California will host a variety of events throughout October 2025, offering activities for residents and visitors across the state. Seasonal celebrations include pumpkin patch festivals, harvest fairs, music festivals, and Halloween-themed attractions.
Pumpkin patches are a popular feature in several regions. In San Mateo County’s Andreotti Family Farm and Santa Clara County’s Spina Farms Pumpkin Patch, visitors can pick pumpkins and enjoy rides and entertainment. Central Valley’s Fresno County offers options like Hillcrest Pumpkin Patch with steam train rides, while Avila Valley Barn on the Central Coast features hay mazes and apple picking.
Temecula’s Big Horse Corn Maze is among Southern California’s largest corn mazes, also offering slides, obstacle courses, paintball activities, and more. Peltzer Pumpkin Farm nearby has pig races and tractor go-karts.
Northern California will see the Vegan Chef Challenge in Sacramento all month long. Restaurants such as River City Brewing Co., Orphan Breakfast House, and Matteo’s Pizza & Bistro will offer special vegan menu items for diners to try and vote on their favorites.
Halloween decorations take center stage at Inn Town Campground in Nevada City during October. Guests are invited to decorate tents or RVs while participating in outdoor movies and guided hikes.
Sacramento hosts the Aftershock Festival from October 2–5 at Discovery Park with headliners including blink-182, Good Charlotte, Deftones, Korn, and Bring Me the Horizon. The Redwood Coast Music Festival takes place in Eureka from October 2–5 featuring jazz, swing, blues, zydeco, rockabilly, and Western swing at multiple venues.
Other notable events include Johnny Appleseed Days in Paradise (October 4–5), celebrating apples with pies from Noble Orchards; Humboldt Redwoods Marathon (October 12) under redwood canopies; Mill Valley Film Festival (October 2–12) screening potential Oscar contenders; Redding Rancheria’s Annual Stillwater Pow Wow (October 3–5); Sierra Oro Farm Trail Farm-to-Fork Dinner in Chico (October 12); The Big Crush Harvest Wine Festival in Amador County (October 4–5); Fleet Week San Francisco (October 5–13); McCloud Apple Harvest Festival (October 11); Sonoma County Harvest Fair in Santa Rosa (October 11); Corning Olive Festival & Car Show (October 11); Columbia State Historic Park Harvest Festival (October 11–12); Taste: The Livermore Valley Wine Experience (October 16–19); A Toast to Sausalito event on October 18; Mountain Harvest Beer Festival in Quincy on October 18; Santa Cruz Band Review & Chili Cook-Off on October 18 & 25; Truckee River Day “voluntourism” event on October 19.
Central California events include Cambria’s Scarecrow Festival running all month with hundreds of scarecrows displayed throughout town. Los Olivos holds its Scarecrow Fest & Contest alongside Day in the Country festival on October 11. Oxnard hosts International PAL Boxing Championships September 29–October 4 followed by Multicultural Festival on October 4.
Nature-focused Wild Tarantula Trails begin October 1 near Gaviota for guided hikes about tarantulas’ mating season. Carpinteria celebrates avocados at its festival from October 3–5. Leaves in the Loop runs photography classes amid fall colors around June Lake on October 10–11. Oakhurst Fall Festival occurs from October 10–12 near Yosemite National Park—a region known for its wine production (https://www.yosemitethisyear.com/oakhurst-fall-festival).
The Monterey Old Fisherman’s Wharf marks its birthday with festivities on October 12 while Paso Robles hosts a grape stomp dinner event at Opolo Winery from October 17–18. Atascadero Colony Days takes place on October 18 celebrating local history through parades and entertainment.
Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival happens over the weekend of October 18-19—known as the “World Pumpkin Capital”—with contests for giant pumpkins as well as seasonal beer offerings (https://pumpkinfest.miramarevents.com/). Pismo Beach Clam Festival occurs simultaneously with clam digs and chowder contests (https://www.classiccalifornia.com/clam-festival.htm). Coarsegold hosts an Annual Tarantula Awareness Festival combining education with themed competitions on October 25.
Carmel-by-the-Sea observes its city birthday alongside Halloween festivities including a parade downtown each year since its founding date of Halloween night in1916 (https://ci.carmel.ca.us/halloween-birthday-parade).
In Southern California during all of October children age eleven or younger receive free admission or perks at many San Diego attractions—including theme parks like LEGOLAND California—alongside discounts at hotels or restaurants (https://www.sandiego.org/promotions/kids-free.aspx).
Huntington Beach presents Pacific Air Show from Octoberr3-5 featuring international aviators such as U.S.Air Force Thunderbirds plus family-friendly exhibits stretching along Surf City USA’s beaches (https://pacificairshow.com/). Pasadena area offers Carved at Descanso Gardens throughout most of the month—a display of illuminated carved pumpkins along walking trails (https://www.descansogardens.org/event/carved/).
Joshua Tree Music Festival runs Octoberr9-12 just outside Joshua Tree National Park followed by JazzTrax smooth jazz festival held over two weekends Octoberr9-19on Catalina Island(http://jazztrax.com/). Buena Park celebrates Silverado Days Octoberr17-19with carnival rides,fair cuisine,and classic contests(http://silveradodays.com/).
Borrego Springs’ Borrego Days Desert Festivaltakes place Octoberr18-19as high season approaches for Anza-Borrego Desert State Park(http://borregodaysfestival.com/). Greater Palm Springs’ Fall Modernism Week brings tours,music,and parties focusedon midcentury architecturefromOctoberr16-19(http://modernismweek.com/fall-preview/).
Night Sky Festivaltakes placein Twentynine PalmsOctoberr24-25featuring astronomy workshops,hikes,and talksbenefiting local nonprofitslike Sky’s The Limit Observatory(http:/skysthelimit29.org/night-sky-festival.html). Palm Desert Golf Cart Parade happensOctoberr26markingthe startofhigh seasonforCalifornia desert communities(http:/palmdesertgolfcartparade.com/).
The Breeders’ Cup returns to Del Mar RacetrackinSan DiegoCountyfromOctoberr31-November1offering different ticket packages to watch thoroughbred racing championships(https:/breederscup.com/tickets/del-mar?utm_source=website&utm_medium=calendar&utm_campaign=delmar24&utm_id=prcal_events2024).
