During San Diego's shoulder season, visitors can find a variety of annual festivals and fairs, haunting Halloween celebrations and diverse cultural entertainment. With nearly-perfect weather and an entire month devoted to "kids free" offerings, fall is an ideal time to visit San Diego.

• Kids Play for Free: The popular "Kids Free San Diego" promotion returns this October. All major San Diego attractions, including SeaWorld, the world-famous San Diego Zoo and LEGOLAND California will offer free admission to kids throughout the month, along with more than 30 other area museums and attractions. In addition to free attraction admission, many local hotels and restaurants will offer specials throughout October.
• Food Fests Galore: During Sept. 21-26, more than 180 restaurants will offer specially priced prix-fixed meals during San Diego Restaurant Week. During Nov. 17-23, the 11th Annual San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival takes over the Embarcadero Marina Park North, located next to Seaport Village, and other venues throughout downtown San Diego. On Oct. 12, the Lodge at Torrey Pines in La Jolla hosts the 12th Annual Celebrate the Craft culinary showcase. Renowned chefs, vintners and farmers from across California gather for gourmet cooking demonstrations which highlight an enthusiasm for natural ingredients and innovative cooking and winemaking.
• The Ultimate Beer Tasting: During Nov. 7-16, hundreds of beer-centric events will take place during San Diego Beer Week, a countywide festival that highlights San Diego's award-winning craft beer, breweries and pubs; event dates, times and locations vary throughout the week.
• Dancing in the Streets: Jean Isaacs San Diego Dance Theater and the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System present the 16th Annual Trolley Dances, Sept. 27-28 and Oct. 4-5. Guests riding the light-rail San Diego Trolley are treated to site-specific choreographed dance performances at unexpected locations along the trolley's line starting at San Diego City College downtown. Dances take inspiration from the surroundings and local energy at trolley stops along the route.
• Racing Season, Take Two: San Diego's Del Mar Thoroughbred Club is adding a second racing season for the first time; the traditional summer season will run July 17-Sept. 3, and the new Bing Crosby Season will run Nov. 7-30. Del Mar's fall meeting will feature 15 racing days and will run Friday through Sunday on its first weekend, followed by four-day racing weeks (Thursday through Sunday) for the balance of the session.
• Fantastic Film Festivals: The acclaimed San Diego International Film Festival returns Sept. 24-28 offering a slate of films that showcase the best in American and international full-length features, documentaries and shorts. During Nov. 6-15, the 15th Annual San Diego Asian Film Festival presents films, videos and workshops that celebrate the work of Asian artists from around the world.
• World-Class Contemporary Art: More than 60 galleries from the U.S., Canada, Europe, Latin America and Asia showcase paintings, sculptures, drawings, prints, photographs, videos and cutting-edge multimedia artworks during Art San Diego 2014. Held November 6-9 in Balboa Park, the contemporary art fair serves as a marketplace for the world's leading contemporary art galleries.
• Halloween, Attraction-Style: Halloween makes a splash at SeaWorld San Diego during its Halloween Spooktacular at SeaWorld celebration featuring trick-or-treat stations, a special Halloween-themed Clyde & Seamore's Spooky Adventure sea lion and otter show, Penelope's Pumpkinfish Patch, a variety of up-close animal encounters and photo opportunities at the Mermaid Grotto. LEGOLAND California Resort in Carlsbad joins in the Halloween fun with its annual Brick-or-Treat celebration, featuring a one-of-a-kind, 4-ft. tall LEGO jack-o-lantern, costume contests and trick-or-treating with a souvenir goodie bag along the park's Brick-or-Treat Trail.
• Neighborhoods Come Alive: Southern California's largest free two-day musical festival, the 33rd Annual Adams Avenue Street Fair returns Sept. 27-28 to the Normal Heights neighborhood with four beer gardens, seven stages and more than 90 musical acts, performing rock, country, folk, TexMex and more. On Oct. 12, Little Italy in downtown San Diego presents the 20th Annual Little Italy Festa. A grand celebration of Italian culture, this traditional street festival offers music, fine foods, specialty crafts and Gesso Italiano, a classic Italian street chalk painting exhibition.
• Summer Weather Doesn't End With Summer: When autumn arrives, San Diego's weather stays warm while summer crowds at the beach diminish. With average temperatures in the '70s and '80s, summer weather in San Diego continues daily until November.

Happiness is calling in San Diego. For more information on San Diego's offerings, including exciting vacation packages and valuable coupons for attractions, restaurants and more, visit the San Diego Tourism Authority's website at www.sandiego.org or call 619-236-1212.