October in North County San Diego is magic. The water’s still warm, sunsets linger, and summer crowds thin out just enough to make beach days, pumpkin patches, and street festivals feel effortless. Whether you’re traveling as a family, a couple, or with friends, this is your cheat-sheet to the best of the season—many options are minutes from our Carlsbad, Oceanside, and Encinitas vacation rentals.
1. Do Halloween “the LEGO way” at LEGOLAND Brick-or-Treat
Select nights from late September through Halloween, LEGOLAND transforms into a candy-collecting, character-meeting, live-showing playground. It’s as family-friendly as spooky season gets—costumes encouraged, rides open late, and plenty of treat stations. Pro tip: arrive mid-afternoon for a couple of rides before the nighttime festivities begin; end with the dance party and fireworks (on select dates). If you’re staying in Carlsbad, it’s an easy Uber or 10–15-minute drive from most coastal neighborhoods.
Dates for 2025: select nights Sept 20 – Nov 1.
2. Pick pumpkins and take photos at Carlsbad Strawberry Company’s Pumpkin Patch
Every fall, this local favorite flips from strawberries to an Insta-ready pumpkin patch with corn maze, weekend games, and festive eats. Expect heaps of gourds and rustic photo ops—plus extended evening hours on peak nights so you can catch golden hour among the marigolds. Pro tip: weekdays are quieter; on busy weekends, park once and make an afternoon of it.
Open daily in October; 2025 season announced with an opening date in September.
Pick your own pumpkin at Bates Nut Farm
3. Make it a full-on fall day at Bates Nut Farm Pumpkin Patch
Ask any North County local about pumpkin patches and Bates Nut Farm in Valley Center is going to come up. It’s the classic: hayrides, a corn maze, face painting, live music on select days, farm animals, and plenty of space for kids to run. Their Fall Festival Fridays add food vendors and entertainment without weekend crowds—perfect for families. Pro tip: weekends can get busy; go early or aim for one of those Friday afternoons.
2025 hours and Fall Festival Fridays are posted (with free Friday parking).
4. Celebrate harvest season at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park Autumn Festival
Every Saturday and Sunday in October, the Safari Park in Escondido offer layers live entertainment, seasonal bites, and daytime “fall fair” vibes on top of its world-class wildlife experiences. It’s an easy add to your itinerary if you’re already planning a park day—especially good for multi-age groups who want animals for the kids and craft beer/seasonal treats for the adults. Pro tip: Mornings are best for animal activity; save festival snacks and music for the afternoon.
5. Shop, snack, and people-watch at the Oceanside Sunset Market
On Thursday nights, 5–9 p.m., downtown Oceanside explodes into a five-block street fair with up to 240 vendors—global eats, handmade goods, live music, the works. The October edition hits that sweet spot of balmy nights and energized crowds. Pro tip: come hungry and do a progressive dinner; park in a public lot a few blocks away or take the Coaster to the Transit Center and walk over. The market runs year-round, but fall evenings are especially nice.
6. Honor tradition at Día de los Muertos
A beloved downtown Oceanside community festival featuring altars (ofrendas), live performances, lowrider and classic car displays, art, and family activities. It’s festive, meaningful, and uniquely SoCal. Pro tip: arrive early—street parking is limited—and plan to walk the core around Pier View Way and South Tremont. 2025 date: Sunday, Oct 26 10:00-4:00.
7. Let the kids go wild at the Pumpkin Station in Del Mar Fairgrounds
Just south of Encinitas/Solana Beach, Pumpkin Station turns part of the fairgrounds into a pint-size amusement zone with a pumpkin patch, giant slides, a mini train, carousel, swings, and more. Admission is free; you buy ride tickets as you go. Pro tip: Pair it with a beach walk at Dog Beach or dinner in Del Mar Village. Open daily through October (hours vary).
8. Day Trip To Julian
The historic gold mining town, Julian, is fun to explore year-round, but their most popular time of the year is the fall. Located about an hour north of downtown San Diego, Julian is a great spot for apple picking season, which typically runs from late August through October.
Popular “U-Pick” businesses include Volcan Valley Apple Farm (1284 Julian Orchards Dr.). Volcan Valley Apple Farm is open Friday through Monday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. You pay $15 for a bag that you can fill with apples (about 6 pounds), and this includes admission. Kids 5 and under get in free. The farm features seven varieties of apples, most ripening through mid-September.
Julian Farm and Orchard specializes in U-pick berries (strawberries, raspberries), apples, and pumpkins. The orchard also offers seasonal activities like hayrides, apple cider-pressing, bouquet-making, and ax-throwing. There’s a $10 minimum purchase of tickets per person to enter (which can be used for activities, picking, and merch); parking is free.
It is best to check the websites or call ahead before making the trek east. Apple farms will close if all the apples have been picked.
On your way out of Julian, be sure to grab a pie from Julian Pie Company.
9. Visit a Haunted San Diego Location
Over 200 years old, The Old Point Loma Lighthouse stood watch over the entrance to San Diego Bay for 36 years. At dusk on November 15, 1855, the light keeper climbed the winding stairs and lit the light for the first time. It seemed to be a good location 422 feet above sea level, however, low clouds often obscured the light. On March 23, 1891, the light was extinguished, and the lighthouse decommissioned.
Many have held to the belief that they have personally witnessed heavy footsteps emanating from the upper rooms of the lighthouse. Other accounts have come from guests who have felt extreme drops in temperature mostly felt at the entry landing that leads up to its spiral staircase.
Today, the Old Point Loma Lighthouse still stands watch over San Diego, sentinel to a vanished past. Situated in the Cabrillo National Monument, it is now open to the public as a museum.
If you happen to visit San Diego around Halloween or anytime for that matter and want a little scare, be sure to visit to one of these five locations and uncover why San Diego is surprisingly one of the nation’s most haunted city’s.
