Fun fall happenings at OC Parks

OC Parks is offering a variety of free, fall and spooky-themed events and programs for all ages throughout Orange County this autumn. 

Explore decorated historical grounds during special park hours at the fourth annual Fall-O-Ween at Heritage Hill Historical Park Oct. 11-13 and 18-20. Put on your costumes and snap photos at various fall and Halloween-themed photo opportunities, complete a scavenger hunt for ghoulish goodies and explore a bewitching straw maze. 

Visit Santiago Oaks Regional Park after dark Friday, Oct. 18 and discover critters that call the canyon home at Boo at the Oaks. The evening will be filled with fun nature stations, creative crafts, scavenger hunts for prizes and night hikes for all ages. Costumes are welcome but must be safe for hiking on dirt trails in the dark. Advance registration required.

Join the OC Zoo at Halloween Zoo-Tacular Saturday, Oct. 26. Watch zoo animals receive treat-filled pumpkins and participate in family-friendly festivities such as a scavenger hunt, trick-or-treating and spooky crafts for kids. The first 100 children ages 12 and under in costume will receive a fun gift upon entry.

Returning this year, the popular Boo at the Bay takes place at Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve Saturday, Oct. 26. Enjoy a family Halloween party featuring spooky stories, creepy crafts, weird science experiments, bizarre animals and hair-raising games. The event will also feature booths and exhibits from Orange County Bird of Prey Center, Environmental Nature Center and the OC Parks Archaeology and Paleontology departments. All children who attend in costume will receive ghostly door prizes.

Halloween Animal Art Preschool Program 
Date: Oct. 3, 11, 16 & 29
Time: 10:15 – 11:15 a.m.
Location: OC Zoo at Irvine Regional Park
Address: 1 Irvine Park Road, Orange, CA 92869
Website: ocparks.com/events
Cost: Cost is $5 per child (one parent included).
Parking: $3 per vehicle
Registration: Call (714) 973-6846 to register.

Bats: Heroes of the Night
Date: Oct. 5
Time:  5:45 – 7:45 p.m.
Location: Limestone Canyon Nature Preserve – Irvine Ranch Open Space
Address: 13333 Black Star Canyon Rd., Silverado, CA 92676
Website: ocparks.com/events
Cost: Free 
Parking: Free 
Registration: letsgooutside.org/ocparks/activities

Cool Birds of Fall at Agua Chinon – Bird Walk
Date: Oct. 7
Time: 7:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Location: Limestone Canyon Nature Preserve – Irvine Ranch Open Space
Address: 13333 Black Star Canyon Rd., Silverado, CA 92676
Website: ocparks.com/events
Cost: Free 
Parking: Free 
Registration: letsgooutside.org/ocparks/activities

Little Explorers: Spooky Animals
Date: Oct. 10
Time: 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Location: Nix Nature Center – Laguna Coast Wilderness Park
Address: 18751 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach 92651
Website: ocparks.com/events
Cost: Free 
Parking: $3 per vehicle
Registration: lagunacanyon.org/events

Fall-O-Ween
Date: Oct. 11-13 & 18-20
Time: 4:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Location: Heritage Hill Historical Park
Address: 25151 Serrano Road, Lake Forest, CA 92630
Website: ocparks.com/heritagehill
Cost: Free 
Parking: Free

Prehistoric OC
Date: Oct. 12
Time: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Location: Clark Regional Park
Address: 8800 Rosecrans Ave., Buena Park, CA 90621
Website: ocparks.com/events
Cost: Free 
Parking: Free

Autumn Bird Watching
Date: Oct. 16
Time: 7:30 – 9:30 a.m.
Location: Peters Canyon Regional Park
Address: 8548 E. Canyon View Ave., Orange, CA 92869
Website: ocparks.com/events
Cost: Free 
Parking: $3 per vehicle
Registration: letsgooutside.org/ocparks/activities

Critter Investigation: Terrific Tarantulas
Date: Oct. 16
Time: 10 – 11 a.m.
Location: Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center – Upper Newport Bay
Address: 2301 University Drive, Newport Beach, CA 92660
Website: ocparks.com/events
Cost: Free 
Parking: Free
Registration:  letsgooutside.org/ocparks/activities

Hunter’s Moon Cardio Hike at Saddleback Wilderness
Date: Oct. 17
Time: 5:30 – 7 p.m.
Location: Saddleback Wilderness – Irvine Ranch Open Space
Address: 13333 Black Star Canyon Rd., Silverado, CA 92676
Website: ocparks.com/events
Cost: Free 
Parking: Free
Registration: letsgooutside.org/ocparks/activities

Boo at the Oaks
Date: Oct. 18
Time: 5:30 – 9:30 p.m.
Location: Santiago Oaks Regional Park 
Address: 2145 N. Windes Drive, Orange, CA 92869
Website: ocparks.com/events
Cost: Free 
Parking: Free
Registration: letsgooutside.org/ocparks/activities

Cool Birds of Fall at Fremont Canyon – Bird Walk
Date: Oct. 21
Time: 7:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Location: Fremont Canyon Nature Preserve – Irvine Ranch Open Space
Address: 13333 Black Star Canyon Rd., Silverado, CA 92676
Website: ocparks.com/events
Cost: Free 
Parking: Free
Registration: letsgooutside.org/ocparks/activities

Halloween Zoo-Tacular at the OC Zoo
Date: Oct. 26
Time: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Location: OC Zoo at Irvine Regional Park
Address: 1 Irvine Park Road, Orange, CA 92869
Website: ocparks.com/events
Cost: Free with paid zoo admission ($2 per person, ages 2 & under are free)
Parking: $5 per vehicle

Boo at the Bay: Family Halloween Party
Date: Oct. 26
Time: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Location: Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center
Address: 2301 University Drive, Newport Beach, CA 92660
Website: ocparks.com/events
Cost: Free 
Parking: Free

Adaptation Spotlight: Owl Pellets
Date: October 30
Time: 3 – 4:30 p.m.
Location: Willow Staging Area – Laguna Coast Wilderness Park
Address: 20070 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Website: ocparks.com/events
Cost: Free 
Parking: $3 per vehicle
Registration: lagunacanyon.org/events

Spooky Plants Among Us: Learning About Plants at Red Rock Wilderness
Date: Oct. 31
Time: 9 – 11:30 a.m.
Location: Red Rock Wilderness – Irvine Ranch Open Space
Address: 13333 Black Star Canyon Rd., Silverado, CA 92676
Website: ocparks.com/events
Cost: Free 
Parking: Free
Registration: letsgooutside.org/ocparks/activities.

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