SeaWorld San Diego Halloween: Spooktacular Fun, Haunted Nights, and More

SeaWorld San Diego runs two Halloween events at once. By day, Spooktacular belongs to families, with trick-or-treat trails and character shows included in regular admission. On select nights, Howl-O-Scream takes over with haunted houses and scare zones built for adults, on a separate ticket. Sesame Place San Diego, its sister park, adds a third option for the preschool crowd with The Count’s Halloween Spooktacular.

My family holds a SeaWorld annual pass, and I track the park’s ticket offers year-round. Below are the 2026 dates and lineups for all three events, how the tickets work, and the Kids Free deal that is live now.

Why Visit SeaWorld San Diego During the Halloween Season

• Family-Friendly Fun – Trick-or-treat trails, character meet-and-greets, and not-so-spooky shows make daytime visits perfect for kids.
• Thrills After Dark – Haunted houses, scare zones, and creepy performances turn the park into a destination for teens and adults after sunset.
• Full Park Takeover – From eerie lighting to festive décor, the park is fully transformed for Halloween, offering plenty of photo-worthy moments.
• Special Seasonal Eats – Limited-time treats, drinks, and snacks give you more reasons to indulge while exploring.
• Howl-O-Sprint 5K Run – A unique way to kick off Halloween weekend, combining fitness, costumes, and park fun for both adults and kids.

Family-Friendly SeaWorld Spooktacular

SeaWorld San Diego is offering a family-friendly Halloween Spooktacular this fall with trick-or-treating, costumes, and festive fun throughout the park. Kids can collect candy along decorated trails, meet whimsical characters, and enjoy Halloween-themed shows and photo ops. The event is included with park admission, so a regular ticket covers the whole celebration.

SeaWorld San Diego Spooktacular runs Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from September 11 through November 1, 2026. Entrance is included with park admission.

SeaWorld has published the full 2026 lineup, and the headliner is the California debut of an all-new Baby Shark Halloween Show. Here is what families can look forward to this season:

All-New Baby Shark Halloween Show

Pinkfong and the Baby Shark family come to Mission Bay Theater for an all-new live show, and SeaWorld San Diego is the only place in California where families can see it. Kids can dance and sing along to Halloween songs, then meet Baby Shark and Pinkfong at all-new character meet-and-greets.

Dance Parties

The all-new Coral Candy Club takes over SkyTower Lawn with festive music from DJ Cotton Candy and appearances by Tabitha Taffy. Nearby at the Waterfront, Spookley the Square Pumpkin and his pal Jack Scarecrow host their own dance party with stories, photos, and plenty of giggles for little ones.

Safe Trick-or-Treating

SeaWorld San Diego Spooktacular includes Captain Sweet Tooth’s Candy Trail, where kids collect sweets from themed stations. In 2026, the trail runs from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Fridays and from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

A reusable candy bag is required to participate. You can bring your own from home or pick one up inexpensively at any retail location in the park (Pass Members get a discount). Keep an eye out for surprise character encounters along the trail, and meet the friendly Halloween mermaids at Rescue Jr. on event days.

Pumpkin Hunt

The Spooktacular Pumpkin Hunt is a scavenger-style adventure. Buy a map at select shops, track down SeaWorld-inspired painted pumpkins around the park, and redeem the completed map for a Halloween prize.

Waterfront Pumpkin Patch

At the back of the park, the Waterfront Pumpkin Patch pairs seasonal decorations and photo ops with views of Mission Bay, plus food and roaming live music throughout the day. It is an easy place to slow down between activities.

Dia de Los Muertos

Back by popular demand on October 31 and November 1, the celebration of Día de los Muertos features large, beautifully dressed Catrina statues and ofrendas (offerings) of mementos and flowers honoring loved ones who have passed.

Costumes

Guests of all ages are welcome to wear Halloween costumes during Spooktacular. Guests ages 13 and older may not wear masks or hoods, all costumes are subject to the park’s normal dress code, and face paint is only permitted if applied by SeaWorld artists.

Fall-Inspired Menus

A highlight of any seasonal theme park event is, no doubt, the food. Guests can enjoy sweet treats like candy corn, cotton candy, pumpkin cheesecake, and more.

Kids Ages 3–9 Are Free

The 2026 offer is live. Thanks to our annual Kids Free San Diego event in October, one child ages 3–9 receives a free one-day admission ticket with the purchase of a paid, full-price adult ticket. From age 10 they need an adult ticket, and children under 3 do not need a ticket at all. SeaWorld sells it at $99.99 for the paid adult, good for visits any day through November 1, 2026, including Spooktacular weekends.

You can see the Kids Free offer and buy the qualifying adult ticket on SeaWorld’s offer page, where you’ll add the free child’s ticket to your cart at the same time. (Note: Sightseeing passes like Go City San Diego do not qualify for Kids Free promotions.)

The same ticket is also in my authorized ticket store. There the paid adult is $96.99, and the ticket stays valid for six months from the date you buy it.

Annual Pass Members and Fun Card Holders Are Free

Annual Pass Members and Fun Card holders receive free admission to Spooktacular. You’ll need to purchase admission if you don’t have either of these passes. Right now, a 2027 Fun Card includes the rest of 2026 free, which covers every Spooktacular weekend.

You can also read my advice on buying discount SeaWorld San Diego tickets, which I keep up to date year-round.

SeaWorld San Diego’s Howl-O-Scream

When the sun sets, the screams begin. SeaWorld San Diego’s Howl-O-Scream returns for 2026, transforming the park into the city’s largest nighttime Halloween experience. What was once family-friendly by day becomes a sinister playground of haunted houses, scare zones, live shows, themed bars, and terrifying rides in the dark.

This event is designed for mature audiences and is not recommended for children under 13. Prepare for jump scares, eerie encounters, and no safe path forward once you enter. Unlike Spooktacular, costumes and face paint are not allowed at Howl-O-Scream.

Howl-O-Scream happens on select nights between September 11 and October 31, 2026, starting at 7 p.m. You may enter the park starting at 6 p.m. through the dedicated entrance to the right of the main gate.

You’ll Need a Separate Ticket

Howl-O-Scream is a separately ticketed nighttime event. It is not included with daytime park admission or annual passes, though Pass Members can sign in for member pricing, which currently starts at $39.99. SeaWorld’s public prices right now:

• Single-Night Ticket – from $44.99 (one visit on a selected event night)
• Any Night Ticket – $59.99 (one visit, any event night)
• Unlimited Scream Pass – $110.99 (unlimited event nights)
• Group tickets – from $40.99 each for parties of 15 or more

You can buy Howl-O-Scream tickets through SeaWorld. My authorized ticket store also sells the Howl-O-Scream Any Night Ticket, at $41.50 for the same any-night admission.

Haunted Houses

Six haunted houses await in 2026, each with its own chilling storyline, and two of them are brand new. In the all-new I Know What You Did Last Summer: The Final Catch, a dead man returns from his watery grave one year after four teens dumped his body into the sea. The all-new Area 64: MOTHERSHIP travels 30 years before the events of Area 64: Alien Outbreak and features an 80-foot-long alien mothership façade, the largest haunted house show scene ever created for Howl-O-Scream San Diego.

Returning favorites round out the lineup: endure a volatile sleep-aid trial in Nightmare Experiment Sweet DreamzZz, escape bayou witches in Death Water Bayou Awakening, navigate the buzz saws of Simon’s Slaughterhouse (now with brand-new sensory effects), and put on 3D glasses for the trippy 3D Maze: Circus of the Damned.

Scare Zones

Throughout the park, scare zones add to the atmosphere, and three are new for 2026. Enter a nightmarish greenhouse of mutant plants in Overgrowth, walk the shadowy streets of Ripper Row during Jack the Ripper’s reign of terror, and descend into a waterfront nightmare of sea beasts in Terrors of the Deep.

Returning zones like Red Moon Revelry, All Hallow’s Harvest, Carnival of Chaos, Deadly Toys, and Graveyard each add their own style of scares. Keep your eyes forward, behind you, and everywhere in between—scare actors are known to appear when you least expect them.

Frightful Shows & Dance Parties

Howl-O-Scream isn’t all about shrieks—there’s entertainment too. The all-new marquee show, Monster Stomp, brings the menace and mystery of Jack the Ripper to Nautilus Amphitheater with electric choreography, live singing, and explosive percussion. Around the park, interactive “vile vignettes” like a fortune teller’s tent and a sinister magic show run all night, and DJs and outdoor dance parties give you a chance to reset between scares.

Rides in the Dark

SeaWorld’s signature thrill rides take on a whole new level of thrill after sunset. Ride Emperor, Electric Eel, and Arctic Rescue in near-darkness (weather permitting) for an experience that’s scarier than any haunted house. The rush of adrenaline paired with the eerie nighttime atmosphere makes these rides unforgettable.

Themed Bars & Speakeasies

When it’s time to take a breather, head to one of the event’s haunted bars. Specialty cocktails and “restless spirits” flow at six themed bars and five hidden speakeasies, including the all-new Fanta Fright House, offering a sinister way to relax before braving your next scare.

Howl-O-Sprint 5K Run

SeaWorld San Diego Halloween fun isn’t limited to haunted houses and trick-or-treating — you can also lace up your running shoes for the Howl-O-Sprint 5K Run. Returning for its third year on Sunday, October 18, 2026, this spirited race takes runners and walkers on a 3.1-mile course through the park, complete with festive décor, themed photo ops, and surprise character sightings along the way.

The event also welcomes back the Kids 1-Mile Fun Run, ideal for children aged 12 and under, allowing the whole family to participate. All participants receive a race shirt, bib, and a one-of-a-kind finisher medal to remember the day. Top finishers in each category can even win SeaWorld tickets and prizes.

Costumes are encouraged (just skip the masks), making it one of the most unique ways to kick off your Halloween festivities in San Diego.

Good to Know

• Arrive early — parking and packet pick-up both open at 5:30 AM.
• The 5K race begins at 7:00 AM, followed by the Kids Fun Run at 8:30 AM.
• Every participant receives an official race shirt, bib, finisher medal, and access to live results with awards.

The Count’s Halloween Spooktacular at Sesame Place

Sister SeaWorld San Diego theme park, Sesame Place San Diego, celebrates Halloween with the popular Count von Count character and his Sesame Street friends.

This seasonal celebration is all about costumes, candy, and character meet-and-greets, making it the perfect daytime Halloween event for younger children.

The Count’s Spooktacular runs from September 12 through November 1, 2026, and it is included with park admission. Sesame Place keeps a fall schedule during the event and is open weekends only in October, so check the park calendar before you pick your date.

The 2026 lineup includes trick-or-treating around the park, Halloween-themed shows, the Sesame Street Halloween Parade, DJ parties, an interactive Spot-The-Ghost Scavenger Hunt, and photo opportunities with Sesame Street friends dressed up in their Halloween costumes.

Halloween Parade & Costume Party

Festive floats are featured at the huge Halloween block party, including music, dancing, and performances by favorite Sesame Street characters, starting in Abby’s Garden. A Halloween Costume Contest will also be held with prizes for both Children and Family categories.

Halloween Treats with Count von Count

Guests can take great photos with their favorite Sesame Street characters, who will also be dressed up in special costumes. There may be an upgrade fee.

Scavenger Hunts

The interactive Spot-The-Ghost Scavenger Hunt and trick-or-treat stations let kids explore the park while collecting goodies and solving fun puzzles. Families can expect candy trails set against festive décor and seasonal backdrops, keeping the experience both sweet and engaging.

Kids Free October

Like SeaWorld San Diego, Sesame Place participates in Kids Free San Diego, and its 2026 offer is live too: one child ages 3–9 enters Sesame Place San Diego free with the purchase of a paid, full-price adult ticket, valid through November 2, 2026.

You can grab the offer through Sesame Place’s tickets page, where you’ll add the free child’s ticket to your cart with the adult ticket. (Note: Sightseeing passes like Go City San Diego do not qualify for Kids Free promotions.)

Tips for a Smooth Visit to the SeaWorld San Diego Halloween Event

• Buy Tickets Online in Advance: You’ll often find better prices and skip the ticket booth lines.
• Download the SeaWorld App: It’s the easiest way to check wait times, show schedules, and receive event updates in real-time.
• Bring a Small Bag: Security is thorough, and carrying a small bag speeds up entry. For Howl-O-Scream, bags larger than 8″x5″ (including purses and backpacks) are not permitted at all.
• Stay Hydrated: October can still be warm in San Diego, so keep water handy, especially if you’re attending both day and night events.
• Consider a Refillable Cup: If you plan to stay all day, SeaWorld’s refillable drink program can help you save money.
• Plan Transportation: Rideshares can be crowded after big events like Howl-O-Scream. If you drive, aim for preferred parking to save time.
• Book Nearby Hotels Early: Halloween weekends draw bigger crowds, so local hotels can fill quickly. Staying close makes it easy to head back for breaks.

SeaWorld San Diego Halloween FAQs

When does SeaWorld San Diego’s Halloween start in 2026?

Halloween Spooktacular begins September 11, 2026, and runs Fridays through Sundays until November 1. Howl-O-Scream also begins September 11 and runs on select nights through October 31.

Does SeaWorld do trick-or-treating for Halloween?

Yes. Captain Sweet Tooth’s Candy Trail runs on Spooktacular event days, with candy stations set up throughout the park. A reusable candy bag is required, and you can bring your own from home. Trail hours are listed in the trick-or-treating section above.

Is Spooktacular included with SeaWorld admission?

Yes. All Spooktacular activities are included with regular park admission on event days. Howl-O-Scream is the exception, since it is a separately ticketed nighttime event that is not covered by daytime tickets or annual passes.

Is Howl-O-Scream too scary for kids?

Howl-O-Scream is built for mature audiences and is not recommended for children under 13. Kids under 18 are admitted, but there are no discounted child tickets, and refunds are not given if the event proves too scary. Spooktacular is the family side of SeaWorld’s Halloween.

Are kids free at SeaWorld right now?

Yes. One child ages 3–9 receives free one-day admission with the purchase of a paid, full-price adult ticket as part of Kids Free San Diego, and from age 10 they need an adult ticket. SeaWorld sells it through November 1, 2026; my ticket store sells the same offer for six months from the date you buy it. Details and the qualifying ticket are in the Kids Free section above.

Final Thoughts

Pick your lane: a Spooktacular weekend with the kids on regular admission, a Howl-O-Scream night on a separate ticket, or both. Select nights can sell out as Halloween approaches, and SeaWorld’s Kids Free ticket stops selling after November 1, so book early.

See also: How to Buy Discount Sesame Place Tickets