9 Things to Do in Anaheim in September 2026

September is kind of a weird month in Southern California. Summer technically isn't over, the weather usually hasn't gotten the memo that fall is coming, but somehow pumpkins are already everywhere.

And honestly, we’re fine with that.

If you’re looking for things to do in Anaheim in September 2026, this is actually a pretty packed month. Disneyland is already fully into Halloween mode, baseball season is heading into its final stretch, spooky attractions are starting to open and there are plenty of things happening outside of the theme parks too.

Whether you're visiting Anaheim for Labor Day weekend, coming into town for an event, or you're a local who just wants something different to do this weekend, here are nine ideas worth checking out.

1. Celebrate Halloween Early at Disneyland

Yes, September is early for Halloween.

No, Disneyland does not care.

Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort started August 21 this year and runs through October 31, which means September is actually one of the best times to see the parks dressed up for spooky season.

You'll find the giant Mickey pumpkin on Main Street, seasonal food and treats, characters in Halloween costumes and special attraction overlays throughout the resort.

Over at Disney California Adventure, Cars Land becomes “Radiator Screams,” while Guardians of the Galaxy transforms into Monsters After Dark later in the day.

It scratches the Halloween itch without being especially scary, so this is a good option if you have younger kids or someone in the group who absolutely refuses to walk through a haunted house.

2. Try a Spooky Escape Room

If September has you wanting something creepy but you’re not quite ready to have a chainsaw-wielding monster chase you down a hallway, an escape room is a pretty good middle ground.

We might be a little biased on this one.

Our 13th Basement escape room at Exit Game OC is a horror-comedy game about a serial killer who loves escape rooms so much that he decided to build his own.

Normal hobby.

You have 60 minutes to work through a large, multi-room adventure and figure out how to escape. There are creepy sets, fake blood, body parts, a few jump scares and some surprises, but the game is much more funny than terrifying.

Most importantly for the easily frightened members of your group: there are no live actors inside the room.

It's recommended for teens and adults and every game is private, so you won't be paired with strangers.

And if spooky really isn't your thing, our other game Meow! I'm a Cat goes approximately as far in the other direction as humanly possible. You play as cats who have accidentally been put up for adoption and have 60 minutes to get the pet shop owner to contact your real owner before the adoption event starts.

So, serial killer basement or cats. We contain multitudes.

3. Check Out Anaheim's New Haunted House

Now for the people who do want monsters chasing them.

Eulogy Collective at Anaheim GardenWalk is kicking off its new haunted attraction, Shades of Hell, on September 11.

Unlike a lot of Southern California haunts that only appear for a few weeks around Halloween, Eulogy is a year-round horror attraction right here in Anaheim. They also operate a Spooky Boo-tique for horror and Halloween merchandise.

Shades of Hell is a live-actor haunted walkthrough, so expect this one to be quite a bit more intense than 13th Basement.

We're also always happy to see another independent attraction doing something creative in Anaheim. There's alot more going on around here than just the giant theme parks, and places like Eulogy are a good example of it.

We'll have much more on them in our upcoming Anaheim Spooky Season guide.

4. Catch One of the Angels' Last Home Stands of the Season

September means baseball season is starting to wind down, but there are still plenty of opportunities to catch the Angels at Angel Stadium.

The month starts with the Yankees in town on September 1 and 2. The Angels then return home later in the month for series against Seattle and Minnesota, including a long run of home games September 14 through September 20.

Even if you're not a massive baseball fan, an evening game can be a pretty easy Anaheim night out. Grab some food, watch a few innings and enjoy being outside once the temperature finally starts behaving itself.

Angel Stadium is also surrounded by plenty of places to grab dinner or a drink before or after the game.

5. Spend an Afternoon at the Anaheim Packing District

If your group can never agree on where to eat, the Anaheim Packing District solves that problem pretty quickly.

The centerpiece is the historic Anaheim Packing House, a restored citrus packing facility that's now filled with restaurants, drinks and dessert spots. There's indoor and outdoor seating, Farmers Park next door and enough choices that everyone should be able to find something they want.

September also has a few events happening around the district.

On September 12, The Makers Hive Market is scheduled to take over Farmers Park from noon to 4 p.m. with more than 45 local artisans and makers plus music.

There are also smaller live music and special events throughout the month, so it's worth checking the Packing District calendar before you head over.

This is a particularly good “we don't actually have a plan” destination. Show up hungry and figure it out from there.

6. Go to BlizzCon

September is a huge month for gaming fans because BlizzCon returns to the Anaheim Convention Center September 12–13, 2026. 

The convention brings Blizzard fans together for a weekend celebrating games like Warcraft, Diablo and Overwatch, and it typically draws visitors from all over the world.

Even if you're coming primarily for BlizzCon, don't spend the entire trip inside the Convention Center.

Anaheim has a ton of restaurants, breweries and attractions within a short drive, and September is a particularly good month to explore because the Halloween stuff has already started popping up everywhere.

Also, yes, doing an escape room with the people you've spent all weekend gaming with feels extremely on-brand. Just saying.

7. Explore Downtown Anaheim

One of the most overlooked things to do in Anaheim is simply getting away from the Resort District for a few hours.

Head toward Center Street Promenade and Downtown Anaheim, where you'll find independent restaurants, coffee shops, small businesses, public art and the nearby Packing District.

It's much more of a local Anaheim experience than what you'll find immediately surrounding Disneyland.

The Downtown Anaheim Farmers Market also runs on Thursdays, making this an easy daytime stop if you're visiting during the week.

You can easily combine Center Street, the Packing House and a brewery into one afternoon without spending the whole day driving around Orange County.

8. Visit Muzeo Museum and Cultural Center

While you're Downtown, check out Muzeo Museum and Cultural Center.

Muzeo hosts rotating exhibitions, art, local history and community events inside a complex that includes Anaheim's historic Carnegie Library.

September has several smaller events scheduled, including Gallery Storytime dates throughout the month and a SHAG Store x Muzeo Mixer on September 13.

It's an especially good option if you want something indoors during the hottest part of the afternoon, because September in Anaheim can still feel suspiciously like August.

Fall weather is more of a suggestion here.

9. Make Your Own Anaheim Brewery Crawl

Anaheim has a surprisingly good craft beer scene and you definitely don't need to go far to find it.

On the east side of Anaheim, Brewery X has a huge indoor/outdoor setup and is particularly good for groups. Bottle Logic Brewing is another local favorite nearby and is known for getting a little more experimental with its beers.

Closer to Downtown, you've also got breweries around the Packing District, making it pretty easy to pair dinner with a couple local stops.

Obviously if you're brewery hopping, bring a designated driver or use a rideshare. Nobody needs their fun Anaheim weekend concluding with a drastically less fun Anaheim adventure.

September Is When Anaheim Starts Getting Spooky

September might not get as much attention as summer or October, but it's actually one of our favorite times of year in Anaheim.

You still have baseball, warm nights and summer activities, while all of the Halloween decorations and spooky attractions are starting to show up at the same time.

And this is just the beginning.

Over the next few weeks we'll be putting together our 2026 Anaheim Spooky Season Guide, including haunted houses, Halloween events and some things to do if you want spooky without spending the entire day at a theme park.

In the meantime, if you want to start Halloween season with a creepy adventure and a few laughs, come see us at Exit Game OC in Anaheim and see if your group can survive the 13th Basement.

You've got 60 minutes.

Probably.