Halloween 2008 : Things To Do in San Diego This Halloween
October 15th, 2008
With its laid back charm and great weather, Halloween in San Diego is a truly unique experience. This year in particular, it seems that the entire city has gotten into the spirit of Halloween (pun intended). Wondering what Halloween events are going on in and around San Diego this year? Read on for a list of random San Diego Halloween Events and Happenings:
Grown-Up Halloween Events:
Take a Tour of Whaley House; a Certified Haunted House - Considered to be one of the most actively haunted mansions in the world today, October at the Whaley House features exclusive guided tours and special after hours ghost hunts. Whaley House is located in San Diego’s Old Town.
Get Your Scare On at the Scream Zone at the Del Mar Scaregrounds - The House of Horror, Haunted Hay Ride and The Chamber await you at the Scream Zone. San Diego’s ultimate haunted attraction is filled with frightening scenes and screams; bold ghosts, ghouls and zombies; and terrifying thrills for those who dare to be scared. NOTE: This event is designed for a teen or older audience and is not recommended for children younger than 10 years old. Please exercise discretion when deciding whether to attend.
Check in to the Haunted Hotel in the Gaslamp District - The Haunted Hotel is the place where horror movies come to life. And every Halloween brings new, more frightening scenes. Check in to the Haunted Hotel for spine-tingling special effects and terrifying illusions that will leave you running to check out! NOTE: This event is designed for a teen or older audience and is not recommended for children younger than 10 years old. Please exercise discretion when deciding whether to attend.
Take a Walk in the Park - The Haunted Trail in Balboa Park is San Diego’s only all-outdoor haunted attraction. Make your way on a dark, scary trail, past graveyards and ghosts, menacing trees and spooky shadows and be on the look out for frightening haunts that may be lurking in dark! New this year is the Carnival of Carnage, a creepy Clown Maze that will have you screaming in terror! NOTE: This event is designed for a teen or older audience and is not recommended for children younger than 10 years old. Please exercise discretion when deciding whether to attend.
Party With the Freaks at the Monster Bash - San Diego’s ultimate Halloween Block Party, the Monster Bash takes over Downtown San Diego’s Gaslamp District on Halloween Night. With three stages featuring non-stop live performances, a DJ stage, Go-Go Girls, no cover charge and drink and food specials at over 30 Gaslamp hot spots, night clubs, bars and restaurants, and a $3,000 cash prize for Best Costume, the Monster Bash is a night you won’t soon forget!
Do the Time Warp…Again! - For many, Halloween just isn’t complete without the Time Warp. The Rocky Horror Picture Show returns to La Paloma Theatre for special Midnight Shows in October.
Kid-Friendly Events for the Family:
Visit a Pumpkin Patch - For a more “tame” family Halloween event, visit one of the many pumpkin patches in and around San Diego. Bates Nut Farm, located just north of San Diego is always a hit with the preschool set. Highlights at Bates Nut Farm include a straw maze, hayride, petting zoo, scarecrow and costume contests, and of course, a pumpkin patch!
Brick-or-Treat Trail and Brick-or-Treat Nights at Legoland, California - As you walk around Legoland this time of year, it quickly becomes apparent that the Master Builders love Halloween! Keep your eyes open for subtle and not-so-subtle Halloween themed Lego creations throughout the Park. Legoland also hosts safe trick-or-treating on the Brick-or-Treat Trail, and has added a new Halloween event, dubbed the Brick-or-Treat Party Nights, full of special Halloween events, entertainment and contests. The Brick-or-Treat Trail is open weekends in October; Brick-or-Treat Party Nights takes place on Saturday evenings in October.
Halloween Spooktacular at SeaWorld San Diego - Making its debut this year is a special Halloween inspired event at SeaWorld San Diego. Children are encouraged to come in costume and enjoy special Halloween performances, costumed characters (including Sesame Street characters!) and trick-or-treating among a sea-inspired atmosphere. Halloween Spooktacular takes place weekends in October and the first weekend in November.
Say “Boo” at the San Diego Zoo - Spend Halloween at the San Diego Zoo’s Boo at the Zoo program, a unique, safe, trick-or-treating event for the whole family. At Boo at the Zoo, guests can make their own trick-or-treat bag, then seek out goodies and meet some not-so-scary critters while strolling down Creepy Crawler Lane. Guests can also cast a web and catch a prize at the Spider Station, see and touch animal skulls and skeletons, and enjoy other family friendly activities. Costumes are encouraged!
Wild Animal Park’s Pumpkins at the Park - Also new this year is the Wild Animal Park’s Pumpkins at the Park event. The Wild Animal Park transforms into a safe, family friendly Halloween adventure with a trick-or-treating scavenger hunt, an Extinct Animal Graveyard, eerie entertainment, pumpkin decorating and scarecrow stuffing demonstrations, spooky animal encounters, a Conservation Cupcake Walk and Costume Contest. Oh, and the lions are pretty cool too! Pumpkins at the Park takes place the last weekend in October and the first weekend in November.
Haunted Birch Aquarium - Catch a glimpse of bioluminescence from the sea in the Hall of Fishes, journey down a pumpkin patch, have fun with water games, live music, snacks and trick-or-treating. Haunted Birch Aquarium takes place the last weekend in October.
Catch an Un-Scary Puppet Show - The Marie Hitchcock Puppet Theater in Balboa Park presents two Halloween inspired puppet shows: something’s funny about the magic potion conjured up by a witch who wants to change her ways in Witches Brew; and Tommy the Ghost needs your help getting ready for the big night in The Polka Dot Ghost.
Happy Halloween, San Diego!
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