Things to Do for Halloween in San Diego [2026]: Haunts, Events & Family Fun

San Diego is probably not one of the first places to think of when it comes to cozy fall vibes and a spooky Halloween, but there are still lots of fun Things to do on Halloween in San Diego. And the best part? The weather is usually warm and sunny, so you can go to the beach during the day and visit a haunted house in the evening. Best of both worlds. And don’t forget your Halloween costume!

Also, don’t forget to order some fun- I mean scary Halloween decorations for your home and garden.

Quick Pick: Best Things to Do on Halloween in San Diego

Spooky History & Culture in San Diego

Among the top San Diego Halloween events to choose from, the best way to get into a spooky fall mood is to do activities that pertain to the history and culture of the town.

San Diego is an old town, founded in 1769. The oldest part of the city is Old Town, followed by the Gaslamp Quarter in Downtown and there are quite a few haunted places in San Diego to explore. Get into the hauntingly amazing history and culture through some of these spooky tours.

Murder Mystery Tour in the Gaslamp Quarter Downtown

This fun and scary tour takes you on a walk around the beautiful Gaslamp Quarter in downtown. You will hear a lot about the gritty history of the old (and not so old) days, from brothels, bars, and brawls to gruesome murders, ghost stories, and much more.

Book your tickets here>>

Ghosts & Gravestones Frightseeing Tour San Diego

For further immersion into the San Diego Halloween events, you can take a tour on a renovated all-black “doom buggy”. Get transported back in time with such skill that by the end of the tour, you’ll feel as if you’re a ghost roaming the astral plane.

You will visit some of the most haunted places in San Diego, including the famous Whaley House (inside tour not included). This tour is not appropriate for children as the stories told contain graphic details and adult themes. Read our full review of the Ghosts and Gravestone Tour here>>

Book Your Tickets Here

Paranormal Investigation Tour in Old Town

If a regular ghost tour isn’t hands-on enough for you, this is the one to book. Run by Haunted San Diego Ghost Tours, it’s part history walk, part actual ghost hunt — you’re handed real paranormal-investigation tools and turned loose across three of Old Town’s most haunted spots. It’s roughly 40% investigation, 60% haunted history, and the guides know their stuff.

Over about 90 minutes you’ll cover a walkable one-mile loop through Heritage Park (with exclusive after-dark access to the grounds and Senlis Cottage), past the infamously haunted Whaley House, and finish at the eerie El Campo Santo Cemetery. No jump scares, no actors in masks — this is the real, investigative kind of spooky, where the thrills come from what the equipment picks up rather than someone leaping out at you. Reviewers consistently rave about the guides (Kat and Bernice get name-checked again and again), and it’s engaging enough that groups from ages 10 to 66 have had a blast.

A few things worth knowing: it starts at 2460 Heritage Park Row (arrive 15 minutes early, and note there’s no parking in the park at night — the trolley drops you nearby), it runs around $55 per person, and the tour needs a minimum of six guests to go, so book ahead. Bring a jacket — Old Town gets surprisingly cold after dark. Book the Paranormal Investigation Tour here>>

San Diego Ghost Tour – Gaslamp Quarter

This San Diego Ghost Tour definitely hits the spot for Halloween in San Diego. You’ll walk to various haunted spots in the famous Gaslamp Quarter of downtown San Diego, also known as the “Birthplace of California”. A great mix of spooky ghost stories and interesting history about the beginnings of San Diego.

Book your tickets here>>

Whaley House Haunted Night Tour

When: Nightly through the season
Where: Whaley House, 2476 San Diego Ave, Old Town, San Diego, CA 92110 (at Harney St)
Website: Whaley House

For the reader who wants haunted history rather than a haunted house. No actors jump out at you — this is a 30-to-40-minute guided tour through a genuinely old building in flickering low light, built on the Whaley family’s documented losses and the century of reported activity since. It’s rated PG-13 and not recommended for under-12s, not because of scares but because of the subject matter. Groups are capped at 20, which is what makes it work; book rather than turn up, especially in the last two weeks of October.

Stay at a Haunted Hotel

San Diego has quite a few haunted hotels, where guests have experienced ghostly encounters and unexplainable occurrences. What better time to stay at a haunted hotel than on Halloween, when the veil between the dead and the living is thinnest? Are you brave enough to stay here?

Hotel Del Coronado
The Horton Grand
The Cosmopolitan
The US Grant
Grande Colonial Hotel

Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)

November 1 & 2, 2026

Not everything at the end of October is about scares. Día de los Muertos is the opposite — a celebration, and one that’s deeply woven into San Diego’s history as a border city.

Where Halloween is costumes and frights, Day of the Dead is about remembering. Families build ofrendas (altars) with marigolds, candles, photographs, and the food and drink their loved ones liked best, then spend the night in their company. It’s warm and joyful rather than mournful.

Traditionally observed on November 1 and 2, the biggest San Diego gathering is in Old Town, where altars fill the plaza alongside face painting, live music, and Mexican food. → Where to celebrate Día de los Muertos in San Diego

I love going to Old Town for Día de los Muertos and seeing the beautifully decorated altars with pictures of loved ones who have passed, beautiful sugar skull dolls and colorful decorations everywhere you look. It is such a beautiful way to remember the ones we have lost and celebrate their memories.

And here’s what most visitors miss: we’re 20 minutes from the border, and Día de los Muertos in Mexico is something else entirely. With your passport — and ideally Global Entry or SENTRI for the way back — Tijuana, Rosarito, and Ensenada all mark the days with altars, processions, and street celebrations. Same holiday, full volume, right there.

Go To A Haunted House in San Diego

The Haunted Trail

Dates: September 25-November 1, 2026
Location: Balboa Park

San Diego is not lush with forest, and the classic cabin-in-the-woods feel. However, in Balboa Park, where the trees are clustered and you really feel like you’re in a horror movie, is The Haunted Trail.

So famous and well-rated, they’ve been featured on the Travel Channel and are well respected around town. The unique psychological way they traumatize guests has people lining up day after day. This is an absolute can’t-miss. You can buy tickets for both attractions at the door or online.

Buy your tickets here

South Park Horror House (Free Home Haunt)

When: Fridays & Saturdays in October, 7–9 PM (plus every night Halloween week) — 2026 dates confirmed
Where: 2962 Laurel St, South Park, San Diego
Cost: Free
Follow: @southparkhorrorhouse on Instagram

Here’s my favorite kind of Halloween spot — no ticket, no line-up of corporate scare actors, just one South Park neighbor who goes absolutely all out. The South Park Horror House started in 2020 when its owner, Josh Schauert, was disappointed that only two trick-or-treaters showed up, and it’s grown into one of the most elaborate free haunted displays in the county, drawing up to 800 visitors a night. Each year gets a brand-new theme (2026 is “Graveyard of Nightmares”), built by hand with custom props, programmed lighting, fog machines, and animatronics — Josh even codes the startle effects himself. It’s genuinely Hollywood-caliber for a front yard.

The whole thing takes place outside, and it’s designed to be welcoming rather than traumatizing — there are, as Josh puts it, “more laughs than screams.” The volunteer crew dials the scares up or down depending on who’s walking through, and nervous little ones get glow sticks to “protect them from the monsters.” There’s also a month-long Spirit Box Scavenger Hunt hidden around the neighborhood (clues on their Instagram) and a free backyard concert on the last Saturday before Halloween with live music, games, and a costume contest.

A few things to keep in mind, because this is someone’s actual home: it’s free, but it isn’t cheap to run — the fog machines alone cost about $100 a night — so if there’s a donation jar, drop something in to help keep it free for everyone. Park considerately on the neighborhood streets, be kind to the volunteers, and go early in the evening if you’re bringing young kids. It’s the warmest, most San Diego Halloween tradition on this whole list.

Walk Through A Haunted Corn Maze

The Carlsbad Strawberry Company offers not only a pumpkin patch but also a Haunted Corn Maze for adults. The Haunted Corn Maze is open every Friday & Saturday in October 2026 from 7 pm-10 pm

Howl-O-Scream at SeaWorld (Adults Only)

When: Select nights, September 11 – October 31, 2026 (event starts 7 pm; entry from 6 pm)
Tickets: From ~$36/night at seaworld.com — separately ticketed, not included with day admission or passes
Read our full Howl-O-Scream guide here>>

If you want the biggest, most produced scare experience in San Diego, this is it. Howl-O-Scream is SeaWorld’s after-dark Halloween event, and it’s a completely different park than the daytime one — the lights go down, haunted houses and roaming scare zones take over, and the whole thing runs on select nights from mid-September through Halloween.

The 2026 lineup is six haunted houses, and it’s a genuinely strong one. The two headliners are new: I Know What You Did Last Summer: The Final Catch (yes, based on the movie — a July 4th massacre and a very angry man back from the sea) and Area 64: MOTHERSHIP, which SeaWorld says is its biggest haunted-house build ever, complete with an 80-foot alien mothership. Rounding out the houses: Nightmare Experiment: Sweet DreamzZz (a sleep-aid trial gone very wrong), Death Water Bayou (Mardi Gras meets bayou witches), Simon’s Slaughterhouse (a meat-processing plant, exactly as grim as it sounds), and the 3D Circus of the Damned, where you wear glasses to make the clowns pop. Between houses, you’ll wander scare zones — a vampire blood-moon party, cursed scarecrows, a graveyard, killer toys — while very committed actors track you down.

It’s not all haunts. There’s a live show, Monster Stomp, a Jack-the-Ripper rock spectacle that’s a good spot to catch your breath, plus themed bars and speakeasies (the LaBARatory and Coffin 1380 are fun) pouring Halloween cocktails. And the real sleeper highlight: they run the coasters — Electric Eel, Emperor, and Arctic Rescue — in the dark, which is worth the price of admission on its own.

A few things worth knowing before you buy: it’s a separate ticket from regular SeaWorld admission (your day pass or annual pass won’t get you in), it’s aimed at adults — SeaWorld rates it for a mature audience, not recommended under 13 — and no costumes are allowed, even on Halloween. There’s also a strict no-bags-over-8″x5″ rule at the entrance, so leave the backpack in the car. The animal habitats are closed at night, so come for the scares, not the sea life. If you’re chasing a real fright night rather than a family Halloween outing, it’s the top pick in the city.

The Scare Trail at the Haunted Amusement Park (El Cajon)

When: Opens September 25, 2026; ticket booth and lines open 6:15 PM (check scaretrail.com for the full night-by-night schedule)
Where: The old Marshal Scotty’s Playland, El Cajon (East County) · Free parking
Info & tickets: scaretrail.com

If you want a full-scale, walk-through haunt with actors and sets — the closest thing San Diego has to a proper haunted theme park — head east to El Cajon. The Scare Trail (formerly Scotty’s Scare Trail) takes over the grounds of a genuinely abandoned amusement park, Marshal Scotty’s Playland, which is exactly as creepy a setting as it sounds. It bills itself as San Diego’s most authentic haunt, and the atmosphere backs it up.

The main event is a one-mile walk-through trail packed with themed scenes and scare actors — a CarnEvil section, 3D black-light bumper cars, a spinning vortex tunnel, a freak-show maze, a haunted manor, a mausoleum and graveyard, a witch’s cottage, zombie land, a slaughterhouse, and plenty more, all included with one admission ticket. There’s a concession stand on-site for refreshments, and parking is free.

Fair warning, because this one earns its scares: it’s not for little kids. Expect total blackout areas, strobes, lasers, air blasts, fog, and loud startling sounds, and the trail runs over dirt, sand, ramps, and stairs — so wear real shoes (they specifically ban flip-flops and heels). No strollers, babies, or toddlers, and they ask that anyone pregnant or with heart conditions sit this one out. If you’re after genuine, high-production scares rather than a family-friendly stroll, this is East County’s best.

Attend A San Diego Halloween Party

All throughout October, this Southern California town is exploding with Halloween events for all kinds of people with every kind of budget. The Halloween Parties are filled with laughter, food, and some scary Halloween activities that are hard to pass on.

There’s no doubt you’d have a blast meeting new people and partying with your friends all night long at this bomb block party.

San Diego Halloween Pub Crawl October 2026

October 23, 24, 30. 31, 2026
Location: Gaslamp Quarter, San Diego

Dress up in your favorite Halloween costume and come enjoy an all-access VIP pass to 15+ bars, lounges & nightclubs. Receive exclusive drink specials and free welcome shots, and party it up with hundreds of other costumed crawlers!

Event Ticketing Link

Nightmare on Normal Street – October 31, 2026 5 PM – 11 PM

Also on October 31st, Hillcrest has one of the best parties for all of Halloween. With local food trucks and DJs plus the costume contest and the massive dance floor, there are loads of things you can do on this night of thrilling adventure.

Secure Your Tickets Here

Spellbound: An Evening of Moonlight & Magic

When: Friday, October 30, 2026 | 6 – 11:30 PM
Where: Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa, 9700 N Torrey Pines Rd, San Diego, CA 92037
Cost: $95 · 21+
Website: Tickets

Not a haunt — there is nothing here designed to frighten you. This is the adults-only, dress-up end of the Halloween spectrum: an immersive garden party built around folklore, botanical alchemy and harvest-season witchery, with fortune tellers, bubbling cocktails and a costume contest with prizes.

The $95 ticket does more work than it looks: welcome cocktail, a second drink ticket, unlimited food, and contest entry all included, with a full bar and a DJ running the Witching Hour to midnight. Come in your finest witch’s attire, and book early — a single Friday night at a boutique hotel doesn’t hold many people.

Haunted Andaz Rooftop Halloween Party

When: Saturday, October 31, 2026, 8:30 PM – 1 AM
Where: Andaz San Diego rooftop, 600 F St, Gaslamp
Tickets: from ~$17, vipnightlife.com · 21+

If you want your Halloween night with a skyline view, this is the rooftop pick. Seven floors above the Gaslamp Quarter, the Andaz’s rooftop pool deck — the largest in the neighborhood — gets transformed into a decked-out haunted party with open-format DJs, giant Halloween decor, and endless photo ops against the downtown lights. It’s a see-and-be-seen crowd; VIP cabanas and open-bar packages are available, and costumes are encouraged (just note that masks have to come off at the door for ID).

Two practical things: it’s 21+, and tickets auto-increase as the night approaches, so buy early. Rideshare — Gaslamp parking on Halloween is a nightmare, or make it super easy and book a night at the Andaz.

Halloween Party Cruise on the Bahia Belle

When: Saturday, October 31, 2026 | Pre-party 6:30 – 8:30 PM · Cruise 9 PM – midnight (boarding 8:50)
Where: Beach & Boat Club at Bahia Resort Hotel, 998 W Mission Bay Dr, San Diego, CA 92109
Cost: $50 · 21+
Website: Halloween Party Cruise

For the reader who wants to wear the costume, not be chased through a cornfield in it. Nothing here is designed to frighten you — it’s a party on the water with two live DJs, a photo booth, specialty cocktails and late-night bar snacks, and you’re mid-bay when midnight hits on Halloween itself. The organizers suggest a Día de los Muertos theme, and the dress code is “dress to impress,” so expect the effort level to be high. Come to the pre-party at the Beach & Boat Club from 6:30 and you get the full evening rather than three hours.

The detail worth passing on: face paint that obscures your identity may have to come off at the gangway so staff can check your ID against your face. If you’re planning full catrina makeup, bring photo ID you can be matched to, and budget a few minutes for the check.

Logistics: 21 and over, reservations required through their ticketing system, no outside food or drink. Hotel parking is guests-only; park free at Ventura Cove instead.

Yokai Masquerade at the Japanese Friendship Garden

When: Saturday, October 31, 2026 | 6 – 10 PM
Where: Japanese Friendship Garden, 2215 Pan American Rd E, Balboa Park, San Diego, CA 92101
Cost: $45 members / $60 non-members · one night only
Website: Japanese Friendship Garden

If you’re tired of chainsaws and fake blood, this is the antidote. The garden’s framing is that the yōkai — the spirits, demons and shape-shifters of Japanese folklore — don’t hide on Halloween; they celebrate, and you’ve been invited. It’s atmospheric rather than scary: lanterns, costumes, artistry, and folklore in a garden that’s beautiful in daylight and genuinely transformed at night. Bring a camera.

Costumes are encouraged; it’s all ages in practice, and because it runs for four hours on a single night, it’s the one on this list most likely to sell out early.

BRÜT: San Diego Halloween (RAVE-N)

When: Friday, October 23, 2026, 9 PM – 4 AM
Where: EQ, 1271 University Ave, Hillcrest
Tickets: brutparty.com · 21+

BRÜT throws San Diego’s biggest gay Halloween circuit party, and the 2026 edition — “RAVE-N” — takes over EQ’s indoor-outdoor space with DJs Dan Darlington and Deanne spinning underground house until 4 AM. This is a full circuit-party experience: high-energy, late-night, and unapologetically adult.

Be aware it leans into a specific dress code (leather, jockstraps, masks — there’s a clothing check), so it’s very much a 21+ night for that crowd rather than a general costume party. If that’s your scene, it’s the marquee LGBTQ+ Halloween event of the weekend.

Black Pearl Halloween Yacht Party San Diego

Date: October 31, 2026 9:15 PM – 1 AM
Location: San Diego Bay
Tickets

This haunted midnight party bay cruise takes your Halloween night to the next level. 2 spooky nights, 2 DJs, 2 dance floors, an open bar, complimentary bites, and lots of spooky fun are included in this cruise on board the California Spirit Luxury Yacht.

A Haunting in Venice Gondola Cruise

When: Wednesday–Saturday, October 28–31, 2026
Where: The Gondola Company, 503 Grand Caribe Causeway, Suite C, Coronado, CA 92118 — cruising the Coronado Cays canals
Cost: From $139 (2–6 passengers) · group Caorlina from $550 for up to 14
Website: The Gondola Company

The one on this list where nothing jumps out at you. Masked and caped gondoliers row you through the Coronado Cays canals for fifty minutes with organ music drifting over the water, and the company’s own description — more enchanting than frightening — is an unusually honest piece of marketing and exactly the right expectation to set. Costumes are encouraged, not required.

The boat is private, which is what makes it work. This isn’t a party you join, it’s a date night, an anniversary that happens to land in late October, or four friends who’d rather drink wine on a canal than queue for a maze. Wine, soft drinks, and chocolates are available to buy on board; the larger Caorlina for up to fourteen comes with blankets, gratuity, and complimentary corkage, so you can bring your own bottle.

Two things to plan around. The Black Rose Bouquet add-on starts at $85 and must be ordered by October 21 — after that, it’s gone. Because the run covers only four nights and includes Halloween itself, the October 31 slots go first. Book individual cruises online; group boats have to be arranged by phone. Cancellations need 48 hours’ notice, and same-day rescheduling costs 20%.

Spooky Speakeasy at Cutwater Spirits Tasting Room

October 1st – 31st, 2026

This October, the Tasting Room & Kitchen will take you again on a spooky adventure! From October 1–31, the tasting room transforms into a haunted world complete with ghostly décor, eerie lighting, and immersive soundscapes that’ll transport you straight into a world that is creepy, delightful, and very tasty.

Here are some photos of last year’s decorations. Can’t wait to share with you what they have in store this year.

Howl-O-Sprint 5k

Explore SeaWorld San Diego in an active and spooktacular way during this 5k on October 18th, 2026. There is also a fun run for the kids, spooky photo ops, and more. Wear your spookiest costume for the run, but remember that masks are not allowed. If you are planning on going to the Howl-O-Scream Haunted Houses at SeaWorld on the same day, know that costumes are not permitted there as well.

Scream Diego — Halloween & Horror Convention

When: Saturday, October 17, 2026
Where: DoubleTree by Hilton, Mission Valley (Hazard Center), 7450 Hazard Center Dr
Tickets: screamdiego.com

If your idea of Halloween fun is Comic-Con with a horror twist, Scream Diego is your day. San Diego’s Halloween and horror convention packs one full day with ~40 horror vendors and artists, a dozen horror panels across two rooms, a short-horror-film festival (~20 films), celebrity guests (2026 includes The Walking Dead’s Vincent M. Ward), and a Kids’ SCREAM Zone for younger fans. It’s indoors, all-ages during the day, and a fun rainy-or-shine alternative to the outdoor haunts.

Oceans at Night: Halloween — Birch Aquarium

When: Thursday, October 22, 2026 | 6:30 – 9:30 PM
Where: Birch Aquarium at Scripps, 2300 Expedition Way, La Jolla, CA 92037
Cost: $59.95 · members save 20% · 21+
Website: Birch Aquarium

The aquarium after dark with a drink in your hand and no children anywhere. Nothing here is built to scare you — this is the smart, strange end of Halloween: three hours of live music, themed cocktails, interactive games and hands-on ocean science in a building perched on a bluff over the Pacific, with divers carving pumpkins in the tanks. Costumes are encouraged and the photo opportunities are genuinely good, which is not something you can say about most 21+ Halloween events.

At $59.95 it’s a premium ticket for three hours, and it doesn’t include general admission — so weigh it against a haunt at half the price. What you’re paying for is the venue and the fact that it only happens once a year. Members pay closer to $48, which makes it a better deal if you already hold a membership. Tickets release September 17.

Kid-Friendly Halloween Events

Halloween Aglow — Birch Aquarium

When: Friday–Saturday, October 23–24, 2026 | 6 – 8:30 PM
Where: Birch Aquarium at Scripps, 2300 Expedition Way, La Jolla, CA 92037
Cost: $59.95 adults / $49.95 children · under 2 free · members save 20%
Website: Birch Aquarium

The answer for families who want Halloween without anything frightening in it. Kids trick-or-treat through the Adam R. Scripps Living Seas Gallery, get their hands into the Boo and Goo Lab for slime experiments, play arcade games and pop-up science stations, and watch divers carve pumpkins underwater — which is the bit they’ll still be talking about in November. Costumes encouraged, and it runs 6 to 8:30, so it ends before bedtime falls apart.

It isn’t cheap: $59.95 an adult and $49.95 a child, separate from general admission, so a family of four is well over $200. Under-2s go free, and members save 20%. If the price is the sticking point, the free neighborhood haunts and the pumpkin patches do a lot of the same work — but nothing else in San Diego puts a diver with a carving knife in a tank. Tickets release September 17, and two nights at a small venue will not last.

Halloween at Hotel Del Coronado

The Hotel Del Coronado is putting on a few Halloween events this year that will help you get your fright on.

Here are some of the fun things to do for Halloween at the Hotel Del Coronado.

• Haunted Happenings Tour
• Ghost Roast Beach Bonfire
• Halloween Pumpkin Carving

Wizarding Afternoon Tea at Brittania Tea Room

October 2 – November 1, 2026

Feel like taking tea at Hogwarts this Halloween? Then you need to make reservations for the Wizarding Afternoon Tea at Brittania Tea Room. You can make reservations here>>

San Diego Zoo Halloween Events

When: Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays in October; activities start at 5pm
Tickets: Regular Zoo admission — and kids are free all October (details)
Info: zoo.sandiegozoo.org/halgloween

If Howl-O-Scream is the grown-up fright night, HalGLOWeen is its opposite — and it’s the one I’d send families to. On October weekends, the San Diego Zoo lights up after dark for a glow-in-the-dark Halloween celebration that’s all whimsy and zero nightmares. Come early, explore the Zoo in daylight, then stay as the sun goes down and the whole place turns neon.

It’s genuinely charming stuff, spread across the park so there’s always something around the next corner: a skeleton rock band on Front Street, glowing acrobatic “spider” performers spinning webs overhead, a singing troupe of neon pumpkins (the Glow-Go’s), an eerie organist, glow-hula-hoop dance parties, and stilt-walking scarecrows roaming for photos. My favorite touches lean into what the Zoo does best — a “Featured Creatures” show where the wildlife team introduces the “spooky” animals (bats, snakes, spiders) and gently makes the case that they’re not scary at all, and a Día de los Muertos mariachi band strolling through Elephant Odyssey. Costumes are welcome and encouraged here — the opposite of the SeaWorld rule.

The smartest move: because Kids Free runs all October, a Friday or Sunday HalGLOWeen visit is one of the best-value family Halloween outings in San Diego. Arrive in the afternoon for the animals, picnic or grab dinner in the park, and let the kids run wild through the glow after 5 pm. No lines until midnight, no jump scares — just a big, sparkly, low-stress Halloween night the little ones will remember.

A Taste of the Underworld

When: Saturday–Sunday, October 31 – November 1, 2026 | 11 AM – 9 PM
Where: North Embarcadero Waterfront Park, downtown San Diego
Cost: Free
Website: @internationalfoodfestivals

The daytime, family-friendly, no-ticket option — useful if you’ve got kids too young for a haunt but you still want to do something on Halloween itself. It runs 11 AM to 9 PM across both days, so you can go in costume before trick-or-treating and come back for Día de los Muertos on the 1st. International food, live music and artisan vendors on the waterfront.

Wicked Spooky Afternoon Tea at the Fairmont Grand Del Mar

Every Saturday & Sunday in October 2026 (starting October 3rd) from 12 – 3 PM

The Fairmont Grand Del Mar’s signature spooky tea is a bewitching celebration of all things Halloween! Delight in a selection of delectable finger foods and sinful sweets, each crafted to transport your taste buds to a world of spellbinding indulgence.

And don’t forget your Halloween costume! Costumes are more than welcome – they are encouraged! Immerse yourself in the whimsical atmosphere and receive an extra treat to make your experience even more magical.

$125/adult and $65/child exclusive of tax and gratuity. Reservations can be made HERE. 

Spooktacular Halloween Extravaganza at the Fairmont Grand Del Mar

Saturday, October 24, 2026 at 5 – 9 PM

Get ready for the Fairmont Grand Del Mar’s much-awaited Halloween event and step into a world of enchantment as the Grand Del Mar comes alive with Halloween magic!

Put on your most creative and spooky costumes for an unforgettable gathering at Grand Social. Get lured by the Witch in Candyland and her delectable sweets, wander through the enchanted gardens, or get spooked by creepy experiments at the Mad Scientists’ Lab. Wear your costume and take photos at the spooky photo ops, dance to your favorite Halloween tunes under the stars, and more.

General admission is $50/adult and $30/child, plus tax and gratuity. Cabanas are available for $300 and firepits for $150. For more information, click HERE.

Witches of Westgate Tea – The Westgate Hotel Downtown

Witches of Westgate returns each October — check their site for 2026 dates.

High Tea with a bewitched twist is served at the marvelous Fontainebleau Room at the Westgate Hotel Downtown. From delicate pastries to sandwiches and other delectable bites, exquisite tea and a glass of Champagne are served in a spooky setting.

Hauntfest on Main – San Diego East County

Canceled for 2026

The Count’s Halloween Spooktacular at Sesame Place (Chula Vista)

When: Select dates, September 12 – November 1, 2026
Where: Sesame Place, Chula Vista
Cost: Included with park admission

For families with little ones, this is the gentlest Halloween outing in the county — “silly, not-too-spooky” is exactly the promise. Sesame Place transforms into a family Halloween haven with trick-or-treating around the park, a Sesame Street Halloween Parade, Halloween-themed shows and DJ parties, a Spot-the-Ghost scavenger hunt, and photos with Elmo, Abby, and friends in their costumes — all on top of the usual Sesame Street rides. Come in costume; it’s built for toddlers and young kids who’d find the bigger haunts far too much.

San Diego Family Fun Fest: Halloween (Free)

When: Sunday, October 4, 2026, 10 AM – 1 PM
Where: Salvation Army Kroc Center Corner Zone, 6845 University Ave
Cost: Free (register on Eventbrite)

A free, no-fuss morning of Halloween fun from San Diego Family Magazine — great for families who want a low-key, budget-friendly outing. Expect trick-or-treating, costume contests, bounce-house inflatables, Halloween crafts, a free kids’ raffle, and family-resource booths, all in one contained spot. Free admission and free parking, costumes encouraged, and it’s aimed at every age from toddlers to teens. Reserve free tickets ahead since it’s a registered event.

Spookfest at Sun Outdoors San Diego Bay (Chula Vista)

When: October 22–25, 2026 (daytime, ~10 AM – 4 PM)
Where: Sun Outdoors San Diego Bay, 825 E St, Chula Vista

Heads-up on this one: it’s a themed Halloween weekend at the Sun Outdoors bayfront RV resort in Chula Vista — costumes, trick-or-treating, and “frightfully fun” activities — but it’s for resort guests only, not a public event. So it’s a fun perk if you’re already booked for a South Bay camping or RV getaway (and a cute reason to plan one around Halloween), but not a drop-in for the general public. Confirm the current schedule at check-in.

Trick-or-Treating on India Street

October 25, 2026 3:30 PM – 7:30 PM

Pack your little ones and head over to the Piazza della Famiglia in Little Italy for some good ol ‘ trick-or-treating. The shops and restaurants have big buckets of sweets and treats waiting for the cutest ghosts, princesses, pirates, and fun disguises.

Family BooBash

October 24, 2026 2 PM – 5 PM

Join the queerest Halloween Party in San Diego for a family-friendly spooky block party, including games, trick-or-treating, a costume contest, and a family-friendly Drag Show.

Get Tickets here

13th Annual Howl-O-Ween Mutt Run

October 24, 2026

Sponsored by Road Runner Sports, this 1k/5k for you and your four-legged best friend is a great way to run off the sugary treats preemptively. And all proceeds go to CA Labs & More, who rescued 2000 dogs this year. What’s not to love?

Dress up yourself and your pup for a chance to win awesome prizes, and don’t forget to bring your ID if you want to treat yourself to a pint at the Mike Hess Beer Garden afterward. Sign up here>>

Remember to order your Halloween decor now, before it is too late!

Take a look at these other Fall Activities in San Diego:

• 8 Ways to Celebrate Fall in San Diego
• Apple Picking in Julian
• San Diego in October
• Celebrate Día de los Muertos

Halloween in San Diego FAQs

Things To Do On Halloween: San Diego Edition – Pin For Later

Last Updated on October 2, 2026 by Maria Haase