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.