The best fall and Halloween things to do this weekend in San Diego: Oct. 3-4

Seasonal and Halloween activities and events are everywhere in San Diego County now that autumn is here.

This guide to weekend events includes haunted houses, Oktoberfest, fall festivals and more.

Friday

Haunted Amusement Park: A one-mile haunted trail with a spinning vortex tunnel, a haunted manor, a graveyard, a zombie land and a spider’s cave are all part of the Haunted Amusement Park. This Halloween attraction is built as a trail meant to scare visitors as they move through 1960s carnival rides such as a roller coaster, bumper cars and a Ferris wheel. The Haunted Amusement Park is on the old grounds of Marshal Scotty’s Playland in the East County. Sept. 26-28. Oct. 3-5, 10-12, 17-19, 23-26, 30-31. Nov. 1. 14011 Ridge Hill Road, El Cajon. $25-$30. scaretrail.com

Mr. Jack O’Lanterns Pumpkin Patch:  A variety of pumpkins are for sale from jack-be-little pumpkins to 50-pound pumpkins Oct. 3 to Nov. 2 at 3901 Clairemont Dr. Highlights include games and activities, such as pumpkin bowling, pumpkin decorating, bounce houses, haunted house and farm animals. Visit mrjackolanternspumpkins.com.

Haunted Corn Maze: The Carlsbad Strawberry Company is once the site of a haunted corn maze this fall. The Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation is also part of this Haunted Corn Maze, which turns the strawberry fields into a terrifying labyrinth. The Haunted Corn Maze is recommended for teenagers and adults. Also, 50% of the proceeds from the corn maze go to the foundation, according to the Carlsbad Strawberry Company. 7 to 10 p.m. Every Friday and Saturday from Oct. 3 to Nov. 1. 1050 Cannon Road, Carlsbad. $40-$60. aguahedionda.org/haunted-corn-maze

The Haunted Forest: Maneuver through ghosts and graveyards at The Haunted Forest in Banner Ranch. This half-mile outdoor Halloween trek has gory content, strobe lights and spooky sounds. The public can also spend the night at The Haunted Forest, which has tiny houses, covered wagons and camping sites. Food, cider and beer will be available for purchase. Event organizers encourage guests to wear costumes. Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from Sept. 26 to Nov. 1. 36342 California 78, Julian. $13-$15. eventbrite.com/e/the-haunted-forest 

Haunted Trail: One of San Diego’s largest Halloween experiences is at Balboa Park. The Haunted Trail at Balboa Park gives visitors two different experiences. The eXperiment Maze presents 3,500 square feet of twists and turns through various spooky encounters with childhood fairy tales remixed in Halloween-themed costumes such as “Goldilocks and the Three Bears.” The Haunted Trail takes visitors outdoors through a path with dense fog and several haunting installations with zombies, a ghoul bus, a graveyard filled with ghosts, chainsaw maniacs and more. Sept. 26 through Nov. 1. Balboa Drive and Juniper Road, San Diego. $34.99-$49.99. hauntedtrail.net

Second weekend for Oktoberfest: The German American Societies of San Diego host Oktoberfest in El Cajon  Oct. 3-5 at 1017 S. Mollison Ave. Highlights include authentic German food and beers on tap along with oompah music by the Guggenbach-Buam band from Germany. There will be traditional folk dancing along with games and contests. Other attractions include shopping booths and a kids’ zone. Hours are 4 to 10 p.m. Fridays, noon to 10 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 9 p.m. Sundays. Entry fees are $15 for adults on Fridays and Saturdays, $5 on Sundays and free for those younger than 21, club members with a current membership and active duty military. Visit OktoberfestElCajon.com.

SeaWorld Howl-O-Scream: Back for the fifth time is SeaWorld’s Howl-O-Scream. This Halloween activation modifies the theme park into a haunted playground with eight scare zones. Guests can expect to see spooky creatures, a graveyard, a carnival of chaos and five haunted houses. There will also be music and live entertainment stages, themed bars and speakeasies. Plus, certain amusement park rides will be open. Select nights now through Nov. 1. $44.99-$144.99. seaworld.com/san-diego/events/howl-o-scream

Oktoberfest with “Bark-toberfest”: German-themed festivities for all ages from 4 to 10 p.m. Oct. 3; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Oct. 4 and noon to 8 p.m. Oct. 5 in the La Mesa Village with German food, including schnitzel and giant pretzels, Polka bands and dancing, along with “Bark-toberfest” Dachshund races, “Glücklich” Games and a fashion show. Highlights include an Artisan Alley craft fair with handmade items ranging from candles and soap to jewelry, a pumpkin patch and a children’s carnival and Ferris wheel along with Palm Avenue Pub & Grub. Wear your German lederhosen or dirndls. Festival admission is free. Biergarten admission is $5. VIP Biergarten passes are $15-$50; $10-$25 for under 21 VIP pass. Visit lamesaoktoberfest.org.

Jurassic Fright at Pumpkin Patch: Open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays in Oct. 3 through Oct. 31 at 1050 Cannon Road. There’s a haunted corn maze, marigold fields, bounceland, Jurassic Fright, a tractor ride and sheep, goats and rabbits. Admission is $15; free for kids 3 and younger plus fees for activities. Visit carlsbadstrawberrycompany.com/pumpkin.

Saturday

Pumpkin train rides: The Campo Railroad Museum is offering its annual Pumpkin Express Halloween Celebration on Saturdays and Sundays, Oct. 4-26. Ride decorated vintage 1920s rail cars through the San Diego County mountains. Walk through the themed display building with Halloween scenes and haunted train cars. Ride a train to a pumpkin patch where kids can pick pumpkins to decorate. Trains leave at 10:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. from the Campo Depot, 750 Depot St. Tickets are $18.95-$39.95. Reserve at psrm.org/pumpkin.

 Pumpkin Festival Craft Fair: In addition to regular activities at the farm, such as tractor hay rides and a straw maze, this arts and crafts fair will feature over 50 artisans selling handmade crafts and gifts. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Bates Nut Farm, 15954 Woods Valley Road, Valley Center. Free. $10 parking. batesnutfarm.biz/blogs/events/bates-pumpkin-festival-craft-fair

Sunday

Free trick-or-treating on Sundays: Kids costumes are encouraged for this weekly trick-or-treating event throughout October. 5 p.m. Sundays. Belmont Park, 3146 Mission Blvd., San Diego. Free. belmontpark.com

Olivenhain Oktoberfest: The festival features local brews and German dishes from noon to 4 p.m. Oct. 5 at the Olivenhain Meeting Hall Grounds, 423 Rancho Santa Fe Road. The Our Song band will play German melodies, European harvest anthems and American pop hits. Put on your dirndl or lederhosen and bring your lawn chairs. The menu features bratwurst and red cabbage, hot dogs, potato salad, sauerkraut and dessert. The beer and wine garden features craft beer from local breweries and a variety of wines. Food tickets are $10 to $50. Visit olivenhain.org.