There are always quite a few things to do in San Diego with kids for Halloween. Themed events and places to go are abundant around this holiday.
Some of these San Diego Halloween events are also on my list of San Diego fall events. Remember that October is also Kids Free San Diego, where kids go free to many San Diego attractions when adults hold qualifying tickets (restrictions apply).
This means that many of the below activities are free for kids of certain ages, while others may require additional admission.
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1. San Diego Zoo HalGLOWeen
San Diego Zoo Halloween festivities include HalGLOWeen, named for the glow-in-the-dark decor and entertainment guests will enjoy on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays throughout October, starting at 5 p.m.
Thanks to Kids Free October, kids ages 11 and under get free entry, and admission is included for all with San Diego Zoo tickets. The Zoo comes alive in a whole different light (literally) with two glow-in-the-dark acrobatic shows, while the Skeleton Band will rock on the Front Street Stage.
There are hooping contests, a bubble dance party, and interactive games for the kids with Dr. Zoolittle. And beware, The Boo Crew scarecrow stilt walkers might just sneak up on you. Children are encouraged to wear costumes.
KIDS FREE AT THE ZOO AND SAFARI PARK
One paid adult can take up to five kids ages 11 and under for free to the Zoo and four kids ages 11 and under go free at the Safari Park. The adult needs to hold a qualifying ticket, which I have at a discount below.
I have an exclusive San Diego Zoo tickets promo code and a San Diego Zoo Safari Park tickets promo code for 1-Day tickets, which are also eligible for Kids Free October.
GET MY EXCLUSIVE TICKET DISCOUNTS
I have the best final price on San Diego Zoo Safari Park tickets that is available to the general public, with no membership required, through my partnership with aRes Travel, an authorized San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance ticket seller. For this reason, we can’t publish the promo code online, but you can get it by text or email. The price is $67/adult and $57/child (ages 3–11) — all taxes and fees included!
*By texting the word SDZOO to 1-833-490-0799 you agree to receive automated promotional messages with how to secure my deeper ticket discount and this agreement isn’t a condition of any purchase. Msg and data rates may apply. 2 msg/mo. Reply STOP to cancel. Read my full privacy policy.
2. Visit a Pumpkin Station
San Diego has multiple pumpkin patches open to explore with your kids. They all vary in size, cost, and detail. Some are like mini carnivals, and some have giant hay mazes. In true San Diego fashion, many pumpkin patches are dog-friendly!
Pumpkin Stations are among the most popular, conveniently located centrally at places like Mission Valley Target and just off the I-5 freeway in Del Mar. The list of locations includes:
- Del Mar
- Rancho Bernardo (Farm)
- Mission Valley
- National City (Plaza Bonita)
- Bonita (Farm)
Pumpkin Stations are free to enter and park, but you’ll need tickets for rides and activities. Tickets can be bought at the Pumpkin Stations but are unavailable online. Visit their website.
3. Visit Carlsbad Strawberry Company Pumpkin Patch
Another favorite San Diego Halloween event of ours is the Carlsbad Strawberry Company Pumpkin Patch.
You can pick out your pumpkin at this fun North County spot, and guests can explore a corn maze, take tractor rides, pet the rabbits, and visit the venue’s beloved sheep and goats. These four attractions are in addition to the $10 per person entrance fee, and children under 5 enter free.
Teens may enjoy the Haunted Corn Maze on Friday and Saturday evenings for the month of October. The Pumpkin Patch is open seven days a week from September 20 – November 3. Learn more about the Carlsbad Strawberry Company’s Halloween event.
Full 2024 times and prices are still TBD.
4. SeaWorld San Diego’s Halloween Spooktacular and Howl-O-Scream Weekends
SeaWorld San Diego has brought back Howl-O-Scream, an “intense horror-filled haunt” from September 27–November 2 for 2024. Howl-O-Scream is the nighttime version of the park’s more family-friendly Spooktacular, offered during daylight hours.
And beware, once the sun goes down, SeaWorld San Diego will transform into a terrifying playland intended for mature audiences only. Tickets are priced separately from $43.99, in addition to the regular admission park tickets.
It’s a little too spooky for your tiniest tadpoles. Still, it isn’t as scary as, say, Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood. Use discretion when planning your SeaWorld San Diego trip during Halloween.
For a family-friendly Halloween celebration, join SeaWorld San Diego on Saturdays and Sundays in from September 6 – November 3, 2024, for their annual Halloween Spooktacular.
They will feature Halloween dance parties, trick-or-treating, fun Halloween decorations, and more, all with a swash-buckling pirate theme this year. The Spooktacular will also host a Pumpkin Hunt by the waterfront. Guests can purchase a special map that allows them to search for pumpkins for an exclusive Halloween prize.
The Halloween Spooktacular is included with the regular park admission. I have tips for how to buy SeaWorld San Diego tickets, but the two best places are through SeaWorld and aRes Travel (use promo code FALL on some tickets).
There are discounts on regular admission and for Howl-O-Scream. You’ll also want to take a look at the Kids Free tickets!
5. Belmont Park Fall Fest
Fall Fest is in full swing at Belmont Park San Diego from 7 – 27 October for 2024. One of the most popular San Diego attractions, Belmont Park, ensures its dining outlets get into the fall spirit with Caramel Apple Funnel Cake at Belmonty’s Burgers and seasonal beer at Draft.
Not to mention the Loaded Pumpkin Pie Milkshake, Maple Bacon Fudge, and purple sugared Enchanted Churros — to name just a few of the many festive treats.
This year, the event’s first-ever BeerFest will be held on Sunday, October 20th, featuring local brewers, live music, and plenty of games.
Other activities include Sip & Paint Classes, free Trick-or-Treating, and fun throughout the park every Sunday for the littles, various live music on weekends throughout the festival, and the Trunk or Treat Classic Car Show on October 27.
Belmont Park is free to enter, but you’ll pay for activities such as rides, mini golf, and the arcade. Parking is also free. When you need a wristband, we have advice for buying discounted Belmont Park tickets.
Don’t forget, thanks to Kids Free October, kids 12 or younger will enjoy one FREE Wristband with the purchase of an adult wristband all month long using Promo Code: “KIDSFREE” online or in-person at checkout. Check for more details and restrictions.
See also: Things to Do at Belmont Park
6. Mr. Jack-O-Lantern’s Pumpkin Patch
Come to La Jolla to pick out your pumpkin at another family-owned Mr. Jack-O-Lantern’s Pumpkin Patch.
Fear not if you cannot make it to the pumpkin patch but live in the area. They process online orders and deliver locally.
They also sell pumpkin carving and pumpkin decorating kits. Kids can take a spin around the spooky maze and have fun in the bounce house. Parking and admission are free. The event runs from October 1–31.
7. Old Town Trolley Ghost and Gravestone Tours
See the spookier side of San Diego and travel back in time to learn about dubious local legends on one of the popular Old Town Trolley Ghost and Gravestone Tours.
You’ll hop on board the “Trolley of the Doomed” to learn about some of the city’s famous ghosts and visit some spookier sites at night, like El Campo Santo cemetery in Old Town San Diego.
You’ll go by the infamous Whaley House, which is said by many to be haunted, and Pioneer Park to check for paranormal activity.
The actors love getting into character for these tours. They are educational but also super spooky. Since many of these stories are based on the truth, it’s definitely important to approach these tours with caution when it comes to younger children. The tour company recommends the tour for kids 13 years and over.
8. LEGOLAND Brick-or-Treat Party Nights
This annual Halloween event includes live entertainment, character meet-and-greets, costume contests, rides, and giant LEGO Halloween models.
At LEGOLAND Brick-or-Treat Party Nights, kids can safely trick-or-treat at Treat Stations throughout the park with almost one million pieces of candy and attend the Monster Party with live entertainment, a costume contest, and more.
Spend the night at the LEGOLAND Hotel for added fun. If you stay at the hotel on days that include the Brick-or-Treat days below, the event is included in the room price.
- September 14, 21 and 28
- Every Saturday and Sunday in October (5–6, 12–13, 19–20, 26–27)
- All-day event, with activities beginning at 2 p.m.
Tips for buying LEGOLAND California tickets: October is Kids Free San Diego so general admission to the park is free for one child per paid adult. However, you do need admission that covers Brick-or-Treat, and the kids’ free tickets do not.
9. Ghost Roasts at Hotel del Coronado
Did you know that Hotel del Coronado is one of the haunted hotels in San Diego? You don’t need to stay overnight to book one of their roasts, a fun beach activity I recommend. In addition to beach s’mores roasted on a private fire pit set up for your group, you’ll read ghost stories and enjoy a supernatural flair.
You can book a Ghost Roast on any night between October 1–31, with either a 5.30 p.m. or 7.30 p.m. option. The cost starts at $222.60 per fire pit and 10 people max are permitted around each pit.
You can also participate in Halloween Pumpkin Carving on Oct 18–20, 25–27, and 30 from 4 p.m. onwards. The cost is $37.10 per person, and you select your pumpkin from the beachfront pumpkin patch.
And don’t miss the Haunted Happenings Tours happening nightly from now through December 31, where you’ll learn the story of Kate Morgan, the ghost who allegedly haunts the hotel. Children have to be 12+ and tickets cost $37.10.
Older kids can also tag along for some ghoulish fun at Movies on the Beach on October 5 (Beetlejuice – 1988) & October 13 (Coraline), October 19 (Ghostbusters – 1984), October 26 (Hocus Pocus – 1993), and November 2 (Coco). The movie starts promptly at 7:30 p.m.. Doors open at 7 p.m., so try to show up a little earlier to secure a good spot.
10. The Count’s Halloween Spooktacular At Sesame Place
Sesame Place San Diego is a newer SeaWorld theme park featuring your favorite Sesame Street residents. The Count, the host of the Halloween Spooktacular, encourages you and your family to come in costume for a spooky costume contest, trick-or-treating, themed live shows, a Halloween party, and so much more.
There’s even a fully interactive Spot-the-Ghost Scavenger Hunt and themed photo opportunities with your favorite Sesame Street characters.
Access to this event is included with regular park admission. We have advice for buying discounted Sesame Place tickets, but you can purchase them either through SeaWorld or our aRes Travel page.
The Count’s Halloween Spooktacular at Sesame Place runs from September 14 until November 3 for 2024.
11. Balboa Park Haunted Trail
Not for kids under 10 (or the faint of heart), this outdoor haunted trail is a mile of terror. It includes an additional maze called “The eXperiment,” where you can experience over 3,500 square-feet of freak-infested terror.
Enter the Haunted Trail at your own risk and encounter Moldy Locks and her three man-eating bears, a ghoul bus full of zombie prisoners, and a chainsaw-laden barn, among others. Good luck!
- Starting September 27, this scary experience runs every night until November 2, minus some Mondays and Tuesdays (see the online calendar).
- Opening and closing times vary daily, but it typically opens at 6:30 p.m. or 7 p.m. and usually ends at 10:00, 10:30, or 11 p.m. Again, check the online calendar for daily times.
- Timed general admission tickets start at $32.99 and are date-specific; there is a credit card fee at the gate, so cash is recommended. It’s highly advisable to pre-book online; Scream Pass admission (express line upgrade) starts at $47.99
- The Experiment Maze & Trail is included in the admission ticket
- Located at Balboa Park and Juniper at Marston Point.
Haunted Trail ticket tips: Buy tickets online to skip the ticket queue.
12. Trick-or-Treating in La Jolla (TBD)
We attend this community event every year. On a select date near Halloween (the 2024 date and time are TBD), come down to the Village of La Jolla in the late afternoon to trick-or-treat at local businesses. The stores that take part display black and orange balloons so families know where they can get goodies.
It is a lot of fun and allows parents to do some La Jolla shopping along the way. This event is formerly known as Pillage the Village.
13. Trick-Or-Treat on India Street
Families can head to San Diego’s famed Little Italy for a fun trick-or-treating option. The event will kick off at the beautiful Piazza della Famiglia town square, where you can pick up a map of local businesses participating in the fun.
Enjoy Halloween décor and music along the streets as your little ghouls, witches, and goblins walk door to door along historic India Street to collect delicious Halloween treats and candy.
14. Helen Woodward Howl-O-Ween Harvest Family Festival
Join Helen Woodward Animal Center and their creepiest critters for animal encounters at the shelter’s new Eerie Estate, trick-or-treat stations, entry into their Spooky Vet Clinic, face painting, crafts, a magical maze, and a mini pumpkin patch.
You’ll need to register in advance to attend.
- October 12, 19, 26, & 27, from 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
- Tickets cost $17.75 per child and $8.90 for adults
- It is a great event for all ages, but the shelter especially recommends it for toddlers and elementary school-age children
15. A Haunting In Venice Cruise
This is a fun spooky option if you have kids who don’t scare easily. Hop aboard a gondola for a night cruise through the eerie canals of the Coronado Cays.
The Gondola Company specializes in transporting visitors through the picturesque waterways of San Diego by day and this cruise will have you shivering in the moonlight. But at least you get to snuggle up with the kids under a blanket because each gondola seats up to six passengers.
The 50-minute cruise is manned by a ghost-like figure and costs $99 for two guests and $20 per extra person.
What is your favorite thing to do in San Diego with kids during the Halloween season?
*Top photo is courtesy of LEGOLAND California Resort
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