Top 12 Things to Do to Celebrate Fall in SoCal
Fall is one of my favorite seasons, and in SoCal, it’s an exciting time with lots of fun activities to enjoy. The country farms are awash with bright orange pumpkins, it’s grape harvesting season, Thanksgiving is coming back around, plus, in the mountains, you can even see the colors of the leaves changing.
Whether you’re searching for the best pumpkin spiced latte, joining in with Halloween celebrations at Disneyland Resort and LEGOLAND, or just want to escape to nature and hike in national parks, this season has something for everyone.
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In this article, I’ll show you the best things to do this fall in Southern California to inspire you to plan your trip!
1. Visit a Pumpkin Patch at Live Oak Canyon Farm
Located in Redlands, the Live Oak Canyon Farm Pumpkin Patch is the largest of its kind in SoCal. It’s a fun place to visit with family, offering a myriad of photo opportunities and fall activities.
Pick your pumpkin, enjoy rides and attractions, and navigate your way through the Corn Maze before heading to the Food Court for a tasty seasonally inspired snack.
2. Plan a Mini Getaway to Palm Springs
There’s no better place to celebrate fall than in Palm Springs. This glitzy desert retreat a short drive from San Diego and Los Angeles is a place to chill poolside as October and November temperatures still reach a balmy 70°F.
Enjoy hikes and guided tours of Joshua Tree National Park, ride on the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, and visit Palm Springs Art Museum, before venturing out for dinner at the romantic Birba Palm Springs.
Tours I recommend:
→Stargazing in Joshua Tree National Park
3. Sample Wine and Tread the Grapes in Temecula
One of the best things to do this fall in Southern California is go wine tasting. I love Temecula Wine Country, particularly in September, because this is wine month in California!
The grapes are plump and succulent, ready for harvest, and since there are almost 50 wineries in the valley, it’s a great place to sample the newest offerings.
You can take a tour, stay the night, enjoy grape-themed festivities (including picking and stomping), and enjoy a hot-air balloon adventure over the vineyards in the morning!
Tours I recommend:
→ Temecula’s Best Wine Tasting Tour
→Temecula Shared Hot Air Balloon Ride
→Skyward at Sunrise: A Premiere Temecula Balloon Adventure
4. Have a Thanksgiving Picnic on the Beach
When the Thanksgiving celebrations are over, pack your leftovers into a picnic basket and spend a day at the beach with family and friends. With the sun shining and temperatures still warm enough for paddling in the ocean, it’s a fun, relaxing day out.
I recommend Salt Creek Beach at Dana Point. It has plenty of grassy areas, barbeques, picnic tables, and outstanding views. There’s also La Jolla Beach north of San Diego – a stunning location where seals and sea lions frolic nearby on the rocks.
5. Celebrate Oktoberfest in Los Angeles
Just because you’re not in Germany, it doesn’t mean you can’t don your lederhosen or wear your traditional dirndl dress! At LA’s annual Oktoberfest, anything goes.
If you enjoy sipping craft beers and feasting on succulent sausages, this is the place to be. Get ready to sing along to oompah bands, clink your steins, and dance till dawn at this fabulous festival held at various locations throughout the city.
6. Go to the Apple Days Festival in Julian
The pretty gold rush town of Julian, located along the Sunrise Scenic Byway in SoCal, has one of the best things to do this fall in Southern California.
In late September, the town hosts its annual Apple Days Festival. Don your boots and head for the orchards to pick your own, then partake in cider drinking, warm apple pie eating, scarecrow building, and celebrate the harvest California-style with locals.
7. Brick-or-Treat Parties in LEGOLAND
Take the kids to LEGOLAND in Carlsbad on selected days throughout September and October for Brick-or-Treat. The theme park delights with shows, new LEGO characters, a monster party, live entertainment, and plenty of trick-or-treating!
Dress up in costume to fully immerse yourself in this magical fall experience.
→LEGOLAND California Tours and Tickets
8. Sip Pumpkin Spiced Lattes in San Diego Coffee Shops
As an avid coffee drinker, I love it when fall comes around and coffee shops in San Diego and LA start to introduce their seasonal menus.
I’ve sampled a few pumpkin-spiced lattes in my time, but one of the best I’ve tasted is served at Communal Coffee in North Park, San Diego. The baristas often dress up in costume around Halloween and their spiced lattes have just the right hint of pumpkin – not too sweet.
9. Halloween at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim
There’s no time more thrilling at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim than Halloween. With haunted mansions, your favorite Disney characters in colorful costumes, trick-or-treating, fireworks extravaganzas, and a neon Sleeping Beauty Castle light show, it’s a fun fall experience not to be missed.
→ Disneyland Resort Tickets – California Residents Offer
10. See Fall Foliage at Big Bear Lake
SoCal isn’t New England, so the changing colors of the leaves in fall aren’t visible everywhere. However, you still can see amber, crimson, and gold colors adorning the trees in mountainous environments like Big Bear.
Venture along the Pine Knot Trail next to the lake or Mill Creek Road for the best examples of fall foliage, and don’t forget to bring your camera! While in the area, make a stop at The Village to browse quaint specialty shops or take a fun walking tour that doubles as a Scavenger Hunt!
I love Big Bear and try to visit there at least once every fall. The leaves are just gorgeous!
11. See the Christmas Lights
Now, are you looking for things to do this December in SoCal? Why not check out the festive lights? In San Diego, the Christmas spirit comes to life as the city transforms into a veritable wonderland of twinkling lights.
One of the best ways to see them is on an evening tour of the city, taking in downtown, the Gaslamp Quarter, and Balboa Park. Or, instead, you could pop to Descanso Gardens just north of Glendale near Los Angeles.
From November until early January, explore the 3D light installations, stained glass houses, and ancient forests illuminated by atmospheric lights. It’s a truly magical experience for all ages! One of my favorite places in the city.
Tours I recommend:
12. Channel Islands National Park Whale Watching
Searching for more things to do in December in SoCal? Venture off-shore to Channel Islands National Park. This hidden gem off the Los Angeles coast is just a short trip from the mainland via private boat transfer.
The sunsets are some of the best along the coast, plus, there are hiking trails with incredible views. It’s also the best time of the year for gray whale watching!
Which activity from this are you planning to check out to celebrate fall in Southern California? Leave me a comment below!
Planning a trip right now? Here are a few of my top resources I use to book every trip.
Booking.com for great deals on hotels.
Get Your Guide for incredible tours around the world.
SafetyWing for travel insurance for digital nomads and long-term travelers.
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