Autumn season is here, and so is October!
Though the weather may not change much for us San Diegans, there is still a change in the wind. It’s time to celebrate all things autumn and spooky during this festive season. So we’ve gathered the best things going on in San Diego this October for you to enjoy!
1. Pumpkin Patch Picking
We’re starting off with an October staple…Pumpkin Patches! Is it even Autumn if you don’t go pumpkin picking? Well, you won’t need to answer that philosophical question if you go to any or all of our favorite farms this month and pick the very best spooky pumpkin! A fantastic option to visit is The Bates Nut Farm. This lovely family farm specializes in a variety of delicious nuts. However, when autumn comes knocking, they provide us with a beautiful quintessential fall activity- pumpkin patches!
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 spooky shops! They have so many options we’re sure you’ll find what you’re looking for, from the trendiest 2022 viral moment to your favorite superhero or supervillain costume!
Location: 2960 N Park Way, San Diego, CA 92104
3. The Sky Tonight Planetarium Shows
On Wednesday, October 5, journey deep into the cosmos with the planetarium show in the Heikoff Dome Theater. The shows will take place at 7:00 pm and 8:15 pm. You’ll learn the latest in both Space Science and Astronomy, followed by an exploration of the sky on the day of the event. With your ticket, you can join members of the San Diego Astronomy Association on the Prado by the Bea Evenson Fountain as they explore the night sky both before and after the Planetarium shows!
Location: 1875 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101
4. Hillcrest Nightmare On Normal Street
Fabulous Hillcrest is organizing a fantastic party this October 29! Be sure to come dressed to the scary nines since this extravaganza will include costume competitions, including a special pet contest for your fuzzy companions! Excellent musicians and entertainers will perform throughout the night, so be sure to dance the night away!
Location: 1500 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92103
5. The Haunted Trail & Maze
This Haunted Trail is a mile-long outdoor trail through twisted pines and a 3,500-square-foot terrifying maze! 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! In the maze, icons of fright will be waiting for you, such as Freddy, Jason, Michael Myers, and The Girl from The Ring…This Haunted Night is no joke; CNN named it one of the country’s Top 5 BEST HAUNTED ATTRACTIONS! True to their reputation, these haunts are suited for children under 10. Parking is FREE, and you may enter this haunted trail at your own peril until October 31. The tickets range from $24.99 to $34-99, and you can buy them here.
Location: 1640 Camino Del Rio N, San Diego, CA 92108
6. Hall0wen Bar Crawl
Celebrate Halloween on October 29 at this costumed pub bar through the streets of the Gaslamp Quarter. The event includes more than 10 bars and nightclubs! The tickets range from $15 to $20, but all include more than 5 venues, 2 drinks or shots, and a crazy after-party! There’s also a $1,000 costume contest prize up for grabs! The crawl last from 4 pm to 12 am.
Location: Fifth Avenue, between Broadway and Harbor Drive, San Diego, 92101
7. HauntFest on Main
This frightful event is an excellent idea for the whole family! HauntFest on Main is an exciting event in Downtown El Cajon with loads of fun activities such as a costume contest, a pumpkin patch, thrilling rides, live entertainment, and a designated Kidz Zone. This marks the 10th Annual HauntFest on Main, and with that, an expanded carnival rides and games area and so much more on Friday, October 21!
Location: 200 E Main St., El Cajon, CA 92020
8. 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 nightly tours in October starting at 7 pm, and tickets cost $30 per person.
Location: 1500 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA 92118
9. 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 also get tickets to guided tours. Who knows, Roger Whitaker might ask for a loan…
Location: 311 Island Ave., downtown
10. Ocean Beach Oktoberfest
The Ocean Beach MainStreet Association is throwing quite the party! This October 7 and 8, get ready to drink some beer and party away in the Ocean Beach Oktoberfest! What better backdrop to a shindig than the views of the Pacific Ocean? There will be two stages of music featuring local entertainers who will put you in the Oktoberfest spirit!
Location: Newport Ave & Abbott St., San Diego, CA 92107
11. San Diego International Film Festival
Calling all cinephiles! From October 19 to 23, San Diego and La Jolla will host a 5-day film festival! After some of the films, there will be amazing Q&As with filmmakers and film experts to discuss the movie. There will also be fabulous parties to attend for adults 21+. You can get your San Diego Film Festival tickets now.
Location: San Diego and La Jolla
12. Take your kids to the museum for FREE
As mentioned previously, during October, participating museums in the city are providing FREE entry to all kids under 12! This is a fantastic idea to get them out of the house and away from screens at no cost! A great museum included is The Maritime Museum of San Diego, where kids can discover all about our aquatic world. There is a maximum of 2 kids per paid adult.
Location: Various museums
13. Harvest Festival and Craft Fair
From October 8-10, you and the family can enjoy the artisanal crafts and art in the Del Mar Fairgrounds. Just a 30-minute drive from San Diego, you can find more than 300 artisans demonstrating their work and skill! There will also be workshops for kids at Home Depot with treats! The tickets cost $9 for adults and $4 for teens and are FREE for kids 12 and under. harvestfestival.com
Location: 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd, Del Mar, CA 92014
14. Thursday Party in the Park
To celebrate all the autumnal bliss, The North Park Market is hosting Thursdays Party in the Park! There will be tons of family-friendly activities, like pumpkin decorating, face painting, arts & crafts, a petting zoo, a Barre3 fitness class, and live music. The fun takes place on October 20, from 3 pm-7:30 pm.
Location: North Park, 3939 Iowa Street
15. La Jolla Art and Wine Festival
Get ready to celebrate amazing art and wine at downtown La Jolla on October 8 and 9. This FREE event takes place on a Saturday and Sunday and will be a fun-filled cultural celebration lasting from 10 am to 6 pm on lower Girard Avenue between Prospect Ave. and Kline St in La Jolla. The event will feature over 160 artists from across the U.S. and Mexico. You’ll be able to experience their fabulous painting, sculpture, jewelry, ceramics, photography, and, of course, wine! Their wine and beer garden will spotlight more than 35 international wineries, local craft breweries, and craft distilleries!
Location: Girard Avenue and Prospect Street, La Jolla, CA 92037
16. PSL Season
October brings many treats, particularly for all of us PSL lovers out there! Since this now iconic drink has peaked in popularity, many of our favorite San Diego coffee spots now offer it as well!
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