Safe Halloween Activities for Families
As many of us are dealing with the disappointment of cancelled parties and questioning the safety of trick-or-treating, we are left wondering if there are any ways to responsibly celebrate Halloween with our families. People have been so innovative during this pandemic in efforts to keep traditions and businesses alive, so you should be able to find some events in your neighborhood with a quick Google search. For those of you who live in the Los Angeles/Orange County area though, here are a few ideas:
Street Food Cinema
Drive-in theaters have really taken off as a way to safely enjoy movies during the pandemic. Street Food Cinema is showing family-friendly Halloween movies at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, so grab a cozy blanket, tune your car radio, and enjoy this retro experience!
Pumpkin Patch at the Irvine Park Railroad
This popular pumpkin patch in North Orange County is free and open every day in October. It’s a scaled-down version of what they typically offer, but there is a train ride, a hayride, photo opportunities, and arcade games where every kid is a winner! Insider tip: take home a loaf or two of the delicious pumpkin and banana nut bread…you won’t regret it!
Fall Harvest at Underwood Family Farms
Head north to Underwood Family Farms, where the Fall Harvest is still on! Some typical activities won’t be offered due to safety considerations, but there is still plenty to do on this 50-acre pumpkin patch. Kids will be able to experience picking pumpkins on an actual farm, as well as visit with animals and tractors. Advanced tickets are required during weekends, but you can just drop in on weekdays.
Tanaka Farms
In South Orange County, Tanaka Farms is another working farm where kids can pick their pumpkins right from the patch. Unlike previous years though, they are offering a drive-thru experience where you can either drive through the farm and look at exhibits in your own car, or take a guided wagon tour. At the end of both options, families can wander the patch and pick their pumpkins.
The Bite LA
If your family is up for a creepier experience, head to Legg Lake in El Monte for Bite LA’s food crawl. Drive around the eerie lake in the safety of your own car, stopping for bites of seasonal food. Keep your flashlights out to search for swamp monsters and park by the campfire to hear ghost stories while you enjoy dessert and a warm fall drink. This event sounds great for foodies who are missing their gourmet food experiences!
El Dorado Frontier
El Dorado Frontier in Long Beach has transformed their park into a western-themed pumpkin patch experience! Their rides will be closed, but you won’t leave empty handed—kids can pan for treasure, and you’ll take home pumpkins and a family photo. They are limiting admission to only 6 groups an hour by reservation, so it should be easy to be social distant from other groups.
Whatever you decide to do, please note that most, if not all, events do require masks and social distancing, so stay safe and have fun!