Irvine Park Railroad & OC Zoo
Daily, 6:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Train rides, the OC Zoo, paddle boats, bike rentals, panning for gold and playgrounds under 400-year-old sycamores.
ToddlersLittle kidsBig kids
714-973-6835
Orange County, California
Things to do with the kids this weekend.
Parks, farms, train rides, planetarium shows and festivals across OC — with the free ones marked, and everything filtered by your kids' ages.
Always on
Ten places and programmes that run every week or every month — no date to miss.
Tanaka Farms
Daily, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tractor tours, seasonal U-pick fields, a barnyard animal area and a farm-stand produce market. Book tours ahead.
ToddlersLittle kidsBig kids
949-653-2100Anaheim Packing District
FreeSun–Thu 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM, Fri–Sat until 11:00 PM
A preserved citrus packing warehouse turned market hall. Free to walk through, with live music on some evenings.
ToddlersLittle kidsBig kidsTeens
714-533-7225Balboa Fun Zone
Wed–Thu 12:00 – 5:00 PM, Fri–Sun 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Harbourfront Ferris wheel, arcade and rides. Makers in the Zone runs the first Thursday of each month.
Little kidsBig kidsTeens
949-662-0193OCC Planetarium
Weekend showings, times vary
Full-dome shows on a rotating schedule. The campus aquarium nearby is free to visit.
Little kidsBig kidsTeens
714-432-5072Pearson Park
FreeDaily, 5:00 AM – 10:30 PM
Duck pond, cactus garden, amphitheatre, playgrounds and walking paths in the middle of Anaheim.
ToddlersLittle kidsBig kids
714-765-5155Antique Airplane Display Days
FreeSecond Sunday of every month
Vintage aircraft on display, with owners on hand to talk to. There is a cafe overlooking the runway.
Little kidsBig kidsTeens
714-738-6323The Layover at Great Park
FreeSaturdays & Sundays, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Weekend open hours at Irvine's Great Park.
ToddlersLittle kidsBig kidsTeens
Home Depot Free Kids Workshops
FreeFirst Saturday of every month
A free build-it project each month. Check your nearest store for times and to reserve a spot.
Little kidsBig kids
Free Train Rides
FreeThird Saturday & Sunday of every month
A long-running free monthly ride. Confirm times with the organizer before travelling.
ToddlersLittle kids
Coming up
Jul
17
Orange County Fair 2026
Jul 17 – Aug 16, 2026
The 2026 theme is Your Adventure Awaits. Twenty-three days of rides, livestock, food and concerts.
ToddlersLittle kidsBig kidsTeens
714-708-1500Aug
2
CHOC Walk in the Park
Sun, Aug 2, 2026
A family walk supporting children's healthcare programs and research in Orange County.
ToddlersLittle kidsBig kidsTeens
Aug
3
Summer Adventure — Free Half-Day Camp
FreeAug 3 – 6, 2026, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Four free half-day mornings of games, crafts and stories.
Little kidsBig kids
714-538-9681Oct
31
Tanaka Farms Pumpkin Patch
Through Oct 31, 2026
Thirty-plus acres with wagon rides, a corn maze, a barnyard exhibit, U-pick pumpkin fields and festival games.
ToddlersLittle kidsBig kids
949-653-2100Oct
31
Irvine Park Railroad Pumpkin Patch
Through Oct 31, 2026
A not-so-spooky haunted house, hay maze, hayrides, harvest carnival games and train rides.
ToddlersLittle kidsBig kids
714-973-6835Irvine Global Village Festival
2026 date TBC
Music and dance performances from cultures around the world. Confirm the date with the organizer.
ToddlersLittle kidsBig kidsTeens
Irvine Park Railroad 30th Anniversary
2026 date TBC
Train rides drop to $2, the original 1996 price, alongside gold panning, carnival games and face painting.
ToddlersLittle kidsBig kids
714-973-6835Anaheim Children's Festival
FreeAnnually in May — 2027 date TBC
A free community day with arts and crafts, two performance stages and free lessons in art, dance and performance.
ToddlersLittle kidsBig kids
714-765-5155Everything on a map
Paid or ticketed Free
By city
Operated by Business Expo Center
Running something for families in OC?
OCFamilyExpo is run by Business Expo Center in Anaheim — list a class, camp, festival or family business free, or add a professionally filmed video introduction on a platform with 17 years of search authority.
List it free
Classes, camps, festivals and family businesses list at no cost.
Filmed introduction
One on-camera session becomes a long-form video plus four social cuts, yours to keep.
Talk to us
Business Expo Center, 1985 S Santa Cruz St, Anaheim, CA 92805 — 888-442-8900.
Common questions
What can I do with kids in Orange County this weekend?
Irvine Regional Park runs train rides and the OC Zoo daily, the OCC Planetarium in Costa Mesa shows on weekends, and the Anaheim Packing District is free to walk through seven days a week.
What free things are there to do with kids in Orange County?
Pearson Park in Anaheim, the Anaheim Packing District, The Layover at Great Park, Antique Airplane Display Days at Fullerton Airport on the second Sunday of each month, and Home Depot's free kids workshop on the first Saturday are all free.
Where can I take a toddler in Orange County?
Irvine Regional Park, Tanaka Farms in Irvine and Pearson Park in Anaheim all suit children under five, with short train rides, animals and enclosed playgrounds.
Where are the pumpkin patches in Orange County?
Tanaka Farms in Irvine and Irvine Park Railroad at Irvine Regional Park both run pumpkin patches through October 31, with wagon rides, mazes and U-pick fields.
When is the Orange County Fair?
The 2026 Orange County Fair runs July 17 to August 16 at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa, with the theme Your Adventure Awaits.
How do I get a family event listed?
Listings are free and handled through Business Expo Center in Anaheim, California.