October is peak festival season in San Diego — Oktoberfests, harvest festivals, Halloween happenings, and more, all before the weather even starts to cool.
La Jolla Art & Wine Festival
When: Oct. 10–11, 2026
More than 170 juried artists line Girard Avenue for this free, family-friendly fundraiser featuring fine art, a wine and beer garden, and live entertainment.
Kids Free San Diego
When: Oct. 1–31, 2026
Kids 12 and under get free admission to 60+ museums, zoos, and attractions all month, plus dozens of hotel and dining deals.
HalGLOWeen at the San Diego Zoo
When: Fri–Sun in October, 2026
The Zoo stays open late on weekend nights for glowing lights, live music, and Halloween entertainment — included with admission.
LEGOLAND Brick-or-Treat Party Nights
When: Select dates, Sept. 19–Nov. 1, 2026
Trick-or-treat stations, costume contests, and the all-new Brick or Treat Street walkthrough.
SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular
When: Fri–Sun, Sept. 11–Nov. 1, 2026
Daytime trick-or-treating, a pirate-themed adventure, and the all-new Baby Shark Halloween Show.
Oktoberfest in El Cajon
When: Sept. 25–Oct. 4, 2026
San Diego’s most traditional Oktoberfest, with a live Oom-Pah band, German food, and beer since 1972.
Fall Fest at Belmont Park
When: Weekends through Oct. 31, 2026
Free trick-or-treating, live music, and seasonal treats at the 97-year-old seaside amusement park.
La Mesa Oktoberfest
When: Oct. 2–4, 2026
Three biergartens, live entertainment, and a pumpkin patch fill downtown La Mesa Village for the city’s largest annual event.
Ocean Beach Oktoberfest
When: Oct. 9–10, 2026
A 21+ beachfront celebration with two music stages, a stein-holding contest, and beer with an ocean view.
Rancho BEERnardo Festival
When: Oct. 3, 2026
75+ tastings from breweries, wineries, and distilleries at Webb Park, benefiting local charities.
Autumn Festival at San Diego Zoo Safari Park
When: Weekends, Oct. 3–25, 2026
Wildlife, seasonal entertainment, and fall-inspired food and drink at the Safari Park.
Del Mar Harvest Festival
When: Oct. 3–4, 2026
Hundreds of artisans showcase handmade art, crafts, and specialty food at the Del Mar Fairgrounds.
Fort Cross Haunted Harvest
When: Select Saturdays, Oct. 3–30, 2026
Ghost stories, folk dancing, and a haunted hayride through the backcountry near Julian.
Pumpkin Express
When: Weekends, Oct. 10–31, 2026
A vintage train ride through Campo’s backcountry, plus a pumpkin patch and haunted train cars.
San Diego Zombie Crawl
When: Oct. 23–24 & 30–31, 2026
San Diego’s biggest Halloween bar crawl, with 20+ Gaslamp venues and welcome shots included.
USA Ultimate National Championships
When: Oct. 22–25, 2026
The top ultimate frisbee teams in North America compete for national titles at Surf Sports Park.
Halloween at the Station
When: Oct. 25, 2026
A free, family-friendly celebration at Liberty Station with a DJ, car show, and trick-or-treating.
Mission Bay Triathlon
When: Oct. 11, 2026
The USAT Sprint and Olympic Multisport Championship returns to the sport’s Mission Bay birthplace.
Sporting Events
San Diego FC
MLS action continues this October, with home matches at Snapdragon Stadium.
Games Schedule | Get Tickets
San Diego Gulls
AHL hockey kicks off for the season at Pechanga Arena.
Games Schedule | Get Tickets
San Diego Padres
MLB action continues at Petco Park, one of the country’s top ballparks.
Games Schedule | Get Tickets
Upcoming Event
TwitchCon San Diego
When: Nov. 13–15, 2026 (badge pickup opens Nov. 12)
The world’s biggest gathering of Twitch creators and fans returns to the San Diego Convention Center, with three days of the Twitch Rivals Arena, the Glitch Theater main stage, Creator Camp workshops, and community meetups by game and interest
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Looking to stay close to the action? NXT Vacation offers top-rated vacation rentals across San Diego County, from downtown lofts to beachfront homes in La Jolla and Pacific Beach.
