San Diego Is Full of Tricks and Treats This Season
The city of San Diego is action-packed, vibrant and full of life—but every October, we’re reminded it’s home to more than just the living. Our ghouls are living the good life: If we could haunt anywhere, it would undoubtedly be America’s Finest City. The ghosts of San Diego’s past are out to play this Halloween season with haunting happenings being held all October long! Whether you’re looking for a candy feast, a proper fright or a family-friendly autumn delight, we’ve got the inside scoop with these 13 ways to celebrate Halloween in San Diego.
A Spooky Libation at The Seventh House
Decadent fare and mystical entertainment collide at this astrology-inspired restaurant on University Avenue. The Seventh House brings the supernatural to North Park with tableside tarot card readings, belly and fire dancers, champagne towers and a selection of French- and Baja-inspired apéritifs. During spooky szn, be sure to try their Queen of The Underworld cocktail with Onyx Crystal Head Vodka, Xila Licor, pomegranate, orgeat, vanilla, black squid ink and 24-karat gold dust. Other notable libations perfect for Halloween time include the Fortune Teller and the Midnight Margarita, which can also be crafted with Onyx Crystal Head Vodka for an extra bone-chilling twist!
Local Insight: Onyx Crystal Head Vodka is crafted from premium Blue Weber agave and sourced from a single farm in Mexico, making it one of the most unique vodkas on the market.
Location: North Park
Trick-or-Treat on India Street
Home to the most authentic Italian cuisine and the best up-and-coming restaurants in the city, it’s only fitting that the best trick-or-treating of the season would also be happening on Little Italy’s India Street. Taking place Oct. 29, treat your little ones to a little something sweet a couple days early with a door-to-door journey through participating restaurants and businesses down India Street! Starting at 5:30 p.m, come in your best costumes and stop first at Piazza de Familia to receive a map of all participating businesses—and they’re off!
Location: Little Italy
Haunted Happenings at Hotel del Coronado
You’d be ghoulish not to pay a visit to Hotel del Coronado this Halloween season. Not only was this iconic beachfront hotel paid visits by the biggest celebrities of the day, it’s now home to several ghoulish guests—or residents, rather. Fully embracing their haunted history, the Hotel del Coronado is hosting Halloween activities all October, from spooky encounters like the nightly haunting happening tours to family-friendly pumpkin carving and “ghost roasts.” (No, not making fun of the spirits; it’s classic ghost stories and marshmallows by the fire.) They even offer numerous paranormal tours, which are not for the faint of heart!
Location: Coronado
12/9
Beachside Fall Fest at Belmont Park
Back for another year, seasonal family fun will be hitting the shores once again at Belmont Park this October for the annual Beachside Fall Fest! Autumn will be happening at its finest all month long: Pick your favorite pumpkin at the Glow N Float Pumpkin Patch, attend the Trunk or Treat Car Show and enjoy fall treats and community performances throughout the month! There’s even free trick-or-treating every Sunday at 5 p.m, along with live music and character appearances every Saturday and Sunday throughout the month.
Location: Mission Beach
Haunted San Diego Ghost Tours
Whether you’re a true crime buff or looking for a straight-up haunting, hop on board for a tour with Haunted San Diego Ghost Tours to take a ride into San Diego’s darker side. Choose from relaxed-pace ghost history, fast-paced haunted dark history and true crime, or even a paranormal investigation offering hands-on equipment experience. These two-hour experiences are offered through historic Old Town and the bustling downtown district, guided by theatrical, costumed storytellers offering a side of comedic relief. Bring your bravest kids along to select excursions too—check their schedule for details!
Location: Gaslamp Quarter and Old Town
Nostalgia Nights at Nason’s Beer Hall
Nason’s Beer Hall is ushering in a wave of culinary nostalgia with Nostalgia Nights, a special event where patrons can indulge in beloved snacks and cocktails from the ‘90s, curated by Chef Brandon Sloan. The evening promises a delightful dive into the past with a menu featuring retro beverages and games. Sip on throwback bevvys like the appletini! This fall-inspired drink features a vibrant mix of vodka, pear cognac, Granny Smith apple juice, fresh apple slices, a Luxardo cherry and a playful Pop Rocks rim. Guests can make this drink extra goulish by ordering it with Onyx Crystal Head Vodka! On the food front, Chef Sloan’s take on nostalgic snacks like bagel bites, cosmic brownies, toaster strudels and oatmeal cream pies will surely tantalize taste buds.
Location: Gaslamp Quarter
10/28
Spirits & Booze Cruise
Time to trade spooky for a seriously good time. Kick off your Hallo-weekend with the Spirits and Booze Cruise put on by Chere Amie Yacht Charters on Oct. 28! Lucky passengers will board at the Point Loma Sportfishing dock at 9:30 p.m with a complimentary themed welcome shot, followed by a night of bay views while sippin’ on booze and boos aboard a luxurious 90-foot yacht. Come in your best costumes to get down with a live DJ on the upper deck, a dance floor, a fully-stocked bar and lounge area, and even VIP tables!
Location: San Diego Bay
11/13
A Frightening Feast at Shake & Muddle
Channel your spooky side at Chula Vista’s Shake & Muddle, where you can order a bloody mary (emphasis on the bloody) with Onyx Crystal Head Vodka, which comes in an all-black skull-shaped bottle. Pair this beverage with the cochinita pibil sope duo, consisting of pulled pork shoulder braised in achiote paste, habanero pickled onions, lime, radishes, refried beans, cilantro and a side of hot salsa. This bloody combo is sure to add some fright to your night!
Location: Chula Vista
Haunted Corn Maze @ Carlsbad Strawberry Company
Call it corny, but you’re in for a scare. For one month a year, the Carlsbad Strawberry Company completely transforms into a fall utopia! While the pumpkin patch is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. with family-friendly attractions, the nighttime crowd is in for more of a scare with their classic Haunted Corn Maze. Carefully duck and weave your way through the spooky scarecrows and freaky figures; it’s anyone’s guess which are alive and ready to spring into action. (Though we have a feeling that won’t take long to discover!) The maze is open every Friday and Saturday from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m!
Location: Carlsbad
Witches of The Westgate Tea
This isn’t your average afternoon of tea. It’s more like the best witch’s brew in the West! Head downtown to The Westgate Hotel’s charming Le Fontainebleau Room with a reservation on Oct. 15, 20, 21 or 22 in your pointiest black hat for an afternoon of tea, housemade pastries, tea sandwiches and even creepy Halloween cocktails along with a complimentary glass of champagne! Tea time is from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m, but make sure you leave time for a photo session as well: come dressed and ready for their adorably eerie photo area! The only BYOB here is broomstick—but no cleaning required.
Location: Downtown San Diego
The Haunted Amusement Park at Marshal Scotty’s Playland
The rides and screams of an old amusement park remain, but the attractions are frozen in time. Lighthearted laughter and shrieks of the past have been replaced with screams of pure terror following the path of what is now Scotty’s Scare Trail, lined with animatronics and costumed actors prepared to pop out at any moment. Stay on your toes through old bumper car enclosures, a neon arcade and even under the old rickety roller-coaster—the old, broken-down pieces of the park really add to the eerie feel. The event runs every Friday-Sunday in October along with Oct. 30 and 31; tickets are sold at the door only!
Location: El Cajon
Spooky Movies at Rooftop Cinema Club
Conquer your fear of scary movies with a viewing outdoors at Rooftop Cinema Club! Bring a blanket and bundle up to Halloween classics like “Edward Scissorhands,” the 1996 “Scream” or the original “Hocus Pocus”—or cover your eyes for a jump-scare viewing like “The Conjuring” or “Paranormal Activity.” Located at downtown’s Embarcadero, the giant flat-screen is nestled among the stunning San Diego skyline, with every ticket including a pair of headphones for maximum surround sound and a relaxing Adirondack chair or loveseat. There’s even a full bar and food menu stocked with classic snacks and complete meals for purchase!
Location: Downtown San Diego
Drinks at Oculto 477
Staying hidden is key to any good haunting. Just ask Oculto 477, a speakeasy tucked away just beyond Old Town’s famous graveyard. With a dimly lit interior and dilapidated-looking walls, this chilling lounge neighbors the famously haunted Whaley House, making for a perfect night of frights. After you’ve gotten properly spooked next door, unwind here with the Garden of Death for your mezcal fix or a Fire in the Cemetery for a whiskey experience—they house only the highest quality of each spirit. We’ll leave the ingredients a surprise, but let’s just say you’ll find only the happiest of spirits here, inside the glass and out.
Location: Old Town
Jaclyn is a sunshine chasing San Diego native with an extensive writing background. When she isn’t word-smithing, you can find her playing beach volleyball, skating the boardwalk, or on a rooftop enjoying a drink in the sunshine with her pals.
