Halloween haunts
By Irvine City News staff
There are many places in Irvine to celebrate Halloween and the changing of the seasons, many with cool connections to the city’s agricultural heritage. Which is appropriate, because Halloween has its origins as a celebration of the harvest.
Many cultures have harvest festivals honoring ancestors that share similarities with Halloween, including Japan’s Obon Festival, China’s Teng Chieh, El Dia de los Muertos in Mexico, the U.S. and Latin America, and Chusok in Korea.
Today it’s often an excuse to don a mask and a crazy costume, and enjoy a chill-filled celebration of all things creepy and kooky, mysterious and spooky.
One of Irvine’s most popular Halloween celebrations draws 2,000 to the Orange County Great Park for two weekends of Spooktacular Fun. Alas, it’s already sold out, and did so in a matter of days. (“Your honor, we offer the Spooktacular Fun Days as exhibit 287 in the case against those who still feel there’s nothing going on at the Great Park.”)
Here are a few other choices for Halloween fun around Irvine:
Tanaka Farms Pumpkin Patch & U-Pick Tours
Through October 31, 2016
Find your way through the corn maze, visit the petting zoo, take a wagon ride around the farm, and pick your own pumpkin right off the vine. And on weekends, there’s a pumpkin cannon, carnival games, food and more.
Pretend City Children’s Museum, Oct. 24-31
Costume Week at Pretend City; Oct.24 – 30:
Wear a costume to Pretend City this whole week and receive 25% off a second admission.
Healthy Halloween at Pretend City; Oct. 30: Serving Kids Hope joins Pretend City to share fun tips and tricks to keep kids eating healthy this Halloween!
Pretend City Trick Or Treat Through The City; October 31: A Halloween extravaganza at the museum, including a Halloween Bug Bash and trick-or-treating at different stations through the city.
Pretendcity.org
Boot Hill haunted house for CHOC
October 14-15, 21-22, 28-29, 30-31; 6:30 – 10:30 p.m.
Head over to 16 Goldenrod for a monstrous good time, as the scariest haunted house in Irvine rises for its 17th year. It’s free, expect a line and please donate generously with proceeds going to CHOC Children’s Hospital of Orange County.
legendofboothill.com
Irvine Park Pumpkin Patch
Through October 31; Irvine Regional Park, Orange
Even though it’s in Orange (a mere technicality), we think of it as “our” park. Enjoy a pumpkin patch, hay maze, pony rides, haunted house, face painting, bouncy houses, games, food and, of course, the train ride.
irvineparkrailroad.com/events/pumpkin-patch
Many cultures have harvest festivals honoring ancestors that share similarities with Halloween, including Japan’s Obon Festival, China’s Teng Chieh, El Dia de los Muertos in Mexico, the U.S. and Latin America, and Chusok in Korea.
Today it’s often an excuse to don a mask and a crazy costume, and enjoy a chill-filled celebration of all things creepy and kooky, mysterious and spooky.
One of Irvine’s most popular Halloween celebrations draws 2,000 to the Orange County Great Park for two weekends of Spooktacular Fun. Alas, it’s already sold out, and did so in a matter of days. (“Your honor, we offer the Spooktacular Fun Days as exhibit 287 in the case against those who still feel there’s nothing going on at the Great Park.”)
Here are a few other choices for Halloween fun around Irvine:
Tanaka Farms Pumpkin Patch & U-Pick Tours
Through October 31, 2016
Find your way through the corn maze, visit the petting zoo, take a wagon ride around the farm, and pick your own pumpkin right off the vine. And on weekends, there’s a pumpkin cannon, carnival games, food and more.
Pretend City Children’s Museum, Oct. 24-31
Costume Week at Pretend City; Oct.24 – 30:
Wear a costume to Pretend City this whole week and receive 25% off a second admission.
Healthy Halloween at Pretend City; Oct. 30: Serving Kids Hope joins Pretend City to share fun tips and tricks to keep kids eating healthy this Halloween!
Pretend City Trick Or Treat Through The City; October 31: A Halloween extravaganza at the museum, including a Halloween Bug Bash and trick-or-treating at different stations through the city.
Pretendcity.org
Boot Hill haunted house for CHOC
October 14-15, 21-22, 28-29, 30-31; 6:30 – 10:30 p.m.
Head over to 16 Goldenrod for a monstrous good time, as the scariest haunted house in Irvine rises for its 17th year. It’s free, expect a line and please donate generously with proceeds going to CHOC Children’s Hospital of Orange County.
legendofboothill.com
Irvine Park Pumpkin Patch
Through October 31; Irvine Regional Park, Orange
Even though it’s in Orange (a mere technicality), we think of it as “our” park. Enjoy a pumpkin patch, hay maze, pony rides, haunted house, face painting, bouncy houses, games, food and, of course, the train ride.
irvineparkrailroad.com/events/pumpkin-patch
