Halloween in San Diego

Every year, San Diegans of all ages participate in a variety of ghoulish events during the Halloween season. Sure, kids get dressed up in their favorite costumes and head out to knock on everyone’s doors but there are also events designed to scare the pants off ya!

Because San Diego’s weather is so mild in October, many events are held outdoors including one that is set along the trails within Balboa Park.

If you are in charge of taking trick-or-treaters around to peoples’ houses, we can tell you some specific neighborhoods that are more generous than the others (in case you are tired of your own neighborhood): La Jolla, Mission Hills, Point Loma, Coronado, Banker’s Hill and the Mayor of San Diego’s neighborhood, Kensington.

TIP: Need some quick Halloween inspiration? Check out the creepy film trailer for the newly released “Dream House.”

Here is a listing of some of San Diego’s best Halloween events for 2021.

Haunted Halloween Events in San Diego

The Haunted Trail in Balboa Park is perhaps the best outdoor setting for a terror-filled experience since the park is pretty scary at night any time! The dark spooky trails are located in the Marston Point section of the Park which is east of Sixth Avenue and Juniper Street in Balboa Park. This spooky event is not for young children or the scaredy cats among us. Look for the orange signs with the ghoulish writing to point you in the right direction. BOO!

The Haunted Trail in Balboa Park goes until October 31, 2021. This schedule will allow plenty of time to get the living daylights scared out of you! The Haunted Trail is open from 7:00 p.m. to 11:45 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Sundays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. The monsters and witches take a break on Mondays and Tuesdays except for October 24, 25, and 31, 2021. Check the official schedule here.

ADMISSION

Sunday – Thursday (SAVE $2)
General Admission – $15.
VIP Trail – $25 (Trail admission and the Fast Pass)
GA COMBO – $20 (General Admission to Trail and Maze)
VIP COMBO – $30 (Maze, Trail, and Fast Pass)

Friday & Saturday:
General Admission – $17
VIP Trail – $27 (Trail admission and the Fast Pass)
GA COMBO – $22 (General Admission to Trail and Maze)
VIP COMBO – $32 (Maze, Trail, and Fast Pass)

Please Note: Cash only at the gates.

SAVE MONEY! Discount coupons can be picked up at: Ralphs, Northgate Latino Markets, and UltraStar Cinemas.

The Haunted Hotel features specially decorated rooms that bring back the spirits of Hollywood horror films from the past. The hotel is situated in an old building that probably has stories of its own to tell. This spooky event is not for young children or the scaredy cats among us.

The Haunted Hotel is located at 424 Market Street (4th & Market) in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter. The terror goes until October 31, 2021. The operating hours for the Haunted Hotel are as follows: Fridays and Saturdays from 6:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. and Sundays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. The venue is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays except for October 24, 25, & 31, 2021. Check the official schedule here.

ADMISSION

Sunday – Thursday (SAVE $2)
General Admission – $15
VIP Admission – $25 (Hotel admission and the Fast Pass)

Friday & Saturday:
General Admission – $17
VIP Admission – $27 (Hotel admission and the Fast Pass)

Please Note: Cash only at the gates.

SAVE MONEY! Discount Coupons can be found at: Dominos, Ralphs, Northgate Latino Markets, and UltraStar Cinemas.

The Scream Zone at the Del Mar Fairgrounds features three haunted attractions, the House of Horror, the Haunted Hayride and The Chamber. Each dwelling is inhabited by terrifying creatures and scary scenes. Local actors play the part of the many ghouls and monsters that dwell in this very scary Scream Zone. Be prepared to scream your head off. This spooky event is not for young children or the scaredy cats among us. It is the biggest haunted house attraction in San Diego, bar none.

The Scream Zone at the Del Mar Fairgrounds is open Saturday and Sunday, October 1-2; Thursday through Sunday, October 6-9; Thursday through Sunday, October 13-16, and every night, October 20-31, 2021. The hours of operation are: 7:00 p.m. to Midnight, Fridays & Saturdays and 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. on the other days.

ADMISSION

Triple Haunt: House of Horror, Haunted Hayride & The Chamber – $27.99
Double Haunt: The Chamber plus House of Horror or Haunted Hayride – $18.99
Single Haunt: House of Horror or Haunted Hayride – $14.99

Group & Military Discount Information

Parking: As a special Halloween treat, the Del Mar Fairgrounds folks are not charging for parking. Enter the Fairgrounds at the Solana Gate, which is on the south side of Via de la Valle between the Coast Highway and Jimmy Durante Blvd.

The 11th Annual Dos Equis XX Monster Bash invades San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter on Saturday, October 29, 2021 from 6:00 p.m. to Midnight. The location of this Halloween block party is 7th Avenue between Market and J Street and on Island Avenue between 6th and 8th Avenues.

This is a 21-year old and up event that will feature live music, plenty of cocktails, DJs, and yes, go-go girls. Once again, the Monster Bash’s Costume Contest promises to be an outrageous affair. The more outrageous, the better! As a special incentive to jump-start your creative juices, consider that this year’s Grand Prize is $3,000! That can buy a lot of treats!

In order to attend the Monster Bash and take advantage of special drink and food specials at participating Gaslamp bars and restaurants, you must purchase a wristband at the cost of $30 in advance or $35 at the door. A $25 VIP upgrade is optional. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, please go online to their website. Please note that there is a service charge when you buy online.

For information, please call (619) 233-5008 or email [email protected].

Halloween Events Without So Much Haunt

Haunted Birch Aquarium brings the fun of Halloween under the sea on October 21 & 22, 2021 from 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. On these two nights, the Birch Aquarium will be transformed into a haunted aquarium featuring odd encounters with mad scientists and slime, Halloween treats, spooky activities and scary music. This year, the lively music of the popular Zydeco band, Billy Lee & the Swamp Critters, will spice up the event.

Be sure to come dressed in your Halloween costume to get in on the festive mood! Why should the fish have all the fun?

ADMISSION

Members: $12 with RSVP
Public: $15 with RSVP
Door (all): $17
Children under 2 are free.

To RSVP or request more information, please call the Education Department at (858) 534-733 or email them at [email protected].

Tickets can be purchased online as well. Be sure to scroll down the page to see the details for this event.

Balboa Park Halloween Family Day– Even San Diego’s best known cultural institutions in Balboa Park get into the spooky season. Balboa Park decided to celebrate Halloween on their own a couple of years ago and it’s been so popular that they have decided to do it again. A real treat!

Basically, over a dozen museums will open their doors and offer fun Halloween-type activities on Saturday, October 29, 2021. Best of all, the event is FREE to children, 17 and under, in celebration of the 3rd Annual Balboa Park Halloween Family Day. The fun begins at 11:00 a.m. and goes until 3:00 p.m. Adults still have to pay for their own museum admission but at least the kids get in free.

BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE! Adults also receive discounted admission when they pick up a Stay-for-the-Day Pass, a one-day excursion pass allowing one adult admission to five park museums for a low price of $35.

Among the highlights of this year’s park-wide Halloween Family Day: a doggie costume contest at the Spanish Village Art Center; a Great Pumpkin parachute drop at the San Diego Air & Space Museum, a Critter Cavern at the Natural History Museum, a Mexican dance performance by Ballet Folklorico Xochitl at the Mingei Museum, and activities that explore local cemeteries and gravestones at the San Diego History Center.

Be sure to check this link for all the information you need to know before you get dressed up and go.

If you have any comments that you would like to share with us and the rest of the monsters, witches, and zombies of the universe, please feel free to provide relevant comments below.

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