Not-Too-Scary Halloween Events Near Thousand Oaks and Newbury Park

Halloween lands on a Saturday this year, and there are two events in the Thousand Oaks and Newbury Park area I wanted to point out. One is a free evening of trunks and candy. The other is a morning of pancakes and a costume contest. Here is what the organizers have posted.

Planning your week

Halloween has its own tradition at our house. We love to drive around the neighborhood and look for the best decorated houses. It is fun to see how creative people get, and it costs nothing. If you have a favorite display, I would love to hear about it.

• Trunk or Treat, Newbury Park: Saturday, October 24, 5 to 8 p.m., at Newbury Park First Christian Church, 801 Knollwood Dr. (lower parking lot). Free. Donations are appreciated but not required.
• Boo Bash at Dave & Buster’s: Saturday, October 31, 2026, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tickets start at $21 per person, or $25.99 with game play, and must be bought in advance. The Thousand Oaks restaurant is at 145 W. Hillcrest Dr.

The two events are a week apart, so you can do one or both. The Trunk or Treat is free and in the early evening. The Boo Bash is a ticketed morning, and the ticket page is the place to check availability.

A not-so-scary decoration idea

If you would rather decorate than drive around, here is a friendly one: porch columns wrapped in strips of white fabric, with big googly eyes, so they look like a pair of mummies. Thank you to Pickup Please (@pickup_please) for sharing the idea. Their post is below.

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Trunk or Treat at Newbury Park First Christian Church

According to the church’s event page, the evening is open to everyone. You can expect:

• Dozens of decorated trunks handing out candy
• Inflatables, including a large double slide and two obstacle courses
• Carnival-style game booths
• A photo booth run by a separate company
• Live music from Beverley & Friends, a five-piece pop and country band

Food is sold at the event: a $10 tri-tip meal or a $5 hot dog meal, each with chips and a drink. A Kona Ice truck will be selling hot and cold drinks. Food tickets are sold on site.

One thing to do ahead of time: kids need to register through the online form on the church’s page to use the inflatables. Save the confirmation email or a screenshot and show it when you arrive. You will also pick up a bracelet at the entrance. Come in costume if you like.

Questions? The church office is at (805) 498-2129 or [email protected]. The page also has a volunteer sign-up if you would like to help.

Boo Bash at Dave & Buster’s in Thousand Oaks

Dave & Buster’s Thousand Oaks is hosting its Halloween morning event, the Boo Bash, at 145 W. Hillcrest Dr. Here are the details from the restaurant’s flier and the company’s Halloween event page:

• Date and time: Saturday, October 31, 2026, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Standard ticket, from $21 per person: A pancake banquet with toppings, scrambled eggs, breakfast potatoes, applewood smoked bacon, sausage links, fresh fruit, and unlimited soft drinks. It also includes a costume contest, a pumpkin decorating contest, and a spooky scavenger hunt.
• Combo ticket, from $25.99 per person: Everything above, plus three hours of unlimited video game play and a $10 Power Card.
• Costume contest prize: The flier says the best costume wins free game play for a year.
• Tickets: Priced per person and sold in advance only. The flier has a QR code for tickets, and the company’s page says they are sold through the Fever app or website. Tickets are non-refundable but can be transferred for free.
• Good to know: It is a seated, indoor event with no strobe lights. Guests under 18 need an adult aged 25 or older with them. See the website for the full terms.

For questions, call the Thousand Oaks restaurant at (805) 857-7800.

If you are curious about Newbury Park or Thousand Oaks, or you are thinking about a move this fall or winter, I am always happy to talk it through. No pressure, just reach out whenever it is useful.