San Diego transforms during the Halloween season, blending its year-round sunshine with a playful dose of spooky fun. There are always quite a few things to do in San Diego with kids for Halloween — from world-famous theme park celebrations to local pumpkin patches and community festivals.
Many of these San Diego Halloween events also overlap with the October Kids Free San Diego promotion, when children receive free admission to top attractions with a qualifying adult ticket (I’ll tell you where this applies). That means families can often combine seasonal fun with serious savings.
This 2026 guide highlights the best kid-friendly Halloween activities, with updated dates, insider details, and tips on which San Diego fall events are free for kids and which require additional admission.
Where 2026 stands right now: the big attractions have posted. SeaWorld, Sesame Place, the Zoo’s HalGLOWeen and Kids Free offer, LEGOLAND’s Brick-or-Treat dates, Bates Nut Farm, Pumpkin Station, the Pumpkin Express, and the Trick or Treat Symphony are all confirmed. Still pending as of this update: LEGOLAND’s Kids Free offer, Belmont’s Fall Fest, the Haunted Trail, Birch’s Halloween Aglow, and the community events, which post closer to October. I update each section as dates land.
The quick answer
Match the event to your crew:
Spooktacular Celebrations at San Diego’s Premier Attractions
San Diego’s top theme parks deliver some of the region’s most popular Halloween events. In 2026, most are included with regular admission, adding extra value for families. Several also participate in Kids Free San Diego.
SeaWorld San Diego’s Halloween Spooktacular
Dates: Fridays–Sundays, September 11–November 1, 2026
SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular is one of the best San Diego Halloween events for families with young kids. This daytime celebration blends festive fun with ocean-themed entertainment.
What to Expect:
- Trick-or-Treat Trail: Captain Sweet Tooth’s Candy Trail runs 4–7 p.m. on Fridays and 1–7 p.m. on weekends (a reusable bag is required, and you can bring your own)
- Live Shows: The all-new Baby Shark Halloween Show, plus Spookley the Square Pumpkin’s dance party at the Waterfront
- Character Meet-and-Greets: Baby Shark, Pinkfong, Spookley, and Halloween mermaids at Rescue Jr.
- Interactive Extras: The all-new Coral Candy Club dance party on SkyTower Lawn and the optional Pumpkin Hunt map with a prize for finishing
Parent Tip
Spooktacular is all-ages, friendly, and daytime only. I’ll talk below about Howl-O-Scream, the scarier nighttime event you’ll want to skip with younger kids.
(I have tips for how to buy SeaWorld San Diego tickets, but the two best places are through SeaWorld and our ticket site. The 2026 Kids Free offer is live. One child ages 3–9 gets in free with a paid, full-price adult ticket bought on SeaWorld’s offer page.)
LEGOLAND California’s Brick-or-Treat Monster Party
Dates: Select dates, September 19–November 1, 2026, including every Saturday and Sunday in October and Halloween itself
LEGOLAND’s Brick-or-Treat Monster Party is one of the top Halloween events in San Diego for elementary-age kids. Expect afternoons filled with a cheerful, not-so-spooky atmosphere packed with LEGO-themed fun and plenty of treats. I attended last year and it’s so fun.
What to Expect:
- Trick-or-Treat Stations: Generous candy handouts throughout the park, plus the all-new Brick or Treat Street trail through six life-sized LEGO Monster homes
- Live Entertainment: Fan-favorite shows like Monster Rock Off, Zombie Cheer Crew, and Once Upon a Brick return for 2026
- Character Meet-and-Greets: Monster Rocker, Spider Lady, and Lord Vampyre, joined by the new-for-2026 LEGO Skeleton Guy and LEGO Wacky Witch
- Halloween Themed Rides: Ghost Cruise, Halloween Driving School, and The Dragon coaster’s Roarsome Halloween Adventure overlay
- Interactive Play: Build-your-own LEGO pumpkin patch in Dino Valley and a kid costume contest at Lord Vampyre’s V.I.M. Party
Parent Tip
No separate ticket is required. The Monster Party is included with general admission dated for an event day. A lot of tourists stay in the resort or nearby hotels to visit the park for a day and break for nap time. It’s otherwise a really long day for younger kids. You can buy tickets through LEGOLAND or our ticket site. LEGOLAND’s 2026 Kids Free offer had not posted as of this update (it usually appears in September).
The Count’s Halloween Spooktacular at Sesame Place San Diego
Dates: Select dates, September 12–November 1, 2026 (weekends only in October)
Sesame Place reopened for the 2026 season after its winter closure, and The Count’s Halloween Spooktacular is back. Expect trick-or-treating around the park, the Sesame Street Halloween Parade, DJ parties, a costume contest, and photos with Sesame Street friends in their Halloween costumes. It is included with park admission, and the rides and water attractions make it the easiest pick for the preschool crowd.
Parent Tip
The 2026 Kids Free offer is live here too: one child ages 3–9 gets in free with a paid, full-price adult ticket on Sesame Place’s tickets page, valid through November 2. The park keeps a fall schedule, so plan a Saturday or Sunday.
Belmont Park’s Beachside Fall Fest
Dates: The 2026 schedule had not posted as of this update (it ran on weekends from early September through late October last year)
Free entry; activities are pay-as-you-go
This nostalgic beachside amusement park brings SoCal flair to Halloween in San Diego. Belmont Park’s Fall Fest is an easy option for families who prefer to skip the big theme parks and see a little beach.
What Recent Years Have Included:
- Free Trick-or-Treating: Sunday afternoons in October, no ticket required
- Trunk-or-Treat Car Show: Classic cars handing out candy on a late-October Sunday
- Themed Attractions: The historic Giant Dipper becomes the Spooky Coaster while Zombie Laser Tag adds extra thrills
- Live Entertainment: Weekend Pumpkin Jams concerts and character meet-and-greets
Parent Tip
It’s free to enter Belmont Park so kids can trick-or-treat without families committing to a full-day ticket. But if you do plan to ride or play, get a wristband because the a la carte costs add up. In past Kids Free Octobers, one child’s wristband came free with each adult wristband. Belmont’s 2026 offer had not posted yet.
See also: Things to Do at Belmont Park and our advice for buying discounted Belmont Park tickets.
Wild Encounters and Glowing Adventures
For families seeking an experience beyond traditional rides and candy, the San Diego Zoo and Birch Aquarium offer unique Halloween events that blend entertainment with education and natural wonder.
HalGLOWeen at the San Diego Zoo
Dates: Fridays–Sundays in October 2026, with activities from 5 p.m. and the Zoo open until 9 p.m.
HalGLOWeen turns the San Diego Zoo into a glowing nighttime celebration filled with music, light, and learning — no scares, just seasonal fun in a world-class setting.
What Recent Years Have Featured:
- Live Entertainment: Skeleton Band, Día de los Muertos mariachi, and the Spooky Revue stage show
- Interactive Glow Activities: Hula-hoop dance parties and Dr. Zoolittle’s Tricks & Treats show
- Educational Animal Chats: Learn about nocturnal creatures like bats, owls, and reptiles at Wildlife Explorers Basecamp
- Themed Zones: UV-lit Enchanted HalGLOWeen Forest and meet-and-greets with the Boo Crew
Parent Tip
During Kids Free October, up to six kids ages 11 & under get in free with a paid adult. They do not need a ticket.
(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.)
Save $8 · 1-Day Pass
San Diego Zoo or Safari Park
Skip the ticket line with a 1-day pass you can print or scan on your phone, valid a full year from purchase. Final price after my code: $70 (ages 12+) and $60 (ages 3–11).
Use promo code to save $8 at both parks.
Halloween Aglow at Birch Aquarium
Dates: The 2026 dates had not been announced as of this update (last year it ran two evenings in late October)
Separate ticket required
This limited-run evening event adds a scientific twist to Halloween fun, making it a favorite for curious kids and ocean lovers.
What Recent Years Have Included:
- Glow-in-the-Dark Trick-or-Treating: Inside the Living Seas Gallery with special lighting effects
- Hands-On Science: Slimy sensory stations in the Boo & Goo Lab and touch tanks with real sea creatures
- Unique Entertainment: Live music and underwater pumpkin carving by scuba divers in the giant kelp tank
- Festive Add-Ons: Costume parade, arcade games, and pop-up demos from Scripps Oceanography researchers
Parent Tip
Members get first dibs when tickets go on sale, and they do sell out. Watch the aquarium’s events page for the 2026 announcement.
The Great San Diego Pumpkin Patch Guide
A trip to the pumpkin patch is a cherished fall tradition, and San Diego County offers sprawling country farms to convenient city lots. Our pumpkin patches are entertainment destinations, often using free admission to attract families who then enjoy ticketed attractions and food as well as pumpkins to take home.
Pumpkin Station (Four Locations)
Pumpkin Station is the convenient option, and that’s my daughter in the photo above at one.
- Dates: All four locations open September 25, 2026
- Cost: Free admission and free parking, with attraction tickets sold on-site
- City Lots (Del Mar, National City): Mechanical rides for ages 2–9, inflatable slides, bounce houses, and a petting zoo
- Farms (Rancho Bernardo, Bonita): Sunflower fields, a corn maze, tractor rides, and a petting zoo. Details are on Pumpkin Station’s site.
Bates Nut Farm (Valley Center)
Bates Nut Farm is the classic fall outing, a rural, all-day experience with charm and scale. It’s a bit of a drive to Valley Center, but it’s worth it for families who want the full pumpkin patch tradition.
- Dates: The 2026 pumpkin patch opens Thursday, September 17, and runs through Halloween
- Cost: Free admission and free weekday parking, with paid parking on weekends
- Activities: Hayrides, straw maze, pony rides, petting zoo, face painting, live music, and a rock climbing wall (ticketed individually)
- Special Events: Scarecrow, kids’ costume, and dog costume contests return most years. Check their event calendar for the 2026 dates
Carlsbad Strawberry Company (Carlsbad)
This coastal farm combines scenic photo spots with attractions for all ages, from gentle trike races to a haunted maze for teens. Pumpkin season is confirmed to return for 2026, but opening day had not posted as of this update (it opened mid-September last year).
- Cost: General admission (ages 3+) with additional ticketed activities
- Included: Pumpkin patch, flower fields, tricycle races, yard games
- Extras: Corn maze, tractor rides, and animal pens
- For Older Kids: The Haunted Corn Maze runs Friday and Saturday nights
Mountain Valley Ranch (Ramona)
A relaxed, family-owned patch with a more traditional feel and fewer crowds. Its 2026 dates were still pending when I updated this. It has typically run daily from late September through Halloween.
- Cost: Free admission
- Activities: Corn maze, petting zoo, pony rides, hayrides on weekends, and the corn cannon
Community Trick-or-Treating and Festivities
If you’re looking for neighborhood fun beyond the big-ticket attractions, San Diego’s local Halloween events deliver safe trick-or-treating, costume contests, and small-town spirit, often with walkable layouts and photogenic backdrops. These are annual one-day events, and most post their exact 2026 dates closer to October, so confirm before you go.
Tip from Katie
I like these as opportunities to support local businesses!
Creepy Candy Crawl (La Jolla)
Date: Held annually on a late-afternoon date near Halloween (it fell on Halloween itself, 3–6 p.m., last year), with free registration posted closer to the event
We attend this community event every year. Come down to the Village of La Jolla in the late afternoon to trick-or-treat at local businesses. The participating stores display black and orange balloons or posters to help families find the goodies.
Pick up your trick-or-treating bag at REBA. It is a lot of fun and allows parents to do some La Jolla shopping along the way.
Trick-or-Treat on India Street (Little Italy)
Date: Typically the Sunday afternoon before Halloween (3:30–7:30 p.m. last year)
This is a favorite for families who want that urban trick-or-treating vibe in a safe, closed-street setting. Kids collect candy from participating businesses along India Street, with maps available at Piazza della Famiglia.
Tip: Don’t miss the 13-foot-tall Jack Skellington, which is a huge hit for photos.
Halloween at the Station (Liberty Station)
Date: Sunday, October 25, 2026, 12–4 p.m.
Set in Ingram Plaza, this free Halloween festival has something for everyone. Expect trick-or-treating, a costume contest (pets included), inflatable obstacle courses, a DJ, craft stations, and even a Hollywood car show. It doubles as a Feeding San Diego food drive for military families and veterans, so bring a nonperishable item if you can (no glass).
Tip: It’s a one-stop Halloween outing, especially if you pair it with a visit to the Goff Family Pumpkin Patch onsite.
HauntFest on Main (El Cajon)
Date: A Friday evening in mid-October (4–9 p.m. last year)
This East County favorite turns downtown El Cajon into a lively street fair with carnival rides, multiple stages of live music, a pumpkin patch, a haunted car show, trick-or-treating zones, and costume contests.
Santee Lakes Spooktacular (Santee)
Date: A Saturday morning in late October (10 a.m.–2 p.m. last year)
Held lakeside at the Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve, this daytime event features a giant trunk-or-treat, food trucks, games, bounce houses, face painting, and visits from costumed characters, with a theme that changes each year. Free to attend, with a per-vehicle parking fee.
Unique Halloween Experiences for Adventurous Families
If you’re looking for something a little different this October, these San Diego Halloween experiences go beyond the usual pumpkins and carnival rides.
Trick or Treat Symphony at Jacobs Music Center
The San Diego Symphony’s family Halloween concert lands on Halloween morning itself this year. The orchestra plays a not-too-spooky program built for kids, and families come in costume.
- Date: Saturday, October 31, 2026, at 11 a.m.
- What to Expect: Pre-concert crafts and trick-or-treating, followed by a Halloween-themed orchestral program
- Good to Know: The Symphony recommends it for ages 6–12, and children 2 and up need their own ticket. Get the details.
Pumpkin Express at the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum (Campo)
A nostalgic Halloween adventure for train-loving kids and parents who want something quieter and more off the beaten path. The 2026 run is short, so book early.
- Dates: October 24, 25, and 31, 2026
- Departure Times: 10:30 a.m., 1 p.m., and 2:30 p.m.
- What to Expect: A scenic ride through the Campo countryside aboard decorated vintage railcars, followed by pumpkin decorating (one pumpkin per child ticket), museum time, and walk-throughs of two “haunted” train cars
- Good to Know: Tickets vary by Coach or First Class and often sell out. Advance booking is highly recommended. New for 2026, an adults-only Sip & Scare evening train runs select Saturdays in October.
Fort Cross Old Timey Adventures (Santa Ysabel, near Julian)
Located just outside Julian, Fort Cross offers two very different fall events: one family-friendly, the other meant for older kids and teens. This is a fun spooky option if you have kids who don’t scare easily.
- Autumn Jubilee (Daytime): A wholesome farm-style festival with hayrides, a hoedown, cider pressing, candle dipping, and animal encounters. Best for families with younger children.
- Haunted Harvest (Evening): Held on Saturday nights in October, this spooky experience includes ghost stories and a haunted hayride. Not recommended for young kids.
A Haunting In Venice Cruise
A spooky spin on a classic San Diego experience, this after-dark gondola ride takes you through the quiet canals of the Coronado Cays with a ghostly twist.
- Dates: Last week of October
- Duration: 50 minutes
- Tickets: Grab them online
- What to Expect: A blanket-covered night cruise led by a ghost-like gondolier. It’s more eerie than terrifying — perfect for families with older kids who want something atmospheric but not too intense.
Thrills and Chills: San Diego’s Scariest Haunts for Teens and Adults
While San Diego is full of kid-friendly Halloween fun, it’s also home to some more terrifying attractions for older teens and adults. These haunted experiences are intense, scream-inducing, and not recommended for young children.
The Haunted Trail of Balboa Park
The Haunted Trail is a fully outdoor haunted attraction, and it returns each fall with two separate experiences. Watch their site for the 2026 dates (last year it ran late September through November 1).
- Not recommended for kids under 10 (seriously, local kids say it’s scary)
- The eXperiment Maze: A disorienting 3,500-square-foot indoor maze filled with warped illusions and viral nightmares
- The Haunted Trail: A one-mile walk through the dark woods of Balboa Park, where you’ll come face to face with horror icons like Freddy Krueger and chainsaw-wielding nuns
- Haunted Trail ticket tips: Buy tickets online to skip the ticket queue.
SeaWorld’s Howl-O-Scream
Once the sun sets, SeaWorld San Diego transforms into a scream-filled nightmare with scare zones, haunted houses, and live entertainment.
- Dates: Select nights, September 11–October 31, 2026
- Separate ticket required
- Haunted Houses: Six terrifying themes, two of them brand new for 2026
- Scare Zones: Eight immersive areas filled with roaming monsters
- After-Dark Thrills: Roller coasters running in pitch black, plus sinister live shows
The full 2026 lineup and current ticket options are in my SeaWorld San Diego Halloween guide.
Scream Zone update: The Del Mar Fairgrounds haunt is on hiatus again for 2026, and its team points visitors to the Haunted Trail of Balboa Park instead.
Old Town Trolley Ghost and Gravestone Tours
See the spookier side of San Diego and ride the “Trolley of the Doomed” through haunted historic sites and eerie legends.
- Dates: Nightly tours are available throughout October (check availability).
- Haunted Sites: Stops include El Campo Santo cemetery and the Whaley House in Old Town San Diego.
- Local Legends: Learn about famous San Diego spirits, true crime stories, and unsettling historical events.
- Atmosphere: This is more theatrical than terrifying, ideal for teens (13+) and adults who prefer storytelling to jump scares.
Haunted Hotel Fun
Yes, we have haunted hotels in San Diego that get into the mix!
Hotel del Coronado
You don’t need to stay overnight at Hotel del Coronado to book one of their roasts, a fun seasonal activity I highly recommend for families. Beach s’mores roast on a private fire pit set up for your group, with spooky ghost stories read aloud by staff. They also offer pumpkin carving, movies on the beach, and a ghost tour telling resident spirit Kate Morgan’s story, which suits ages 12 and up. Book ahead!
What is your favorite thing to do in San Diego with kids during the Halloween season?
*Top photo is courtesy of LEGOLAND California Resort
We are having a halloween Maze for preschool age children at
3153 Idlewild Way.
Can I email you info about our halloween event
Thank you,
Melanie Smith
858-248-2039
Sure that would be great. katie@lajollamom.com. Thanks!
Hello,
The education department at Helen Woodward Animal Center (in Rancho Santa Fe) is putting on a Halloween event that is fun for the whole family on 10/29. I would love to be included in this article or somewhere on your website. May I send you more information?