Experience the eeriest events in National City's Halloween with our showcase. Our handbook: perfect for National City specters and spectators alike.
Popular events include the thrilling **Howl-O-Scream**, where guests encounter hair-raising attractions and chilling performances. With family-friendly fun in mind, the LEGOLAND Brick-or-Treat Party Nights features whimsical decorations and LEGO-themed activities perfect for little ghosts and goblins. And the Del Mar Food + Wine Festival is something you definitely don't want to miss, offering delicious culinary delights and libations to celebrate the season. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Top Halloween Events In and Around National City
- LEGOLAND Brick-or-Treat Party Nights (Carlsbad)
- **Howl-O-Scream** (San Diego)
- Plaza Bonita Pumpkin Station
- Del Mar Food + Wine Festival (Del Mar)
- **Haunted San Diego Ghost Tours** (San Diego)
- Pumpkin Station (Mission Valley)
- Haunted Birch Aquarium: Halloween Aglow (La Jolla)
- La Mesa Oktoberfest (La Mesa)
- Belmont Park Fall Fest (San Diego)
- Halloween Spooktacular at SeaWorld (San Diego)
See these and even more events listed below!
National City Area Haunted Experiences
**Howl-O-Scream**
What to Expect:
An immersive Halloween event with a variety of scare zones and haunted houses.
Description:
Howl-O-Scream at SeaWorld San Diego transforms the park into a spine-chilling playground of terror with five haunted houses, seven scare zones, and six vile vignettes. Guests can experience eerie entertainment, live shows, and themed bars while navigating through a carnival of horrifying creatures.
Where: San Diego | More Info: **Howl-O-Scream**
**Haunted San Diego Ghost Tours**
What to Expect:
A haunted bus tour that offers exclusive access to five of San Diego's most haunted locations, providing an intimate and spooky experience.
Description:
Haunted San Diego Ghost Tours offers a unique and spooky experience through its haunted bus tour, visiting top five haunted places in San Diego, including the Gaslamp District and Old Town. The tour includes exclusive access to locations like the Whaley House, Villa Montezuma, Horton Grand Hotel, and El Campo Santo Cemetery. With costumed hosts and genuine paranormal events, this tour is an engaging adventure that combines dark history, true crime elements, and folklore, making it a memorable experience for all participants.
Where: San Diego | More Info: **Haunted San Diego Ghost Tours**
Family-Friendly Fall Activities Near National City
LEGOLAND Brick-or-Treat Party Nights
What to Expect:
The unique feature of LEGOLAND Brick-or-Treat Party Nights is its interactive and immersive experience with themed candy stations and live shows.
Description:
LEGOLAND Brick-or-Treat Party Nights is a family-friendly Halloween event featuring live entertainment, character meet-and-greets, and trick-or-treating at themed candy stations. The event includes not-so-scary shows and limited-time attractions like the Disco Dragon Coaster. It offers a fun-filled Halloween celebration for all ages.
Where: Carlsbad | More Info: LEGOLAND Brick-or-Treat Party Nights
Plaza Bonita Pumpkin Station
What to Expect:
Comprehensive array of fall activities designed for families.
Description:
Plaza Bonita Pumpkin Station offers a variety of fall activities for all ages, including a giant slide, ferris wheel, play center, petting zoo, and pumpkin patch.
Where: National City | More Info: Plaza Bonita Pumpkin Station
Belmont Park Fall Fest
What to Expect:
A blend of amusement park rides, live music, and seasonal food offerings in a beachside setting.
Description:
Belmont Park's Beachside Fall Fest is a festive celebration happening every weekend in September and October. Enjoy iconic amusement park rides, rockin' retro displays, and live music with weekly pumpkin jams. The event also features the Belmont Bites Fall Flavor Pass, offering five seasonal specialty offerings across the park, and a variety of fall-themed treats and activities.
Where: San Diego | More Info: Belmont Park Fall Fest
La Mesa Oktoberfest
What to Expect:
A weekend-long celebration with three biergartens, live music, and a variety of traditional German and international foods.
Description:
La Mesa Oktoberfest is a 51-year-old tradition celebrating Bavarian festivities in downtown La Mesa. The event features three biergartens, live music, German and international foods, kids' activities, and a variety of games. It promises to be an unforgettable weekend filled with community spirit and festive atmosphere.
Where: La Mesa | More Info: La Mesa Oktoberfest
Haunted Birch Aquarium: Halloween Aglow
What to Expect:
A family-friendly Halloween celebration featuring live music, interactive exhibits, and educational activities highlighting ocean phenomena.
Description:
Halloween Aglow at Birch Aquarium is a family-friendly event that transforms the aquarium into a glowing nightscape. Enjoy live music by Billy Lee and the Swamp Critters, participate in a costume contest, and trick-or-treat around the aquarium. Explore the Living Light Experience to see the ocean's bioluminescence and fluorescence up close. Engage in ghoulishly fun games and learn about weird and wonderful research being done at Scripps Oceanography.
Where: La Jolla | More Info: Haunted Birch Aquarium: Halloween Aglow
Pumpkin Station
What to Expect:
The unique feature of Mission Valley Pumpkin Station is its diverse array of rides and attractions suitable for all ages.
Description:
Mission Valley Pumpkin Station offers a variety of fall activities including giant slides, a mini slide, swing rides, train jumpees, a Ferris wheel, El Paso train rides, boat rides, and a petting zoo. The event also features a pumpkin patch and is open daily from September 29th through October 31st.
Where: Mission Valley | More Info: Pumpkin Station
Halloween Spooktacular at SeaWorld
What to Expect:
A pirate-themed Halloween celebration with interactive activities and festive decorations.
Description:
Halloween Spooktacular at SeaWorld San Diego is a family-friendly event filled with interactive activities, including trick-or-treating, pirate-themed parades, and magical candy quests. The event features festive decorations, live music, and photo-worthy moments. Kids can enjoy the Waterfront Pumpkin Patch, meet friendly Halloween mermaids, and participate in a pumpkin scavenger hunt. The event is included with park admission and offers a treasure trove of fun for all ages.
Where: San Diego | More Info: Halloween Spooktacular at SeaWorld
Howl-O-Ween Harvest Family Festival
What to Expect:
A Halloween celebration with hands-on animal interactions and STEM activities in a festive setting.
Description:
The Howl-O-Ween Harvest Family Festival at Helen Woodward Animal Center is a spook-tacular event designed for families with toddlers and elementary age children. The festival includes hands-on animal encounters, trick-or-treat stations, a mini pumpkin patch, and spooky crafts. Face painting and animal ambassadors dressed in their best spook-tacular attire make this a hauntingly delightful experience. This event is perfect for discovering what makes our "creepy" critters not so scary through interactive activities and STEM experiences.
Where: Rancho Santa Fe | More Info: Howl-O-Ween Harvest Family Festival
Liberty Station Halloween Celebration
What to Expect:
A family-friendly Halloween celebration with a variety of activities and a food drive supporting military families and veterans.
Description:
Liberty Station invites the community to a free, family-friendly Halloween celebration. The event features live DJ entertainment, a Hollywood car show, inflatable obstacle courses, crafts, and trick-or-treating throughout Liberty Station. All ages are encouraged to come dressed in their most elaborate costumes to participate in the costume contest. The event also supports the Uniting Combat Hunger Food Drive by collecting nonperishable food items for military families and veterans.
Where: San Diego | More Info: Liberty Station Halloween Celebration
**Haunted Harvest**
What to Expect:
The unique feature of the Julian Autumn Jubilee is its comprehensive array of activities that cater to both children and adults, making it a perfect family-friendly fall festival.
Description:
The Julian Autumn Jubilee is a festive fall event at Fort Cross Old Timey Adventures in Julian, California. It features a variety of activities including U-Pick Veggie and Pumpkin Garden, hayrides, reptile interactions, a petting zoo, and craft sessions. The event is designed for both kids and adults, offering a fun-filled day amidst the beautiful autumn scenery.
Where: Santa Ysabel | More Info: **Haunted Harvest**
San Diego Model Railroad Museum Halloween Family Day
What to Expect:
A fun-filled day with Halloween-themed activities suitable for all ages.
Description:
Join the San Diego Model Railroad Museum for a spooky Halloween Family Day on Saturday, October 26th. Enjoy Halloween-themed Arts & Crafts, Halloween Games & Activities, a Costume Contest, and plenty of candy. This event is included in museum admission, and kids 12 and under get in free.
Where: San Diego | More Info: San Diego Model Railroad Museum Halloween Family Day
Santee Lakes Halloween Event
What to Expect:
A ghoulish day of games, a GIANT Halloween maze, face painting, creepy crafts, and photo opportunities.
Description:
Santee Lakes is hosting its first-ever Spooktacular & Trunk-or-Treat event on October 28, 2024. This ghoulish day will feature games, a GIANT Halloween maze, face painting, creepy crafts, and photo opportunities. The Sanderson Sisters from Hocus Pocus will entertain attendees, and there will be a Mary's Donut Walk and local businesses decorating their trunks to hand out candy.
Where: Santee | More Info: Santee Lakes Halloween Event
Autumn Harvest Teas
What to Expect:
A special Harvest Themed four-course tea experience with options for children and dietary restrictions.
Description:
Autumn Harvest Teas at Julian Tea and Cottage Arts offer a special Harvest Themed version of their four-course Cottage Classic Tea. The menu includes a cup of corn chowder or house pumpkin soup, autumn-themed finger sandwiches and savories, scones with curd, jam, and whipped cream, and pumpkin bread pudding for dessert. The event also features a Children's Tea option for kids under 12, with Vegetarian and Gluten-Free versions available upon advance notice.
Where: Julian | More Info: Autumn Harvest Teas
Farm Stand West Fall Festival
What to Expect:
Celebrate 100 years of farming with a variety of seasonal activities and fresh local produce.
Description:
Celebrate 100 years of farming in Escondido at Farm Stand West's Fall Festival 2024. Enjoy fresh local produce, a pumpkin patch, hayrides, local vendors, prepared foods, ice cream, and fresh squeezed juice. This festive event offers something for everyone, making it a perfect family-friendly and fall festival activity.