San Diego Celebrates Fall with Halloween, Dia de Muertos and Seasonal Festivities
Fall Festivals and Events
Harvest on the Promenade at Liberty Station | Oct. 17
Liberty Station captures the charm of a fall gathering with cider, fresh doughnuts and live bluegrass at Harvest on the Promenade. Visitors can also explore the Glowing Hollow, a darkened tent filled with hundreds of illuminated, hand-carved jack-o’-lanterns, while little ones get creative with hands-on woodcraft activities.
Nature Collective's Fall Festival | Oct. 18
Nature takes the spotlight at Nature Collective's Fall Festival, a Halloween-themed family day featuring hands-on activities, crafts, live animal encounters and nature walks. Costumes are encouraged as families explore a variety of interactive experiences celebrating local wildlife and the season.
Halloween Spooktacular at Santee Lakes | Oct. 24
Santee Lakes celebrates its fourth annual Halloween Spooktacular with a free family-friendly afternoon featuring games, creepy crafts, mini golf, inflatables, face painting and photo opportunities. Guests can come in costume and enjoy a Trunk-or-Treat Trail, food trucks, a Donut Walk and an appearance by Captain Jack Sparrow.
Trick-or-Treat on India Street | Oct. 25
This Halloween event makes it possible for families to enjoy authentic trick-or-treating fun as Little Italy businesses along historic India Street open their doors to give out candy and Halloween treats during Trick-or-Treat on India Street.
Halloween at the Station | Oct. 25
Celebrate spooky season at Liberty Station’s free, family-friendly Halloween at the Station, where Ingram Plaza comes alive with live DJ entertainment, a Hollywood car show and inflatable obstacle courses. Families can join in Halloween crafts and activities and trick-or-treat throughout Liberty Station.
Julian Autumn Jubilee at Fort Cross | Through Oct. 25
Embrace fall in the mountains at Fort Cross' Julian Autumn Jubilee, featuring a homegrown pumpkin patch, cider pressing, hayrides, hoedowns and jug band shows. The seasonal festivities also include crafts, farm animals, a spooky maze, archery, a treasure hunt and plenty of outdoor activities.
Barrio Logan Dia de los Muertos | Nov. 1
Celebrate a vibrant and culturally rich Day of the Dead themed Barrio Magico. Immerse yourself in colorful traditions, intriguing altar displays, Día-inspired art, live performances, and savory food fare.
Día de los Muertos in Old Town | Through Nov. 2
Old Town San Diego celebrates Día de los Muertos with more than 40 unique altars, art and activities in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, plus a street market. The celebration also includes the annual candlelight procession and a Catrina Contest.
Seasonal Eats, Drinks and Pop-Ups
Witches of the Westgate Tea | Oct. 24, 25, 31, Nov. 1
It's time to celebrate witching season with a deliciously magical afternoon in The Westgate Hotel's haunted Le Fontainebleau room. Adults 21 and over receive a glass of champagne, and children take home a spooky surprise gift, making this a delightfully eerie afternoon for the whole family.
Halloween at Bivouac Ciderworks | Oct. 18, 21, 31
North Park’s Bivouac Ciderworks welcomes back Cat’s Paw, its 6% ABV pumpkin spice cider, alongside a month of fall festivities. October programming includes a Pumpkin Painting Party on Oct. 18, a family-friendly movie night on Oct. 21 and the sixth annual Pet Costume Contest Party and a Halloween Extravaganza on Oct. 31.
Masquerade After Dark at Top of the Hyatt | Through Oct. 31
Top of the Hyatt at Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego transforms for Masquerade After Dark throughout October. Forty floors above the city, the Halloween activation combines immersive decor and a mysterious masquerade theme with a new sushi menu, signature cocktails and skyline views.
Halloween Happenings at Hilton San Diego Gaslamp Quarter | Oct. 24
Hilton San Diego Gaslamp Quarter kicks off the festivities with Barks & Boos Yappy Hour at Wild Hare Bar Garden from 4-6 p.m., featuring a pup costume contest, food and drink specials, seasonal treats and giveaways. Later, visitors can head to the hotel’s Sunset Terrace for a free outdoor screening of Ghostbusters from 8-10 p.m., while Wild Hare puts a spooky spin on its trivia programming throughout the season.
Arts and Culture
Midway's Fright Deck: Halloween Party & Movie Night | Oct. 24
Calling all pirates, ghosts, ghouls and creatures of the deep! This Halloween, step aboard the USS Midway Museum for Fright Deck: Halloween Party & Movie Night, a swashbuckling evening of family-friendly Halloween fun high above San Diego Bay.
Silent Movie Mondays: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde at Balboa Theatre | Oct. 26
Get into the Halloween spirit at Balboa Theatre with a screening of the 1920 silent horror classic Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, starring John Barrymore. Organist David Marsh brings the film to life with live accompaniment on the theater’s historic Wonder Morton organ.
GRIM at La Jolla Playhouse | Oct. 27-Nov. 29
La Jolla Playhouse gets into the spirit of the season with GRIM, a world-premiere musical about the Grim Reaper preparing to retire after 300,000 years of collecting souls. When his daughter, Diana, unexpectedly falls for a human named Josh, she begins to question whether she wants to take over the family business.
Lila Downs: Día de Muertos — Cambias Mi Mundo | Oct. 29
La Jolla Music Society presents Grammy- and Latin Grammy-winning Mexican American artist Lila Downs at the Balboa Theatre at 7:30 p.m. The Día de Muertos performance explores love, loss, reconnection and joy through rancheras and original songs, with guests encouraged to dress in imaginative Día de Muertos attire.
Trick or Treat Symphony | Oct. 31
A musical Halloween adventure awaits with magic, mystery, and playful orchestral moments at the Jacobs Music Center. Families will explore spooky mountains, glittering ballrooms and enchanted forests through lively melodies and dances.
Día de los Muertos at SDMA | Nov. 1
Celebrate Día de los Muertos at the San Diego Museum of Art with a free community event featuring live performances, family-friendly art activities, a collaborative ofrenda and free Museum admission.
Theme Parks and Attractions
Halloween and Día de los Muertos at Birch Aquarium | Oct. 22, 23, 24, 27
A 12-foot skeleton returns to Birch Aquarium’s Giant Kelp Forest for Halloween season, setting the scene for seasonal programming including Oceans at Night: Halloween, for guests 21-and-up, on Oct. 22 and family-friendly Halloween Aglow on Oct. 23 and 24. The aquarium will also mark Día de los Muertos on Oct. 27 as artist Maricruz Alvarado creates two animal-focused ofrendas in connection with The Axolotl’s Garden/El Jardín del Ajolote, including one honoring lost pets and another recognizing imperiled species such as the vaquita and axolotl.
Beachside Fall Fest at Belmont Park | Through Oct. 31
Belmont Park brings fall to Mission Beach with its annual Beachside Fall Fest, featuring amusement park rides, seasonal food and drinks, live music and free trick-or-treating every Sunday in October. On Oct. 25, the park hosts its fifth annual Trunk-or-Treat Car Show, featuring more than 50 classic cars and candy stations.
HalGLOWeen at the San Diego Zoo | Weekends through Oct. 31
Plan to join the San Diego Zoo for musical entertainment, special performances, The Skeleton Band, and more family friendly fun will light up the night every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evening in October during HalGLOWeen.
SeaWorld San Diego's Halloween Spooktacular | Through Nov. 1
SeaWorld San Diego's biggest fall festival, Halloween Spooktacular, brims with family fun full of spooky live shows, Halloween activities and trick-or-treat throughout the park in a safe, family-friendly environment.
The Count’s Halloween Spooktacular at Sesame Place San Diego | Weekends through Nov. 1
Sesame Place San Diego celebrates the season with The Count’s Halloween Spooktacular, featuring the new Monster Mayhem Game Show alongside trick-or-treating, a Halloween costume parade, scavenger hunts, Halloween Storytime and character photo opportunities. The park will also hold its annual Halloween Costume Contest on Oct. 31.
LEGOLAND Brick-or-Treat | Through Nov. 1
LEGOLAND's signature Halloween event is better than ever this year! Brick-or-Treat will bewitch LEGOLAND® California Resort with tons of candy, an all-new show line up, never-before-seen exclusive LEGO® characters, and more!