Free Balboa Park Halloween Family Day Offers Tons Of Spooky-Good Fun

Enjoy a culturally-inspired kickoff to your Halloween festivities at the region’s largest free Halloween carnival. More than 30 participating cultural attractions, community groups, and sponsors present free craft projects for kids, Day of the Dead-themed displays and activities, costume contests, carnival games with prizes, face painting, and live dance entertainment.

Participating museums also offer free admission to children 12 and under with paying adult, and more than a dozen gourmet food trucks will be serving up a variety of edible treats.

The Plaza de Panama and El Prado walkway will be overflowing with free hands-on activities for kids, while select museums offer additional Halloween-themed activities inside their buildings.

Among the day’s highlights

Mini-carnival games for prizes courtesy of the City of San Diego Parks and Recreation Department

A giant Day of the Dead altar set up by La Vista Memorial Park and Cemetery

A haunted lantern craft at the Japanese Friendship Garden booth

A rooftop pumpkin drop experiment in front of the San Diego Air & Space Museum

A “Thriller” flash mob dance in the Plaza de Panama that anyone can learn and participate in.

Now in its 11th year, the annual Halloween Family Day is co-presented by the City of San Diego Department of Parks and Recreation and the Balboa Park Conservancy.

See you there!