15 Fall Issues to Do in San Diego: 2023 Occasions & Actions
The seasons change in San Diego with out plenty of fanfare. We now have year-round sunny and delicate climate, so many of the bushes don’t shed their leaves within the fall and also you received’t truly want to place in your favourite flannel-checked scarf. We make up for what we lack in autumn climate, nonetheless, with plenty of seasonal actions, festivals, and fall enjoyable.
There are many fall actions in San Diego, so in case you’ll be visiting and on the lookout for seasonal actions in September, October or November, seize a pumpkin spice latte and take a look at this listing.
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1. Take Benefit of Youngsters Free San Diego (TOP PICK)
Youngsters Free San Diego is among the greatest annual occasions in San Diego. For the entire month of October, youngsters get free admission (with a paying grownup) to 50+ museums, plus San Diego theme parks, excursions, and sights — together with our main theme parks.
There are additionally restaurant reductions and resort reductions, making October the perfect time to go to San Diego with youngsters.
Residents also needs to reap the benefits of these Youngsters Free San Diego offers as properly. Relating to our sights, some would require a qualifying ticket, which you will get (at a reduction, too) over at aRes Travel. Study extra about San Diego in October.
2. Peep Fall Foliage on the Japanese Friendship Backyard
Visiting the Japanese Friendship Backyard is certainly one of my favourite issues to do in Balboa Park. It’s particularly lovely in autumn, and it’s among the best locations to see some fall colours close to downtown San Diego.
The Japanese maple bushes flip good shades of crimson presently of yr, and also you’ll see different bushes and shrubs turning vivid orange and yellow. Youngsters love the koi fish, too.
3. Rejoice Halloween at LEGOLAND Brick-Or-Deal with
This consists of LEGOLAND®’s Brick or Deal with Get together Nights. Many of the theme parks enhance and weave in some seasonal enjoyable.
4. Or, at SeaWorld San Diego Spooktacular
SeaWorld San Diego hosts their annual Halloween fun-fest SeaWorld Spooktacular on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays by October 29. The enjoyable, family-friendly occasion is included together with your park admission ticket and is properly price a go to.
Youngsters can get within the Halloween spirit by collaborating in a fancy dress occasion or becoming a member of the Halloween Dance Get together. They will additionally take pleasure in protected trick-or-treating alongside the park’s Sweet Path, wander by the Hay Maze, go on a Pumpkin Hunt, or try the brand new O.P. Otter’s Spooktacular Shock present on the park’s Mission Bay Theater.
As well as, visitors will encounter SeaWorld’s many out of doors and indoor animal displays, marine life animal displays, and crowd-favorite exhibits, together with Dolphin Adventures, Sea Lion & Otter Highlight, and the Orca Encounter.
There’s additionally the scarier night Howl-O-Scream occasion that’s for the older teenagers and adults. A separate ticket is required.
Talking of tickets, you’ll be able to learn my information for purchasing low cost SeaWorld San Diego tickets. Annual Go and Enjoyable Card holders obtain free entry. However you’ll be able to select a Dine + Drink choice that features meals all day lengthy in addition to different upgrades.
5. Go to Bates Nut Farm
Certainly one of San Diego’s favourite family-owned farms, Bates Nut Farm, hosts its annual Pumpkin Patch and fall actions by October 31. Go purchasing for scrumptious nuts and sweet, but in addition select your Halloween pumpkin among the many fall foliage, multi function enjoyable place.
Company can take pleasure in hay rides, face portray, bounce and slides, mountain climbing, balloon artwork, pony rides, and the farm’s standard petting zoo. There’s even a mechanical bull for these courageous sufficient! Exercise tickets are bought in $2 increments and can be utilized in the direction of every attraction’s requirement.
The farm’s Fall Friday Competition takes place on October 13, 20, and 27 this yr and consists of all of the actions above, plus stay music from 3:30–6:30 p.m.
As well as, visitors can even take pleasure in stay leisure each Saturday and Sunday all through October on the farm, plus choose dates in November. You’ll be able to check their event calendar for particulars, and also you’ll additionally discover the occasion’s opening hours right here.
Different fall particular occasions embrace the thirty second Annual Scarecrow Contest on October 7. Design and construct a scarecrow to exhibit on the farm all through October, and also you’ll get a jack-o-lantern pumpkin in your efforts, plus there are money and present card prizes for the successful entries. However be warned, Bates Nut Farm owns all scarecrows as soon as entered so as to add to their well-known assortment! Get the entry details.
There’s additionally a Howl-o-Ween Doggie Costume Contest & Parade on October 21 and the Annual Costume Contest & Parade for the entire household on October 22. All the main points are included within the farm’s event calendar.
Parking is free on the farm from Monday–Friday however prices $10 per automobile on weekends in October.
6. Go Tenting at San Diego Zoo Safari Park
When fall comes round, so does the San Diego Zoo Safari Park’s distinctive Roar and Snore Safari. This sleepover journey happens on most weekends in October, November, and December.
Numerous safari choices could be loved by kids and their households, and even an adults-only choice. All sleepovers embrace guided after-hours wildlife walks, camp actions, s’mores across the hearth, dinner, and breakfast.
Company can improve to the Supreme Roar & Snore Safari package deal, the place you’ll soar by the park on a zipline experience, seize binoculars for a Night time Imaginative and prescient Safari by the Africa and Asia wildlife sections, take pleasure in a VIP viewing of wildlife encounters over breakfast, and expertise an up-close Wildlife Safari into the park’s savanna habitats in an open-air safari truck.
Tent choices vary from primary (carry your personal sleeping baggage) to luxurious (wooden flooring, shops, a fan and heater, a queen mattress with linens, and two cots).
Whether or not you like to tough it or “glamp” in fashion, this can be a memorable technique to spend an evening in San Diego with your loved ones. Costs per particular person begin from $155 up. The Supreme Roar & Snore Safari package deal begins at $315 per particular person.
Roar and Snore runs by December 31, 2023, and consists of this yr’s particular themed sleepover choices, Creepy Camp and Holly Jolly Jungle.
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7. Discover Carlsbad Village and Seaside
Fall is a superb time to go to this lovely coastal city in North County San Diego. The summer season crush is gone, and you’ll benefit from the miles of sandy seashores with many extra parking alternatives. Look out for dolphins, too, as they’re usually noticed within the ocean there.
Carlsbad Village is true subsequent to the seashore, albeit up an extended flight of stairs from the seashore. The village is a superb place to spend a day with the household. There’s plenty of parking proper within the middle by the city sq. complicated, and you’ll stroll all over the place from there.
The fountain within the city sq. is the right spot to chill out with the little ones, who can roam round and do cartwheels on the bogus turf surrounding the fountain. There are many present retailers to peruse, loads of cafes for lunch, a gelateria, and even a gourmet popcorn shop.
The streets surrounding the primary sq. are dotted with cute however well-priced boutiques, extra retailers, cafes, and eating places. Household favorites embrace Handel’s Selfmade Ice Cream on State Avenue and a brief stroll alongside the identical highway will lead you to The Items, the place the massive gourmand donuts are to die for!
Eating choices are aplenty. Fashionable eating places embrace 264 Fresco and Campfire, or Pure Taco is a superb household choice.
It’s also possible to get the Coaster practice to Carlsbad Station from town or different stops alongside the coast. And you’ll hire E-bikes at Pedego Electric Bikes.
8. Rejoice Dia de los Muertos in Previous City
San Diego’s atmospheric and exquisite Previous City district is filled with enjoyable issues to do within the fall, and the weeks main as much as Dia de los Muertos are a good time to go to.
This Mexican custom celebrates family members who’ve handed, and the streets of Previous City are embellished with ofrendas (altars) and plenty of conventional Dia de los Muertos arts and crafts, together with painted sugar skulls.
This yr, the annual Dia de los Muertos candlelit procession takes place on November 2, beginning on the Immaculate Conception Church at 6:15 p.m.
There may also be a free out of doors screening of Disney Pixar’s Coco within the Plaza de Armas on October 28 at 7 p.m.
Numerous festivities will happen within the State Historic Park all weekend, the place you’ll be able to honor your personal misplaced cherished one on the Neighborhood Altar, additionally situated within the Plaza de Armas.
And don’t overlook to soak up one of many unbelievable Mexican eating places that line the streets of Previous City, or go to the famed haunted Whaley Home Museum, in case you dare!
You’ll be able to verify the whole calendar of events.
9. Attend the Autumn Competition at San Diego Zoo Safari Park
For these eager to mingle with animals of all sizes on the Safari Park however only for the day, head to the park’s Autumn Festival, which is held each Saturday and Sunday all through October.
Enjoyable household actions embrace a maze, a Jamboree dance, and stay nation and bluegrass tunes by The Barn Owls trio.
Pleasant scarecrows are available to information you thru the park. And you’ll want to keep until darkness falls for the Reflections present within the Nairobi Village. The enchanting 7-minute musical journey of floating, flickering lanterns dancing in a choreographed musical journey all over the world is bound to be the right finish to your go to.
There’s additionally the Halgloween night celebration at San Diego Zoo!
10. Take a Sightseeing Tour
Guests to San Diego usually look into our enjoyable sightseeing excursions like Previous City Trolley (they’ve a haunted tour which is enjoyable throughout Halloween time), San Diego SEAL excursions, and our number of San Diego harbor cruises. A few of these tour operators take part in Youngsters Free San Diego.
Another tour concepts embrace snorkeling excursions, kayaking excursions, bay excursions, whale watching excursions, or a guided tour across the USS Halfway, the historic naval plane service and museum.
It’s also possible to tour the grounds and numerous museums in Balboa Park with their Explorer Pass. The park’s free tram runs each 10-Quarter-hour.
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11. Go Horseback Using
Fall is a superb time for the entire household to saddle up and revel in certainly one of San Diego’s many lovely trails, and even the seashore, on horseback. The recent solar has cooled, however nonetheless, seize a hat and sunscreen for this enjoyable outing.
Picturesque-guided horseback path rides can be found by Surfside Ranch, which is situated 15 miles south of downtown. You’ll be able to select from seashore or path rides, pony rides for the little ones, or rise up near different furry buddies on the ranch’s Petting Zoo. There are llamas, goats, pigs, and even chickens.
Surfside Ranch is at the moment open seven days per week from 9 a.m– 5 p.m., however verify their web site earlier than you go in case hours change. 1-hour path rides begin from $80 per particular person.
An alternative choice is San Diego Horse Connection in Valley Middle, which presents a lesson of their enviornment earlier than you head out on the paths. A one and half hour session with two individuals max, prices $140 per particular person.
12. Take a Vineyard Tour
There are some nice vineyard choices round San Diego County. For a novel expertise, you’ll be able to hop aboard the Winery Train Tour of San Diego, the place you’ll cruise up and down the coast. Company disembark at chosen stops for guided historic walks and a few pattern sipping at native wineries and tasting rooms.
San Diego Beer, Wine & Spirits Excursions runs this 5-hour journey. Tickets price $128 and embrace tastings at 4 wineries, a wine-pairing mild lunch, and different goodies. Company could also be 18+, however you have to be aged 21+ to drink alcohol.
Different choices for wine lovers embrace heading north to the famed Temecula wine country, the place award-winning wineries abound. It’s also possible to absorb a hot air balloon ride over the beautiful vineyards whereas there. Costs for a shared balloon experience price from $170 per particular person.
13, Go Avenue Eating in La Jolla Shores, Gaslamp Quarter, and Little Italy
Three standard areas the place eating places have continued to develop out of doors eating into streets and parking tons because the pandemic embrace La Jolla Shores, the Gaslamp Quarter, and Little Italy.
Eating alongside the streets on a balmy fall night is a well-liked alternative for locals and vacationers alike, due to San Diego’s year-round sunshine and the power felt by being in the course of the motion.
A well-liked alternative for each locals and guests is the Pendry San Diego, the place you’ll be able to dine and drink outdoors within the Gaslamp Quarter.
14. Choose Apples in Julian
Get away your fall scarves and boots for a day journey to this historic gold mining city that’s well-known for its fall foliage and apple choosing. There are a couple of U-pick farms to select from in 2023, and after you’ve bought a superb haul you’ll be able to head into downtown Julian to browse the lovable little present retailers.
You would carry your bushel dwelling and make your personal apple pie, however there are some great native pie retailers right here that make near-perfect apple and pumpkin pies. Study extra about what to do on a day journey to Julian.
15. Hike with Assist From theNAT (San Diego Pure Historical past Museum)
The San Diego Pure Historical past Museum Canyoneers provide free guided hikes on numerous trails all through San Diego County from September by June, totally on weekends. Enjoyable choices this October embrace the Torrey Pines Loop by Gonzales Canyon and the picturesque Sundown Path by Cleveland Nationwide Forest.
The Canyoneers put collectively an inventory of their favourite trails and ideas within the Coast to Cactus: The Canyoneer Trail Guide to San Diego Outdoors e book that you’ll find at native retailers or on Amazon.
How superior to go climbing with consultants by the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. This hike is obtainable in each November and December this yr, and you’ll verify the schedule, which incorporates many extra guided climbing choices, here. As well as, month-to-month midweek hikes permit contributors to take pleasure in limited-access trails which can be usually crowded on weekends.
The Backside Line
As the tip of October attracts nearer, normally, some San Diego neighborhoods go all out with unbelievable Halloween events, occasions, pub crawls, cruises, and extra.
Fall is a superb time to go to San Diego. Most youngsters are again at school, so standard sights are usually much less busy, there are extra rooms accessible at San Diego motels, and the climate is nearly at all times fabulous, with clear skies and cozy temperatures.
Whether or not you’re keen on celebrating Halloween or Dia de los Muertos, there are many choices. Simply you’ll want to verify the hours for sights and actions earlier than you go.
What are your favourite fall issues to do in San Diego?
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