Southern California Pumpkin Patches and Festivals

It's October and time to visit pumpkin patches and festivals. Many pumpkin patches are ongoing from the last bits of September into the first days of November; others are just one weekend events. As the holiday approaches, look around your own neighborhood for some fun little parking lot pumpkin pockets too! Always check the websites for coupons before heading out, and keep your eyes open for Groupon, LivingSocial, and Amazon Local deals, too! 

These are some of our favorites. Be sure to click "Read more" to get more information about these great pumpkin patches and festivals:

• 21st Annual Cal Poly Pomona Pumpkin Festival
• Calabasas Pumpkin Festival
• 1st Annual Haunted History at Los Encinos
• Underwood Family Farms
• Halloween Harvest Festival at Pierce Farm
• Irvine Park Railroad Pumpkin Patch
• Pa’s Pumpkin Patch 
•  Filmore Pumpkinliner
• Mr. Bone’s Pumpkin Patch
• Tanaka Farms 

Best Of October, Southern California Events

We've added nearly 200 events to the October calendar! With so many cool things to do, these are some of my favorites. (Click on the links to get more information.)

Courtesy of Pacific Asia Museum

• Mid-Autumn Moon Celebration -- Enjoy Traditional Dance and musical performances, Shaolin Kung Fu, crafts, painting demonstrations, Tea and Mooncake samples, plus historical Chinese Costumes.
• Alpine Village Oktoberfest -- Perhaps you’re recalling Oktoberfest as the rather drunken way you passed a month in those long ago, pre-kid days. No more Oktoberfests for you! But wait: Yummy Food, people who wear Lederhosen, Oom-Pah Bands, Crazy Chicken Dancing! That sounds like something the kids could love! (And, yes, there is Beer.)
• Artisanal L.A. Fall Show -- Taste, shop and sample at this seasonal show that celebrates the city’s finest local Artisanal Vendors and Handmade Edibles. Kids can learn the difference between handmade delicious and mass-produced blah (and do come Cool Crafts themselves); you can get a jump start on Holiday Gifts and pantry staples.
• Autumn Sea Fair -- It’s an autumn fair without a pumpkin in sight, a welcome relief this time of year! Instead, this unique event offers Ocean-related activities for every age, including Face-Painting, an exciting marine life Puppet Show, and a Giant Origami demonstration. 
• 1st Annual Haunted History at Los Encinos -- A family friendly Haunted History program at Los Encinos State Historic Park. Activities include Pumpkin Carving, Trickhistory-or-Treat, Ghostly Noise contest, Jake Storyville Ghost Story Time, Haunted Tours, Unliving History costumed characters, twilight Blacksmith demonstration, and a screening of the spooky silent film, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari.

Go Camping! And Fishing!

Anyone receiving SSI (or meeting certain other low-income requirements) is eligible for free vehicle entry and parking at any California State Park. The Golden Bear Pass is only good for one calendar year, so we're either very late or very early with this information.[1]

In addition, California State Parks provide a 50% discount on most facilities (including campgrounds and boat use), parking and entries to Regional Center clients and others with disabilities. See Disabled Discount Pass Application. The pass costs $3.50 and is good for life. Regional Center clients and people with mobility impairments (among others) also may get free fishing licenses. See "Free and Reduced Fee Sport Fishing Licenses". (Application form available for download at the site.)

Available to SSI recipients and anyone with a documented permanent disability is an Access Pass for free entry to U.S. National Parks, as well as discounts to some "expanded amenities" (campsites, swimming, boat launching, etc.). See "Access Pass Benefits". (Apparently, not all parks offer discounts on expanded amenities to Access Pass holders, or discounts may vary, so ask ahead.)
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[1]  Also, the Golden Bear Pass does not apply to campsites, boat launching, and other special uses.

More Great Ideas!

North Los Angeles County Regional Center (NLACRC) is working with Disneyland to offer discounted admission tickets to NLACRC clients. Applications must be completed and approved this fall, and the tickets are good for certain weeks in January and February 2014. The exact application due dates, Disneyland visit dates and discount prices are not yet finalized, but you can start the application process now by completing a Release of Information Form (required). More information is at NLACRC's Disneyland Community Involvement Program site. Do you know of other regional centers offering the same program?

Happy New Year! Vista Del Mar is offering a New Year's Deal for its new Sundays at Vista Judaica program: The entire first term, starting 9/29, is free to any registering by break fast or 9:00pm on Yom Kippur (9/14), a $270 value. Sundays at Vista Judaica is a new, fully inclusive program offering camp-style arts and recreation infused with Jewish themes and celebration. For ages 8-14. (Registration form is at the website.)

Free Museum Days

Did you know, the following museums (among others) offer free days:

The Huntington (1st Thursday of the month, advance tickets required) (Pasadena)
The Getty Center (Every day, Yay!) (closed Mondays) (Sepulveda Pass)
The Getty Villa  (Every day, yay!, but advance tickets required) (Malibu)
LACMA (2nd Tuesday of the month, and Mon-Fri after 5:00 for L.A.County residents, and any day for children under 18)
The Norton Simon (1st Friday of the month, but only from 6pm-9pm, plus any day for children, military and students)
Natural History Museum (1st Tuesday of  the month, Woo Hoo!, except July and August, Boo Hoo!).

More free museums and free-days at the museum are listed at the Getty's website. (Digital image courtesy of The Getty's Open Content Program.)

L.A.Public Library Classes & Activities

The L.A. Public Libraries offer hundreds of free classes and activities throughout Los Angeles County --  including movies, book clubs, chess clubs, storytimes, teen videgaming clubs, school tutoring, yoga, art and computer classes. These can be great opportunities to meet peers, to socialize, and to learn new skills.


To get updates on all the classes and activities in your neighborhood, click the LAPL calendar and on the left side, change "all regions" to your local area to narrow, and speed up, your search.

Welcome!

ALLYnceFun, is where we'll be providing information about recreational and social activities in the Southern California area. We even have a calendar of local events and activities for all abilities, ages and wallets! We'll be updating the calendar regularly, so please check often for the latest news.

I hope you enjoy our site, come back for more, and maybe join in on some of our conversations. And, please, if you know of any upcoming events, or have any ideas for new topics, Talk To Us!