Things to Do for Halloween in Big Bear

Halloween in Big Bear: Events, Things to Do, and a Weekend Itinerary

There is something a little magical about Halloween in the mountains. Crisp air, the smell of woodsmoke, golden aspen against dark pines, and a lake that goes silver at dusk: Big Bear gives the season a setting that a suburban cul-de-sac simply cannot match. Better still, the town leans in, with a genuine lineup of Halloween and fall events that runs for weeks, most of them squarely family-friendly.

This is the complete guide to a Big Bear Halloween: the signature events, the wider fall fun that pairs with them, an interactive planner to build your weekend, and the practical details that make the trip smooth. Because these events are annual and their dates, times, and prices shift from year to year, treat the specifics here as your starting point and confirm the current schedule as you plan.

The signature Halloween events in Big Bear

Big Bear’s Halloween calendar has real range, from gentle daytime fun for little ones to a few spookier options for older kids and adults. Here are the events that anchor the season.

Boo at the Zoo

A highlight for families, Boo at the Zoo brings costumed trick-or-treating and themed games to the Big Bear Alpine Zoo, with animal encounters and photo opportunities along the way. It is squarely aimed at kids and it is one of the most charming ways to spend a Halloween afternoon in the mountains.

Twilight Safari at the Alpine Zoo

For a slightly older-evening twist, the zoo’s Twilight Safari is a guided, hour-long tour focused on the animals that come alive after dark, with hot cocoa and cookies to keep the chill off. It runs on select autumn evenings and tends to cost around $30 per person, with tickets sold online ahead of time. Bring a jacket, because October evenings in Big Bear get cold.

Halloween in the Village

On and around Halloween, Big Bear Village hosts a safe, festive trick-or-treat celebration: kids in costume make the rounds of the shops for candy, with music and decorations setting the mood. It is the classic, walkable, family-friendly Halloween evening, and it is free to enjoy.

The community pumpkin patch and Mystery Maze

A community pumpkin patch, in past years hosted by the Lions Club, typically offers pumpkins, carnival games, and a hay maze for a low-key family afternoon. In nearby Fawnskin, the Mystery Maze at the Moose Lodge is a low-scare glowing maze full of lights and gentle surprises, a good pick for families with younger kids who want the fun without the fright. Confirm the current dates for both before you go.

Spookier options and the fall finale

For those who want a few more scares, Friday Night Frights at Meadow Park dials up the spooky on October Fridays, and Big Bear’s escape rooms run a fittingly eerie Asylum theme for teens and adults. Thrill-seekers can zip the treetops on the Pumpkin Smash zipline tours offered on October Saturdays, and the season builds to Oktoberfest, where Bavarian food, live bands, and costume contests close things out with family daytime hours and a 21-and-over beer garden. A Halloween Send-Off weekend at the resort, with glow night golf and outdoor movies, rounds out the calendar.

The broader fall experience

Part of what makes a Big Bear Halloween special is everything else autumn brings. Time your trip well and the fall color is beautiful, so build in a golden-season hike or a lakeside walk to soak it up. For the big view with minimal effort, the Scenic Sky Chair lifts you above the treeline to take in the changing colors across the mountains.

Then there is the cozy side of the season, which the cabin does best: an afternoon of pumpkin carving on the deck, a spooky movie by the fire, and hot cider after a cold day out. Those simple, unhurried moments are often the ones the kids remember most, and they cost nothing but the pumpkins. Browse the rest of the season’s options across things to do in Big Bear to fill out the trip.

Build your Spooky Halloween weekend in Big Bear

With so much on offer, the trick is fitting it to your family. Use the planner below to build a Halloween itinerary around how long you are staying and how old your kids are, from little ones who want low-scare fun to teens ready for the frights. Print your plan and bring it along, and remember to confirm this year’s dates and times before you go.

For younger kids, older kids, and grown-ups

Big Bear’s Halloween scales nicely across ages, which is what makes it such a good family trip. For younger kids, keep it to the gentle, joyful stuff: Boo at the Zoo, trick-or-treating in the Village, the pumpkin patch, and the low-scare Mystery Maze, all wrapped up early before bedtime. The costumes, the candy, and the animals are plenty of magic for little ones.

For older kids and teens, you can add a jolt: Friday Night Frights, the Asylum escape room, and the Pumpkin Smash zipline give them the thrill they are after, and a zipline tour is a memorable group adventure. And the grown-ups are not left out: Oktoberfest, a tasting-room stop, a fireside evening with the good candy after the kids crash, and the quiet of a dark mountain sky make the trip yours too. You can pack more in with the guided tours and activities around Big Bear.

Practical planning and why a cabin wins

A little preparation makes the weekend smoother. Late October in Big Bear is properly autumnal: pleasant, crisp days can turn cold fast once the sun drops, and nights at 6,750 feet are chilly, with the possibility of an early-season snow flurry. Costume planning has to account for that, so layer warm clothes under or over the costume, pack hats and gloves, and bring sturdy shoes for walking. Daylight fades earlier too, so plan outdoor events for earlier in the day.

All of which is why a cabin beats a hotel for a Halloween weekend. A full kitchen means a warm Halloween dinner and hot cider on your own schedule, a hot tub thaws everyone out after a cold evening of trick-or-treating, and there is room for the whole family or a group of friends to spread out, carve pumpkins, and settle in for a movie. Being close to the Village and the zoo keeps the driving short, and having your own cozy base turns a busy day of events into a proper holiday. When you are ready, browse Big Bear cabins for the whole family and pick your Halloween basecamp.

Frequently asked questions for About Halloween in Big Bear