Table of Contents
Día de los Muertos
Dia de los Deftones 2025
Nov 1
San Diego’s loudest post-Halloween tradition hits Petco Park as Deftones throw their 6th annual blowout with Rico Nasty, Deafheaven, Clipse and more across two stages. Two stages keep the energy bouncing from serrated riffs to razor-sharp bars without the lull. With downtown skyline views and arena-sized sound, it’s a cathartic way to trade candy for decibels. If your Día de los Muertos needs mosh-pit therapy, this is your altar.
Nightmare on Normal Street 2025
Friday, October 31, 2025 • 5 PM – 11 PM
Hillcrest’s Halloween mothership lands on University Ave with DJs K‑Swift and Breezus, vendors, outdoor bars, and the city’s top-tier people‑watching. Bring your fiercest cosplay for the massive costume showdown—$4,000 in prizes means the stakes (and the stakes through the heart) are high. Hosted by drag powerhouse Strawberry, it’s an all‑ages dance blowout (21+ to drink with ID). Come early, strut the catwalk, and let Normal Street be anything but.
2025 Día de Los Muertos: A Community Celebration
Nov 1-2
Old Town transforms into a technicolor tribute to ancestors with vibrant ofrendas, live music, folklórico dancing, and face painting galore. It’s free, family-friendly, and stacked with hands-on fun—think sugar-skull workshops, historic museum tours, and even a movie in the park. The grand finale is Sunday’s candlelit procession to El Campo Santo Cemetery, a moving, only-in-San-Diego spectacle. Pro tip: arrive early to wander the altars and let the kids craft while you plot your face-paint game plan.
2025 Día de Los Muertos Celebration – Downtown Chula Vista
Nov 1
Third Avenue glows marigold as Downtown Chula Vista throws its 5th annual Día de los Muertos bash—free, family-friendly, and one of the county’s most authentic. Expect community altars, a lowrider car show, and live music and dance across multiple stages, plus a bustling artisan market and fantastic eats from local vendors. Show up in your best Catrín/Catrina ensemble and join the competition, or just soak up the color, culture, and cempasúchil vibes. South Bay brings the heart; you just bring the living.
Halloween Celebration
San Diego Zombie Crawl 2025
Oct 31
The Gaslamp goes full undead as one wristband unlocks 15+ parties across multiple nights, so you can haunt a different hotspot every hour without paying a single cover. Expect welcome shots at select stops and drink specials that keep your zombie shuffle well-lubricated all night. It’s a choose-your-own-haunted-adventure for 21+ costumed crawlers who want the wild side of downtown without the line drama. Rally your horde, pick up your wristband at the check-in hub, and let the crawl do the planning for you.
SeaWorld San Diego Halloween Spooktacular
Oct. 31 – Nov. 2
Last call for candy: this is the final weekend of SeaWorld’s daytime Spooktacular, and it’s all included with park admission. Little monsters can trick-or-treat along a fully decorated trail, meet silly-spooky characters, and catch special shows like Clyde & Seamore’s Halloween Bash. Costumes are encouraged and the vibe stays light, so it’s perfect for younger kiddos — plus you still get the usual animal encounters and rides. Maximum treats, zero tricks, with salty ocean breezes as a bonus.
Hard Rock Halloween Bash
Nov 1
Hard Rock turns into a multi-level haunted playground with stacked stages and DJs flipping between electronic, hip-hop, and Top 40 until your fangs fall off. Expect big-club spectacle—themed rooms, spooky production, and a costumed crowd that treats the Gaslamp like a runway. It’s 21+ with VIP table and bottle service if you want your own lair, and plenty of room to roam if you’re just here to dance. Dropping on Nov 1, it keeps Halloween rolling one more night—no tricks, just thumping treats.
Haunted Trail of Balboa Park
Sep 26–Nov 1
Balboa Park gets a spooky glow-up as this outdoor trail strings together eerie, themed scenes and well-timed jump scares. It’s part scenic stroll, part scream therapy—ideal for thrill-seekers who want their cardio served with creepy soundtracks and fog. Go after dark, expect sudden frights, and consider snagging tickets early since weekends can get busy. Follow @hauntedtrailbp for teasers and to psych yourself up before you enter.
Sports
San Diego Gulls vs. Colorado Eagles
Nov 2
Feel the chill in sunny San Diego as the Gulls hit the ice at Pechanga Arena, taking on the Colorado Eagles in a fast, hard-skating showdown. Expect booming goal horns, flying towels, and a crowd that treats every power play like a beach bonfire. It’s the perfect excuse to swap flip-flops for foam fingers and let out your weekday stress with some big hits and highlight-reel saves. Rally with fellow fans and make some noise for the home team—tag your rinkside moments at @SDGulls.
Del Mar Bing Crosby Season (Opening Weekend)
Oct. 31 – Nov. 2
The horses are back at Del Mar for opening weekend of the Bing Crosby Season — a chill, retro-leaning meet with ocean breezes and prime people-watching. Expect sunny fall afternoons, classic cocktails, and that ‘where the turf meets the surf’ energy without the summer crush. Opening weekend means autumn-best fits, trackside photo ops, and plenty of chances to cash a ticket while pretending you came strictly for the vibes. It’s peak San Diego: sea air, thoroughbreds, and a laid-back excuse to dress up and call it sport.
Kaiser Permanente Thrive Half Marathon & 5K
Nov. 1
Start your weekend with a flat, fast cruise around Mission Bay that’s equal parts PR chase and bayfront sightseeing. Whether you’re tackling 13.1 or keeping it breezy with the 5K, the supportive vibes and Make-A-Wish San Diego cause make every mile feel good. Cross the finish and score a long-sleeve tech tee and commemorative medal—because your brunch photos deserve hardware. Consider it the healthiest way to earn extra guac before noon.
Bike the Coast
Nov. 1
Join thousands of riders and trade your spin class for ocean breezes along the legendary 101 through Oceanside, Carlsbad, and Encinitas—views with a side of salt air swagger. Pick your distance: 7, 25, 50, or 100 miles, all wrapping up at a pier-side festival with food, a beer garden, and live music. It’s friendly, photogenic, and built for every pace, from family cruisers to century crushers. Locals and visiting cyclists get equal bragging rights—and yes, your Strava will look gorgeous.
Festival
Aki Matsuri 2025
Nov 1, 2025
San Diego gets its own slice of autumn in Japan at Aki Matsuri, and it’s doing the most — taiko beats, traditional dance, and hands-on art all in one lively day. Come hungry: think legit festival bites and sweets, with beer and sake on deck for the grown-ups. Kids get games, you get unique crafts to shop, and everyone wins with easy vibes at JULEP Venue. Pro tip: bring your ticket, rideshare if you can, and don’t roll in late—admission closes at 5:00 PM.
Music
Pagliacci (by San Diego Opera)
Oct 31 – Nov 2
Nothing says Halloween like a jealous clown with a high C—this classic Pagliacci brings gripping drama and soaring music to one jam-packed weekend. You’ll get the goosebump-inducing “Vesti la giubba” and a tight, high-impact story that’s perfect for opera newbies and die-hards alike. Expect big emotions, cinematic orchestration, and a production that blurs the line between on-stage laughs and real-life heartbreak. Costumes optional, but dramatic eyeliner encouraged.
Galantis
Oct. 31
When the Seafox sails into the Gaslamp, you clear your calendar: Galantis is throwing a Halloween-night blowout at Nova SD. Expect skyscraper-sized hooks, hands-up house anthems like “Runaway (U & I)” and “No Money” and a full-scale club production that feels downright festival. The dance floor gets packed and the visuals are primed for maximum euphoria, making this 21+ night a no-brainer for dance-pop diehards. If you want big-room energy with San Diego swagger, this one’s your treat.
Comedy
Kurt Metzger
Oct. 31 – Nov. 1
Spend Halloween with sharp, unapologetic wit as Kurt Metzger brings a two-night run to the American Comedy Co. Best known for Inside Amy Schumer and brutally smart stand-up, he’s tailor-made for this intimate Gaslamp club where you can actually see the jokes land. If costumes and crowded bar crawls aren’t your thing, this 21+ show is the perfect way to get spooky-season laughs instead. Tickets go fast at this room—check the site for showtimes and snag seats before they disappear.
