Newport Beach Halloween Spooktacular

What It Is

The Newport Beach Halloween Spooktacular is the city's free 9th-annual Halloween event at Mariners Park and the VJ Community Center on Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 3 to 6 p.m. The program includes trunk-or-treat, a haunted walkthrough, carnival games, bounce houses, a DJ, pumpkin decorating (while supplies last), food trucks, and a costume contest.

Why Go

Free admission at a city park with a real activity mix (not just trunk-or-treat), plus a haunted walkthrough that is scaled for the all-ages crowd. If you want a Saturday-afternoon Halloween event that wraps before dinner, this is the Newport version of the format.

What To Know Before You Go

Location: Mariners Park and the VJ Community Center, 1300 Irvine Ave, Newport Beach. Date: Saturday, October 24, 2026. Hours: 3 to 6 p.m. Admission: free. Food is for sale from vendors. Costume contest: sign-up at the City booth 3 to 4:30 p.m., contest at 4:45. Categories include Mini Monster (5 and under). Haunted walkthrough: line closes at 5:45 p.m. Parking: limited; the city encourages walking or biking. Pro tip: sign up for the contest early in the window; the line fills before 4:30.

The Honest Take

Mariners Park is a working city park, which means the Spooktacular format has to share the footprint with the usual Saturday park use. Parking is the honest friction here: walk or bike if you can; the surrounding streets fill fast. The haunted walkthrough is the differentiator from a straight trunk-or-treat, so stake out time for it before the 5:45 line close.