From Día de los Muertos in Old Town to ice skating steps from the ocean at the Hotel del, here are the San Diego events worth putting on your calendar between now and early January.
Here’s something we tell buyers all the time: the fastest way to get to know a neighborhood isn’t a listing. It’s a Saturday night there. Walk the village fair in Carlsbad, grab dinner in Del Mar after the races, or wander Liberty Station with a cup of cocoa and you’ll learn more about what living there feels like than any photo can show you.
So whether you’re new in town, thinking about a move, or you’ve been here for decades and just want something to do this weekend, this is your guide. We’ve organized it by month and added a quick note on the neighborhood behind each event.
Late October: Halloween and Día de los Muertos
You still have two weekends of Halloween left, plus one of the most meaningful celebrations in the city.
Haunted Corn Maze at Carlsbad Strawberry Co.
When: Fridays and Saturdays through Oct. 31, 2026
The same farm you know for strawberry picking turns its corn maze into a nighttime scare, with live actors hiding in the stalks. It’s built for teens and adults, so plan accordingly if you have little ones.
The neighborhood: Carlsbad still has working farmland a few minutes from the beach, which is a big part of why people fall for it.
HalGLOWeen at the San Diego Zoo
When: Weekends through Oct. 31, 2026
The zoo stays open after dark with glowing trails, dance parties, live entertainment, and costumed characters. It’s the family-friendly pick on this list.
The neighborhood: The zoo sits inside Balboa Park, a short drive from North Park, South Park, and Bankers Hill, three of the city’s most walkable neighborhoods.
San Diego Zombie Crawl
When: Oct. 23, 24, 30, and 31, 2026
One ticket gets you into more than 25 bars and nightclubs across the Gaslamp Quarter, with Halloween drink specials all night. This one is strictly a night out for grown-ups.
The neighborhood: Downtown living means you can walk home from nights like this one.
Día de los Muertos in Old Town
When: Through Nov. 2, 2026
Old Town hosts traditional Day of the Dead celebrations honoring loved ones who have passed. It’s colorful, moving, and very much worth slowing down for. Event details
The neighborhood: Old Town is where San Diego began, and it’s a short drive from Mission Valley and Point Loma.
November: Food, Film, Racing, and Fleet Week
November brings mild weather and one of the busiest calendars of the year. Here’s what’s worth your time.
Carlsbad Fall Village Faire
When: Nov. 1, 2026
Hundreds of booths, plenty of food, and family entertainment fill the streets of Carlsbad Village for the day. Event details
The neighborhood: Carlsbad Village is one of the few places in the county where you can walk from your front door to coffee, dinner, and the beach.
San Diego Food + Wine Festival
When: Nov. 1–8, 2026
A week of tastings and dinners with hundreds of wineries, plus craft beer and spirits, wrapping up with a Grand Tasting Finale on the Embarcadero. Event details
The neighborhood: The Embarcadero runs along downtown’s waterfront, between Little Italy and the Seaport Village area.
Coronado Island Film Festival
When: Nov. 4–8, 2026
Five days of films, panels, and filmmaker events in one of the prettiest little towns in the county. Event details
The neighborhood: Coronado feels like a small town on purpose. Bikes, beach, and a main street you can walk end to end.
San Diego Asian Film Festival
When: Nov. 4–15, 2026
In-person screenings at select cinemas around the county, including plenty of films that never get a wide release. Event details
Del Mar Fall Racing Season
When: Nov. 6–29, 2026
Thoroughbred racing Fridays through Sundays, plus Thanksgiving Day. Make an afternoon of it with dinner and live music in Del Mar Village afterward. Event details
The neighborhood: Del Mar packs a racetrack, a beach town, and a walkable village into one small coastal community.
Fleet Week San Diego
When: Nov. 6–15, 2026
Navy and Coast Guard ship tours, military displays, an Innovation Zone, live music, and food for the whole family. Event details
San Diego Beer Week
When: Nov. 6–15, 2026
Ten days of events across the county celebrating the local craft beer scene, from small taprooms to the big names. Event details
The neighborhood: If you want a brewery within walking distance, North Park, Miramar, and Vista are good places to start looking.
Veterans Day Events
When: Nov. 6–15, 2026, with the Veterans Day Parade on Nov. 11
Parades, memorials, and museum events across San Diego honor the people who served. In a city with this many military families, it’s a big deal. Event details
For Runners and Riders
If you’d rather earn your Thanksgiving dinner, there’s a race almost every weekend:
- Ride the Point Memorial Charity Bicycle Ride, Nov. 7. Routes along San Diego Bay and the Pacific, supporting pancreatic cancer research. Details
- Silver Strand Half Marathon, 10 Miler, and Veterans Day 5K, Nov. 8. Run, walk, skate, or roll with the ocean on your right. Details
- Kaiser Permanente Thrive Half Marathon, 5K, and Wish Walk, Nov. 14. The tenth annual event, benefiting Make-A-Wish San Diego. Details
- Thanksgiving Turkey Trots, Nov. 26. Morning races and beach days to kick off the holiday. Details
- Black Mountain Turkey Burner, Nov. 28. A technical trail race to burn off the leftovers. Details
Holiday Season: Late November Through Early January
This is the stretch where San Diego proves you don’t need snow to feel festive. Most of these run for weeks, so you have time to fit in more than one.
Ice Skating Around San Diego
Three rinks, three very different settings:
- Skating by the Sea at Hotel del Coronado, Nov. 20, 2026–Jan. 3, 2027. Skating on the Windsor Lawn with the Pacific right behind you. Details
- Rady Children’s Ice Rink at Liberty Station, Nov. 19, 2026–Jan. 3, 2027. Outdoor skating in the ARTS DISTRICT, surrounded by restaurants and shops. Details
- Viejas Outlet Center Ice Rink, Nov. 6, 2026–Jan. 10, 2027. The longest season of the three, out in Alpine. Details
The neighborhood: Liberty Station is a former Naval Training Center turned into a district of parks, restaurants, and galleries, right next to Point Loma.
Lightscape at San Diego Botanic Garden
When: Nov. 20, 2026–Jan. 3, 2027
A one-mile walk through the garden after dark, lit up with light installations. Some are new this year, some are returning favorites. Event details
The neighborhood: The garden is in Encinitas, a beach town that still feels laid-back even as it’s grown.
Holiday Shows at The Old Globe
The Old Globe in Balboa Park has two holiday shows running this year:
- Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, Nov. 4–Dec. 31, 2026. A musical take on the Dr. Seuss classic, and an easy pick for all ages. Details
- Ebenezer Scrooge’s BIG San Diego Christmas Show, Nov. 20–Dec. 27, 2026. A fast, funny take on A Christmas Carol with a local twist. Details
SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration
When: Nov. 13, 2026–Jan. 3, 2027
Holiday shopping, seasonal food and drinks, and live shows around the park. Event details
Winter Wonder Beachside at Belmont Park
When: Nov. 16, 2026–Jan. 5, 2027
Classic boardwalk rides, holiday treats, and family entertainment steps from the sand in Mission Beach. Event details
The neighborhood: Mission Beach is about as close to the water as San Diego living gets, with the bay on one side and the ocean on the other.
Holidays at LEGOLAND
When: Select dates, Nov. 22, 2026–Jan. 4, 2027
Twinkling lights, live entertainment, and what LEGOLAND calls the world’s largest LEGO Christmas tree. Event details
Encinitas Holiday Street Fair
When: Nov. 22, 2026
Rides for kids, live entertainment stages, and food and drink along Highway 101, a local tradition since 1989. Event details
Santa Train North Pole Limited
When: Fridays through Sundays, Nov. 27–Dec. 20, 2026
Carols, cookies, hot chocolate, and a visit with Santa on board a vintage train at the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum in Campo. Event details
Julian Country Christmas and Tree Lighting
When: Nov. 28, 2026
Julian lights its living Christmas tree to kick off the season. It’s worth the drive up the mountain, and yes, get the pie while you’re there. Event details
The neighborhood: Julian is San Diego County’s mountain town, with apple orchards, historic storefronts, and the occasional winter snow.
San Diego Fall and Holiday Events: Quick Answers
Where can you go ice skating in San Diego this winter?
Three outdoor rinks open this season: Skating by the Sea at the Hotel del Coronado (Nov. 20, 2026–Jan. 3, 2027), the Rady Children’s Ice Rink at Liberty Station (Nov. 19, 2026–Jan. 3, 2027), and the Viejas Outlet Center Ice Rink in Alpine (Nov. 6, 2026–Jan. 10, 2027).
When is Fleet Week San Diego in 2026?
Fleet Week San Diego runs Nov. 6–15, 2026, with ship tours, military displays, live music, and family activities.
When is the San Diego Veterans Day Parade in 2026?
The parade is on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026, as part of a week of Veterans Day events across the city from Nov. 6–15.
What is there to do in San Diego over Thanksgiving weekend?
Start with a Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning (Nov. 26), then catch the races at Del Mar, which run on Thanksgiving Day. On Saturday, Nov. 28, Julian lights its Christmas tree, and the Santa Train in Campo starts running Nov. 27.
What are the best holiday light displays in San Diego?
Lightscape at the San Diego Botanic Garden in Encinitas (Nov. 20, 2026–Jan. 3, 2027) is a one-mile nighttime walk through light installations. Holidays at LEGOLAND (select dates, Nov. 22, 2026–Jan. 4, 2027) also adds twinkling lights and a giant LEGO Christmas tree.
Where can you celebrate Día de los Muertos in San Diego?
Old Town San Diego hosts traditional Day of the Dead celebrations through Nov. 2, 2026.
Find the Neighborhood That Fits You
If one of these nights out leaves you thinking, “I could live here,” pay attention to that. The coffee shop you’d actually walk to, the street that’s busy on a Friday, the quiet block two minutes away: those are the things that make a place feel like home.
Canter Real Estate Group helps buyers and sellers across San Diego County figure out which neighborhood fits the way they want to live. If you’re curious what your current home might be worth, or you want to talk through a move, we’re happy to help.
Get a free home valuation or reach out to our team.
