Halloween in San Diego stretches well beyond October 31. The 2026 season starts in September with family-friendly theme park events, pumpkin patches, haunted trails, and nighttime scare attractions, then builds toward a packed Halloween weekend in the Gaslamp Quarter and on San Diego Bay.
Use the table below to compare the biggest confirmed 2026 Halloween events by date, location, audience, and ticket type. Event details can change as October gets closer, so check the organizer before you leave home.
| Event | 2026 Date | Location | Audience | Price Type | Booking / Details |
| SeaWorld Halloween Spooktacular | Fri-Sun, Sep 11-Nov 1 | SeaWorld San Diego | Families / all ages | Included with park admission | Daytime trick-or-treating, shows, pumpkin patch and family entertainment |
| SeaWorld Howl-O-Scream | Select nights, Sep 11-Oct 31 | SeaWorld San Diego | Mature audiences | Separate ticket required | Night event starts 7 PM; early entry from 6 PM |
| LEGOLAND Brick-or-Treat | Sep 19, 26; Oct 3-4, 10-11, 17-18, 24-25, 31; Nov 1 | LEGOLAND California, Carlsbad | Families / kids | Included with dated event admission; pass rules vary | Trick-or-treating, LEGO Monsters, shows, costume fun |
| Bates Nut Farm Pumpkin Patch | Sep 17-Oct 31 | Valley Center | Families / all ages | Free admission; parking fee on select weekends | Pumpkins, hayrides, straw maze, farm activities and October extras |
| The Haunted Trail of Balboa Park | Select dates, Sep 26-Nov 1 | Balboa Park | Thrill-seekers; not recommended under 10 | Ticketed | Outdoor haunted attraction at Balboa Dr & Juniper Rd |
| San Diego Zombie Crawl | Oct 23, 24, 30 & 31 | Gaslamp Quarter | 21+ | Ticketed | Multi-venue nightlife crawl beginning at 6 PM |
| Haunted Andaz Rooftop Party | Oct 31, 8:30 PM-1 AM | Andaz San Diego Rooftop | 21+ | Ticketed | DJs and rooftop Halloween party in the Gaslamp |
| Black Pearl Halloween Party Cruise | Oct 31, 9:15 PM-1 AM | California Spirit Yacht, San Diego Bay | 21+ | Ticketed | Three-deck Halloween party cruise with DJs and open bar |
Major Halloween Attractions and Haunted Experiences
Howl-O-Scream at SeaWorld San Diego
For a full-scale scare event, Howl-O-Scream at SeaWorld is one of the biggest Halloween nights in San Diego. In 2026 it runs on select nights from September 11 through October 31. The event transforms the park after dark with haunted houses, scare zones, themed bars, live entertainment, and rides operating into the night.
Howl-O-Scream is separately ticketed from daytime SeaWorld admission. The 2026 event starts at 7:00 p.m., with ticketed guests able to enter from 6:00 p.m. SeaWorld describes it as an adult-targeted event with intense content, so it is best for teens and adults who actively want a scary night rather than a family Halloween outing.
The Haunted Trail of Balboa Park
The Haunted Trail brings the scares outdoors in Balboa Park, with the attraction operating on select dates from late September through November 1. Instead of moving through one indoor haunted house, you follow a dark trail where the environment, trees, sound, and surprise scares become part of the experience.
The attraction warns that it uses high-impact scares, strobe effects, fog, and water effects, and it is not recommended for children under 10. If you want a classic local haunted attraction without committing to a full theme-park night, this is one of the strongest options.
Family-Friendly Halloween Events in San Diego
SeaWorld Halloween Spooktacular
For younger kids, SeaWorld Halloween Spooktacular is the daytime alternative to Howl-O-Scream. The 2026 event runs Friday through Sunday from September 11 through November 1 and is included with park admission. Families can expect trick-or-treat stations, seasonal entertainment, a pumpkin patch, character moments, and an all-new Baby Shark Halloween show.
This is the better SeaWorld choice when you want costumes and candy without the scare factor. Guests age 13 and older may wear costumes but cannot wear costume masks or hoods, so check the park rules before dressing up.
LEGOLAND Brick-or-Treat
The 2026 LEGOLAND Brick-or-Treat season runs on select dates from September 19 through November 1. Confirmed event dates are September 19 and 26; October 3-4, 10-11, 17-18, 24-25 and 31; and November 1.
The event focuses on not-too-scary Halloween fun with trick-or-treating, LEGO Monster meet-and-greets, costume contests, seasonal food, photo opportunities, and the new Brick or Treat Street experience. Event access is included with qualifying dated tickets, while some annual pass tiers require an add-on ticket.
Bates Nut Farm Pumpkin Patch
If your ideal Halloween activity is more pumpkins than monsters, Bates Nut Farm Pumpkin Patch runs daily from September 17 through October 31, 2026 in Valley Center. The farm combines pumpkin picking with tractor hayrides, a straw maze, a corn pit, farm animals, and additional activities that expand during October and on weekends.
Admission to the pumpkin patch is free. Weekday parking is free, while Bates lists a $10 parking fee for the last weekend in September and weekends in October. Halloween hours end earlier than a normal October weekend, so check the schedule if you are visiting on October 31.
Halloween Nightlife and Parties
San Diego Zombie Crawl in the Gaslamp Quarter
The San Diego Zombie Crawl is built for people who want multiple Halloween parties in one night. The 2026 crawl runs October 23, 24, 30, and 31, beginning at 6:00 p.m. in the Gaslamp Quarter. The format gives ticket holders access to participating bars and clubs, with drink deals and route information that let you move through downtown at your own pace.
This is a 21+ event. If Halloween night is your priority, buy early and plan your transportation before you arrive. Downtown parking is at its most competitive when costume parties, nightlife crowds, and other weekend events overlap.
Haunted Andaz Rooftop Party
For a single-venue party instead of a crawl, the Haunted Andaz Rooftop Party is scheduled for Halloween night, Saturday, October 31, from 8:30 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. The event takes over the Andaz San Diego rooftop in the Gaslamp with DJs, costumes, and city views.
It is a 21+ ticketed event, and the rooftop setting makes it a strong pick for groups who want the nightlife atmosphere without spending the whole night moving between venues.
Halloween Cruises and On-the-Water Parties
Black Pearl Halloween Party Cruise
The Black Pearl Halloween Party Cruise is scheduled for October 31, 2026 aboard the California Spirit Yacht. Check-in begins around 9:00 p.m., with the advertised event running from 9:15 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. The 21+ cruise features multiple decks, DJs, dance areas, an open bar, and nighttime views of San Diego Bay.
Choose this if the setting matters as much as the party. Yacht events have firm boarding windows, so arrive early. Once the boat leaves the dock, being late is not the same as arriving late to a nightclub.
What to Do on Halloween Weekend in San Diego
Halloween falls on Saturday in 2026, which gives San Diego a full weekend of options. Families can use the daytime for Spooktacular, Brick-or-Treat, or a pumpkin patch, while adults can move into the Gaslamp, a rooftop party, Howl-O-Scream, or a bay cruise after dark.
If you are visiting from outside the city, choose your neighborhood first. Mission Bay works well for SeaWorld. Carlsbad is the natural base for LEGOLAND. Valley Center is best for a farm day. Downtown is the easiest choice for Gaslamp nightlife and the San Diego Bay party cruises. Keeping your day and night activities in the same part of the county will save you from spending Halloween in traffic.
San Diego Halloween 2026 FAQs
What are the best Halloween events in San Diego in 2026?
For families, the strongest confirmed picks are SeaWorld Halloween Spooktacular, LEGOLAND Brick-or-Treat, and Bates Nut Farm Pumpkin Patch. For scares, choose SeaWorld Howl-O-Scream or The Haunted Trail of Balboa Park. For adults who want nightlife on Halloween weekend, the San Diego Zombie Crawl, Haunted Andaz Rooftop Party, and Black Pearl Halloween Party Cruise are all scheduled for 2026.
What are the best Halloween events in San Diego for kids?
SeaWorld Halloween Spooktacular and LEGOLAND Brick-or-Treat are the most complete family event experiences because both combine trick-or-treating with entertainment and theme-park attractions. Bates Nut Farm is a better fit if you want a lower-key fall day with pumpkins, hayrides, and farm activities.
What is the scariest Halloween attraction in San Diego?
Howl-O-Scream is the biggest immersive scare event on this list because it combines haunted houses, scare zones, themed bars, live entertainment, and nighttime rides. The Haunted Trail is a strong alternative if you prefer a dedicated outdoor haunted attraction in Balboa Park.
What is happening in San Diego on Halloween night, October 31, 2026?
Confirmed October 31 options include Howl-O-Scream, Halloween Spooktacular, LEGOLAND Brick-or-Treat, Bates Nut Farm Pumpkin Patch, the San Diego Zombie Crawl, Haunted Andaz Rooftop Party, and the Black Pearl Halloween Party Cruise. Halloween is a Saturday in 2026, so advance tickets and transportation planning are especially important.
