Things to Do in San Diego – October 2019
Things to Do in San Diego – October 2019
October 1st, 2019 by Karen
- The birthstone is Opal / Pink Tourmaline
- The zodiac signs are Libra (Sep 23 – Oct 22) and Scorpio (Oct 23 – Nov 21)
- Columbus Day (Oct 14) / Halloween (Oct 31)
- National Breast Cancer Month / National Pizza Month / National Dessert Month
October 1-6
El Cajon Oktoberfest Oct. 4-6
A family-friendly festival promoting traditional German culture, including entertainment provided by our popular band Guggenbach-Buam. Enjoy folk dances, games, and contests, vendor booths and craft stands, and Kids Zone!
Time/Place: South Mollison Avenue
Taste of Mission Hills Oct. 2
25 participating purveyors of delicious tastes, including long established and very new arrivals.
Time/Place: 5-9pm / Various locations throughout Mission Hills
La Mesa Oktoberfest Oct. 4-6
Hundreds of exhibitors, family friendly activities, German food, music, dancing, games and of course beer. Entertainment and fun activities for kids of all ages.
Time/Place: Fri 4-10pm, Sat 10am-10pm, Sun 10am-6pm / La Mesa Village
Carlsbad Oktoberfest Oct. 5
The Carlsbad Rotary Oktoberfest, a fall tradition, will bring thousands of people to enjoy German food (and beer!), live music, and entertainment for children.
Time/Place: 12-9pm / Holiday Park
Pacific BeachFest Oct. 5
A fish taco contest, surf competition, beach volleyball, craft beer, kids’ activities and music!
Time/Place: 8am-7pm / Pacific Beach Boardwalk
STOCKZILLA Oct. 5-6
3,500 pounds of Catfish. Every Lake (1-7) will be stocked. You do not need a state fishing license, just a permit from the General Store. Adults $10, Jrs. & Seniors $6, and extra pole stamps $4.
Time/Place: 6am-6pm / Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve
Mira Mesa Street Fair 2019 Oct. 5
Visit the Scripps Mesa Fireworks booth at Mira Mesa Street Fair, show your ticket, and get a free T Shirt, or your choice of free item.
Time/Place: 10am-5pm / Mira Mesa, Camino Santa Fe
Taste of Rancho Santa Fe Oct. 6
More than 700 guests will enjoy a feast from Rancho Santa Fe and beyond’s most celebrated restaurants, Napa Valley and Sonoma wineries, breweries and other beverage vendors!
Time/Place: 4-7pm / The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe
October 7-13
Taste of Coronado Oct. 10
Enjoy amazing bites prepared by our local chefs.
Time/Place: 5-9pm / Coronado Historical Association, Coronado Museum of History & Art
Ocean Beach Oktoberfest Oct. 11-12
A two-day, eclectic, beachside festival with a variety of exciting activities, contests and entertainment.
Time/Place: Fri 3-11pm, Sat 9am-11pm / Newport Ave & Abbott St
Carmel Valley Trail 5K, 10K and 15K Oct. 12
A combination of single track and dirt service road trails through beautiful open spaces.
Time/Place: 6-10:30am / Torrey Highlands Community Park
Taste of North Park Oct. 12
Enjoy 50+ food tastes from some of San Diego’s best restaurants and craft beer samples from 15 local brewers.
Time/Place: 11am-3pm / University Ave & 30th St
OktoBeerFest 2019 San Diego! Oct. 12
Come dressed in German OktoBeerfest theme and enjoy the event within the fun of community seating, games, and high energy German music!!!
Time/Place: 12-8pm / Broadway Pier
La Jolla Art & Wine Festival Oct. 12-13
Over 150 juried artists from around the globe, 3D chalk art displays, interactive art murals, non-stop live music, family art center, roving entertainment, gourmet food court, and a wine, craft beer, and spirits garden featuring local brews, distilleries and global wineries.
Time/Place: 10am-6pm / Girard Avenue & Prospect Street
Latin American Art Fair Oct. 12-14
Presents outdoor exhibits, painting, sculpture, photography and printmaking as well as folk art, crafts, performance and culinary arts of Latin American countries.
Time/Place: 11am-6pm / Bread & Salt: 1955 Julian Ave.
Raptor Ridge Half Marathon Oct. 13
An out-n-back course that begins with 4.5 miles of flat and fast jeep road that winds east towards the San Diego Safari Park and Raptor Ridge.
Time/Place: 7am / San Dieguito River Park, Escondido
San Marcos Harvest Festival and Street Fair Oct. 13
An estimated 15,000 in attendance, this San Marcos signature event features displays from more than 200 local artisans/crafters, retailers, and nationwide vendors.
Time/Place: 9am-5pm / San Marcos, Via Vera Cruz
October 14-20
San Diego International Film Festival Oct. 15-20
The regions premier film event and one of the leading stops on the independent film circuit, with 200+ filmmakers gathering in San Diego to show their films every year.
Borrego Days Desert Festival Oct. 18-20
The festival has expanded to include a car show at The Mall on Saturday. Parade beginning with a fly-over of the State Park plane and local pilots on Saturday. Enjoy the music while perusing the array of artists, retail vendors, informational booths, delicious food offerings, and tasty treats.
Time/Place: Christmas Circle Park
Monster Dash and Bash Oct. 19
Beer garden, food trucks, costume contest, silent auction and medal ceremony.
Time/Place: 8:30-11am / Palomar College, San Marcos
Bulls of SantAgata Charge Little Italy Oct. 19
Over 40 classic and rare Italian bulls, better known as Lamborghinis. An evening with souped up rides and musical entertainment for the whole family to enjoy.
Time/Place: 6-11pm / India St & W Fir St
Ladies at the Lake Fall Market Oct. 19
Shop from local women in business! There will be a variety of vendors with uniquely selected items, from Health & Beauty, Clothing, Jewelry, Holiday Gifts and so much more!
Time/Place: 9am-2pm / Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve
Villains in the Village! Oct. 19
Over 20 nefarious characters and uncanny activities will torment and trick thrill seekers of all ages.
Time/Place: 4-9pm / Third Avenue, Chula Vista
La Vista Memorial Park and Mortuary Dia de los Muertos Oct. 19
Food, music, art walk, costumes, entertainment, artists and the always-popular altar contest and runway fashion show Catrina Contest.
Time/Place: 2-10pm / 3191 Orange Street, National City
EastLake Cycle & 5K Run and Technology & Innovation Fair Oct. 19
Provides kids the opportunity to meet with STEM/STEAM professionals and engage with activities and resources that will connect them to their future careers.
Time/Place: 6:30am-12pm / EastLake Middle School
San Diego Triathlon Challenge Oct. 20
Join 200 physically challenged athletes, 550 able-bodied athletes, celebrities, and sports legends as they complete a 1 mile ocean swim, 44 mile bike and 10 mile run on one of the most breathtaking courses in the country.
Time/Place: 6am-4pm / La Jolla Cove
SaltDog Classic Oct. 20
Music, fun, craft beverage, and local businesses coming together to bring north county San Diego to life. This year we are happy to support Rancho Coastal Humane Society.
Time/Place: 11am-5pm / 425 Santa Fe Drive, Encinitas
Escondido Grand Avenue Festival Oct. 20
Live entertainment, over 400 vendors, children’s rides and activities, and food from around the world to the downtown tree-lined streets of Escondido.
Time/Place: 9am-5pm / Between Center City Pkwy and Ivy
YMCA of San Diego County Tour de Cove Oct. 20
A fun and sweat-drenching 4.5 hour stationary cycling marathon with 100 riders and over 50 challenged athletes.
Time/Place: 9am-1:30pm / Ellen Browning Scripps Park
Celebrate the Craft Oct. 20
The finest food artisans demonstrating, discussing, and tasting their way through the vast array of premium food and wine products available.
Time/Place: 11:30am-3pm / The Lodge at Torrey Pines
Fallbrook Harvest Faire Oct. 20
An autumn themed faire of handmade crafts, local foods & treats, petting zoo, pony rides, pumpkin contests, pie baking contests and scarecrows on display.
Time/Place: 9am-4pm / Main Avenue
October 21-31
Trick-or-Treat on India Street Oct. 25
Bring their little monsters out in costume attire to this fun Halloween event to enjoy traditional trick-or-treating, as Little Italy businesses along historic India St open their doors.
Time/Place: 5:30-7:30pm / Piazza della Famiglia
Halloween Glow Run 5K Oct. 26
Come and enjoy the party, we will have a vendor fair, food trucks, and tons of great entertainment for the kids. Many racers like to come dressed in costumes.
Time/Place: 5pm / Chula Vista Golf Course
HauntFest on Main Oct. 25
An exciting family friendly event with a pumpkin patch, costume contest, kidz zone, rides, entertainment and more!
Time/Place: 5-10pm / Downtown El Cajon
North Park Day of the Dead Festival Oct. 26
Bringing together an array of Mexican-themed artisanal crafter purveyors from throughout the US, popular food trucks with a regional foodie-following, and a select choice of beer, mezcal, and tequila vendors in our spirit cantina.
Time/Place: 11am-5pm / North Park, San Diego
WCKD Halloween Festival Oct. 26
San Diego’s premier Halloween festival. Four radical concert stages featuring an eclectic lineup of hip-hop, open format, EDM and deep house. Play life-size interactive games and navigate around stilt walkers and fire-breathers.
Time/Place: 6pm-Midnight / East Village, Downtown San Diego
Bubble RUN San Diego Oct. 26
Clad in white t-shirts, adults, kids and strollers run, walk, dance and play across 3 miles of absolute fun! Then, at each kilometer, participants will run through the Foam Bogs where there is enough colored foam to cover you from head to toe!
Time/Place: 8am / NICU Amphitheatre, Chula Vista
Balboa Park Halloween Family Day Oct. 26
Dozens of free craft projects for kids, Day of the Dead-themed displays and activities, costume contests and parades, carnival games with prizes, live entertainment, and food trucks.
Time/Place: 11am-4pm / Balboa Park
Contact: 619-239-0512 /
City Heights Dia de los Muertos Oct. 26
People of all cultures will come together for community altars, face painting, mask making, and prizes for the best catrina and catrin contest, plus dancing, singing and music.
Time/Place: 11am-6pm / Officer Jeremy Henwood Memorial Park
San Diego Mac n Cheese Fest Oct. 26
The restaurants are selected from the region’s top culinary talent and attendees can pair them alongside a collection of local craft beers, wines and other delicious beverages.
Time/Place: 11am-2pm / San Diego County Waterfront Park
Surfing Madonna Beach Run 5K/10k/12K Oct. 26
You’ll run along the most beautiful beaches in North County San Diego during low tide! 100% of the net proceeds are donated back to local ocean, beach and park related projects. This race won the Guinness Book of World Record title in 2017 for the “Largest Race on Sand”.
Time/Place: Encinitas Moonlight Beach
Encinitas Dia de los Muertos Oct. 26
Celebrate life with live performances, art-making workshops, a student art exhibit, artist demos, food trucks and more.
Time/Place: 10am-5pm / Encinitas Community Center
Row for the Cure, Susan G Komen Oct. 27
Draws participants from various forms of watercraft including rowing, canoeing, outrigger canoeing, dragon boats, kayaking and SUPing.
Time/Place: 7am-12pm / Ski Beach, San Diego
Oceanside Dia de los Muertos Oct. 27
Free family-friendly event with entertainment, carnival rides, altar displays and a classic car show!
Time/Place: 10am-4pm / Mission San Luis Rey
Halloween At The Station Oct. 27
All ages are encouraged to come decked out in their most elaborate costumes. The daytime festivities will include trick-or-treating throughout the district, music, live entertainment, and other spooky surprises.
Time/Place: 12am-4pm / Liberty Station
Trick or Trot 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run Oct. 27
Costumes encouraged! Pumpkin decorating and a Pumpkin sprint are also part of the fun activities.
Time/Place: 8-11:30am / Morley Field, San Diego
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