Haunted Houses, Pumpkin Hunts and a Special “Kids Go Free” Offer—This Is Fall at San Diego’s Favorite Marine Animal Theme Park
You may know SeaWorld as a marine animal metropolis worthy of a visit year-round, but autumn is an ideal time to experience this San Diego theme park. Last year’s spooky season was such a success that the park is adding new events to its fall festivities, as well as bringing back fan favorites. Eerie creep-and-crawls, haunted houses and encounters with the supernatural are what await visitors this fall season.
Between the thrilling rides and bone-chilling Howl-O-Scream, this venue is going all out for All Hallow’s Eve. Spicing up the season with a sugar rush, the Halloween Spooktacular is a trick-or-treater’s dream brought to life. If your autumn calendar needs some seasonal spirit, consider taking in some (or all!) of these festive adventures happening from September to November. We’ll meet you at Manta!
1 | Halloween Spooktacular
SeaWorld isn’t just home to dolphins, turtles and sharks—it’s also the hallowed grounds of San Diego’s favorite Halloween Spooktacular. This ghoulish pirate-themed event is returning to the park on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from now through Nov. 3. Everyone knows the best part of spooky season is the candy (obviously)! This year, SeaWorld is launching an all-new Candy Quest to help little ones get a head start on their candy collection. This will take place between Bayside Amphitheatre and Waterfront, and you’ll want to show up with an extra large treat bag (or pick up a reusable candy trail bag at park retail locations) for this fall festivity. Be sure to grab a Spooktacular Pumpkin Hunt Map and track down thematically painted pumpkins throughout the park. Between the festive decor, costume parties and live music from the Scurvy Squad, it’s the ultimate party spot of the season!
2 | Free Kids Tickets
Did someone say free tickets? Girl math isn’t even required for this one, thanks to SeaWorld’s nifty seasonal special. Here to make the fall season even more spooktacular (for both your kids and your wallet!), you’ll want to snag this limited-time offer. Valid through Oct. 31, guests can receive a free one-day admission ticket for kids ages 3-9 with the purchase of any adult day ticket. Kids Free October has been a long-standing celebrated city tradition in San Diego, brightening the darkness of spooky season with a collection of enticing perks and offers. Little ones aren’t the only ones who benefit from this city-wide promotion—accompanying adults also have a chance to indulge in the nostalgia of life as a kid. Oh, and keep an eye out for flash sales on their Instagram to scoop up the best deal on October tickets!
3 | Howl-O-Scream
Only the brave dare to enter the gates to this labyrinth of terror! Launching Sept. 27 and continuing through Nov. 2, this season’s Howl-O-Scream consists of five haunts and seven scare zones, with uncanny monikers like All Hallow’s Harvest, Dark Magic, The Graveyard and Deathwater Bayou. Eerie passageways lead guests through five harrowing haunted houses. Catacomb walls, slaughterhouses and death-defying screams will have you running for the exit!
Make your way through this sinister carnival to the park’s several themed bars and speakeasies pouring ghoulish cocktails. Oh, and don’t forget about the park’s all-new live show, Monster Stomp, a theatrical wonder inspired by Jack the Ripper. The best part of all? Howl-O-Scream tickets include access to select coasters, seven scare zones, nine vile vignettes and speakeasies.
4 | Dia de Los Muertos
Sugar skulls, elaborate ofrendas and pan de muerto! Who says the fall fun has to end with Halloween? Celebrated from Nov. 1-3, this Mexican tradition offers a sacred way for the living to connect with the departed by breaking the boundary between Earth and the spirit realm. The sights, sounds and scents of Dia de Los Muertos can be spotted all over the park, embracing the holiday with vibrant artwork, Catrina figures, mariachi music and foodie fun. If you’ve never tried traditional Dia de Los Muertos food, it’s best to sample a bit of everything! Eat your way through SeaWorld on a tasting trail of conchas, pan de muerto, chamango, micheladas and margaritas.
5 | Howl-O-Sprint 5K Run
All Hallow’s Eve is all fun and games until you realize exactly how much candy corn has been consumed in the spirit of the season. All that extra energy should be channeled somewhere, right? We can think of no better way to embrace your sugar rush than at SeaWorld’s first annual Howl-O-Sprint 5K Run on Oct. 20. This 3.1-mile course twists and turns through the park grounds, now transformed into a seasonal spectral maze of Halloween fun. Have your alarms queued for the sunrise, as this race starts bright and early at 7 a.m. If running isn’t your thing, don’t worry! Walking this trail makes for an equally spooky experience, given the light-hearted scares perfect for all ages along the way. There’s also a one-mile Kids Fun Run for trick-or-treaters 12 and under.
6 | Thrilling Rides
SeaWorld doesn’t fool around when it comes to curating the quintessential thrill-seeker’s playground. The stroke of adrenaline from plummeting drops on rides like the Electric Eel, Manta and Arctic Rescue makes SeaWorld one of the top parks for coaster fanatics. By the way, did we mention SeaWorld is home to California’s first floorless dive coaster and the longest and fastest straddle coaster on the West Coast? Meanwhile, attractions like Riptide Rescue, Tentacle Twirl and Sea Dragon Drop are great for younger riders. The Bayside Skyride and SkyTower will be calling your name as dusk settles over the park. These offer panoramic views of a luminescent orange, black and purple-toned park.
