T is for TREATS: More Than 50 Places to Trick-or-Treat in San Diego, 2021
UPDATED: Sept. 2021
This is last year's info for 2021...it's next on my list to update asap for 2022, but most of this information and links should be the same so you can use this as a guide for now until I can confirm all of this for 2022. You'll know when this date changes. Thanks for your patience. :)
It's time to make up for those lost treats from last year! Heck you can even go to several of these places and come home with treats to last you for years! Dress up and even decorate your car as you go about this list of where to get your TREATS this year.
All events listed here are FREE (except for the first three events listed: SeaWorld, San Diego Zoo and Legoland) and occur on various days, Fri, Sat or Sun so double check before you go!
Some of these are drive-thru or Trunk or Treat options as noted by this symbol đ
If you know of any others, please include links and add it to comments or send me a message.
Quick at a glance info, click the name for more details!
This section is broken down by dates and includes places like shopping centers, villages museums and theme parks.
Lots of libraries have fun Halloween activities this year like slime making, sugar skull decorating, costume parades, spooky Halloween stories and even some mad science!
Neighborhood recreation centers are gearing up for some Halloween fun. Some of these have carnivals, costume contests or parades, Halloween movie nights and even walk-up and drive-thru Trick or Treating.
These are known neighborhoods that are fun for the door-to-door trick or treat experience. Drive and park safely because lots of little monsters will be running loose all over the streets.
đ WALK-THRU BUSINESS TREAT TRAILS
Dine, shop and Trick or Treat your way around these shopping centers, villages and theme parks! These are the more popular places to go trick or treating because villages close off streets and shopping centers and theme parks provide a safer and well-lit walking paths to find your treats!
ONGOING DATES
đ SeaWorld Spooktacular, Fri-Sun thru Oct. 31
Kids love trick-or-treating during this daytime event as they explore our decorated trail and meet all sorts of colorful characters. And thatâs just the beginning! From a Halloween dance party to moments with furry friends like Count von Count, Elmo, Cookie Monster, and more, this is immersive family fun youâll only find here. Spooktacular is included in all memberships and all admission tickets.
WHERE: 500 Sea World Dr., Mission Bay
đ San Diego Zoo HalGLOWeen, Fri-Sun thru Oct. 31; events start at 5pm
There's fun for the whole family, with musical entertainment, dance parties, special performances, and moreâplus Dr. Zoolittle, Zoo characters, and tempting food specials. Kids 11 and younger can come in costumes (check guidelines first). HalGLOWeen is included in all memberships and all admission tickets.
WHERE: 2920 Zoo Dr., Balboa Park
đ LEGOLAND Brick or Treat, Oct. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30; events start at 3pm
The Park is open after dark every Saturday in October. Enjoy rides open late, trick-or-treating, live entertainment, Halloween dĂŠcor, and more! Enjoy Brick-or-Treat with the park opening for all guests at 10am, live entertainment starting at 2pm and trick-or-treating starting at 3pm. Throughout the day, eat, drink and be scary with seasonal food and beverage options for the whole family. Donât forget to check-out the Spooktacular fun at the SEA LIFE aquarium with live creatures and underwater pumpkin carving!
Come in your ghoulish best and participate in one of the Costume Contest Parades â 3:00pm, 4:00pm, 5:00pm, 6:00pm. Guests ages 12 and under have the opportunity to show off their awesome costumes as they parade around Miniland U.S.A.! During each parade, judges will select one winner from each of the following categories: Best Homemade Costume, Best Group Costume and Best LEGO Movie Costume.
WHERE: One Legoland Dr, Carlsbad
SUNDAY Oct. 24th
đ Carmel Valley Village at Pacific Highlands Ranch, 3-6
WHERE: 13490 Pacific Highlands Ranch Pkwy, Carmel Valley
WEDNESDAY Oct. 27th
đ Little Italy, Trick or Treat on India Street, 5:30-7:30
Little ghouls and goblins of all ages are encouraged to dress up in their best costumes and enjoy an evening of authentic trick-or-treating with their families. Little witches and monsters will be able to stop door-to-door and get delicious Halloween treats and candy from participating Little Italy businesses along the historic India Street.
Maps of participating businesses will be available as the trick-or-treat fun happens at the Piazza della Famiglia on India and W. Date Street. You wonât want to miss out on this yearâs fun!
We have asked our participating businesses to have staff that is passing out candy to wear a face covering and gloves as an additional safety precaution.
WHERE: India St., Little Italy
THURSDAY OCT. 28th
đ National City Public Library Drive-Thru Booktacular, 3-6
Celebrate Halloween at the National City Public Library! Families with babies, children, and teens are invited to drive into the library parking lot where staff will be giving away free books, candy, and crafts. Come in costume and decorate your car to be entered into our contest to win a movie-themed prize!
WHERE: 1401 National City Blvd, National City
Head north on National City Blvd and make a right on E 15th St to enter.
FRIDAY Oct. 29th
đ Point Loma Comm Church, 5-7pm
Trunk or Treat at this FREE Community Event in their parking lot with games, activities and candy!
WHERE: 2128 Chatsworth Blvd., Point Loma
đ Coronado at Spreckels Park, 3:30-5:30
âGhouls,â âBoosâ and their families are welcome to head over to Spreckels Park at 3:30 pm to enjoy festive music, enchanting entertainment, thrilling trick-or-treating, âSpooktacularâ games, prizes and activities. This free event ends at 5:30 pm, just in time to head across the street to the Library or the Spreckels Center. For more information, contact 619-522-7342.
WHERE: 601 Orange Ave., Coronado
đ Carmel Mountain Ranch Plaza, 3-5 and 6-8
Trick or Treat is back and better than ever! This is a FREE kids event so come in costume. Treat Bag Stations by Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf and Angelika Film Center live concerts will be in the Fountain Courtyard.
WHERE: 12174 Carmel Mountain Rd., Carmel Mountain
đ Downtown Vista Fright Night on Main Street, 5-8
Join Discover Vista on Main Street for a spooky evening of family fun in Downtown Vista! Haunted House at Twice on Main, Spooky Selfie station at the Love Locks, Trick or Treat in Downtown Vista, Costumes, Music, Downtown restaurants and breweries, More activities TBA.
WHERE: 248 Main St., Vista
đ El Cajon HauntFest on Main St, 4-9
This Friday, enjoy a FREE family friendly time at HauntFest on Main in Downtown El Cajon! Bring the whole family for a candy trail, games, dance party, face painting, a movie in the park showing "Cruella", live entertainment, car show, costume contest, food, crafts, a reptile petting zoo and more!
The event features live music on two stages featuring! Costume Contests on the Main St. Stage; an expanded Carnival Rides and Games; Car Show; Candy Challenge Activities; Kidz Zone, Face Painting; performances by TNT Dancers, Arts In Motion Crew & Jr. Crew, and St. Madeleine Sophieâs Center Pumpkin Patch; Craft and Game booths; LED Rock Wall; Inflatables for kids; With a surprise feature of Movies In The Park.
Kid Zone: Kidz Zone featuring outdoor movies on a 26 foot screen featuring surprise movies.
Keep your eyes peeled for family fun throughout the event with candy challenge activities for varying ages, hands-on arts and crafts booths, game booths and inflatables!
* All activities are FREE
Candy Challenges: There will be many opportunities to collect Halloween Candy this year at HauntFest. There will be one candy trail for children as tall as 42 inches and shorter, and other age groups can do other fun activities to collect candy.
Carnival Rides: Some rides and attractions will have a cost this year, but others will be free. The kids will have a thrill of a lifetime on the Wave slide, the sizzler, bumper cars, flying elephant ride, swing ride and carnival games! We have expanded the carnival rides and games this year so be prepared for even more fun for the whole family!
Pumpkin Patch: Come walk-through the Promenade Pumpkin Patch to find the right pumpkin for a perfect jack-o-lantern! There will be all different sizes of pumpkins to fit each family members needs! Stop by the carving station just outside the pumpkin patch to see our âMaster Carverâ at work or have a family photo taken at our staged photo area.
WHERE: 248 Main St., Vista
đ Ramona On Main, 4-6
Every year, the Ramona Chamber of Commerce presents a FREE âMerchants Safe Trick-or-Treatâ where Main Street Ramona businesses hand out candy and other goodies to participating children. Bring your family for our most spooktacular Halloween event!
WHERE: Main St., Ramona link here
SATURDAY Oct. 30th
đ Balboa Park at San Diego Automotive Museum, 3-5
Trunk or Treat from the back of rare collectible cars! This is their first ever Trunk or Treat in collaboration with SANDAG. You'll get FREE Admission to the museum during event time with costume! Adult costume not required if accompanied with a child in costume.
WHERE: 2080 Pan American Plaza, Balboa Park
đ Belmont Park Trunk or Treat, 5pm
Find other games, attractions, family fun and Halloween treats.
WHERE: 3146 Mission Blvd., Mission Beach
đ Imperial Beach Artisan Market, 12-6
A very special day for the kids. Bring the kids and let them Trick or Treat from our local vendors. Shop small and start your Christmas shopping early and shop unique gifts for your family and friends. A day full of fun!! The IB Artisan Market continue to follow Covid-19 safety guidelines. Hand sanitizer available at each vendor booth. All vendors hold their Imperial Beach Business license and seller permit. To be part of this event email us at ibartisanmarket@gmail.com or text us at 858-877-3254
WHERE: 829 Seacoast Dr., Imperial Beach
đ Lemon Grove Trunk or Treat, 4-7
This inaugural Trunk or Treat event invites our community to come together so children can Trick or Treat in a safe environment. There will be candy, games, costume contest, music & entertainment.
If you plan to attend, please RSVP here. You can also email lgllbaseballevents@gmail.com for more info.
đ El Cajon Parkway Plaza Fall Fest, 5-7
Find the fun all throughout the center and join us for this yearâs Fall Fest. Carnival games, face painting, live Halloween characters, crafts.
WHERE: 415 Fletcher Pkwy, El Cajon
đ Carlsbad Shops at the Forum, 1-4
Bring all your little ghosts and goblins for Trick-or-Treating at The Forum Carlsbad, Saturday, October 30, 1pm-4pm. Children ages 12 and younger in costume are invited to Trick-or-Treat at all Forum stores and restaurants. We'll have a live band playing all your favorite spooky Halloween tunes and lots of goodies for everyone. Pups in costume are always welcome too!
WHERE: 1923 Calle Barcelona, Carlsbad
đ Bankers Hill, St. Pauls' Cathedral + Mission Hills UMC, 4-6
Community members of all ages are invited to our annual Trunk or Treat Halloween celebration for a free, family-friendly night of spooky fun. There will be games, contests, crafts, and TRUNKLOADS of free candy for all! Masks will be required for participants ages 2+, except when eating or drinking.
WHERE: 328 Maple St., Bankers Hill
đ¨ Escondido Police Department Trunk or Treat, 6-9
The @escondidopolice department is hosting their first Trunk or Treat event. There will be music, treats, vehicle displays and more! Any questions please email: policesocialmedia@escondido.org.
WHERE: Woodward Parking Lot, 380 N. Escondido Blvd., Escondido
SUNDAY Oct. 31st
đ Seaport Village
11-1 for Trick or Treating
1-4 for Costume Contest & live music
Seaport Village is the perfect place to spend Halloween this year! Trick or Treat around the Village, party with Seaport Fudge, and win prizes at our Costume Contest! (Prizes this year include SD Zoo, SeaWorld, Children's Museum.)
Pick up a Seaport Village tote bag and map of all participating shops and stroll the waterfront neighborhood.
There will be live entertainment, great food, a themed dessert bar, and a kids costume contest. Pop-Up Pizza & Toy Shop from Mr. Moto & Safari Animal Collection!
WHERE: 849 W Harbor Dr., Embarcadero/Downtown
đ Liberty Station, 12-4
Liberty Station invites you to join us in the North Promenade for a FREE, family-friendly Halloween celebration! The festivities will include trick-or-treating throughout Liberty Station, music, live entertainment, crafts, activities and other spooky surprises! All ages are encouraged to come decked out in their most elaborate costumes and participate in our costume contest.
WHERE: 2820 Historic Decatur Rd., Point Loma
đ Belmont Park Fall Fest, 5pm
Find other games, attractions, family fun and Halloween treats.
WHERE: 3146 Mission Blvd, Mission Beach
đ La Mesa Village, 3-5
The La Mesa Village Association is hosting its 3rd annual Halloween in La Mesa Trick-or-Treating event. It will be a spooktacular event as the downtown Village gets into the Halloween spirit by handing out treats to our amazing community. This is a free, family-friendly event for all to enjoy. Dress up in costume and trick-or-treat at participating businesses along La Mesa Blvd. between 4th St. - Acacia and adjacent streets (both sides of Spring St.). Remember to bring your own trick-or-treat bag to collect all those goodies!
NEW this year - keep an eye out for festive Halloween themed stilt walkers along the trick-or-treat route. Frankenstein and Jack-o-Lantern characters are fun additions for kids and families to visit and snap selfies with.
Also new this year, the La Mesa First United Methodist Church will host âspookyâ organ concerts at 4 pm and 5 pm, located at 4690 Palm Ave/Lemon Ave. Step into the main sanctuary to hear the 15-minute mini-concerts and get up close to see the organist play, and of course leave with treats.
Shops and restaurants will be open for business and we encourage participants to explore the variety of stores and eateries we have to offer while you are here for the festivities!
WHERE: Up & down La Mesa Blvd. from Acacia - 4th St.
đ La Mesa Grossmont Center, 11-1 (must pre-register!)
Halloween at Grossmont Center is back! Get your costumes on and bring the family out for this fun annual community event, featuring character photo-ops, face painting, music, giveaways and CANDY! Register at https://bit.ly/trickortreat_grossmontcenter to pick up an event map and complimentary pumpkin bag* at Guest Services and trick-or-treat your way around Grossmont Center!
*Complimentary trick-or-treat bags are limited to registered guests, one per child (ages 12 and under) while supplies last.
WHERE: 5500 Grossmont Center Dr., La Mesa
đ Lakeside Trick or Treat on Maine Ave., 5:30-7:30
This event is sponsored by The Miss Lakeside Scholarship Pageant for Lakeside families!
WHERE: Maine Ave., Lakeside
đ La Jolla/UTC Mall, 4-6
Trick or treating at participating stores, look for their signs out front or pick up a list of participating stores from the Concierge and a Halloween tote bag.
WHERE: 4545 La Jolla Village Dr., UTC/La Jolla
đ Encinitas Safe Trick or Treat, 5-8
The Encinitas 101 MainStreet Association will present its 19th Annual Safe Trick-or-Treat event. Historic Highway 101(Encinitas Blvd to K Street) will turn into âPumpkin Laneâ as local businesses stay open late to welcome trick-or-treaters. Lazy Acres, our participating sponsor will be handing out $5.00 off coupons in each Safe Trick or Treat Bag!
Along the 101 there are several places to stop and enjoy Halloween-Themed activities. In the Lumberyard courtyard enjoy music and games! This event is free and families are welcome to join in the fun!
WHERE: South Coast Hwy 101 between Encinitas Blvd and K Street
đ Poway Halloween Treat Trail, 2-8
Come one, come all for this fun, family-friendly event! Bring the kids in their costumes to our Halloween Treat Trail, where local businesses will be handing out treats (not tricks!) throughout the day.
WHERE: Check the link below for a treat trail map and more information when available.
đ LIBRARY HALLOWEEN FUN
Check your local library or try out a new one to find some Halloween fun. Some of these have slime making, sugar skull decorating, costume parades, spooky Halloween stories and even some mad science!
Tuesday Oct. 26th
La Jolla/Riford Library, 4-5p - STEAM Spooky Slime
Central Library, 4-5p - Sugar Skull Decorating
San Ysidro Library, 5-7p - Pumpkin Carving
Central Library, 6-7p - Spooky Tales & Costume Parade
Wednesday Oct. 27th
Carmel Mountain Library, 10-10:30a - Halloween Storytime
College/Rolando Library, 10-10:30a - Spooky Storytime
Scripps Miramar Library/Virtual, 3-4p - Glow in the Dark Slime
Skyline Hills Library, 4-5p - Sugar Skull Decorating
Thursday Oct. 28th
Rancho Penasquitos Library, 9:30a-6p - Spooktacular Days
La Jolla/Riford Library, 10:30-11a - Halloween Story Time & Trick or Treat
Skyline Hills Library, 4-5p - Creepy Craft
Friday Oct. 29th
Rancho Penasquitos Library, 9:30a-6p - Spooktacular Days
La Jolla/Riford Library, 4-5p - Mad Science Circuits in Costume
Rancho Penasquitos Library, 9:30a-6p - Spooktacular Days
Saturday Oct. 30th
North Clairemont Library, 10-11a - Halloween Fun
Mission Valley Library, 2-4p - Halloween STEAM Party
đ SAN DIEGO PARKS & RECREATION CENTERS
Neighborhood recreation centers are gearing up for some Halloween fun. Some of these have carnivals, costume contests or parades, Halloween movie nights and even walk-up and drive-thru Trick or Treating. Walk-up avail at all sites, Drive-Thru at select locations marked w/ đ
Wednesday Oct 20th
đŹ Silver Wing Red Ctr, 4-6p @ 3737 Arey Dr. - walk-up event
đŹ Southcrest Rec Ctr, 12-2p @ 4149 Newton Ave. - candy bags, crafts, raffle
Thursday Oct. 21sth
đŹ North Park Rec Ctr, 5-7p @ 4044 Idaho St. - Trunk or Treat, music
đ Scripps Ranch Comm Park, 2:30-3:30p @ 11454 Blue Cypress Dr. - drive-tru
Friday Oct. 22nd
đ˝ đĄ Adams Rec Ctr, 5:30-9p @ 3419 Adams Ave., - carnival, costume contest, haunted maze, Movie at 7:30 "Halloween Town High"
đ˝ Encanto Rec Ctr, 6-8p @ 6508 Wunderlin Ave. - movie night "Coco"
đĄ Memorial Rec Ctr, 4:30-7p @ 2902 March Ave. - carnival
đŹ Mountain View Rec Ctr, 5-8p @ 641 So. Boundary St. - candy bags, games, prizes, raffle
đĄ North Clairemont Comm Park, 5-8p @ 4421 Bannock Ave. - carnival
đ˝ đĄ Park De La Cruz, 5-8p @ 3911 Landis St. - carnival, movie
Saturday Oct. 23rd
đŹ La Jolla Comm Park, 5-7p @ 615 Prospect St. - trick or treat by the sea
đ˝ Linda Vista Comm Park, 5pm @ 7064 Levant St. - costume contest, activities, movie "Nightmare Before Christmas"
đ˝ Standley Comm Park, 4pm @ 3585 Governor Dr. - costume parade, movie "Monsters University" at 6pm
đ Therapeutic Rec Svcs, 6-9p @ 3901 Landis St. - dance
Sunday Oct. 24th
đ Therapeutic Rec Svcs, 12-3p @ 3901 Landis St. - play day
Tuesday Oct. 26th
đ San Ysidro Comm Ctr, 4pm @ 179 Diza St. - drive-thru
Wednesday Oct. 27th
đĄ Azalea Park, 3-5p @ 2569 Violet St. - carnival
đ Carmel Valley Comm Park, 4-5:30p @ 3777 Townsgate Dr. - cruise & beep trick or treat
đ Cesar Chavez Comm Ctr, 3pm @ 455 Sycamore Rd. - drive-thru
đ Montgomery Waller, 4-6p @ 3020 Coronado Ave. - pumpkin carving
Thursday Oct. 28th
đ AgeWell Services, 12:30-2:30p @ 2150 Pan American Way, Balboa Park - dance
đ Nobel Comm Park, 4-6p @ 8810 Judicial Dr. - drive-thru
đ Rancho Bernardo Comm Park, 4-6p @ 18448 W. Bernardo Dr. - drive-thru
đĄ Skyline Hills Rec Ctr, 5-7p @ 8285 Skyline Dr. - outside carnival
Friday Oct. 29th
đ Therapeutic Rec Services, 6-7p @ Virtual - dance
đ˝ Carmel Mountain Ranch Comm Park, dusk @10152 Rancho Carmel Dr. - movie "Goosebumps"
đĄ City Heights Rec Ctr, 4-8p @ 3750 Landis St. - carnival
đ Colina Del Sol Rec Ctr, 4-7p @ 5319 Orange Ave. - drive-thru & walk-up candy
đŹ Golden Hill Rec Ctr, 5-7p @ 2600 Golf Course Dr. - candy booth
đĄ Martin L. King Rec Ctr, 5-7p @ 6401 Skyline Dr. - carnival, maze, costume contest
đ Mira Mesa Comm Park, 5-7p @ 8575 New Salem St. - drive-thru
đĄ Montgomery Waller, 5-8p @ 3020 Coronado Ave. - carnival
đŹ Paradise Hills Rec Ctr, 4-6p @ 6610 Potomac St. - grab & go
đ˝ San Carlos Comm Park, 4:30-8p @ 6445 Lake Badin Ave. - activities, movie "Monster House"
đ Silver Wing Rec Ctr, 4p @ 3737 Arey Dr. - pumpkin carving
đ South Bay Rec Ctr, 3:30-5:30p @ 1885 Coronado Ave. - Pumpkin painting & carving
Saturday Oct. 30th
đ˝ Hilltop Comm Park, 4-8p @ 9711 Oveido Way - activities, movie "Coco"
đ Ocean Beach Comm Park, 10a-12p @ 4726 Santa Monica Ave. - drive-thru
đť Mt. Hope Cemetery, 5:30-10p @ 3751 Market St. - movie in the cemetery at dusk!
đ NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE WORTH THE DRIVE
These are known neighborhoods that are fun for the "old-fashioned" door-to-door trick or treat experience. Please note that I haven't personally been to these neighborhoods for trick-or-treating, these are just what others have told me have been fun neighborhoods. I don't have exact cross streets or any other information besides what's written below. BUT if you go and experience these please report back to me and I'll make the updates. Have fun!
Drive and park safely because lots of little monsters will be running loose all over these streets.
đ LOMA PORTAL
This area in Point Loma is generally known as between Sunset Cliffs Blvd. east to Catalina Blvd. and from Point Loma Ave. north to Voltaire St; with Narragansett Ave. running west-east in the middle. Some of these roads are hilly but are all generally rectangular making it easy to find your way around. General Cross Streets to start at:
đ SAN MARCOS at Santa Fe Hills
This is a circular quadrant of homes tucked away behind Palomar College. These two streets enter the neighborhood from different sides and intersect around the center at W Borden Rd. + N Las Posas Rd.
đ CARSLBAD at Bressi Ranch
Heat to El Fuerte St. + Palomar Airport Rd. as your starting point and then drive south towards Gateway Rd. or Bressi Ranch Way as your roads into the neighborhood.
đ DEL MAR HEIGHTS
Del Mar Heights Rd. is the main road through this area and if you drive north on either of the 4 roads (Durango Dr., Recuerdo Dr., Mercado Dr., Boquita Dr.) leading into the neighborhood you'll find they all dead-end about 5-6 blocks back.
đ KENSINGTON
Marlborough Dr. is the main street into this neighborhood and the blocks up front are mostly rectangular so it's easy to navigate. The first 10 blocks from Adams Ave. run from Kensington Dr. east to 42nd St. and then from Adams Ave. north to Canterbury Dr.
đ TALMADGE
Monroe Ave. is the main street into this neighborhood and the blocks up front are mostly rectangular so it's easy to navigate. The first few blocks up front run from Monroe Ave. north to Adams Ave. and run from Norma Dr. east to 51st St.
đ MISSION HILLS
Fort Stockton Dr. and Sunset Blvd. is the main street through this neighborhood. The neighborhoods around Fort Stockton are mostly rectangular so it's easy to navigate from Stephens St. and east to Ibis St. The neighborhoods around Sunset Blvd. are more curvy and winding roads through the neighborhoods until you get north into Hickory St. where they're more rectangular and square to help navigate your way around.
You may also want to check out my list of 13 Christmas Light Neighborhoods That Are Worth The Drive. These are well-known for going all-out for their Christmas Lights. I'm not sure which of these neighborhoods, if any, go all-out for Halloween too and if so these may be some other fun options. If you try these out for Halloween please report back to me and let me know how they are so I can either keep recommending them for Halloween or not. Thanks!
Which other neighborhoods do you know of that are fun for door-to-door trick or treating? Leave me your suggestions in the comments below or send me a message.
***********đ¤ HAVE FUN! đ¤ **********
đ If my posts are helpful, show some â¤ď¸
đ If you use the info I share please tag me @famdiego as your reference. Lots of time goes into these posts so any tag-back credit is very much appreciated. đđ
---
originally published 9/23/17
--