Weekend Guide
Weekend Events in Santa Clarita: October 16-18, 2026
This weekend the Jeepers Creepers Halloween Marathon lines up at Heritage Park on Sunday morning, Steven Curtis Chapman brings his Speechless 25th Anniversary Tour to Grace Baptist Church on Saturday night, the Spacerock Trail Race takes runners onto the singletrack at Vasquez Rocks, and Gilchrist Farm keeps its full harvest festival rolling. Here is the complete October 16-18 weekend plan from your local insider, Sam Silver.
October 16-18, 2026 Sam Silver 6 min read
Mid-October is peak race season in the SCV. Friday, October 16, keeps the spook going with Fright Fest at Six Flags Magic Mountain, while the Haunted Jailhouse season watch continues for its late-October opening. Saturday, October 17, brings the Spacerock Trail Race, a full Gilchrist Farm harvest day, Bark for Life at the Canyon Country Community Center, the SoCal Etsy Guild Market near the Valencia Town Center, and a rare big-name concert night with Steven Curtis Chapman at Grace Baptist Church. Sunday, October 18, is the Jeepers Creepers Halloween Marathon at Heritage Park, a USATF-certified Boston Qualifier on the SCV bike path, with the free Placerita Canyon Nature Center program at 2 PM. Sam's full weekend guide has every time and place.
Friday, Oct 16
Fright Fest night, Haunted Jailhouse watch
Saturday, Oct 17
Spacerock Trail Race, Chapman concert, Gilchrist Farm
Saturday AM
Old Town Newhall Farmers Market, 8:30 AM - 1 PM
Sunday, Oct 18
Jeepers Creepers Marathon, COC market
Current Weekend Events
This weekend's events, listed newest first. All times and venues as confirmed on the city calendar and with each organizer.
Jeepers Creepers Halloween Marathon
Sunday, Oct 18 · 7:00-7:45 AM starts · Heritage Park
The 4th annual Jeepers Creepers Marathon returns to Heritage Park on Newhall Ranch Road Sunday morning, with the full marathon starting at 7:00 AM, the half at 7:15, the 10K at 7:30, and the 5K at 7:45. The course runs the paved Santa Clarita bike path, so it is fast, mostly flat, and genuinely pretty in the early-autumn light. It is a USATF-certified Boston Qualifier, costumes are welcome, and the post-race tradition is street tacos. Register ahead online through Elite Sports California; the start line at Heritage Park fills early.
Steven Curtis Chapman: SPEECHLESS 25th Anniversary Tour
Saturday, Oct 17 · 7:00 PM · Grace Baptist Church, Santa Clarita
Five-time Grammy winner Steven Curtis Chapman brings his Speechless 25th Anniversary Tour to Grace Baptist Church in Santa Clarita on Saturday night at 7 PM. It is a chance to hear a catalog full of hits from one of the most decorated artists in contemporary Christian music, and a big-name concert night that does not require driving to Los Angeles. Tickets typically sell out in advance for stops like this, so grab seats early.
Spacerock Trail Race
Saturday, Oct 17 · from 7:40 AM · Vasquez Rocks Natural Park, Agua Dulce
Trail runners get their day on Saturday, October 17 with the 10th annual Spacerock Trail Race at Vasquez Rocks Natural Park in Agua Dulce, one of the region's signature off-road events. The half marathon starts at 7:40 AM, the 15K at 7:50, the 10K at 8:00, and the 5K at 12:30 PM, sending fields over rocky climbs, canyon views, and real descent miles. It is the opposite of Sunday's paved road race, and October canyon weather is usually excellent.
Gilchrist Farm Harvest Festival & Pumpkin Patch
Saturday & Sunday · 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM · Bouquet Canyon
Gilchrist Farm runs full festival weekends through November 1, and this is the fourth one of the season. Saturday and Sunday from 9 AM to 6 PM the Bouquet Canyon farm fills with live music, food, horseback riding, archery, pig races, farm-animal visits, and gemstone mining, with the pumpkin patch at the center of it all. Admission and parking are free, so grab the family after the Sunday race crowd clears out or make it the Saturday adventure.
Dial M for Murder at the Canyon Theatre Guild
Friday, Oct 16 · 8:00 PM · Canyon Theatre Guild, 24242 Main St, Newhall
Frederick Knott's classic thriller Dial M for Murder plays at the Canyon Theatre Guild on Main Street in Old Town Newhall, with shows Friday at 8 PM and Saturday at 7 PM, alongside a Saturday 2 PM matinee of the political comedy The Outsider. The Guild's historic brick building was spared in the August 24 fire and is fully open again, so a night of live theater here is also a direct way to support Old Town Newhall's recovery. Grab tickets through the Guild's box office.
Fright Fest Nights & the Haunted Jailhouse Watch
Friday-Sunday · Six Flags Magic Mountain & across the valley
Halloween season is in full swing across the valley. Fright Fest at Six Flags Magic Mountain runs its Friday-Sunday nights through the month, with the family-friendly daytime Tricks and Treats alternative on weekends as well. And the local institution everyone asks about, the Haunted Jailhouse at the SCV Sheriff's Station, typically opens its doors in the second half of October, so watch the fall events guide for the official dates, and follow the SCV Sheriff's Station for the confirmation. For little ones, the fully non-scary Valencia Town Center Pumpkin Patch Festival is running all month long.
More Weekend Highlights
Additional ways to spend the weekend around the valley.
Farmers Markets & Harvest Bounty
Sat & Sun
The Old Town Newhall Farmers Market runs Saturday from 8:30 AM to 1 PM at 24500 Main Street, and the COC Certified Farmers' Market is Sunday from 8 AM to noon in Parking Lot 5. This is peak squash, apple, and citrus season, and the canyon trails are showing color. Sam's farmers markets guide has the full weekly schedule.
Valencia Town Center Pumpkin Patch Festival
All October
The fully family-friendly, non-scary Pumpkin Patch Festival at the Valencia Town Center runs all month for little ones who want pumpkin decorating, games, and photo ops without the jump scares. Pair it with lunch at one of the new Town Center eateries. More in Sam's pumpkin patches guide.
Mountain Bike Demo Days
Sunday, Oct 18 · Bike Park of Santa Clarita
Free demo bikes and guided laps at the Haskell Canyon Bike Park, a great way to try a mountain bike on real trails before you buy one. It is also worth a look even without a fancy bike, since the jump line and dual-slalom are fun on any two wheels. See Sam's park update for details.
Bark for Life
Saturday, Oct 17 · 10 AM-2 PM · Canyon Country Community Center
The American Cancer Society's Halloween-themed dog fundraiser returns to the Canyon Country Community Center (18410 Sierra Hwy), a costume-and-canine morning for a good cause.
Santa Clarita OCD Walk & Community Awareness Event
Saturday, Oct 17 · 10 AM-12 PM · Fair Oaks Park
A free community walk and awareness morning for OCD and mental health at Fair Oaks Park, a supportive way to start Saturday while showing up for a local cause.
The Art of HOPE: Circle of Hope Tea Party
Saturday, Oct 17 · 11 AM-2 PM · SCV Senior Center (Bella Vida)
The Circle of Hope hosts its 22nd annual tea party fundraiser, themed "The Art of Hope," in the Bella Vida Ballroom at the SCV Senior Center Saturday morning, a warm, community-minded gathering that pairs nicely with the weekend's other charity events.
Clothed Figure Drawing Workshop
Saturday, Oct 17 · 6-8 PM · ARTree Community Arts Center
A hands-on clothed figure drawing workshop at the ARTree Community Arts Center Saturday evening, a creative night out for artists of every level.
SoCal Etsy Guild Market Valencia
Saturday, Oct 17 · 12:00 PM · Sienna Villas at Valencia Town Center
A curated gathering of local makers, artists, and small-batch creators near the Valencia Town Center, perfect for handmade gifts and fall decor. Free to browse, and a great pairing with a Town Center lunch or the pumpkin patch.
Placerita Canyon Nature Center Program
Sunday, Oct 18 · 2:00 PM · 19152 Placerita Canyon Rd, Newhall
The free Community Nature Education Series program at the Placerita Canyon Nature Center lands on its usual third Sunday at 2 PM. A relaxed, family-friendly afternoon among the oaks, and a lovely wind-down after the morning race.
Fireside Nights at Vasquez Rocks
Sunday, Oct 18 · Vasquez Rocks Natural Park
A Fireside Nights program at Vasquez Rocks Natural Park Sunday, an evening gathering in the park's dramatic setting. Registration is required, so check the park's program page ahead of time.
Next Weekend in SCV: October 23-25
The final full week of October is the busiest one yet. Here is a quick look at what is coming after this weekend.
State of the City at The Rink
Thursday, Oct 22 · 3:00 PM
The City's annual address takes place at the new Rink Sports Pavilion, celebrating a landmark year of park openings. Free and open to the public. See Sam's full guide.
Finish The Ride & Finish The Run
Sunday, Oct 25 · West Creek Park, 24247 Village Circle Dr
The valley's Halloween-themed ride and race returns with 5K and 10K costume runs (8:00 and 8:30 AM) plus 12, 25, and 62-mile rides from 8:15 AM, hosted by Streets Are For Everyone. Full details in the ride and race guide.
SCV Quilt Guild Quilt Show
Sat-Sun, Oct 24-25 · 10 AM - 4 PM · SCV Senior Center (Bella Vida), 27180 Golden Valley Rd
"Where Quilts and Friendships Bloom" fills the Senior Center with handmade quilts, live demonstrations, vendor booths, and a silent auction. Admission is $10 for one day or $15 for both, and kids 12 and under are free. Full details in the October 23-25 guide.
Candlelight: Halloween Classics
Sunday, Oct 25 · 8:15 PM · Hyatt Regency Valencia
A candlelit chamber concert of Halloween film classics at the Hyatt Regency Valencia, part of the popular Candlelight series. Perfect date night close to home. Book ahead, these evenings tend to sell out.
Candlelight: Coldplay vs. Imagine Dragons
Sunday, Oct 25 · 6:00 PM · Hyatt Regency Valencia
A candlelit string-quartet evening of stadium anthems at the Hyatt Regency Valencia, the earlier of two Candlelight shows that night. Pair it with the 8:15 PM Halloween Classics set for a full evening of live music.
Funadoo Fall Festival: Trunk or Treat
Saturday, Oct 24 · 4-7 PM · North Oaks Church, 27570 Whites Canyon Rd
The Funadoo Fall Festival brings games, activities, a petting zoo, a costume parade, and lots of candy to North Oaks Church in Canyon Country. Free and family friendly, a great warm-up for Halloween night.
And mark October 30 for Enternamente: a Día de los Muertos Spectacular at the Santa Clarita Performing Arts Center at College of the Canyons, plus the City's annual Día de los Muertos celebration. The season keeps building to a big Halloween finish.
Looking for events from earlier this fall? Check out our previous weekend guides: October 9-11 (Birdstock & Fine Art Festival), October 2-4 (Pow Wow & Take a Kid Mountain Biking), and September 25-27 (Fright Fest & Harvest).