Things to Do in San Diego in October

Catch the Hottest Concerts in San Diego

Want to know where to find amazing artists in concert every week in San Diego? This is your go-to list!

Eat, Drink, and Enjoy the Best of San Diego

The Craving is your source for the latest menu updates, new cocktail programs, happy hours, and special offers from San Diego’s best restaurants and bars.

Catch a Movie Under the Stars at Rooftop Cinema Club

Daily

Rooftop Cinema Club is bringing its A-game to September, from a pet-friendly Moana screening to new 2026 releases and a Halloween-ready thriller lineup, all with sweeping San Diego Bay views atop the Porto Vista Hotel. Don’t miss the Steel Magnolias tribute to Dolly Parton, benefiting the Dollywood Foundation.

Tune In to Local Sounds at Leucadia Listening Lounge

Every Tuesday

Settle in at Fox Point Farms for free live music featuring a different local artist each week. Grab tacos, pizza, or drinks, find a seat at Haven Farm + Table, and enjoy three hours dedicated to North County musicians.

Dive Into a Sea of Halloween Magic

Friday – Sunday

Pirate-themed adventures, trick-or-treat stations, festive entertainment, and the California debut of the all-new Baby Shark™ Halloween Show make SeaWorld Spooktacular a seasonal favorite. Gather the family, snap festive photos, and enjoy some good ‘ole Halloween fun.

Get on the Pier Only Birch Aquarium Can Open

Select Saturday and Sundays

Birch Aquarium educators are taking you past the glass this fall. Sunset Pier Walks get you onto the Ellen Browning Scripps Memorial Pier, normally closed to the public, for plankton, squid dissection, and shark science. Tidepooling Adventures put you at the water’s edge at low tide. Both sell out fast.

Watch Southern California Change, One Canvas at a Time

Now on view

The coastline you grew up with keeps rearranging itself. Changing Terrain gathers more than 60 artists from Southern California and Baja at Oceanside Museum of Art, including nine who showed in the museum’s 2013 landscape exhibition. Thirteen years later, they’re reading the same region very differently. Worth the drive up.

Meet the Two Juvenile Red Octopuses at Birch Aquarium

Now on display

Get an up-close look at two juvenile Red Octopuses making their public debut at Birch Aquarium. Discover their remarkable journey from tiny hatchlings to thriving juveniles and witness a groundbreaking milestone in marine animal care and conservation.

Indulge in Five Days of Food & Wine in Del Mar

October 1 – 4

Celebrate San Diego and Baja’s culinary scene with five days of chef-driven dinners, wine experiences, sports, and celebrations. The festival culminates with a Grand Tasting featuring 100-plus chefs and restaurants alongside more than 150 beverage producers.

Make October a Museum Month With the Kids

October 1 – 31

Bring the kids along for free admission at more than 60 museums, aquariums, gardens, and cultural attractions throughout San Diego and Tijuana. With each paid adult, up to two children ages 12 and under can explore for free.

Celebrate 50 Years of San Diego Design at Orchids & Onions

October 2

Celebrate five decades of San Diego’s design scene at the 50th Orchids & Onions Awards Ceremony. Join architects, designers, and community members at Vesper in Liberty Station for an evening honoring standout projects while spotlighting questionable design choices across region.

Sip, Stroll & Shop Your Way Through University Heights

October 2

Explore University Heights as local businesses showcase independent artists, makers, and creators. Stroll along Park Boulevard and Adams Avenue, discover original artwork, sip craft brews, meet neighborhood creatives, and support San Diego’s local community.

Raise a Stein at La Mesa Oktoberfest

October 2 – 4

Celebrate Bavarian tradition at La Mesa Oktoberfest with three days of beer, brats, live entertainment, festive games, and plenty of German-inspired fun. Head to La Mesa Village and enjoy one of the region’s biggest Oktoberfest celebrations.

Slip Into Masquerade After Dark at Top of the Hyatt

October 2 – 31

Step into an elevated Halloween experience at Top of the Hyatt, where dramatic décor, themed cocktails, and a new sushi menu set the mood. Dress in masquerade attire, ride up to the 40th floor, and take in sweeping harbor views.

Spend the Day by the Ocean at Pacific Beachfest

October 3

Celebrate Pacific Beachfest with ten hours of seaside fun featuring three stages of live music, a fish taco contest, beach volleyball, local makers, family activities, and more. Stroll the boardwalk, grab a bite, and soak up PB’s energy.

Browse Books & Get Creative at the North Park Book Fair

October 3

Browse rare books, graphic novels, and handmade literary finds at the North Park Book Fair. Meet independent booksellers, publishers, comic artists, and local makers, then enjoy story time, drawing tables, a costume contest, food vendors, and music.

Taste Your Way Through North Park

October 3

Explore North Park’s culinary scene with more than 50 food tastings and 15 beverage stops throughout the neighborhood. Browse indie shops, discover local art, catch live music, and sample flavors from restaurants, breweries, and other neighborhood favorites.

Stroll, Shop & Connect at the South Park Fall Walkabout

October 3

Stroll through South Park during the Fall Walkabout, where local shops, restaurants, and pubs stay open late. Discover unique finds, enjoy special promotions and treats, grab a bite, and soak up the neighborhood’s cozy fall atmosphere.

Kick Back With Country Music at The Loma Club

October 3

Spend Saturday evening at The Loma Club with live country music from Thunderbird Mountain Band, barbecue, drink specials, and western chain stitching. Set against the Point Loma golf course, this free gathering brings laid-back country vibes under open skies.

Stretch It Out at San Diego Botanic Garden

October 3

Start Saturday surrounded by nature with Open Air Yoga at San Diego Botanic Garden. Move through a gentle, hour-long outdoor class among the gardens, then enjoy daytime admission afterward. Bring your mat, sunscreen, and hat for a refreshing morning.

Taste Your Way Through Oishii Japanese Food & Sake Fest

October 4

Savor Japanese flavors at the Oishii Japanese Food & Sake Fest at the Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum. Sample savory street food, handcrafted sweets, refreshing drinks, and premium sake while exploring the garden’s scenic paths and peaceful landscapes.

Eat, Sip & Explore Your Way Around Coronado

October 7

Explore Coronado on a self-guided tasting adventure featuring bites and drinks from local restaurants and businesses. Walk, bike, or ride the trolley between stops, enjoy live music, discover island favorites, and support the restoration of Balboa Park’s historic carousel.

Cruise Into Oktoberfest on Mission Bay

October 9

Board the William D. Evans for an Oktoberfest party on Mission Bay featuring live music, bratwurst, giant pretzels, festive beers, cocktails, and a stein-holding contest. Explore three levels of the sternwheeler while celebrating with waterfront views and Bavarian-inspired fun.

Party Y2K-Style at OB Oktoberfest

October 9 – 10

Throw it back to the Y2K era at OB Oktoberfest with two stages, live music, DJ sets, stein-holding, contests, games, and beachside energy. Join thousands of revelers for two packed days of nostalgic fun in Ocean Beach.

Watch Time & Tradition Collide at Oceanside Museum of Art

Exhibitions opens October 10

Explore Kaloust Guedel’s Where Time Bends Softly, an exhibition reimagining centuries-old inlay techniques through a contemporary lens. Discover how fiber, structure, positive and negative space, and contrasting materials come together to explore transformation, continuity, and time.

Explore Art, Wine & More in La Jolla Village

October 10 – 11

Stroll through La Jolla Village for two days of art, wine, music, and community. Discover works from over 170 artists, visit the Wine & Beer Garden, catch live entertainment, explore interactive experiences, and enjoy family-friendly activities along Girard Avenue.

Fuel Your Weekend at the San Diego Coffee Festival

October 10 – 11

Discover your next favorite brew as Broadway Pier fills with local and regional coffee roasters. Sample unlimited pours, meet the people behind the beans, enjoy live music, explore tea options, and grab bites from food trucks between sessions.

Pull Up a Chair for The Feast in Little Italy

October 11

Celebrate 40 years of the Busalacchi family with a street-spanning dinner in Little Italy. Gather beneath the string lights for grazing stations, live entertainment, a four-course family-style feast from Barbusa, wine service, all benefiting local youth.

Celebrate the Season at San Marcos Harvest Fest

October 11

Spend the day at San Marcos Harvest Fest with global street food, local brews, live entertainment across four stages, and activities for kids. Explore North City while enjoying specialty eats, family-friendly fun, and performances from talented local musicians and dancers.

Experience Six Days of Film, Stars & Stories

October 13 – 18

Mark 25 years of the San Diego International Film Festival with six days of premieres, filmmaker conversations, panels, parties, and special events. Catch Viola Davis at Night of the Stars, explore international films, and celebrate cinema across San Diego.

Grab Your Passport and Explore East Village

October 14 – 15

Explore East Village one bite at a time during two nights of neighborhood dining. Follow separate routes, sample offerings from more than 30 restaurants, discover new favorites, enjoy live music along the way, and experience Downtown’s culinary scene.

Rock Out by the Water at Mission Bayfest

October 16 – 18

Soak up three days of reggae, rock, and SoCal energy at Mission Bayfest. Catch Rebelution, Kolohe Kai, The Offspring, and more across multiple stages, then explore food, drinks, local vendors, and sunset views at Mariner’s Point Park.

Wander Through The Glowing Hollow at Harvest on the Promenade

October 18

Bring the family to Liberty Station for a fall celebration featuring five immersive experiences, including The Glowing Hollow. Explore seasonal activities, interactive installations, creative play, and festive surprises as the North Promenade transforms into a colorful autumn destination.

Gather for an Afternoon of California Flavor

October 18

Spend an afternoon at The Lodge at Torrey Pines sampling creations from celebrated chefs, farmers, vintners, brewers, and artisans. Enjoy seasonal dishes, exceptional wines, interactive tastings, demonstrations, and Pacific Ocean views while supporting the San Diego Food Bank.

Meet the Axolotls at Birch Aquarium

Opens October 21

Step into The Axolotl’s Garden at Birch Aquarium at Scripps, where two axolotl habitats anchor a story-rich exhibition inspired by Mexican and Baja California ecology, mythology, and folklore. Discover endangered amphibians, other Mexican species, and conservation stories.

Step Inside the Story at Ghost Light Masquerade

October 22 – 25 & 28 – 30

Enter an immersive Halloween world where dance, theater, and storytelling unfold around you. Don a mask, follow mysterious spirits through The Nocturne Theatre, choose your own path, and get as close to the performers as your curiosity allows.

Camp Among the Roars at Lions Tigers & Bears

October 23 – 24

Spend a spooky night camping alongside rescued lions, tigers, and bears with pumpkin carving, a haunted house, costume contest, s’mores, and more. Wake to roaring neighbors, then watch the sanctuary’s residents enjoy treat-filled pumpkins during the Pumpkin Bash.

Set Sail for a Spooky Night on the USS Midway

October 24

Board the USS Midway for a family-friendly Halloween party packed with costumes, dancing, a treasure hunt, and spooky photo ops. Then settle in under the stars for an outdoor screening of Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.

Turn Yourself Into the Art at Art After Dark

October 24

Dress to impress at Oceanside Museum of Art’s after-hours celebration, where costumes become part of the show. Hit the runway competition, dance to a live DJ, enjoy light bites and drinks, and embrace this year’s surreal, art-inspired theme.

Light Up Mission Bay at Nightmare on the Bay

October 24

Paddle into Halloween on Mission Bay with glowing boards, creative costumes, and music from DJ Sweenami. Launch from Ski Beach at sunset, meet the floating party on the water, and join fellow paddlers for a spooky evening under the stars.

Experience a Confluence of Musical Traditions in La Jolla

October 24 – 25

Hear sarod virtuoso Amjad Ali Khan and his sons join La Jolla Symphony & Chorus for Confluence. The program brings Indian classical and Western orchestral traditions together through colorful works, culminating in Khan’s powerful sarod concerto, Samaagam.

Dress Up and Give Back at Halloween at the Station

October 25

Bring the family to Liberty Station for costumes, trick-or-treating, crafts, a DJ, obstacle course, and Hollywood car show. Enter the costume contest, explore the festivities, and bring nonperishable food donations to help support local military families and veterans.

Trick-or-Treat Your Way Through Little Italy

October 25

Dress up the little ones for an evening of Halloween fun along India Street. Collect treats from neighborhood businesses, snap photos with a giant Jack Skellington, browse fall vendors, enjoy live music, and show off creative looks in the costume contest.

Drift Into Halloween on a Haunting in Venice Cruise

October 28 – 31

Glide through Coronado’s moonlit canals aboard a Halloween-themed gondola with phantom gondoliers and eerie organ music setting the mood. Dress in costume, bring someone special, and settle in for a private, atmospheric cruise that’s more enchanting than frightening.

Uncover the Strange After Dark at The Nat

October 30

Explore all five floors of The Nat during a 21+ Halloween takeover filled with tarot readings, paranormal encounters, scavenger hunts, cocktails, costumes, and curious specimens. Dance to DJs, swap ghost stories, and discover the museum after dark.

Unleash Your Inner Yokai at the Masquerade

October 31

Spend Halloween night surrounded by Japanese folklore at the Yokai Masquerade. Come dressed as your favorite spirit, catch a fiery performance and yokai parade, explore tarot readings and flash tattoos, play carnival games, and dance inside the garden.

Get Spirited Away on Mission Bay

October 31

Celebrate Halloween on Mission Bay with a Día de los Muertos-themed cruise aboard the William D. Evans. Start with a beachside pre-party, then board for spooky DJ sets, festive cocktails, late-night bites, costumes, and waterfront revelry.