Fall season is here, and so is October! Though the weather may not change much for us San Diegans, there is still change in the air. It’s time to celebrate all things fall and spooky during this festive season. We’ve gathered the best things going on in San Diego this October for you to enjoy!
1. Go pumpkin patch picking
We’re starting off with an October staple...pumpkin patches! Is it even fall if you don’t go pumpkin picking? Head to one of the many farms around our city and find the perfect Jack-O-Lantern! A fantastic option is The Bates Nut Farm, a family farm that specializes in a variety of delicious nuts. However, this time a year, they provide us with quintessential fall activities – pumpkin patches and tractor rides. You can find more options for pumpkin patches here.
📍Location: 15954 Woods Valley Road, Valley Center, CA
2. Pick your Halloween costume
Another must-do activity this October is getting the costume of your nightmares for Halloween. The Halloween House in La Jolla is one of our favorite spots. They have many options, so we’re sure you’ll find what you’re looking for: from the trendiest 2024 viral moment, to your favorite supervillain costume. Prices start at $5.
📍Location: 2960 N Park Way, San Diego, CA 92104
3. Attend a Halloween candlelight concert
Candlelight concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring locations like never seen before. This October in San Diego, there’ll be one to remember, with an eerie, Halloween vibe to it. Expect to hear theme songs from A Nightmare on Elm Street, Psycho, or Saw. Ready for this one-of-a-kind experience? Hurry up, tickets are selling fast – get yours here.
📍Location: 402 N Coast Hwy, Oceanside, CA 92054
4. Party at Nightmare On Normal Street
Fabulous Hillcrest is organizing a fantastic party this October in San Diego! Come dressed to the scary nines, since this extravaganza will include a costume competition – including a special pet contest for your furry, fuzzy, and feathery companions. You don’t want to miss this Halloween dance party with outdoor bars and live events throughout the evening.
📍Location: Hillcrest Business Association at Pride Plaza, San Diego, CA
📆 Date: Oct. 26, 2024. 5PM – 11PM
5. Get scared at The Haunted Trail & Maze
The Haunted Trail of Balboa Park is back with two haunts in one: a 3500 square foot eXperiment Maze, and a mile long terrifying outdoor trail through twisted pines and gnarled oaks. You will follow a faceless boy through a dark forest only to encounter increasingly alarming companions such as Pennywise, haunted nuns, chainsaw-wielding clowns, and more. This experience is no joke: CNN named it one of the country’s top 5 best haunted attractions.
📍Location: Balboa Park, San Diego, CA
6. Drink your way through this Halloween bar crawl
Celebrate Halloween with a drink in your hand, and hundreds of new friends, while crawling the streets and bars of San Diego. This event, by Crawl With US, will explore 7 venues, include 2-3 drinks with your ticket, and promise a crazy after party. There’s also a $1,000 costume contest prize up for grabs! Single tickets are $24, but if you go with a group, the price drops to $18 per person.
📍Location: Check in at 555 Market St, San Diego, CA 92101
📆 Date: Oct. 26, 2024. 4PM – 12AM
7. Get in the spirit at HauntFest on Main
This frightful event is an excellent idea for the whole family. HauntFest on Main is located in Downtown El Cajon, with loads of fun activities such as a costume contest, a pumpkin patch, thrilling rides, face painting and a designated kids zone. The event also features live music on two stages.
📍Location: 200 E Main St., El Cajon, CA 92020
📆 Date: Oct 25, 2024, 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM
8. Get a Haunted Happenings tour
The legendary Hotel del Coronado has a long history, but one particular story stands out for spooky reasons. All the way back in 1892, a young woman checked into Hotel del Coronado on Thanksgiving Day. The mysterious 24-year-old had used an alias, and five days later, her body was found on a hotel exterior staircase. Since little was known about her identity, the newspapers dubbed her the “Beautiful Stranger.” In this tour, you will learn the official account of her 1892 visit to The Del and why her spirit has remained with us today. There are currently nightly tours starting at 7 pm, and tickets cost $37 per person.
📍Location: 1500 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA 92118
📆 Date: every night from 7PM
9. Freak out at Horton Grand Hotel
Horton Grand is a lavish Victorian hotel said to house more than guests. Before Horton Grand was a hotel, they acquired some permanent ghostly residents, such as the infamous gambler Roger Whitaker. Whitaker met his fate after acquiring a large debt, and his creditors came to collect. He was shot while hiding out in Room 309. Hotel guests who’ve stayed in the same room have reported bed rattling, flickering lights, and moving objects! You may visit the hotel bar and enjoy a delicious cocktail, or get tickets to guided tours.
📍Location: 311 Island Ave., downtown, San Diego, CA
10. Face spooky season in San Diego with a Pumpkin Spice Latte in your hand
October brings many treats, but few are as loved as a good ‘ol Pumpkin Spice Latte. The popularity of this drink seems to soar year by year, so naturally, coffee shops have adapted. You can find it in a couple of locations in San Diego this October, like Bird Rock Coffee Roasters, or Daniel’s Coffee Cart – which even has a Pumpkin Spice Horchata. Yum!