Seasonal and Halloween activities and events are everywhere in San Diego County now that autumn is here.
This guide to weekend events includes haunted houses, fall festivals and more.
Friday
Jurassic Fright at Pumpkin Patch: Open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays in Oct. 3 through Oct. 31 at 1050 Cannon Road in Carlsbad. There’s a haunted corn maze, marigold fields, bounceland, Jurassic Fright, a tractor ride and sheep, goats and rabbits. Admission is $15; free for kids 3 and younger plus fees for activities. Visit carlsbadstrawberrycompany.com/pumpkin.
Haunted Corn Maze: The Carlsbad Strawberry Company is once the site of a haunted corn maze this fall. The Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation is also part of this Haunted Corn Maze, which turns the strawberry fields into a terrifying labyrinth. The Haunted Corn Maze is recommended for teenagers and adults. Also, 50% of the proceeds from the corn maze go to the foundation, according to the Carlsbad Strawberry Company. 7 to 10 p.m. Every Friday and Saturday from Oct. 3 to Nov. 1. 1050 Cannon Road, Carlsbad. $40-$60. aguahedionda.org/haunted-corn-maze
Brick-or-Treat: LEGOLAND California holds its Brick-or-Treat Monster Party on weekends in October with entertainment, dance parties, live music, costumed entertainers and trick-or-treating. The party is included with park admission. As part of its Halloween season celebration, there will be costumed characters, décor and seasonal treats daily through Oct. 31. Visit legoland.com/california/things-to-do/seasonal-events/halloween.
Pumpkin Station: Festivities include a carousel, rides, giant slides, a Ferris wheel, a train jump, a petting zoo and a play center, along with a pumpkin patch from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sundays to Thursdays and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays Sept. 26 through Oct. 26 at 15555 Jimmy Durante Blvd. in Del Mar. Ticketed attractions include mechanical rides, giant slides, a jumpee activity, petting zoo and antique carousel. Tickets are $5. Free admission and parking. Visit pumpkinstation.com.
Fright for Future: The horrors can impact humans, animals and Earth are on full display at Fright for Future. This interactive haunted maze is designed to educate visitors about the dangers of pollution, animal abuse and climate change through 20 interactive activations. Some of these attractions in the maze include a biohazard unit, a butcher shop, a poacher camp and a witch’s cauldron. New this year are four attractions: tech-known terrors, the harm of processed foods, the influence of big tobacco and pain caused by pharmaceutical companies. This haunted maze is intended for those 10 years and older. It is free for students with a school identification. Oct. 17-19, 24-26. 37ECB, 3720 El Cajon Blvd., San Diego. $10. frightforfuture.org
The Haunted Spookeasy: Horror movies are the star of the show at The Haunted Spookeasy. Caribe Restaurant & Bar in Bonita is turning into a Halloween speakeasy with themed drinks, snacks and games. Guests can purchase a ticket for this 75-minute timeslotted experience, which gives them entry to the speakeasy and one drink. Inside, visitors can try their luck with trivia and board games for a chance to win prizes and purchase appetizers for a Halloween menu. The Haunted Spookeasy is decorated with horror movie memorabilia and staff is dressed in costume for photo opportunities and a small scare. It is open Oct. 2-5, 9-12, 16-19, 23-31 and Nov. 1. 5080 Bonita Road Suite H, Bonita. $27.25. bucketlisters.com/experience/the-haunted-basement-sd
HauntFest: The city of El Cajon is putting on a Halloween event from 4 to 9 p.m. Oct. 17 in downtown El Cajon with a costume contest, amusement rides, a candy trail, trunk or treat with classic cars and a haunted maze along with dancing and a DJ, an outdoor movie screening of Monsters University and a reptile petting zoo. There will also be a sensory tent offering a quiet space. The Magnolia will host its annual Haunted Circus: Monsters at Play, featuring jugglers, contortionists, stilt walkers, hoop throwers, aerialists and acrobats at 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Free. elcajon.gov.
Haunted Hotel: The historic grounds of the Olivenhain Meeting Hall will be transformed into a Haunted Hotel Friday and Saturday nights from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Oct. 10-11, Oct. 17-18 and Oct. 24-25 at 423 Rancho Santa Fe Road in Encinitas. There will be spooky scenes ranging from a Haunted Swamp, Dr. Frankenstein’s laboratory and a Witches’ Lair to a Candy Mystery Trail. Actors are Scouts, ages 11 to 17. There will be games at the carnival and refreshment to purchase. Tickets are $8; cash and credit are accepted at the door. The event is a fundraiser for Scout Troop 2000. For questions, email troop2kcommunityoutreach@gmail.com.
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Bates Pumpkin Patch: Hay rides, a petting zoo, a straw maze, a bounce house and slides and pony rides on weekends along with food and lots of pumpkins and gourds are all part of the festivities through Oct. 31 at Bates Nut Farm, 15954 Valley Woods Road. Fall Festival Fridays are from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Oct. 10, 17 and 24. The farm is open 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. weekdays with free parking and 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. There is free admission and $10 parking on October weekends. Activity tickets are $2.50 each. Visit batesnutfarm.biz.
Pumpkin Patch and Fall Festival: The Farm Stand West is open in Escondido 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 1- 31 at 2115 Miller Ave. and Fran’s Pumpkin Patch is open noon to 5 p.m. at 1980 Summit Drive Oct. 1- 31 at 2115 Miller Ave. A Fall Festival is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 11-12 at Farm Stand West with local artisans and vendors, hayrides, pumpkin patch, face painting and kids play area. Free admission and parking. Visit thefarmstandwest.com.
The Haunted Forest: Maneuver through ghosts and graveyards at The Haunted Forest in Banner Ranch. This half-mile outdoor Halloween trek has gory content, strobe lights and spooky sounds. The public can also spend the night at The Haunted Forest, which has tiny houses, covered wagons and camping sites. Food, cider and beer will be available for purchase. Event organizers encourage guests to wear costumes. Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from Sept. 26 to Nov. 1. 36342 California 78, Julian. $13-$15. eventbrite.com/e/the-haunted-forest
Scarecrow Days: The annual Fallbrook Scarecrow Days are Oct. 1-31. Scarecrows will be displayed at businesses and residences throughout Fallbrook. A Scarecrow Scavenger Hunt is Oct. 8-31. The volunteer ScareCREW group provides hands-on scarecrow building workshops Oct. 2-4 and Oct. 9-11. A Scarecrow Kids Corner is at the Fallbrook Farmers Market with fall crafts, games and an art contest for kids from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays. Visit fallbrookchamberofcommerce.org.
Pumpkin picking: Pick a pumpkin from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 8 p.m. Sundays Sept. 26 through Nov. 2 at The Vineyard, 1924 E. Mission Road in Escondido. Free admission, weekday specials and special events on weekends, including beer, wine, food trucks and live music. Visit fallbrookpumpkinpatch.com.
Spooky campout: The annual Spooky Camp-o-Ween is back from Oct. 17-19 and Oct. 24-26 at Lake Jennings, 10108 Bass Road in Lakeside. Check in Friday and pick up creepy crafts, then listen to and tell spooky stories around the campfire. There will be campground trick-or-treating, a scavenger hunt and a campsite decorating contest. Bring your costumes. Camping fees apply. This weekend is for registered campers only and campsites fill up fast. Reserve a campsite at (619) 390-1623. Visit lakejennings.org.
Haunted Amusement Park: A one-mile haunted trail with a spinning vortex tunnel, a haunted manor, a graveyard, a zombie land and a spider’s cave are all part of the Haunted Amusement Park. This Halloween attraction is built as a trail meant to scare visitors as they move through 1960s carnival rides such as a roller coaster, bumper cars and a Ferris wheel. The Haunted Amusement Park is on the old grounds of Marshal Scotty’s Playland in the East County. Sept. 26-28. Oct. 3-5, 10-12, 17-19, 23-26, 30-31. Nov. 1. 14011 Ridge Hill Road, El Cajon. $25-$30. scaretrail.com
Howl-O-Ween at SeaWorld: Howl-O-Scream is a nighttime Halloween event for mature audiences (separately ticketed), featuring haunted houses, scare zones, live performances and coasters on select nights through Nov. 1. SeaWorld’s family-friendly Spooktacular features trick-or-treating included in park admission, a pumpkin patch and other family festivities. The Halloween-themed Howl-O-Sprint 5K run/walk is at Oct. 19 for all ages featuring a course that goes through different animal and marine life exhibits. There is also a 1-mile Kids Fun Run. Costumes encouraged, without masks. Visit seaworldsandiego.com.
HalGLOWeen: The San Diego Zoo hosts a Halloween-themed family extravaganza with entertainment, food, dance parties and interactive festivities starting at 5 p.m. weekends in October. Highlights include Boo Crew, Spider’s W.E.B., Python Path, Spooky Spectacles, a Boolahoops dance party, featured creatures and Dr. Zoolittle’s Tricks & Treats among other attractions. Visit zoo.sandiegozoo.org/halgloween.
Haunts of Balboa Park: The spooky experience features two haunts at Balboa Park: the mile-long Haunted Trail and eXperiment Maze with frightening features from ghost-filled graveyard to ghoul bus. Open select nights through Nov. 1 at Balboa Drive and Juniper Road. Advance tickets are recommended because there is a nightly capacity limit. Visit hauntedtrail.net.
Master of the Macabre: Stories by Master of the Macabre, Edgar Allan Poe, will be featured at 6 p.m., 7:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays Oct. 17 to Nov. 1 at Villa Montezuma Museum in Sherman Heights. The performances, “Poe and More Poe” are co-directed by Rachael VanWormer and Veronica Murphy and hosted by Write Out Loud. Tickets are $30 at writeoutloudsd.com.
Mr. Jack O’Lanterns Pumpkin Patch: A variety of pumpkins are for sale from jack-be-little pumpkins to 50-pound pumpkins Oct. 3 to Nov. 2 at 3901 Clairemont Drive, San Diego. Highlights include games and activities, such as pumpkin bowling, pumpkin decorating, bounce houses, haunted house and farm animals. Visit mrjackolanternspumpkins.com.
Pumpkin Station: A pumpkin patch is open from 1 to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday through Sunday Sept. 26 through Oct. 31 at the Mission Valley Mall, 1640 Camino Del Rio North. Highlights include slides and jumpers, rides, a petting zoo and pumpkins. Visit mission-valley.com/events.
Saturday
Boo at the Zoo: Meet spooky and not-so-spooky animals in a flashlight tour at Wild Wonders animal refuge, 5712 Vía Montellano, Bonsall, Oct. 18-19 and Oct. 25-26. The hourlong Halloween-themed tours are at 6 p.m. with treat stations. Wear your costume. Tickets are $42 for adults and youths ages 12 and older and $22 for children ages 5-11. wildwonders.org.
Haunted golf links: From Oct. 18-26, Petco Park will be the scene of a haunted golf trail, allowing golfers to join in a round of golf, taking shots from tee boxes all around the ballpark, 100 Park Blvd. Food and drink will be sold. Tickets are $132.90- $278.80 and $31 for spectators. Visit padres.com/thelinks
Pumpkin train rides: The Campo Railroad Museum is offering its annual Pumpkin Express Halloween Celebration on Saturdays and Sundays, Oct. 4-26. Ride decorated vintage 1920s rail cars through the San Diego County mountains. Walk through the themed display building with Halloween scenes and haunted train cars. Ride a train to a pumpkin patch where kids can pick pumpkins to decorate. Trains leave at 10:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. from the Campo Depot, 750 Depot St. Tickets are $18.95-$39.95. Reserve at psrm.org/pumpkin.
Sip & Scare Trains: Campo Railroad Museum will run Sip & Scare Trains for adults over age 21 at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday nights. Tickets are $49.95-$64.95 and include one cocktail and a journey through the new haunted attraction, The Lost Train of Dr. Deadtrack. Reserve at psrm.org/sipnscare.
Spooktacular Halloween at plaza: Halloween-themed kids crafts, a DJ spinning spooky tunes, face painting, balloon twisting and trick-or-treating will all be available from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 18 at in the courtyard next to La Costa Roasting at Plaza Paseo Real, 6941- 6985 El Camino Real in Carlsbad. Visit plazapaseoreal.com/events/plaza-paseo-real-halloween-spooktacular-2025.
Annual Pumpkinfest: Free, family event from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 18 at Escondido High School, 1535 North Broadway, behind the baseball field. There will be pumpkins grown by Escondido High School students for sale along with tractor rides, carnival games, a petting zoo, face painting, crafts, food, plants, live music, entertainment and a classic car show hosted by the Escondido High School Auto Shop Department.
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Mellano’s Fall Festival: Mellano Farm Stand is holding its Oceanside Fall Festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays in October at the family farm, 5714 N. River Road in Oceanside. Highlights include tractor rides around the farm, a corn maze, a pumpkin patch and pumpkin painting, along with music, local vendors, children’s crafts, panning for gems and a farm stand full of farm fresh flowers and produce, including local honey. Visit mellanofarmstand.com.
Howl-O-Ween festival: Helen Woodward Animal Center hosts its Howl-O-Ween Harvest Family Festival from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Oct. 11, 18, 25 and 26, featuring hands-on animal encounters, trick-or-treat stations, a free pumpkin patch, festive games, crafts, face painting and photo booth. The cost is $17.75 for kids participating and $8.90 for adults age 18 and older. Reserve a spot at animalcenter.org/programs-services/education/kid-events. There are also Howl-O-Ween Harvest Adventures with up-close animal encounters, fall crafts and STEM-aligned lessons, for groups by appointment Oct. 1 to Nov. 10; email education@animalcenter.org.
Sunday
Fall festival: The El Cajon SDA Christian School and Church holds its annual Fall Festival from noon to 4 p.m. Oct.19 at 1630 E. Madison Ave. There will be games, horseback rides, jumpers and food sold along with car wash. Free entry and parking. For questions, email Carol.Benton42@gmail.com.
Fallbrook Harvest Faire: The autumn-themed event is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 19 on Main Avenue in downtown Fallbrook with pumpkin contests, a wine and beer garden, handmade crafts and vendors, local foods and treats along with pony rides, tractors, scarecrows, a pumpkin patch, a costume contest and a pie baking contest. Visit fallbrookchamberofcommerce.org.
Fang-tastic Halloween: A Family Fun Fest is from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 19 at the Salvation Army Kroc Center Corner Zone, 6845 University Ave. There will be trick-or-treating, costume contests, spook-tacular inflatables, Halloween crafts and vendor booths to connect with families with community resources. Wear your costume. Admission is free; sponsored by San Diego Family Media. Attendees are encouraged to donate a new Halloween costume for kids in need. Sign up at SDFamilyHalloween2025.eventbrite.com.
Originally Published: October 16, 2025 at 9:46 AM PDT