Escondido Family-Friendly Fall Activities 2026

Over fifty artisans offering American handmade crafts and pumpkin patch fun.

Illustration of a pumpkin patch with many orange pumpkins on curling vines, a red wheelbarrow, and a small wooden farm stand (Howl-O-Ween Doggie Costume Contest and Parade)

Howl-O-Ween Doggie Costume Contest and Parade

Canine costume contest and parade in the farm pumpkin patch.

Halloween Finale

Valley Center 9 mi

Costume contests, pumpkin hunts, and a dance party at the patch.

Illustration of scarecrows in hats and overalls around a small table with pumpkins on a village green in autumn (Bates Nut Farm Annual Scarecrow Contest)

Bates Nut Farm Annual Scarecrow Contest

Build a scarecrow to exhibit or explore creative pumpkin patch displays.

Illustration of costumed clay children and a witch playing among pumpkins, hay bales and tents on an autumn lawn (Annual Costume Contest and Parade)

Annual Costume Contest and Parade

Costume parade with age-category prizes, treats, and tractor hayride tickets.

The 2026 Pumpkin Patch at Bates Nut Farm

Sep 17 – Oct 31

Historic farm pumpkin patch featuring tractor hayrides, a straw maze, and farm animals.

Illustration of two small ghosts and a witch with a black cat carrying pumpkin buckets on a street of cozy houses at dusk (Halloween in La Mesa Village Trick-or-Treating)

Halloween in La Mesa Village Trick-or-Treating

La Mesa 25 mi Free

Trick-or-treat at participating downtown businesses in La Mesa Village.

Brick or Treat

Sep 19 – Nov 1

Carlsbad 13 mi $$$

Not-too-scary Halloween party featuring interactive LEGO monster homes and trick-or-treating.

Once Upon a Hallowe'en

Poway 11 mi Free

Halloween train rides, carnival games, trunk-or-treat, and a haunted house.

Illustration of clay figures walking past striped market stalls and pumpkins on a paved square with orange autumn trees (Halloween in the Village at Beach Terrace Inn)

Halloween in the Village at Beach Terrace Inn

Carlsbad 16 mi

Village-wide trick-or-treating, costume contest, carnival games, and bounce house.

Illustration of a giant pumpkin on a stand in a grassy field near striped booths with small figures and pumpkins (San Marcos Harvest Fest & Halloween Trunk-or-Treat)

San Marcos Harvest Fest & Halloween Trunk-or-Treat

Sun, Oct 11

San Marcos

Fall celebration featuring street food, live music, and local sips.

Illustration of striped market booths and pumpkin displays on a street with small clay figures under orange autumn trees (Fall Fun Festival at Alta Vista Botanical Gardens)

Fall Fun Festival at Alta Vista Botanical Gardens

Vista 10 mi Free

Scarecrow contest, live music, and family crafts in the gardens.

Poway Fall Festival

Sun, Oct 4

Poway 11 mi Free

Free street festival featuring a classic car show, vendors, and live music.

Creepy Candy Crawl

Fri, Oct 30

La Jolla 20 mi Free

Trick-or-treat through village shops with a costume contest and goodie bags.

Illustration of glowing carved jack o'lanterns, candles, and small figures with tools on a wooden table under string lights (Halloween Aglow at Birch Aquarium)

Halloween Aglow at Birch Aquarium

Oct 23 – Oct 24

La Jolla 20 mi $$$

Features underwater pumpkin carving by scuba divers in shark and ray habitats.

Illustration of a sunny autumn lawn with pumpkins, hay bales, a small tent, a witch and costumed children under orange trees (Día de los Muertos at Leo Carrillo Ranch)

Día de los Muertos at Leo Carrillo Ranch

Carlsbad 9 mi Free

Day of the Dead celebration featuring live folkloric music, crafts, and ofrendas.

👻 SCARY

Vista Fright Night

Fri, Oct 30

Vista 11 mi

Downtown trick-or-treating, costume contests, and a community haunted house.

Illustration of clay kid characters, paper bats, cotton ghosts and pumpkins on a craft table with paint pots and bunting (Encinitas Safe Trick-or-Treat 2026)

Encinitas Safe Trick-or-Treat 2026

Encinitas 13 mi

Downtown trick-or-treating with live courtyard music and family art activities.

Oma's Pumpkin Patch

Sep 26 – Oct 31

Lakeside 21 mi

Farm fun featuring a petting zoo, corn crib, and wagon rides.

Illustration of a fall festival in a town square with a red roofed gazebo, striped booths, pumpkins and orange trees (Barktoberfest at Arrowood Golf Course)

Barktoberfest at Arrowood Golf Course

Oceanside 15 mi $$

Dog-friendly fall festival featuring craft beer tastings and live DJ beats.

Illustration of a red tractor pulling a wooden wagon of small costumed figures past pumpkins and autumn trees near a red barn (Julian Autumn Jubilee)

Julian Autumn Jubilee

Sep 26 – Oct 25

Santa Ysabel 24 mi $$

Autumn celebration with cider pressing, hayrides, hoedowns, and farm activities.

Halloween Campout

Oct 24 – Oct 25

Poway 9 mi

Lakeside camping with a spooky night hike and costume contest.

Illustration of clay skeleton figures in folk outfits by an altar with lit candles, orange marigolds and paper banners (Encinitas Dia de los Muertos Celebration)

Encinitas Dia de los Muertos Celebration

Sun, Oct 25

Encinitas 12 mi Free

Vibrant celebration of Latino culture with music, dance, and art.

Pumpkin Plunge

Sat, Oct 17

Carlsbad 10 mi $

Spooky pool games, floating obstacles, and a floating pumpkin patch.

Illustration of a giant pumpkin float rolling down a town street past costumed figures, with orange balloons and confetti (Spooky Halloween Market & Kids Costume Contest)

Spooky Halloween Market & Kids Costume Contest

San Diego 15 mi Free

Features costume contests for kids and pets alongside local market vendors.

Illustration of cars with open trunks decorated with pumpkins and balloons, with a child figure beside an orange car at dusk (Halloween Trunk or Treat)

Halloween Trunk or Treat

Ramona 14 mi Free

Community trunk or treat gathering open to all attendees.

Illustration of glowing jack-o'-lanterns, candles, pumpkin seeds and small figures on a wooden table under string lights (Spooky Pumpkins Paint and Sip)

Spooky Pumpkins Paint and Sip

Sun, Oct 11

San Diego 15 mi $$

Pumpkin painting workshop open to all skill levels and ages.

HalGLOWeen at the San Diego Zoo

Oct 2 – Oct 31

San Diego 27 mi $$

A glowing Halloween spectacular with diverse entertainment

Illustration of a pumpkin patch with many orange pumpkins, a scarecrow, a red wheelbarrow, hay and a wooden farm stand (SeaWorld San Diego's Halloween Spooktacular)

SeaWorld San Diego's Halloween Spooktacular

Sep 11 – Nov 1

San Diego 26 mi

Features trick-or-treating and the debut of the Baby Shark Halloween Show.

Illustration of a pumpkin patch with orange pumpkins, a red wheelbarrow, a wooden farm stand and two scarecrow figures (Goff Family Pumpkin Patch at Liberty Station)

Goff Family Pumpkin Patch at Liberty Station

Sep 18 – Oct 31

Free admission pumpkin patch with weekend pizzas and a beverage truck.

Pumpkin Chunkin' Halloween Celebration

San Diego 27 mi $$

Hands-on Halloween STEM challenges ending with a physics-fueled pumpkin drop.

Beachside Fall Fest

Sep 10 – Oct 31

San Diego 26 mi

Seaside celebration featuring retro displays, rides, live music, and trick-or-treating.

Illustration of costumed children and a cat walking a leafy sidewalk past glowing jack-o'-lanterns and cozy houses at dusk (Trick-or-Treat on India Street)

Trick-or-Treat on India Street

Sun, Oct 25

San Diego 27 mi

Pedestrian-friendly trick-or-treating with a giant Jack Skellington and costume contest.

Halloween Carnival

Fri, Oct 30

Temecula 26 mi

Features trunk-or-treating with local first responders and costume contests.

Illustration of a ghost and two costumed kids trick or treating past glowing houses with pumpkins and autumn leaves at dusk (Halloween at the Station)

Halloween at the Station

Sun, Oct 25

Free community celebration featuring trick-or-treating, inflatable obstacle courses, and costume contests.

Illustration of two costumed figures in a festive autumn street at dusk with pumpkins, string lights and a glowing bonfire (Boo! By The Bay Halloween Carnival)

Boo! By The Bay Halloween Carnival

San Diego 28 mi Free

Features live entertainment, games, a marketplace, and a costume contest.

Halloween Extravaganza

Temecula 29 mi

Features a haunted maze, petting zoo, costume contest, and live performances.

Illustration of clay figures in costumes mingling among striped market tents and pumpkin displays under orange autumn trees (San Diego Family Fun Fest: Halloween)

San Diego Family Fun Fest: Halloween

Sun, Oct 4

San Diego 25 mi Free

Free family celebration with trick-or-treating, costume contests, and inflatables.

North Park Halloween Party

San Diego 26 mi Free

Features a mini pumpkin decorating station, costume contest, and live DJ sets.

Illustration of glowing jack-o'-lanterns, candles and scattered seeds on a wooden table under string lights at dusk (National Pumpkin Carving Day Spouse Meet Up)

National Pumpkin Carving Day Spouse Meet Up

Mon, Oct 26

Military spouses gather to carve pumpkins at MCRD San Diego.

Illustration of a small Ferris wheel, striped tents and a decorated booth with pumpkins on a grassy fairground in autumn (The Farm Stand West Fall Festival)

The Farm Stand West Fall Festival

Escondido $

Pumpkin patch opens October 1st

O'side Boo Bash

Oceanside 18 mi $

Mystical corner with tarot readings and crystals

👻 SCARY

Carlsbad Pumpkin Festival

Carlsbad 14 mi $$

Sprawling pumpkin patch with giant pumpkins and a challenging corn maze.

Illustration of a pumpkin patch full of orange pumpkins on curling vines, with small figures, a wheelbarrow and a farm stand (Del Mar Pumpkin Station)

Del Mar Pumpkin Station

Del Mar 14 mi $

Free admission and parking with numerous kid-friendly attractions

Illustration of costumed figures near striped booths and pumpkin displays on a grassy town square with orange autumn trees (Fall Festival at Galleron Park)

Fall Festival at Galleron Park

Temecula 25 mi Free

Seasonal fun with pumpkins, games, and a spooky train ride

Illustration of striped market booths and pumpkin displays on a street with small clay figures under orange autumn trees (Nature Collective Fall Festival)

Nature Collective Fall Festival

Del Mar 12 mi Free

Explore nature's quirky creatures and unique plants.

Pumpkin Polar Palooza

Carlsbad 12 mi $

Family-owned pumpkin patch and Christmas tree lot

Big Horse Corn Maze - Fall Season

Temecula 25 mi $$

Southern California's largest corn maze with themed layout

Illustration of a sunny autumn lawn with pumpkins, hay bales, a small tent, a witch and costumed children under orange trees (Penny Pickle's Halloween Party for Little Monsters)

Penny Pickle's Halloween Party for Little Monsters

Temecula 26 mi $

Non-scary, nature-themed Halloween fun for preschoolers

Illustration of a Halloween craft scene with clay kids, a friendly ghost, bats and glowing pumpkins under party bunting (OB People's Annual Halloween Party)

OB People's Annual Halloween Party