Calabasas Fall Festival and Annual Pumpkin Celebration at De Anza Park

Honoring the historic harvest roots of Western Los Angeles County, the Calabasas Pumpkin Festival presents an iconic one-day fall festival near me at 3701 Lost Hills Rd, Calabasas, CA 91301. Staged at the picturesque Juan Bautista de Anza Park on Sunday, October 18, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, this civic harvest celebration honors the city's namesake derived from the Spanish word calabaza, meaning pumpkin or wild squash. Framed by the scenic oak-dotted hills of the Santa Monica Mountains, the event brings together community residents for an unforgettable day of live music, unlimited inflatable rides, and seasonal culinary delights. Set under warm October sunshine, the gathering celebrates the rich ranching legacy of the region while providing an energetic community festival where neighbors and visitors gather annually.

Organized annually by the City of Calabasas Community Services Department, the festival represents the premier civic autumn celebration in the Conejo and San Fernando valleys. Local historians and community leaders work collaboratively to preserve the authentic ranching and agricultural heritage of the region, ensuring that the day highlights community spirit, educational nature exhibits, and family recreation rather than commercial sales. Municipal organizers coordinate with regional park rangers, local artisans, and environmental educators to create an event that balances lively entertainment with genuine historical education.

The festival grounds are packed with exciting interactive attractions designed to entertain visitors across all generations throughout the day. Families can explore a massive open-air pumpkin patch stocked with locally grown carving pumpkins, test their balance on towering obstacle courses, and bounce inside energetic inflatable play structures. Educational exhibits feature live wildlife encounters presented by local nature centers, professional pumpkin-carving demonstrations by master sculptors, and a bustling artisan marketplace showcasing handmade autumn crafts, natural candles, and festive home decor. Children can also participate in hands-on harvest art projects and craft stations scattered throughout the festival.

Admission is all-inclusive, ensuring exceptional value for visiting families. Advance tickets purchased online through the official City of Calabasas municipal portal cost $15 per person through October 17, while tickets purchased at the gate on event day cost $20 per person. Please note that ticket sales close at 4:30 PM, thirty minutes prior to the 5:00 PM festival conclusion. Toddlers and infants under 24 months enter completely free of charge. General admission includes unlimited access to all children's inflatable rides, live stage concerts on two musical pavilions, youth craft activity zones, and seasonal contests.

Inside the open pumpkin patch, shoppers can select from thousands of fresh field-cut pumpkins displayed conveniently for easy family browsing. Visitors can inspect smooth carving jack-o-lanterns, miniature white ghost gourds, and colorful heirloom squashes arranged neatly along the park concourses. Surrounding concession stands lining the festival perimeter serve a wide variety of harvest dining options, including savory barbecue specialties, warm roasted sweet corn, pumpkin-flavored pastries, and seasonal autumn beverages crafted by local food vendors, offering plenty of delicious treats for hungry festival attendees.

Music and live performance serve as the energetic heartbeat of the festival throughout the afternoon across the park grounds. Two entertainment stages host a continuous lineup of popular regional bands playing classic rock, country, Motown, and lively dance hits that keep crowds moving. A dedicated children's stage features magic shows, reptile interaction workshops, and the popular annual pumpkin costume parade, where young guests parade in colorful handmade outfits. Between musical sets, families can cheer on contestants in the hilarious pumpkin pie eating contest or participate in the classic pumpkin seed spitting challenge on the lawn.

Timing your arrival guarantees a relaxing and stress-free day of festival fun for parents and children. Arriving between 9:45 AM and 10:30 AM is the ideal window to enter comfortably, claim prime picnic lawn seating, and enjoy early morning concerts before peak afternoon hours. Festival attendance typically peaks between 1:00 PM and 3:30 PM when stage lawns fill to capacity, while late afternoon provides cooler temperatures and shorter lines at the pumpkin pickup booths.

For a seamless experience, plan your arrival early to secure convenient parking in authorized event areas. If you wish to take home heavy carving pumpkins, consider purchasing them toward the conclusion of your afternoon visit so you do not have to carry them between concert stages or across the park lawns.

The surrounding Calabasas and Malibu canyon region offers spectacular natural and cultural extensions to complete your weekend adventure. Take a scenic fifteen-minute drive south along Malibu Canyon Road through the Santa Monica Mountains to explore pristine Pacific beaches and the historic Malibu Pier. Alternatively, stroll through the nearby historic Old Town Calabasas along Calabasas Road to view authentic 1880s Western storefronts and the landmark Leonis Adobe Museum.

Comprehensive amenities across Juan Bautista de Anza Park ensure safety and accessibility for all visitors throughout the day. The park features paved concrete walking concourses connecting the festival zones, permanent clean restrooms, baby-changing amenities, and shaded dining pavilions. Please note that there is NO ATM on site, so attendees planning on cash transactions should obtain cash beforehand; day-of ticket gates and food concessionaires accept credit cards and cash.

Combining historic regional pride, unlimited inflatable rides, and breathtaking mountain scenery, this annual event remains the definitive October festival in Western Los Angeles County. For anyone pursuing a joyous, community-centered fall festival near me in Los Angeles, the Calabasas Pumpkin Festival delivers an unmatched seasonal celebration.