As a mild fall breeze sweeps through San Diego, the city welcomes October with some great spooky activities that are fun for the whole family. Whether you want to be frightened by things that go bump in the night or have a quintessential fall afternoon at a pumpkin patch with your family, there is a spooky activity for you in San Diego.
Where To Stay
While visiting San Diego during spooky season, you can’t do better on location, convenience, and design than Arrivls The Rockaway House and Makai. Both are located just steps from Mission Beach, making them the perfect home base for all of your San Diego adventures.
Makai Mission Beach
Makai is the Hawaiian word for “towards the sea,” and is a fantastic choice for your North Park trip to San Diego! You’ll love the 2nd-floor patio and ocean view from this beachy duplex home. With its laid-back charm, thoughtful amenities, and absolutely unbeatable location, you won’t regret staying at Makai. Makai North is a spacious one-bedroom, and Makai South is a two-bedroom. The home comfortably sleeps 8 if you rent the entire duplex making this a great option for a trip to San Diego. Makai offers garage parking and all of your beach essentials – towels, an umbrella, chairs, and sand toys. We look forward to hosting you soon at Makai!
The Rockaway House
This Mission Beach duplex can be rented as individual units (Rockaway North with 1 bedroom/1 bathroom, and Rockaway South with 2 bedrooms/1 bathroom) or in combination to sleep up to 8 guests, making it perfect for larger families. While staying at The Rockaway House you’ll be just steps away from the Mission Beach boardwalk. Rockaway South – a 1930s beach cottage – is full of charm and is perfect for your next beach getaway. Upstairs, Rockaway North is thoughtfully designed and inviting. Whichever space you choose you’ll love the bright interior and the coastal boho vibes that The Rockaway House offers. The Rockaway House is located on the ocean side of Mission Boulevard, just 4 houses from the sand!
Did you know that Makai and The Rockaway House are next-door neighbors? This makes them perfect for groups traveling with up to 16 guests. You can rent out both duplexes – perfect for multiple groups or families traveling together, as you’ll be close by but everyone still has their own space to relax and unwind at the end of the day.
Spooky Activities In San Diego
Are you ready for some spooktacular fun in San Diego? Here are some of the best spooky family activities…
HalGLOWeen At The San Diego Zoo
Head to the San Diego Zoo this October for musical entertainment, special performances, Dr. Zoolittle, and more family fun that will light up the night every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evening throughout October.
Admittedly this event is more spirited than spooky, but the HalGLOWeen Bubble Dance Party happens on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays in October. This is the chance to groove to fun Halloween tunes, as billions of bubbles float around you. So fun!
Kids 11 and younger are free, and can come in costume for even more seasonal excitement. You can purchase tickets here. HalGLOWeen runs October 1-3, 8-10, 15-17, 22-24 and 29-31—with activities starting at 5:00 PM.
San Diego Zoo| 2920 Zoo Dr, San Diego, CA 92101| (619) 231-1515
Haunted Harvest At Fort Cross
Fort Cross’ Haunted Harvest is happening select evenings throughout October and features amazing Autumn and spooky activities for the whole family. Head out for a spooky hayride, cider pressing, fun games and so much more! Additional activities include Jug Band Music, a Hoedown, and some fun ghost stories.
While the event is good for kids, it’s a good idea to keep in mind that while some kids love it, others get very scared and cry during events like the haunted hayride. Don’t worry, there is no one chasing people with chainsaws or anything like that at Haunted Harvest. However, there is a ghost story about the property and you will be riding around in the darkness with creepy things that happen.
Prepaid reservations are required for this event, it costs around $30 per person, and you can buy tickets here. They ask that you arrive 5 minutes before your reserved time. Haunted Harvest is going on October 1, 8, 15, 22, 29.
Fort Cross Old Timey Adventures| 4425 Hwy 78, Santa Ysabel, CA 92070| (951) 847-1904
LEGOLAND Brick-Or-Treat
LEGOLANDS signature Halloween event is back again this year with Brick-Or-Treat. Brick-or-Treat will bewitch LEGOLAND with tons of sweet treats like candy. Not to mention, an all-new show lineup, and never-before-seen exclusive LEGO characters.
Each Saturday is a Monsters Party with live entertainment and shows, character meet and greets, and costume contests. Of course a Halloween activity like this wouldn’t be complete without some trick-or-treating (or brick-or-treating in this case).
Brick-or-Treat activities run from 3pm – 9pm Saturday September 17 – October 30th, and 2pm – 8pm on Sunday, October 30. You can buy tickets here.
LEGOLAND| One LEGOLAND Dr, Carlsbad, CA 92008| (888) 690-5346
Visit A Pumpkin Patch
Still looking for that perfect pumpkin? Why not visit one of San Diego’s pumpkin patches for a day of family fun.
Goff Family Pumpkin Patch
The Goff Family Pumpkin Patch makes its second annual debut at the Sellers Plaza putting green in Liberty Station, located on the corner of Historic Decatur Road and Perry Road. This month-long pop-up features over 10,000 pumpkins just waiting to be picked, festive family photo opportunities, games, and beer on tap each Friday & Saturday! What’s not to love?
The pop up location runs from September 23 – October 31, 2022, Friday-Saturday: 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM and Sunday-Thursday: 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Admission is free.
Goff Family Pumpkin Patch| Liberty Station, 2830 Perry Road, San Diego CA, 92106
PB Pumpkin Patch
You’ll find PB Pumpkin Patch serving up local farm fresh fun since 1992, and bonus, it’s incredibly close to Arrivls The Rockaway House and Makai. This pumpkin patch has a large selection of pumpkins ranging from small to large, plus Indian corn, gourds and corn stalks.
Fun activities include free pumpkin carving and a painting area with stencils, paint kits, stickers and candles. You can do all of these fun fall activities while enjoying free hot apple cider and shaved ice for kids!
The pumpkin patch is open October 1-31, 2022, Monday-Friday: 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM and Saturday-Sunday: 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Admission is free.
PB Pumpkin Patch| 870 Garnet Ave, San Diego, CA 92109| (858) 483-0329
Adults looking for spooky San Diego activities will love…
2022 San Diego Halloween Zombie Crawl
The San Diego Zombie Crawl is Southern California’s #1 Halloween Extravaganza! In this 3 Nights of Terror, in San Diego, you can enjoy free cover to 22 Halloween Parties and 8 welcome potions. Dress up for some costume fun, live entertainment, a live DJ, some dancing and more!
A ticket to the event costs around $40 and you can get them here. The event runs in the Gaslamp Quarter day 1: Thursday, Oct 27 from 6PM – 2AM. On day 2: Friday, Oct 28 from 6PM – 2AM. And day 3: Saturday, Oct 29 from 6PM – 2AM.
San Diego Zombie Crawl| 628 Fifth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101| 1(619)944-8900
You’ve got so many great choices when it comes to spooky fun in San Diego this October! Spend a night at the San Diego Zoo, head to a pumpkin patch, or have an adult night out at the San Diego Zombie Crawl, there is something for everyone!
