San Diego doesn’t wait until October 31 to get spooky. The whole month fills up with haunted trails, ghost tours, rooftop movies, pumpkin patches, and a few surprises you probably haven’t tried yet. Some of it’s made for kids, some of it’s designed for adults who still like being scared, and a few hit that rare middle ground. Here’s the breakdown of what’s happening and when, so you can skip the guesswork and head straight to the fun.
1. Fall Fun + Haunted Corn Maze | Carlsbad Strawberry Company
Photo credit Carlsbad Strawberry Company
The Carlsbad Strawberry Company is North County's go-to from October 3 through November 1, if you like the idea of Julian's fall festivals but want something closer to home,. Families come for the pumpkin patch, tractor rides, and bounce land, and this year they’re adding Jurassic Fright, a new Halloween spin on their dinosaur setup that's designed for kids. The atmosphere changes completely on Friday and Saturday nights when the corn maze turns haunted, and that one’s strictly for teens and adults. Tickets are sold separately for each activity, so it's easy to choose how you want to experience it.
2. HalGLOWeen | San Diego Zoo
Photo credit San Diego Zoo
HalGLOWeen takes place on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays throughout October 2025, and it’s Halloween without the scares. It’s perfect for younger kids or anyone who wants to enjoy the Zoo at night. The park lights up with neon, there are dance parties, costumed characters, and themed entertainment throughout the grounds. While most exhibits quiet down after dark, there are special nighttime shows and reptile features that remain active past sunset. It’s a good pick if you’re looking for something festive but not frightening.
3. Spooktacular Halloween Extravaganza | Fairmont Grand Del Mar
Photo credit Fairmont Grand Del Mar
On October 25, starting at 5:00 pm, the Fairmont hosts its Spooktacular Halloween Extravaganza. The event is setup for all ages, with kid-friendly stations like Trick-or-Treat, Witch in Candyland, a Mad Scientist lab, and characters in the garden. Throughout the evening there are seasonal bites, drinks, a live DJ, and a dance performance by Scripps Performing Arts. Costumes are encouraged and there’s a festive energy from start to finish. If you want a Halloween event that’s not just for kids and not just for grown-ups, this one hits both!
4. A Haunting in Venice Gondola Cruise | Coronado Cays
Photo credit Gondola Company
From October 26 through October 31, A Haunting in Venice Gondola Cruise offers nighttime water views with a seasonal twist led by phantom gondoliers. Guests can choose between a private 50-minute ride or a larger shared gondola, depending on the experience you want. Select wines and chocolates are also available for purchase, which adds a fun extra touch to the evening. Spots are limited during Halloween week, so booking early is smart. This one works especially well for couples or small groups looking for something unique.
5. Rooftop Cinema Club | Downtown San Diego
Photo credit Rooftop Cinema Club
Rooftop Cinema Club runs movies all year, and October brings a mix of regular titles with a handful of Halloween favorites. The highlight is the final stretch with Practical Magic and Scream on Oct 29, Twilight and The Nightmare Before Christmas on Oct 30, and Hocus Pocus plus Halloween on Oct 31. Come with friends or family and make it a night with themed cocktails, snacks, and city views. Bring a blanket for the chill and settle in for Halloween fun without the chaos.
6. The Haunted Trail | Balboa Park
Photo credit The Haunted Trail
The Haunted Trail runs all October 2025 and has earned its reputation as a can’t-miss (or can’t-handle) San Diego tradition. CNN ranked it as one of the top haunted attractions in the country, and the Travel Channel spotlighted it on “America’s Scariest Halloween Attractions.” The setup includes the eXperiment Maze, a 3,500-square-foot scare zone, and a mile-long outdoor trail through Balboa Park’s twisted trees. If you scare easily, this isn’t for you. Raquel's tip: get the Scream Pass or risk long waits.
7. Howl-O-Scream | SeaWorld
Photo credit SeaWorld
On select nights from September through October, SeaWorld transforms from a family park to an after-hours haunted attraction. Howl-O-Scream has scare zones, haunted houses, and live entertainment. Along with the mazes and performers, there are cocktails, beer, and spirits poured at six themed bars and five speakeasies scattered throughout the park. This one is designed for adults, with scares that are too intense for kids. The production value is on theme-park scale, with professional performers and detailed mazes that make it easy to stretch into a full night out. Riding roller coasters in the dark while you’re already on edge only adds to the experience. Just note that this is a separately ticketed event.
8. Whaley House | Old Town
Photo credit The Whaley House
The Whaley House offers after-dark tours through October, giving you a chance to explore one of America’s most haunted sites. Built in 1857 by Thomas Whaley, the home doubled as San Diego’s first commercial theater, the second county courthouse, and even a bilingual general store. Its history is layered with tragedy, as several Whaley family members died inside, and the property itself was built on the site of the old town gallows where public executions once took place. That history fuels the reports of cold spots, strange voices, and apparitions that continue today. Guided tours run 30 to 40 minutes and take you through the rooms and grounds where San Diego’s haunted past feels very present.
9. Ghosts & Gravestones Tour | Old Town
Photo credit Ghosts & Gravestones
Old Town Trolley’s Ghosts and Gravestones Tour runs throughout October, if you’d rather see the Whaley House as part of a bigger experience. The route includes cemeteries, historic landmarks, and stories from San Diego’s darker past, with a stop at the Whaley House grounds (but not the interior). The guides balance ghost stories with real local history, so you’re learning and getting chills at the same time. It’s less about jump scares and more about that unsettling feeling that lingers into the night.
October in San Diego doesn’t look the same for everyone. Some nights are perfect for pumpkin patches or rooftop movies, while others call for ghost stories and haunted trails. To give a sense of how these experiences can come together, I wrote a Halloween-inspired Night Out in San Diego last year that joins some of these events with others not included here. It stands as a full one-night experience on its own and gives an idea of how these events can fit into a single evening.
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