Your Guide to San Diego’s Halloween Weekend Happenings
Halloween is back, and San Diego is ready to celebrate the spooky season with some post-pandemic enthusiasm! Whether you are looking for a wild party, a party with your four-legged friend, or some family fun, we’ve got you covered!
Party like it’s October 2019!
Ok, maybe not quite yet. But there is definitely more ‘party’ to this Halloween than we’ve had in a while! Be safe, and enjoy it!
The Great Pumpkin Beer Festival
The legendary Seattle Great Pumpkin Beer Festival presented by Elysian Brewing hits San Diego for a mischievous time of 40 pumpkin-themed brews, live entertainment, costume contest, twisted experientials, squash-based foodie creations, hidden surprises and so much more! The streets of the Gaslamp Quarter will be transformed into a gourd-geous mecca of all things nonsensical as misfits unite to celebrate brews, boos and beats.
Squid Games at Understory
Join Understory, Del Mar’s newest late-night hotspot, for a “Squid Game” themed Halloween party on Saturday, October 30th. The party begins at 4:56PM, as an ode to Netflix’s popular South Korean survival drama, and will feature $4.56 specialty shots and a variety of games with prizes to help patrons get in the Squid Game mindset. The bar, which is located inside the Del Mar Highland’s Sky Deck, will also offer their selection of craft cocktails, including Halloween-centric offerings like the Satanic Nightjar, made with Ford’s Gin, Turmeric, Ginger, Tamarind, Chili, Lemongrass, Mint, and Club Bubbles, and will have a DJ beginning at 9PM. Reservations can be made for groups of six or more via Opentable, here.
Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa
Dressed to the nines and ready to make your social season debut, Estancia La Jolla Hotel and Spa’s Bridgerton Masquerade Halloween Soirée is sure to be Lady Whistledown approved. Arrive on Halloween night to Estancia La Jolla, mask in hand and dressed in a fantastic Regency-era costume, you’ll be transported to a whimsical world where the gin and bubbles flow, unlimited bites abound, and live entertainment delights. Don’t be late for the event which starts promptly at 6 o’clock. Tickets for the masquerade cost $150. Escape for the evening or indulge in a weekend in the world of whimsy, mystery, romance, and plenty of scandal by booking an overnight stay. The Bridgerton Halloween Package includes two tickets to the Masquerade, Regency-era fans to add to your costume, free parking for your royal chariot, and a waived resort fee for those guests who would risk showing their face the next day. Bridgerton fans assemble because this event is here to fulfill all of your wildest dreams.
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Vin De Syrah
‘Twas the night before Halloween, but there’s no sign of Klaus. Wander on down the rabbit hole, to where they play house.”
This Halloween weekend, join the Pumpkin King for a night of wonderful scares and plenty of boos at Vin De Syrah. RSVP now through here and enjoy complimentary Tito’s Handmade Vodka for the first hour.
Hard Rock San Diego
According to folklore, the forest is a place of magical refuge. Housing a hint of danger, strange surprises, unusual characters and always a promise of the unknown, it’s a place where the lines between fantasy and reality blur. This Halloween, Hard Rock Hotel San Diego invites you to lose yourself in a rooftop Enchanted Forest bash taking place outdoors on the Woodstock Terrace. Experience a night of drinking, dancing and mystical revelry featuring your favorite San Diego DJs playing all night long.
Click here to purchase tickets. Or contact the Hard Rock Hotel for room packages that include two tickets to the event.
San Diego Halloween Yacht Party
VIP Nightlife & San Diego Nightlife present…Black Pearl San Diego Halloween Costume Party Cruise!
The Haunted Mansion on the Water – Pier Pressure™ Yacht Party aboard the California Spirit with…..
- Three Decks to Mingle
- Open Bar Entire Cruise
- Complimentary Tray Passed Appetizers
Create the ultimate champagne memory that will last a lifetime as you set sail aboard the 15 million dollar California Spirit luxury yacht with your significant and or group of favorite friends. This isn’t like any other cruise or event. Flagship Cruises and San Diego Nightlife’s mission is to make sure our Pier Pressure Yacht Party is the perfect one for you and all your friends.
barleymash
Step right up! On Sunday, October 31st, barleymash will be putting on a show with their Haunted Circus Halloween extravaganza. The Gaslamp restaurant and bar has partnered with Jägermeister and Teremana Tequila for ‘the greatest show on Earth’ that includes a costume contest, both solo and group, with a chance to win prizes, along with themed cocktails.
Mavericks Beach Club
Mavericks Beach Club has quite the Halloween lineup! The festivities kick off with PAWloween – doggy trick or treating, drink specials, live music, and a doggy costume contest – on Wednesday, Oct. 27th from 5PM to 7PM. Halloween WRESTLE MANIA is Thursday, October 28th from 6PM to 9PM, with drink specials and a wrestling costume contest. And on October 31st, join the beach bar for their Zombie Prom Mavericks Halloween Party, from 7PM to 2AM. There will be drink specials, DJ’s, dance floors, contortionists, screams and much more!
Mostraland
Mostraland, a Halloween fest in celebration of Mostra Coffee’s 7th anniversary, and in support of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, is taking place on Halloween eve, October 30, at Liberty Station. The celebratory night will include live music from Tribal Theory, dancing, and a Halloween costume contest, beers from 50 breweries from all over the U.S., and bites from San Diego’s favorite restaurants and chefs.
While VIP tickets sold out fast, general admission tickets starting at $50 are still available and can be purchased here.
Haunter Beer Mansion
The Haunted Beer Mansion is popping up on Halloween weekend. Guests can imbibe on unlimited samples of over 20 craft beers from Stone Brewery and Thorn, all while mingling with the tormented and the dammed who still haunt the grounds. Make your way through all the areas of the property to find what evil lurks there, including the blacklight brewery and the dead dance party with the Ragin’ Vampire Band and DJ Pennywise. Costumes are highly encouraged. The mansion and ghosts pop up for one night only.
San Diego Zombie Crawl
Feeling particularly ghoulish? The 2021 Annual Halloween San Diego Zombie Crawl is now 3 days long! Starting on Bloody Thirsty Thursday, October 28, and ending on Scary Saturday, October 30! Your favorite haunts are dying to welcome you back with welcome shots, dancing, a DJ, and more.
The Holding Company
Ocean Beach’s tri-story restaurant, bar and live music venue, The Holding Company, is coming up with a Halloweekend celebrations your will love. Includes a costume contest on Saturday, October 30 where the winner will take home $500!
SeaWorld San Diego
The horrors of Howl-O-Scream lurk just around the corner with SeaWorld San Diego’s first-ever nighttime Halloween event kicking off September 17 and running through October 31 on select evenings. This separately ticketed event provides guests a terrifying experience unlike any other in San Diego, offering all the fear of a typical Halloween event, along with the thrilling rides and high-quality entertainment of a theme park.
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Fluxx Nightclub
The Wild Wild West is taking over Halloween at Fluxx Nightclub this weekend, with 3 extraordinary events:
- Friday, October 29th | DJ Esco kicks off the Wild Wild West Halloween theme, bringing his high energy straight to the Gaslamp.
- Saturday, October 30th | Eric Bellinger gives the people exactly what they need, the soulful R&B, something that we all yearn for.
- Sunday, October 31st | Nas completes the Wild West Halloween trilogy, the only way one of the Best Rappers alive can, on Halloween Night.
Buy tickets here!
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Rave From The Grave
A TERRIFYING San Diego music event full of live DJ’s performing BASS Heavy music that will certainly give you chills to the bone! Join us in our graveyard IN COSTUME this Sunday, October 30, for some of the Grimiest, Heaviest, and Raviest Halloween sounds to shuffle and headbang to this fall. With 7-DJs set to perform over 7-hours of live music, this event is going to be an unforgettable night you and your friends don’t want to miss out on! Buy your tickets here!
Eddie V’s
Eddie V’s is hosting a luxe Thanksgiving celebration with options such as hand-carved Slow-Roasted Turkey, Roasted Butternut Squash, hand-whipped Mashed Potatoes and Pumpkin Pie Tartlet. Against a backdrop of live music, guests can toast to the holiday with Veuve Clicquot champagne by-the-glass as well as eye-catching signature cocktails, such as the Smoked Old Fashioned, torched tableside on a wooden plank, or the color-changing Hope Diamond. To make a reservation, visit here.
San Diego Distiller’s Guild Fest
No, it’s not Halloween-themed, but it’s happening this weekend, and it’s going to be an amazing opportunity to check out San Diego’s craft distillery scene! Click here for ticket info.
Party with your four-legged friends!
Bivouac Ciderworks
Bivouac Ciderworks is closing out “Spooky Month” with a special Yappy Hour and pet costume contest at the dog-friendly North Park tap room, on Thursday, October 28th. Enjoy happy hour food specials and Bivouac cider (including the seasonal Cat’s Paw Pumpkin Spice Cider), plus gourmet housemade pumpkin pup treats with complimentary “water flights.” Enter your furry BFF in the pet Halloween costume contest for a chance to win a $25 Bivouac gift card and a special prize for your pup.
Monsaraz San Diego
Don your spookiest costumes and join the fun with Halloween-themed cocktails and treats! The spookiest pup will win a one-night stay at the Monsaraz San Diego, with their pet fee waived!
The Presley
Get creative with your four-legged friends this Halloween at The Presley’s annual Doggy Costume Contest. The contest, which will run from 3PM to 5PM on October 31st, will be held on The Presley’s expansive outdoor patio, where participants can enjoy classic American fare, local seafood and shareable plates, in addition to a selection of craft cocktails while in full Halloween attire. Participants, as well as their dogs, are required to dress up in costume to have a shot at winning. Come ready to show off your iconic style and creativity because the top three most imaginative human/dog duos will be awarded a prize.
Treat Yourself!
Devil’s Dozen
With Halloween fast approaching, Devil’s Dozen Donut Shop is naturally celebrating with all treats, no tricks this year. Satisfy your sweet tooth with a few limited-themed donuts in honor of arguably the year’s best holiday, complete with monster-head marshmallows, candy corn, black (goth!) custard, and pumpkin gummies. These festive treats are hitting the shop on October 26 and will be sold through the 31st — flavors will rotate over the week. Devil’s Dozen in Little Italy is open Monday-Friday from 7AM – 1PM and Saturday and Sunday from 8AM – 1PM.
Metlbar Creamery & Café
Halloween might be filled with tricks or treats, but there are no tricks about how delightful the holiday treats are at North Park’s Metlbar Creamery & Café! Available throughout the month, you can try four frighteningly delicious flavors: Vegan Rye n Pumpkin Pie – Templeton Rye Whiskey with Pumpkin Pie, Trick or Treat – made with Tequila & Black Cocoa ice cream filled with Halloween candies, Corpse Reviver Candy Corn – 3 layers of ice cream: Cointreau & orange, gin & lemon, Absinthe, and Halo-Halloween – Bourbon Pumpkin Pie, Taro & Ube Rum, black coconut ice, and Sweet Tart bats. These tasty offerings will only be available until Halloween, so be sure to stop by to try one (or all!) today.
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Tajima
Creep or crawl into any of Tajima‘s six locations to taste their Creepy Crawlers Seafood Ramen, a monthly special that you can only get your hands on through the end of October. Made with Tajima’s signature original Tonkotsu pork broth, this frightfully good bowl consists of egg noodles, seafood mix comprised of baby octopus, squid, cuttlefish, clam, and shrimp, half ramen egg, green onion, bean sprouts, mixed vegetables, fried garlic, and sesame seeds. The beverage menu varies from location, but you can enjoy with sake, wine, or beer!
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Provisional Kitchen, Cafe & Mercantile
Celebrate Dia de los Muertos with an authentic Mexican 3-course dinner paired with 818 cocktails at Provisional Kitchen, Cafe & Mercantile at the Pendry Hotel. The flavors of Mexico are brought to beautiful life with live music, face painting, and a cocktail reception. View the full menu here. Buy tickets here.
Bloody Brunch in the Gaslamp
Recover from a spectacular spooky season on Sunday, October 31 with a Bloody Brunch in the Gaslamp. Check out the Gaslamp Quarter’s fabulous brunch spots who are offering special Halloween food and beverage specials.
Seasons 52
This Thanksgiving, Seasons 52 guests can enjoy a lighter take on Thanksgiving with a spread of freshly prepared classics using peak-season ingredients. The menu includes Oven-Roasted Turkey, House-made Cranberry Relish, Mashed Butternut Squash and a Pumpkin Pie Mini Indulgence dessert, among other sides. The Seasons 52 Thanksgiving Green Box dinner allows guests to celebrate at home with turkey, all of the in-restaurant fixings, salad and six Pumpkin Pie Mini Indulgence desserts. Boxes serve four to six people and are available for pickup on November 24 or 25. Pre-orders and reservations can be made here.
Family Fun
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The Haunted Trail in Balboa Park
For those of you with older – or, at least, braver kids that can handle some seriously scary fun – the Haunted Trail in Balboa Park is a must-do! It’s been recognized as one of the best ‘haunted’ experiences in the United States by the likes of the New York Times!
Parkway Plaza
Bring the kids decked out in costumes to Parkway Plaza for their annual Fall Fest on Saturday, October 30th. Parkway Plaza is El Cajon’s premiere shopping destination and this year they’re making it easy to join in on all the Halloween fun. From 5PM to 7PM, adventure throughout the plaza to discover your favorite live characters such as Wonder Woman and Captain America, and partake in the variety of activity stations. Fall time isn’t complete without classic carnival games, so enjoy some friendly competition with games like ring toss and skee ball. The evening of festive fun doesn’t stop there, swing by the face painting station to complete your costume or visit the art stations to conjure up Halloween-inspired crafts. This event is free and open to the public, so don’t miss out!
One Paseo
Looking for the perfect spot to spend your Halloweekend? One Paseo is a prime destination for all your Halloween festivities. Whether you’re looking for a festive photo op or a chance to win some goodies before a night of trick-or-treating, One Paseo has it all! Stroll around the urban village and stop by the red Studebaker truck activation to strike a pose and snap a pic, while trying to guess the weight of the giant pumpkin (don’t forget to tag @onepaseo)! On Saturday, October 30th from 10AM-1PM, families can pick up a free art kit and participate in making a paper bag pumpkin guided by the New Children’s Museum. On Saturday evening from 4PM-7PM, join Faherty at their pumpkin paint party where there will be spooky sips and tasty treats for everyone dressed in their best costume! On October 31st, while you’re walking around in your costume, stop by Salt & Straw for a free scoop of ice cream on Halloween. One Paseo is the destination for treats, costumes, and family-fun this Halloween.
Howl-o-Ween at the Little Italy Dog Park
Come celebrate Howl-o-Ween this year at the Little Italy Dog Park with TrustedHousitters on Saturday, October 30th from 10AM-2PM! Attendees will enjoy the Woof Booth photobooth, caricature drawings of their pets by Marco, complimentary embroidered bandanas for the first 40 people from Lucrecia, and paw paintings. Raffles will also be taking place throughout the day with tickets being available for $1. Proceeds from the raffles will benefit The Animal Pad (TAP), a 100% volunteer-based local non-profit, all breed dog rescue focusing on saving dogs from high kill shelters and the streets of Mexico. The Animal Pad will also have a small handful of dogs available for adoption!
San Diego Botanic Garden
The San Diego Botanic Garden (SDBG), a 37-acre urban oasis that we consider one of the hidden gems of San Diego, announced its Fall Festival/Festival de Otoño event, open to the public. The festive seasonal exhibit connects visitors with harvest plants and autumn traditions, from pumpkins and scarecrows to Halloween and Day of the Dead. The event celebrates the changing colors of nature and cooler temperatures in the air with live music, themed craft stations, fall-themed classes, and more.
Third Avenue Village
Join Third Avenue Village during their inaugural Día de los Muertos! The celebration will feature two options for guests to enjoy including:
- La Ofrenda, a ticketed portion that includes a variety of tastes and samples from local businesses and special discounts throughout the night.
- Treats & Sweets, a free, family-centric option where little catrines and catrinas (kids) can wander through participating businesses to collect goodies.
Guests are encouraged to dress up in full Catrín costume or put their own fun and modern spin on the traditional look. Capture the night with a fun photo opportunity and stop by one of the several photo spots hosted by Third Avenue Village, as well as a live musical performance by Karlos Paez of B-Side Players. Guests are also encouraged to honor a loved one by bringing along a copy of a photo to place on the community ofrenda table, located on the corner of Third and Davidson.
Gaslamp Flicks: Spooky Movie Edition
Presenting Gaslamp Flicks: Spooky Movie Edition with a TRIPLE Scary Movie Feature and FREE admission this coming Friday, October 29! Yes, FREE admission! Head to Gaslamp Quarter for dinner and stay for a FREE movie night! We highly recommend that you bring your own blanket and chairs! Register here.
Here is the movie lineup:
6PM – Hocus Pocus
7:35PM – The Exorcist
9:45PM – The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It
Be safe and Happy Halloween!
See you out there, San Diego!
