15; students 20+, seniors and military $10; 19 and under free; free first Thursday of each month 6-9pm; Nov 5: free 5-6pm only (one gallery); after 6pm registered attendees only
Ocean education center in Dana Point Harbor with interactive marine science and maritime history exhibits for all ages; weekend whale and marine life cruises and tall ship sails.
Hours
General admission Sat-Sun 10am-3pm; gift shop daily 7am-4pm
Cost
Adults $16; children (19 months-13) $12; seniors (55+) and military $14; under 19 months free
Theater, concerts, dance and comedy, with dates and tickets from each source.
2 picks
Section: Arts and Showsevent
Pacific Symphony: Idina Menzel
November 6 & 7, 2026
Pacific Symphony pops concert with Idina Menzel, the original Elphaba in Wicked and the voice of Elsa in Frozen, at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall.
Dates
November 6 & 7, 2026
Hours
8pm
Cost
Tickets via Pacific Symphony (pacificsymphony.org Buy Now); price not listed
Where
Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Pacific Symphony: Nobu Plays Rachmaninoff's Mighty Third
November 19, 20 & 21, 2026
Pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii plays Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 3 with Pacific Symphony, paired with Bartók's Concerto for Orchestra; preview talk at 7 p.m. Led by Alexander Shelley.
Dates
November 19, 20 & 21, 2026
Hours
8pm
Cost
Tickets via Pacific Symphony (pacificsymphony.org Buy Now); price not listed
Where
Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Surf City Nights Certified Farmers Market & Street Fair
Pets OK
Every Tuesday Main Street closes to traffic for Huntington Beach's only certified farmers' market, plus crafters, specialty food booths and live music; families and "fur babies" welcome.
Hours
Tuesdays 4:30-8:30pm (weather permitting)
Cost
90 min free parking at Main Promenade Parking Structure, 200 Main Street
Dogs
Organizer welcomes "fur babies"; no leash rules stated.
Where
Main Street between Pacific Coast Highway and Orange Avenue, Huntington Beach
Dated pumpkin patches, holiday lights and seasonal festivals.
2 picks
Section: Seasonal and Holidayfarm
Hana Field X Jurassic Fright (Tanaka Farms)
On now through Nov 1, 2026
Tanaka Farms' Costa Mesa fall field: admission covers the pumpkin and flower fields, wagon rides, barnyard, Jurassic Fright Corn Maze, kids play area, photo ops and education stations.
Wild Tales: A Halloween Adventure (Upper Newport Bay)
Fri, Oct 30, 2026Free
OC Parks preschool nature program (ages 2-5, all welcome) with story time, an age-appropriate hike and a craft about the spooky critters of Upper Newport Bay; costumes encouraged. Advance registration required (opens Oct 23); not stroller friendly.
Dates
Fri, Oct 30, 2026
Hours
10:00-11:00am
Cost
Program and parking free
Where
Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center, Upper Newport Bay
Classes and camps for kids, with ages and prices from each source.
1 pick
Section: Kids' Classes and Campsevent
Wild Tales: A Halloween Adventure (Upper Newport Bay)
Fri, Oct 30, 2026Free
OC Parks preschool nature program (ages 2-5, all welcome) with story time, an age-appropriate hike and a craft about the spooky critters of Upper Newport Bay; costumes encouraged. Advance registration required (opens Oct 23); not stroller friendly.
Dates
Fri, Oct 30, 2026
Hours
10:00-11:00am
Cost
Program and parking free
Where
Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center, Upper Newport Bay
1,400-square-foot interpretive center at the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve with aquariums (swell shark, sea stars), live local reptiles, taxidermy birds and panels on wetland ecology and history.
Hours
Mon 9am-1pm; Tue-Sun 9am-4pm
Cost
Free parking (lots fill quickly on weekends)
Where
3842 Warner Avenue, Huntington Beach, CA 92647 (North Lot)
Santa Ana museum of world art and culture ("Bringing the World to You") with current and permanent collection exhibitions, the Ada's Table restaurant and a gallery store; free on Sundays for Santa Ana residents.
Hours
Museum and Gallery Store Tue-Sun 10am-4pm; Ada's Table restaurant Tue-Sun 11am-3pm; closed Mondays, Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day; closes 2pm Christmas Eve
Cost
Adults $18; seniors (62+) and students (12+) $15; members and children under 12 free; Santa Ana residents free on Sundays; parking $7
Laguna Beach art museum on Cliff Drive, wheelchair accessible with an elevator between floors; free on First Thursday evenings. Nov 5 First Thursday: free 5-6pm for one gallery only; after 6pm registered attendees only
General $15; students 20+, seniors and military $10; 19 and under free; free first Thursday of each month 6-9pm; Nov 5: free 5-6pm only (one gallery); after 6pm registered attendees only
Section: Free and Budget-Friendlyevent
