Santa Barbara County Halloween Events 2026 – Best Things To Do
Last updated: August 22, 2026. We verify dates directly with event organizers and update this guide as new events are announced.
Halloween season is one of the most festive times of year in Santa Barbara County, with pumpkin patches, costume parades, haunted attractions, ghost tours, fall festivals, and family-friendly celebrations beginning as early as September. Our guide to the best Santa Barbara County Halloween events in 2026 brings together seasonal activities from across the county, whether you’re planning an outing with the kids, searching for a pumpkin patch, or looking for something a little spookier after dark.
From Santa Barbara and Lompoc to Solvang and the Santa Ynez Valley, there are plenty of ways to celebrate throughout October. Some events are designed with families in mind, while others—including paranormal investigations, haunted houses, winery events, and adult Halloween nights—are especially well suited to couples and grown-up visitors.
Below, you’ll find our curated list of 2026 Halloween events in Santa Barbara County, organized alphabetically by city to make planning easier. We’ll continue updating this guide as additional dates and events are announced, so check back as Halloween approaches.
Important Note: Please visit the attractions’ websites before visiting for the latest information and specific guidelines that apply to each listed attraction. Information may change after posting on our website.
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| Event | City | 2026 Date | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Business Treat Trail | Lompoc | TBA | Families & young kids |
| Zellers Farms Pumpkin Patch | Lompoc | TBA | Families & pumpkin picking |
| Lane Farms Pumpkin Patch | Santa Barbara | Sept. 26–Oct. 31 | Families, pumpkins & farm fun |
| Boo at the Zoo | Santa Barbara |
Oct. 16–31 Adult Night: Oct. 22 Nighttime Boo: Oct. 23–25 |
Families, couples & adults 21+ |
| Solvang Farmer Pumpkin Patch | Solvang | Open through Nov. 2 | Families, couples & corn maze |
| The Haunt Ghost Hunting Tour | Solvang | Select dates year-round | Couples, teens 12+ & paranormal fans |
| Festival Theater Paranormal Investigation | Solvang | Oct. 10 | Couples, ages 14+ & ghost hunters |
| Kids & Pets Costume Parade + Fall Festival | Solvang | Oct. 11 | Families, kids & pet owners |
| Adult Trick-or-Treat at Participating Wineries | Solvang | Oct. 16–18 | Couples & adult wine lovers |
| Solvang Haunted House | Solvang | Oct. 23–24 | Families, teens & scare seekers |
| Haunted House Street Fair + Hocus Pocus | Solvang | Oct. 23–24 | Families & couples |
Halloween Events Lompoc
Lompoc – Old Town Trick or Treat
Trick-or-Treating in Old Town Lompoc is a free community Halloween event, usually hosted in the days leading up to Halloween, where local businesses along South H Street and nearby storefronts hand out candy to kids. Families can also enjoy free children’s activities at Centennial Park, creating a festive, family-friendly atmosphere downtown. The event is open to all children (with an accompanying adult) and brings local shops and families together for a safe, fun Halloween outing.
Date: October 2026 – Exact date TBA
Time: 1 PM – 3 PM
Location: Old Town Lompoc, South H Street, Lompoc, CA 93436
Website: https://explorelompoc.com/blog/2026-events-festivals-in-lompoc/
Lompoc – Zellers Farms Pumpkin Patch
From traditional pumpkins to unique heirloom varieties, the pumpkin patch at Zellers Farms is sure to have the perfect pumpkin for you! While you’re there, wind your way through the corn maze, meet the menagerie of farm animals, and enter the Pumpkin Guess the Weight contest.
Dates: 2026 Dates & Times TBA
Location: 2050 Sweeney Rd., Lompoc, CA 93436
Website: Zellers Farms Pumpkin Patch
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Halloween Events Santa Barbara
Top Haunted Tours in Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara – Lane Farms Pumpkin Patch
Celebrate fall at Lane Farms Pumpkin Patch, a longtime Santa Barbara favorite offering pumpkins, farm animals, a corn maze, hayrides, and plenty of seasonal photo opportunities. The family-run farm provides an easygoing Halloween-season outing for visitors of all ages and is a convenient option for anyone looking for a traditional pumpkin patch experience close to downtown Santa Barbara.
Dates: September 26 – October 31, 2026
Location: 308 S. Walnut Lane, Santa Barbara, CA 93111
Website: https://www.lanefarmssb.com/pumpkin-patch/
Santa Barbara Zoo – Boo at the Zoo
The Santa Barbara Zoo gets into the Halloween spirit with Boo at the Zoo, offering several ways to celebrate in 2026. Families can visit during Daytime Boo, October 16–31 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., when the zoo adds festive Halloween activities to the regular daytime experience.
For an after-dark adventure, Nighttime Boo takes place October 23–25 from 5–8 p.m., with Halloween fun throughout the zoo in a family-friendly setting. Costumes are encouraged, making this a particularly fun option for families visiting Santa Barbara during Halloween weekend.
Adults can have some Halloween fun of their own during Adult Night at the Zoo on October 22 from 6–10 p.m. This 21-and-over evening offers a more grown-up way to enjoy the zoo after dark, making Boo at the Zoo one of our favorite Halloween options for couples in Santa Barbara County.
2026 Dates: October 16–31 for Daytime Boo; October 22 for Adult Night; October 23–25 for Nighttime Boo
Location: Santa Barbara Zoo, Santa Barbara
Best For: Families, couples, animal lovers, and visitors looking for a festive Halloween experience
Website: https://www.sbzoo.org/event-calendar/
Halloween Events Solvang
Solvang Adult Trick-or-Treat at Participating Wineries
Halloween isn’t just for kids in Solvang. During Adult Trick-or-Treat, participating local wineries get into the seasonal spirit, giving grown-up visitors a festive way to explore Solvang’s wine scene during Halloween weekend. It’s a particularly fun option for couples who want to combine wine tasting with the town’s October celebrations while enjoying the walkable atmosphere of downtown Solvang.
Date: October 16-18, 2026
Location: Solvang
Website: Spirits of Solvang: Harvest, Haunts & Happenings
Solvang Haunted House
Get ready for some serious scares at the Solvang Haunted House, a longtime Halloween tradition presented by Solvang Parks and Recreation at the Solvang Festival Theater. The 2026 theme, “Nightmares… And Beyond,” promises to bring visitors face-to-face with frightening scenes inspired by their deepest fears.
For younger guests or anyone who prefers fewer scares, a special kid-friendlier session runs from 6–6:30 p.m. before the full haunted-house experience begins. The attraction takes place alongside Solvang’s Haunted House Street Fair, making it easy to turn the evening into a larger Halloween outing with food, drinks, vendors, and other seasonal activities.
Dates: Friday & Saturday, October 23–24
Hours: 6–9:30 p.m.; Kid-Friendlier Session 6–6:30 p.m.
Location: Solvang Festival Theater, Solvang, California
Website: Visit Solvang – Spirits of Solvang: Harvest, Haunts & Happenings
Solvang Kids & Pets Costume Parade + Fall Festival
Bring the whole family — including four-legged family members — to Solvang for a full day of Halloween fun at the Kids & Pets Costume Parade + Fall Festival.
The festivities include seasonal vendors, face painting, games, family activities, live music, and downtown trick-or-treating, with the Kids & Pets Halloween Parade and Pet Costume Contest beginning at 11 a.m.
Creative costumes are encouraged, and prizes are awarded in several pet costume categories, including Best Overall, Most Creative, Best Pet/Owner Duo, Funniest, and Most Scary. Visitors can also meet adoptable animals from the Santa Ynez Valley Humane Society, making this a festive and especially family-friendly way to celebrate Halloween in Solvang.
Date: Sunday, October 11, 2026
Festival Hours: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; Parade & Pet Costume Contest at 11 a.m.
Location: Solvang Park, 1630 Mission Drive, Solvang, CA
Website: Visit Solvang – Spirits of Solvang: Harvest, Haunts & Happenings
Solvang – Solvang Farmers Pumpkin Patch
Get lost in the 14-acre corn maze and find your perfect pumpkin. Squash, gourds, and pumpkins range from tiny specimens to super-large ones. A perfect outing for Halloween family fun.
Dates: 2026 Dates and Times TBA
Location: 1035 Alamo Pintado Road, Solvang, CA
https://www.facebook.com/SolvangFarmerPumkinPatch/
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Solvang – The Haunt Ghost Hunting Tour
The Haunt is Solvang’s ghost tour that whisks you away into the haunted past of this unique Danish village. Embark on a thrilling adventure through the town’s haunted architecture, steeped in eerie tales of their phantom residents.
Accompanied by an experienced storyteller and ghost hunter, as featured on Ghost Adventures with Zak Bagans, experience a real interactive paranormal investigation that reveals different types of hauntings.
Perfect for families, couples, and children, The Haunt combines authentic ghost hunting with engrossing storytelling, making it an unforgettable journey into Solvang’s haunted past. Spots fill up fast, so book online now to secure your place in this otherworldly experience.
Dates: Nightly at 7 pm or 8 pm. Departures depending on the calendar
Experience length approximately 1.5–1.75 hours, with ages 12+ recommended.
Check the website for open dates.
Location: The meeting point is in central Solvang
Price: Starting at $49
Website: https://thehauntghosttours.com/tours/solvang/
Solvang Festival Theater Investigation with Spooky Foodie
Go beyond a traditional ghost tour with this special Halloween paranormal investigation from The Haunt Ghost Tours and Spooky Foodie at the historic Solvang Festival Theater. Participants have the chance to explore the theater after dark, learn about its eerie history, and search for possible paranormal activity with ghost-hunting equipment.
With its unusual setting and hands-on approach, this is one of the more distinctive Halloween experiences in Santa Barbara County and an especially intriguing choice for couples and adults looking for something spookier than the typical pumpkin patch or costume party.
Date: October 10, 2026
Location: Solvang Festival Theater, 420 Second Street, Solvang, CA 93463
Website: https://thehauntghosttours.com/tours/halloween-solvang-ghost-hunt/
Bookmark our Santa Barbara County Halloween Events Guide
Santa Barbara County offers many things to do between September and October to keep you in the Halloween spirit. We hope you’ve found this Santa Barbara County Halloween Events directory helpful and wish you a wonderful holiday season. Thanks for visiting our website.
We hope to see you at the places where we go.
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