Calabasas throws a party for its own name on Sunday, October 18, 2026. The city’s Pumpkin Festival takes over Juan Bautista de Anza Park from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with a pumpkin patch, professional pumpkin carving, pumpkin pie by the slice, pumpkin beer, unlimited inflatable rides, and a costume dance party for kids.
The name connection is the whole point. The city says Calabasas comes from the Spanish “calabaza,” meaning pumpkin or gourd, and local folklore tells of a wagon of pumpkins that overturned in the area and seeded the hills. Here is how to plan the day, from the City of Calabasas festival pages and ticket page as of September 28, 2026.
The quick version
| When | Sunday, October 18, 2026, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Ticket sales end at 4:30 p.m. |
| Where | Juan Bautista de Anza Park, Calabasas |
| Highlights | Pumpkin patch, pumpkin carving, 75-plus Marketplace vendors, live bands, reptile and bug shows, inflatables |
| Ages | All ages. Kids under 24 months free |
| Tickets | $15 online in advance, $20 on the day, plus processing fees |
| Parking | Free, with free shuttles to the gate |
| Payment | Cash or card at the gate. Some vendors may be cash only, and there are no ATMs |
| Official site | cityofcalabasas.com |
What’s on the menu
- Pumpkin pie for purchase, by the slice or the whole pie.
- Pumpkin treats and other food in the Food Court, plus food trucks. The festival says to look for orange pumpkin flags, which mark vendors selling pumpkin-flavored treats.
- Pumpkin beer in the festival beer garden.
- The Marketplace has more than 75 vendors selling pumpkin, Halloween, harvest, and home and garden items.
Pumpkins, pumpkins, pumpkins
- A pumpkin patch to pick your own.
- Professional pumpkin carving and spooky squash sculptures by Peculiar Pumpkin Portraits.
- Pumpkin painting and seasonal crafts.
What your ticket includes
- Unlimited inflatable rides and games.
- Creepy Crawly and Critter Shows from The Reptile Family, with a new show every 30 minutes.
- Photos and dance parties with Punky and other Halloween characters.
- Live bands on the main stage. The ticket page lists sets from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., with performers to be announced.
- Contests, games, and car displays.
The kids’ costume move
At 11 a.m., the Monster Mash-up Costume Party invites kids 12 and under to come in costume for a dance party, then grab a pumpkin to paint and decorate. With small kids, plan to arrive near the 10 a.m. opening so you are there in time.
Tickets
- Advance: $15 per person online through TicketLeap, plus fees ($16.30 with the service fee, and TicketLeap adds a 3% online transaction fee). The discount ends Saturday, October 17, at 11:59 p.m.
- Event day: $20 per person, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., online or by card (processing fees apply) or cash at the door.
- Free: children under 24 months.
- No refunds.
A heads-up from the city: someone has been posing as a city staff member and contacting potential festival vendors, sometimes asking for payment. The city says to verify any such request before sending money or personal information.
Getting there
Take the 101 Freeway and exit Lost Hills Road in Calabasas, then follow the signs to free parking at the corner of Agoura Road and Lost Hills. Parking is in designated business lots along Lost Hills and Agoura Road, and free shuttles run to the main ticket gate from 9:45 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tow-away zones are strictly enforced. The city also posts neighborhood traffic advisories for festival day on its site.
Family notes
- Dogs: Friendly dogs on leashes are allowed on the grounds but not on the shuttles (service animals excepted), and not in some children’s activity zones or the food court. Much of the festival is on asphalt, so the city suggests leaving pets home on a hot day.
- Bring cash for vendors that need it. There are no ATMs.
Accessibility
Accessible parking is on Lost Hills Road in designated spaces next to the shuttle stops, and the free shuttles have a platform lift. For other questions, call the City of Calabasas at (818) 224-1600.
More pumpkin outings
If one pumpkin day is not enough, The 824 Journal has also covered the Irvine Park Railroad Pumpkin Patch, the Tanaka Farms Pumpkin Patch, and Discovery Cube’s Pumpkin Palooza in Orange County.
Still to come
The main stage band lineup is listed as coming soon, and the city’s event map and event schedule links had not been updated with 2026 details when we checked. The 824 Journal will update this guide when they are posted.
Sources
- City of Calabasas: Pumpkin Festival (date, hours, name history)
- City of Calabasas: Admission and Info (prices, inclusions, cash, dogs)
- City of Calabasas: Parking and Directions (directions, parking, shuttles, accessible parking)
- City of Calabasas: Entertainment and Activities
- TicketLeap: Calabasas Pumpkin Festival 2026 (fees, band set times, pumpkin carving)
Featured photo: Patrick Pelletier via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
