Halloween Roundup: Boo at the Santa Ana Zoo

During our Halloween Roundup series we will be highlighting some of the fun and family friendly events taking place next month. The second one up, is Boo at the Santa Ana Zoo. This super fun event is affordable, educational, and fun!! This family-friendly costumed extravaganza will bring fun,safe, trick-or-treating in a very “Merry not Scary” Zoo atmosphere. There will be animal presentations, storytelling, entertainment, costume parade, and of course trick-or-treating!

Boo at the Zoo will take place on October 19th, 2oth, 26th, 27th, and 30th, from 5:30pm to 8pm. Tickets are $7 for members and $14 for non-members. You can purchase admission tickets at the gate, or save time(and waiting in line) by purchasing your tickets online here. For additional info about this super fun event, head here.

Knott’s Scary Farm – 40th Annual Halloween Haunt

Do you like to be terrified, have nightmares for weeks and be chased down by creatures from your worst fears? Well, at least if it’s all in fun? Then high tail it over to America’s Oldest Theme Park, Knott’s Berry Farm for the 40th Annual Knott’s Scary Farm Halloween Haunt.

This year there are even more monsters, more mazes and more shows and entertainment to satisfy your thirst for terror.

There are twelve terrifying mazes, including the Trick or Treat maze, where for a nominal fee, you can actually trick or treat through the course of the maze itself!

There are nine shows to choose from including magic by Ed Alonzo, who you might remember as the magician from Britney Spears’ Circus tour. There is also a midnight witch hanging with an ending you have to see to believe!

Something new this year at Haunt is a special VIP maze called “Trapped.” Groups of up to six people pay a separate fee and get a reservation time for a one in a lifetime haunted house experience. You and your group are pushed to your limits in terms of fears, phobias and aversions in order to make your way out of the experience. I was too scared but I sent my husband through with a group of four others. He said it was the best experience he’s had at Knott’s Scary Farm ever and he’s be coming since 1988! Reservations must be made ahead of time and it sold out early this past weekend. The cost for the Trapped maze is $60 for up to six people.

There are mazes with clowns, vampires, Jack the Ripper, a twisted Pinocchio, Hunger Games themed and more. It’s a guaranteed fun night. I recommend visiting with a group which seems to magnify the fun.

I must warn you though, this event is not for young children. I would hesitate bringing any child younger than 14. My husband did not come until he was in junior high, which seems to be about the right age. There are some racy elements in the shows, but you are warned in advance before they begin.

We were there with on social media night and had the time of our lives. It is honestly the perfect date night and super fun when you make a group date of it. We had so much fun! Honestly, we were all laughing so hard, it brought me back to my teenage years. It was a night that won’t soon be forgotten.

The event runs this weekend and every weekend, Thursday through Sunday and October 30th and 31st. It is a separate ticketed event from the regular daytime admission, as the regular park closes at 5 PM on the days of Haunt. Tickets start at $36 in presale and can be found here at Knotts.com. The best nights to go are Thursdays as the weekends can get pretty busy. I like visiting earlier in the season as it tends to be less busy. For additional info head over here and be prepared for a spooky good time!

Disclosure: This is not a compensated post. I was invited to attend the Social Media Night, however all opinions are my very own.

Halloween Time at Disneyland

Fall is here again and that means Halloween Time at Disneyland. That park has been decorated for Halloween with dozens of jack-o-lanterns on Main Street, Haunted Mansion Holiday in New Orleans Square and the frighteningly fun Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy. The decorations last through Halloween and create a fun atmosphere at the park.

Halloween Time also means tis the season for Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland. We had a chance to experience it last Friday night. In addition to the Halloween Time events, Mickey’s Halloween Party also featured Mickey’s Costume Party Cavalcade with all your Disney favorites dressed in their Halloween costume. The parade also included some rarely seen characters such as the Country Bears, Clarabelle the Cow and even Miss Piggy!

The party also allows for trick or treating at treat stations located all around the park. There was all kinds of fun candy as well as healthy treats for the kiddos. Additional entertainment can be found around the park, such as Goofy at Pirate Palooza in Frontierland and Buzz Lightyear at Tomorrowland Terrace. Halloween Screams fireworks are held only during the Party, at 9:30 pm.