Attend a Filipino Feast and a Halloween-Themed Wrestling Match this Weekend in San Diego
Check out a Kamayan dinner, Halloween for pets, and tons of seasonal cocktails this weekend in San Diego.
It’s blissful, glorious autumn in San Diego, with golden sunshine, brilliant blue skies, and pumpkin spice wafting from bakeries and coffee shops. Time to relax and recharge before the busy holiday season with leisurely walks through art galleries and museums, chilling out at a peaceful spot, or escaping the inevitable autumn heat waves. From Oceanside to Julian and everywhere in between, here are the best things to do in San Diego.
Where to Eat and Drink in San Diego
Friday, October 27–Saturday, October 28
Pacific Beach, Prices vary
Maverick’s Beach Club has two full days of Halloween festivities planned, beginning on Friday, October 27 with Halloween Pro Wrestling in the side lot from 6–9 pm. Celebrate all day on Saturday, October 28, at Maverick’s Dead Man’s Beach-themed party, featuring DJs, contortionists, circus performers, live entertainment, and more.
Saturday, October 28
Carlsbad, Prices vary
Grab your cowboy hat and mosey on up to North County for PRK 101’s Dukes and Boots Party, with live music from 5–8 pm, and DJ 30 Rack until closing, plus smoky, finger-licking good barbecue, tall frosty drinks, and plenty of line dancing. Costumes are highly encouraged.
Saturday, October 28
Point Loma, $115 and up
October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a serious topic for which Home Start San Diego raises funds each year at their flagship event, the Hallo-Wine Fall Festival. This year’s fundraiser takes place at a private residence in Point Loma on Lomaland Drive behind Behind Point Loma Nazarene Campus. Guests will enjoy boutique wines, craft beer and small batch spirits, along with hors d’oeuvres, live entertainment, a silent auction and Home Start program details. Proceeds will be used to support Home Start’s programs.
Sunday, October 29
North Park, Free
The cutest Halloween event of the season is happening at Bivouac Ciderworks this Sunday from 5–8 pm. Your furry friends are invited to a pet costume contest and yappy hour, complete with samples from Maxota Raw dog food and homemade pumpkin treats, free with any purchase. Sip a delicious pint of craft cider while you watch the parade of good boys and girls compete in categories like most creative, funniest, and best overall costume for prizes from Dexter's Deli and Maxota Raw.
Sunday, October 29
Linda Vista, $60
Chef Philip Estaban is hosting a traditional Filipino Kamayan dinner at his Linda Vista restaurant, White Rice Morena. Kamayan is a communal feast typically containing dishes like rice, barbecue, lumpia, tocino, pancit, seafood and vegetables, spread out on banana leaves and eaten without utensils. Tickets for the Kamayan dinner can be purchased online, and beer and wine will be available at an additional cost.
Seasonal Libations
Ongoing through Tuesday, October 31
Various locations, Prices vary
Halloween wouldn’t be complete without themed cocktails popping up at bars and restaurants throughout the city, and San Diego’s favorite watering holes are delivering in spectacular fashion. On Saturday, October 28, Gaslamp’s barleymash transforms into Haunted Homecoming at barley High, with specialty cocktails like Scream Queen (Teremana Resposado, lime, melon, agave), or What's in the Punch? (Teremana Blanco, punch simple, lemon). Other standouts include Eye Candy Shot (Jaeger, Malibu, pineapple), and I'll Sleep When I'm Dead (Jaeger cold brew, black pumpkin spice cream, cold brew coffee).
The iconic Hotel del Coronado, supposedly one of the most haunted hotels in America, recently unveiled its newest culinary destination, Smokehouse & Bar at the Historic Laundry, where you can sip a ghoulish delight like Spooky Heart (apple vodka, empire gin, simple, blackberries), Vampire’s Kiss (tequila blanco, chambord, cranberry, lemon juice, grenadine), or Bloody Potion (Midori, Cointreau, lemon juice, grenadine) while you wait for a visit from the Del’s own resident ghost, Kate Morgan.
Sally's Fish House & Bar at Manchester Grand Hyatt celebrates Halloween in style with spooky cocktails like Jack-O-Lantern (Mijenta Blanco tequila, blood orange puree, house made margarita mix, black salt, candy garnish), or the Poison Apple Martini (Kalos Vodka, Apple Pucker, POM juice, garnished with a candy eyeball).
Arts and Live Entertainment in San Diego
Friday, October 27–Saturday, October 28
Balboa Park, $125
Funko founder Mike Becker’s Mask-O-Raid Halloween party has been such a hit that this year the event has been expanded to two nights of fun and Funko. Guests will be treated to a world-class exhibit of 1970s vintage Halloween costumes and masks from Mike’s personal collection, a display of Funko mascot heads, a token for a “Mystery Pop Giveaway”, hourly raffles for Funko prototypes, a meet-and-greet, photo op, and signing with Mike Becker, a costume contest, exclusive Mask-O-Raid swag, appetizers, beer and wine (one drink ticket is included with your ticket), DJ Chino spinning spooky jams, and much more. This event is always a sell out, so get your tickets while they last.
Saturday, October 28–Sunday, October 29
The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, $52 and up
We can’t get enough of the concerts and performances at The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, one of California’s most beautiful bandshells, and an affordable opportunity to see live music surrounded by the sparkling San Diego Bay. This weekend welcomes Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back In Concert, with conductor Norman Huynh and the San Diego Symphony Orchestra bringing composer John Williams’ Grammy-winning score to life. Lawn tickets are already sold out, but affordable seats still can be had, so grab them online before they’re gone.
Community Events in San Diego
Saturday, October 28
Chula Vista, Free
Chula Vista’s downtown becomes a place to honor deceased ancestors and welcome them back as memories, while celebrating life with the whole family at this Saturday’s Dia de los Muertos Celebration. The biggest Día de los Muertos celebration in the South Bay, this free, family-friendly community event will feature live music, face painting, and a special screening of Guillermo del Toro’s Book of Life on the Papel Picado Stage beginning at 7:30 pm. This year’s event also includes some friendly competition and a chance to win cash prizes in an ofrenda building contest, with three different categories: best overall, ($1000), best student/school created ($500), and best created by the general public ($500). More information on the contest and how to register can be found here.
Sunday, October 29
Liberty Station, Free
The Naval Training Station in San Diego was commissioned more than 100 years ago, on June 1, 1923. The facility was designed to provide primary, advanced, and specialized training for members of the U.S. Navy and Naval Reserve until its closure on April 30, 1997. Now it’s known as Liberty Station, a full-fledged San Diego neighborhood with shopping, housing, art galleries, museums, and its own public market. The grand finale to the area’s protracted 100th anniversary party is a free, public Centennial Community Celebration dedicated to honoring the property’s history, as well as hosting its annual Halloween at the Station happenings from noon–4 pm in Ingram Plaza. There will be a special tribute to the oldest living Naval Training Center recruit, and other festivities include the burial of a 25-year time capsule, live entertainment by the Navy Band, a costume contest that includes a military category, trick-or-treating around Ingram Plaza, prizes, crafts, inflatables and dance performances. Stone Centennial Pilsner, brewed just for the occasion, will be pouring at a beer and wine garden.