I think we're all going to fall into one of two camps right now — those hanging on to summer and those ready to jump into fall. Hopefully this week's lineup meets you right where you are, ranging from Oktoberfest to a nature center with a butterfly house to a free art museum, plus a pop-up market to round it out.
This Weekend’s Plans
First, the weather:
Friday
High of 84°
Saturday
High of 81°
Sunday
High of 79°
Here’s the plan:
Plan 1: Oktoberfest at Old World
📍 Location: Old World, 7561 Center Ave, Huntington Beach
📅 Date & Time: Kicks off Sat 9/12, runs Wed–Sun through Nov 8. Saturday daytime and all-day Sunday are family hours
⏱️ Time needed: 1–3 hours
💰 Cost: Saturdays free entry, Sundays $10 for 13+, food and drink extra
🌦️ Indoor/outdoor: Outdoor
Enjoy German food, beer, and entertainment in Old World Village, a charming corner of Huntington Beach designed to feel like a real German village. Arrive early to skip the wait, and reserve a table ahead of time if you don't want to end up standing.
Plan 2: Environmental Nature Center
📍 Location: 1601 E. 16th St., Newport Beach
📅 Date & Time: Sat–Sun 9/12–9/13, 10am–3pm
⏱️ Time needed: 45 minutes–1 hour
💰 Cost: Free
🌦️ Indoor/outdoor: Outdoor
Small enough that little legs don't get overwhelmed. They have a fun scavenger hunt for the pollinator garden.
📍 Location: 3333 Avenue of the Arts, Costa Mesa
📅 Date & Time: Fri–Sun 9/11–9/13, 11am–6pm
⏱️ Time needed: 1 hour
💰 Cost: Free admission, paid parking
🌦️ Indoor/outdoor: Indoor
Perfect if you’ve been tired of the heat this week and want an indoor activity. No ticket needed; easy stroller push through the galleries.
Plan 4: Primrose Market at Bella Terra
📍 Location: Bella Terra, 7777 Edinger Ave, Huntington Beach
📅 Date & Time: Sun 9/13, 1pm-9pm
⏱️ Time needed: 1–2 hours
💰 Cost: Free to attend, vendor items cost extra
🌦️ Indoor/outdoor: Outdoor
Local vendors, live music, free kids craft zone, and character meet & greet for photos.
Easy At-Home Idea
Try this: Fall Leaf Craft, made by Busy Toddler
A simple leaf-collecting activity outside that turns into an easy-to-accomplish craft inside to decorate a hand-drawn tree with real leaves. All supplies you are likely to have in your house or just outside it (leaves).
Time needed: 15–20 minutes
Backup Options
If none of the above work, here's the fast fallback list:
SOCO Farmers' Market — Costa Mesa, Sat 9/12, 9am–2pm
Peter’s Landing Farmers Market & Craft Fair — Huntington Beach, Sat 9am–2pm
Corona del Mar Certified Farmers Market — Newport Beach, Sat 9am
Castaways Park — Newport Beach, flat and stroller-friendly, ocean views
Back Bay Loop Trail / Upper Newport Bay — Newport Beach, mostly flat and paved
Huntington Beach Trail — Huntington Beach, first 2 miles stroller-accessible, oceanfront
Golden West College Swap Meet — Huntington Beach, Sat–Sun 8am–3pm
That's the lineup. Hope it makes the weekend a little easier to plan.
Got a plan that worked (or didn't)? Hit reply and let me know! This whole thing gets better with your feedback.
Simple Plans Co. 🤎
