Graphic by Dani Ramirez
By Thi Tu Truong
This guide covers Ventura County events from Oct. 10 to Oct. 31, including pumpkin patches, cultural festivals and Halloween activities. It gives CI students, including student parents, the dates, locations and costs needed to plan an outing with friends or family. Event information can change, so readers should check the linked organizer page before leaving home or buying tickets.
Movies Night in the Park featuring “ParaNorman”
Date: Oct. 10 | Time: Gates open one hour before the movie; screening begins at dusk | Location: Arroyo Vista Park, 4550 Tierra Rejada Road, Moorpark, California. | Cost: Free
The City of Moorpark will screen the PG-rated animated film on the grass near the recreation center. Guests may bring lawn chairs, blankets, food and nonalcoholic drinks; a snack shack will also be open.
Seaside Highland Games
Date: Oct. 10-11 | Time: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Location: Ventura County Fairgrounds, 10 W. Harbor Blvd, Ventura, California. | Cost: $25 for a one-day adult ticket at the gate or $40 for both days; $10 for ages 6-17; free for children 5 and younger
The Scottish cultural festival includes Highland athletics, pipe and drum bands, dance competitions, sheep-herding demonstrations, live music and a children’s area. The Saturday opening ceremony and grand parade begin at noon and the event is held in rain or shine.
Día de los Muertos Community Ofrenda
Date: Oct. 12-Nov. 1; display remains through Nov. 3 | Time: During regular library hours | Location: Camarillo Public Library, 4101 E. Las Posas Road, Camarillo, California. | Cost: Free
Students and families may bring copies of photographs of loved ones to the second-floor reference desk for a community ofrenda. The library recommends copies because it cannot guarantee that original photographs will be returned.
Halloween events for students and families
Turnstile with Pennywise and Die Spitz
Date: Oct. 14 | Time: Doors open at 5:30 p.m.; show begins at 7 p.m. | Location: Ventura County Fairgrounds, 10 W. Harbor Blvd, Ventura, California. | Cost: $95.50, plus applicable ticket fees
The concert brings hardcore punk and alternative rock to the fairgrounds. The tour states that $1 from every Ventura ticket will support Casa Pacifica, a Camarillo-based nonprofit serving children and families.
Filipino American Fiesta
Date: Oct. 18 | Time: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Location: Museum of Ventura County, 100 E. Main St, Ventura, California. | Cost: Free
The all-ages celebration of Filipino American History Month includes traditional dance, art, Filipino food and dessert vendors, mahjong, children’s crafts and community booths. Food and merchandise are available for purchase.
Graphic by Dani Ramirez
Thousand Oaks Rotary Street Fair
Date: Oct. 18 | Time: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Location: Moorpark Road between Hillcrest Drive and Wilbur Road, Thousand Oaks, California. | Cost: Free admission and parking; food, rides and purchases cost extra
The community street fair features more than 300 vendors, live entertainment, food trucks, a car show and children’s activities. Free parking is available at Janss Marketplace, across from the fair.
Parade of Frights
Date: Oct. 24 | Time: Family activities begin at 3 p.m.; boat parade begins at 7 p.m. | Location: Channel Islands Harbor, 3900 Pelican Way, Oxnard, California. | Cost: Free
Families can attend waterfront activities and trick-or-treating before decorated boats travel through the harbor after dark. Visitors should arrive before the parade to find a viewing location along the harbor.
Haunted Trail and Costume Contest
Date: Oct. 24 | Time: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. | Location: Thousand Oaks Community Center, 2525 N. Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks, California. | Cost: Free
The event includes a costume contest, reptile and puppet shows, a trunk-or-treat street and a short, haunted trail. The first trail group leaves at 7 p.m., and the trunk-or-treat area remains open until 8:30 p.m.
Fillmore Trunk or Treat
Date: Oct. 28 | Time: Sensory-friendly hour from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.; open to all from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. | Location: Central Avenue in downtown Fillmore, California. | Cost: Free
Decorated vehicles will distribute treats during the city’s annual downtown event. The first hour offers a sensory-friendly setting before the event opens to the wider community.
Fall at Conejo Family Farms
Date: Through Oct. 31 | Time: 2:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 2:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday | Location: 5937 Ridge View St., Camarillo, California. | Cost: $15 Wednesday-Friday and $20 Saturday-Sunday; free for children 5 and younger
The family-run pumpkin patch includes hayrides, corn mazes, pumpkin picking, sunflowers and farm animals. Its evening hours give students an option after class, while children ages 5 and younger receive free admission.
Underwood Family Farms Fall Harvest Festival
Date: Through Oct. 31 | Time: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily | Location: 3370 Sunset Valley Road, Moorpark, California. | Cost: $16 on weekdays; $34 online in advance or $38 the day of on weekends; free for children 2 and younger
The festival offers a pumpkin patch, pick-your-own produce, wagon rides, farm animals, games and themed weekend entertainment. Weekend admission requires an online ticket and same-day entry is not guaranteed when capacity is reached.
Graphic by Dani Ramirez
Reign of Terror Haunted House
Date: Select nights through Nov. 1 | Time: Gates open at sunset; select a timed arrival window when buying a ticket | Location: Janss Marketplace, 285 N. Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks, California. | Cost: General admission starts at $39.99; immediate-access tickets start at $64.99; parking is free
The professional walk-through attraction contains 145 rooms across 12 connected horror themes. Organizers recommend it for ages 13 and older because it uses darkness, live actors, special effects and intense scares.
Witches Paddle and Seaside Trick-or-Treat
Date: Oct. 30 | Time: Paddle from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.; trick-or-treating from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. | Location: Ventura Harbor Village, 1583 Spinnaker Drive, Ventura, California. | Cost: Free to watch and trick-or-treat; watercraft rental costs extra
Costumed paddlers will travel through Ventura Harbor while participating shops and restaurants offer treat stops for children. Paddle participants must bring a paddleboard or kayak or arrange a rental through a harbor operator.
Boo Fest in Old Town Camarillo
Date: Oct. 31 | Time: 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. | Location: Old Town Camarillo, 2222 Ventura Blvd, Camarillo, California. | Cost: Free
The 13th annual event offers trick-or-treating at participating businesses, costume contests for families, adults, children and pets and a free carnival at Chapel City Church. Attendees should bring a bag for treats and check the event map for participating locations.
Simi Valley Youth Halloween Carnival
Date: Oct. 31 | Time: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. | Location: Rancho Santa Susana Community Center, 5005-C Los Angeles Ave., Simi Valley, California. | Cost: $5 per person online, including adults
Designed for children aged 2 to 12, the carnival includes inflatables, face painting, balloon animals, dancing, games and a hayride. Online ticket sales began Oct. 1 and cover participating adults as well as children
Día de los Muertos Downtown Ventura
Date: Oct. 31-Nov. 1 | Time: Halloween night market from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. Oct. 31; festival from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 1 | Location: Main Street in downtown Ventura, California. | Cost: Free; food and drinks cost extra
The two-day celebration opens with a Halloween night market and trunk-or-treat, followed by a cultural festival across seven downtown blocks. Programming includes community altars, live mariachi, cultural dance, four stages, more than 150 vendors and more than 200 lowrider cars.
College and cultural events
Before You Leave
Check the linked organizer pages before traveling because tickets may sell out and outdoor schedules can change. Confirm parking, accessibility and registration requirements. Check the weather forecast and dress appropriately for outdoor conditions.
College life includes more than studying. Fall events in October offer students opportunities to take a break, enjoy time with friends and family and connect with the Ventura County community outside of campus!
