Halloween in San Diego 2026: free events and more

Updated Oct. 24, 2026: added Howl-O-Scream at SeaWorld San Diego and this week’s HalGLOWeen nights.

San Diego does Halloween a little differently. It’s 75 degrees, the costumes don’t need a coat over them, and some of the best trick-or-treating happens on shopping streets and in town plazas instead of cul-de-sacs. Even better, a lot of it is free.

These are our picks, not a complete list. We call an event free only when the organizer says so; for anything we couldn’t confirm, we point you to the organizer for official price, admission and time. If we couldn’t verify a time or detail, we say so, and you should check with the venue or organizer before you go. Know an event we missed? Send it our way. A few favorites from last year’s list didn’t make it back (more on that below), and we found some new ones worth the drive. Use the map to find what’s closest to you.

Submit your event and information to info@trulysd.com

Map: Halloween events around San Diego County

Before Halloween weekend

1Halloween Festival & Movie in the Park, South Clairemont

The City of San Diego kicks off the season early at the South Clairemont Recreation Center with crafts, goodie bags, carnival games and a costume parade at 6 p.m. Stick around: Moana plays on the lawn at dusk, around 6:30. Bring a blanket or a low chair.

2Halloween Carnival & Costume Contest, San Carlos

A classic neighborhood carnival with games, prizes, jumpers, music and trunk-or-treating. The costume contest runs by age group starting at 5:30 p.m., so little ones (0–3) go first and the 10–12 crowd closes it out at 6:15.

3Halloween at the Station, Liberty Station

One of the easiest Halloween afternoons in town. Ingram Plaza fills up with a DJ, a Hollywood car show, inflatable obstacle courses, crafts and trick-or-treating. The costume contest has five categories, including one for pets. Liberty Station is also running a food drive with the Rotary Club of Point Loma and Feeding San Diego for military families and veterans, so bring a few cans if you can.

4Trick-or-Treat on India Street, Little Italy

Urban trick-or-treating at its best. India Street closes to cars from W. Cedar to W. Grape, and participating shops hand out candy. Piazza della Famiglia gets a 13-foot Jack Skellington, pumpkin stacks and photo spots, with fall vendors, a kids’ coloring zone and live music at India and W. Fir. Make it a double-header with Liberty Station the same day.

5Trick-or-Treat at EastLake Village Marketplace, Chula Vista

A short, sweet South Bay option for younger kids. Look for the orange pumpkins in shop windows; those businesses are handing out treats. Forgot a bag? There are free treat bags at the Halloween table near Revive Med Spa.

Halloween day: Saturday, Oct. 31

With Halloween on a Saturday this year, you can stack events. North County families can start in Carlsbad Village in the afternoon and head down the coast to Encinitas. Downtown, Seaport Village has a waterfront party, too.

6Halloween in the Village, Carlsbad

Carlsbad Village turns into one big block party: trick-or-treating at local businesses, carnival games, a bounce house, crafts, live music and costume contests for several age groups. There’s also a sensory-friendly calm zone, a thoughtful touch for kids who need a break. The first 200 costumed kids get a free Halloween canvas bag.

7Encinitas Safe Trick-or-Treat

Downtown Encinitas shops and restaurants stay open late for trick-or-treaters along Coast Highway 101. Expect live music in the Lumberyard Courtyard, kids’ games from the 101 Artists Colony, free art activities at Pacific View Arts Center and a big pumpkin display at the Self-Realization Fellowship bookstore at K Street. Free parking is available at Pacific View Arts Center that evening.

8Bayside Boo at Seaport Village

For a Halloween night out by the water, Seaport Village is bringing back Bayside Boo, according to a Coronado Times report, presented by Seaport Fudge Factory. Expect a costume-friendly party with a DJ, dancing, sweet treats and bay views. It’s a good stop after early trick-or-treating, and it works for older kids and grown-ups too.

After dark, for teens and adults

9Howl-O-Scream at SeaWorld San Diego

If your crew has aged out of trick-or-treating, SeaWorld San Diego turns into a nighttime scare park on select nights through Halloween, with haunted houses, scare zones, live entertainment and rides running after dark. SeaWorld calls this year’s lineup the biggest in the event’s history, including an all-new sixth haunted house. It’s a separate ticket from regular daytime admission, and SeaWorld advises parental discretion, so it’s best for teens and adults.

Almost free: HalGLOWeen at the San Diego Zoo

Not free for grown-ups, but a great deal for families. October is Kids Free month at the zoo, so up to six kids 11 and under get in free with each adult who has a paid ticket. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights all month, HalGLOWeen takes over after dark with glowing displays, a skeleton band, stilt-walkers, acrobats, mariachi, dance parties and animal ambassador meet-ups. That includes Halloween night itself.

More carnivals at city rec centers

The City of San Diego’s Parks and Recreation Department has a full slate of neighborhood Halloween events this month. The city notes some may require registration or have a cost, so check with the rec center before you go.

• Oct. 16: Halloween Carnival, Golden Hill Recreation Center, 5–7 p.m.
• Oct. 16: Halloween Carnival, North Clairemont Recreation Center, 5–7:30 p.m.
• Oct. 22: Thriller Thursday, Encanto Recreation Center, 5–8 p.m.
• Oct. 22: Halloween Carnival, Robert Egger Sr. South Bay Recreation Center, 5–7 p.m.
• Oct. 28: Halloween Carnival, Southcrest Recreation Center, 5–8 p.m.
• Oct. 29: Halloween Carnival, Dolores Magdaleno Memorial Recreation Center, 5–8 p.m.
• Oct. 30: Halloween Carnival, Willie Henderson Sports Complex, 5–8 p.m.
• Oct. 30: Halloween Spooktacular, Stockton Recreation Center, 3:30–6 p.m.

What changed from last year

If you used our list last fall, a few things are different in 2026:

• HauntFest on Main is canceled. El Cajon called off its big downtown Halloween party for 2026, citing a budget shortfall.
• San Diego Family Fun Fest: Halloween already happened. The free Kroc Center event came earlier this year, on Oct. 4. Keep an eye out for it again next fall.
• Halloween at the Station is back, now on Sunday, Oct. 25, with a car show and a food drive added.

Before you go

• Go early. Street trick-or-treats like Little Italy and Encinitas get crowded, and some shops run out of candy before the end.
• Take transit or plan parking. Liberty Station, Little Italy, Seaport Village and the zoo all fill up fast on event days.
• Check before you leave. Times can change. Each Quick info box links to the organizer’s page.
• Can’t find a time or price? If we couldn’t verify a detail with the organizer, we say so. Call or visit the venue or company’s website for the latest times, prices and information.

Halloween in San Diego: quick answers

Is El Cajon’s HauntFest on Main happening in 2026?

No. The City of El Cajon canceled HauntFest on Main for 2026, citing a budget shortfall.

Where can kids trick-or-treat for free in San Diego in 2026?

Organizer-confirmed free options include Halloween at the Station at Liberty Station (Sunday, Oct. 25, noon–4 p.m.), EastLake Village Marketplace in Chula Vista (Friday, Oct. 30, 3–5 p.m., kids 12 and under in costume with an adult) and Halloween in the Village in Carlsbad (Saturday, Oct. 31, 2–6 p.m.). Little Italy and downtown Encinitas also host trick-or-treating; see each organizer for official price, admission and time.

What day of the week is Halloween in 2026?

Halloween falls on a Saturday in 2026, so many free events are on Saturday, Oct. 31.

Do kids get into the San Diego Zoo free in October 2026?

Yes. During October, up to six kids 11 and under get in free with each adult who has a paid admission. HalGLOWeen runs Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights; see the zoo for official times.

What’s happening at Seaport Village on Halloween 2026?

Coronado Times reports that Seaport Village will host Bayside Boo on Saturday, Oct. 31, with a DJ, dancing and treats on the waterfront. See Seaport Village for official time, price and admission.

Looking for more to do this month? See our top October events in San Diego, including Kids Free October, or browse the latest in SD SCENE.