Things to do: A variety of upcoming Halloween events

Del Mar Pumpkin Station

Festivities include a carousel, rides, giant slides, a Ferris wheel, a train jump, a petting zoo and a play center, along with a pumpkin patch from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sundays to Thursdays and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays Sept. 26 through Oct. 26 at 15555 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar. Ticketed attractions include mechanical rides, giant slides, a jumpee activity, petting zoo and antique carousel. Tickets are $5. Free admission and parking. Visit pumpkinstation.com.

Scream Zone closed

The Scream Zone at the Del Mar Fairgrounds is closed this year and is slated to reopen in 2026. The event website says head to Balboa Park to get your screams at The Haunted Trail. Visit thescreamzone.com.

Woodward Animal Center Howl-O-Ween Harvest Family Festival

Helen Woodward Animal Center in Rancho Santa Fe hosts its Howl-O-Ween Harvest Family Festival from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Oct. 11, 18, 25, and 26, featuring hands-on animal encounters, trick-or-treat stations, a free pumpkin patch, festive games, crafts, face painting, a photo booth, and more. Cost is $17.75 for kids participating and $8.90 for adults 18+. Visit https://animalcenter.org/programs-services/education/kid-events/ to reserve your spot. Address: 6461 El Apajo, Rancho Santa Fe.

Howl-O-Ween Harvest Adventures

For schools, scouts, playgroups, and other private groups, Helen Woodward Animal Center in Rancho Santa Fe offers Howl-O-Ween Harvest Adventures by appointment, available from Oct. 1 through Nov. 10. These private programs include up-close animal encounters, festive fall crafts, STEM-aligned lessons, and seasonal fun tailored to your group. To book your adventure, call (858) 756-4117 x406 or email education@animalcenter.org. Address: 6461 El Apajo, Rancho Santa Fe.

Halloween Carnival Solana Beach

The 68th annual event is set for 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Oct. 26 at Solana Vista Elementary School, 780 Santa Victoria, hosted by the Solana Beach Schools Foundation for Solana Beach School District families. Highlights include games, bounces houses, a petting zoo, pony rides and treats. Costumes are encouraged. Proceeds benefit Discovery Enrichment at Solana Vista and Skyline elementary schools. Visit sbschoolsfoundation.org.

Rancho Santa Fe Village Church Family Trunk-or-Treat

The Village Church hosts a free family-friendly Halloween event featuring trick-or-treating and snacks from decorated cars parked next to the church playground, along with games and crafts and stories about the love of Jesus from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 26 at 6225 Paseo Delicias, Rancho Santa Fe. Church-friendly costumes are welcome. Visit VillageChurch.org/trunk-or-treat.

Free Halloween event at Piazza Carmel in Carmel Valley

There’s new activities this year at the free Piazza Carmel Halloween Spooktacular on Saturday, Oct. 11 from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. in Carmel Valley — a Dog Halloween Costume Contest and the opportunity to adopt a pet from Amazing Strays Rescue. Piazza Carmel is located at 3810 Valley Centre Drive in Carmel Valley.

Prizes will be awarded for the following contest categories, Cutest Dog Costume, Funniest Dog Costume and Best Owner & Dog Costume Combo. To enter, bring your dog, on leash or in a carrier, to Piazza Carmel between 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on Oct. 11 to complete the Halloween Dog Contest entry form. Contest judging begins at 1:45 p.m. Each of the three categories winners will get a Spooky Pooch basket filled with lots of treats.

Also new at the Halloween Spectacular is the Amazing Strays Rescue Pet Adoption during the event. Amazing Strays (amazingstraysrescue.org) is a non-profit, volunteer-based, all-breed, dog and cat rescue agency.

At the Halloween Spectacular from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Oct. 11, children get a free bag to go trick or treating around the open-air shopping center and everyone will enjoy a Magic Show and can take a keepsake photo at the Halloween backdrop. Participants can also meet FrankenStilt, a very tall, friendly costume character.

Halloween Carnival at Carmel Valley Recreation Center

All are invited to attend a fun, free Halloween Carnival inside the gym at the Carmel Valley Recreation Center. The carnival will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 29 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m

The event will include arts and crafts, bounce house, carnival games, costume contest, games with the DJ, and face painters.The Carmel Valley Recreation Center is located at 3777 Townsgate Drive, Carmel Valley, 92130.

For more information, call 858-552-1616 or visit www.sandiego.gov/park-and-recreation/centers/recctr/carmelvalley

Del Mar Highlands holding Halloween event

The Del Mar Highlands Town Center is hosting a family-friendly spooky Halloween event on Friday, Oct. 31 from 4 p.m.-6 p.m. The event includes character meet and greets, music, fun and more. Pick up your trick-or-treating maps by the Pop Jet Fountain. The Pop Jet Fountain will be turned off on Oct. 31 and will resume on Nov. 1. Address: 12925 El Camino Real, Carmel Valley.

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

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

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

Halloween Spooktacular

There will be trick-or-treating in costumes, carnival-style games, spooky characters and music from 2 to 5 p.m. Oct. 25 at The Forum Carlsbad, 1923 Calle Barcelona. Children receive a bag to collect candy, while supplies last. Admission is free. Visit theforumcarlsbad.com/events.

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, Carlsbad. 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.

Brick-or-Treat

LEGOLAND California holds its Brick-or-Treat Monster Party on weekends in October with entertainment, dance parties, live music, costumed entertainers and trick-or-treating. The party is included with park admission. As part of its Halloween season celebration, there will be costumed characters, décor and seasonal treats daily through Oct. 31. Visit legoland.com/california/things-to-do/seasonal-events/halloween.

Spooktacular Halloween at plaza

Halloween-themed kids crafts, a DJ spinning spooky tunes, face painting, balloon twisting and trick-or-treating will all be available from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 18 at in the courtyard next to La Costa Roasting at Plaza Paseo Real, 6941- 6985 El Camino Real, Carlsbad. Visit plazapaseoreal.com/events/plaza-paseo-real-halloween-spooktacular-2025.

Trick-or-treating downtown Encinitas

The free annual Safe Trick or Treat will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31. Many downtown businesses will have goodies for kids. Costumed trick-or-treaters can stroll South Coast Highway 101, from Encinitas Boulevard to K Street. There will be Halloween-themed activities and games for kids along with entertainment. Visit encinitas101.com.

Haunted Hotel Olivenhain

The historic grounds of the Olivenhain Meeting Hall will be transformed into a Haunted Hotel Friday and Saturday nights from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Oct. 10-11, Oct. 17-18 and Oct. 24-25 at 423 Rancho Santa Fe Road. There will be spooky scenes ranging from a Haunted Swamp, Dr. Frankenstein’s laboratory and a Witches’ Lair to a Candy Mystery Trail. Actors are Scouts, ages 11 to 17.

There will be games at the carnival and refreshment to purchase. Tickets are $8; cash and credit are accepted at the door. The event is a fundraiser for Scout Troop 2000. For questions, email troop2kcommunityoutreach@gmail.com.

Halloween Aglow at Birch Aquarium

Birch Aquarium will host trick-or-treating, live music and games from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 24 and Oct. 25 at 2300 Expedition Way. Scuba divers will transform the aquarium into an underwater pumpkin patch with their underwater pumpkin carving skills. Visitors will also have access to the new Living Seas exhibit. This is a family-friendly event and ocean-themed costumes are encouraged. Tickets are $40-$45; discount for members; free for children 2 and younger. Visit aquarium.ucsd.edu/events/halloween-aglow.

HalGLOWeen

The San Diego Zoo hosts a Halloween-themed family extravaganza with entertainment, food, dance parties and interactive festivities starting at 5 p.m. weekends in October. Highlights include Boo Crew, Spider’s W.E.B., Python Path, Spooky Spectacles, a Boolahoops dance party, featured creatures and Dr. Zoolittle’s Tricks & Treats among other attractions. Visit zoo.sandiegozoo.org/halgloween.

Haunts of Balboa Park

The spooky experience features two haunts at Balboa Park: the mile-long Haunted Trail and eXperiment Maze with frightening features from ghost-filled graveyard to ghoul bus. Open select nights through Nov. 1 at Balboa Drive and Juniper Road. Advance tickets are recommended because there is a nightly capacity limit. Visit hauntedtrail.net.

Trunk or Treat at car museum

The San Diego Automotive Museum puts on its annual Trunk or Treat from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 25 at 2080 Pan American Plaza in Balboa Park. Children collect candy from the museum’s collection of classic and exotic cars on the museum floor. Costumes are encouraged. Admission is free for children under 12 and for parents accompanying their children in costumes. Visit sdautomuseum.org.