Events
Del Mar Races Opening Day & Breeders’ Cup
Oct. 31; Nov. 1-2. Del Mar Racetrack’s 2024 Bing Crosby Season kicks off with Opening Day on Thursday; it’s the second leg of Del Mar Thoroughbred Club’s dual racing season, running through Dec. 1. Season highlights include the Breeders’ Cup World Championships this Friday and Saturday, considered the “Super Bowl” of horse racing; Seniors’ Day every Friday (beginning Nov. 8); “Wine Down” Fridays; “Taste of the Turf Club” every Sunday (beginning Nov. 10); “Free & Fun” days; and more. See website for all details, events and tickets. 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar. dmtc.com
Halloween at Del Mar Highlands
Oct. 31. Del Mar Highlands Town Center hosts a day of family-friendly Halloween fun. Start the morning with a Hullabaloo singalong at the Pop Jet Fountain in the lower plaza (10 a.m.; costumes encouraged). Five pop-up Halloween experiences also await to be explored at your leisure, including Spidey’s Web Zone, The Enchanted Realm and The Creepy Corner. And then it’s trick-or-treat time, with 45 tenants giving out candy to the kiddos (4-6 p.m.). Trick-or-treating is free but see website to reserve your spot for this very popular activity. 12925 El Camino Real, Del Mar Heights. More Info
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Danse Macabre “Day of the Dead” Celebration
Nov. 2. Billed as “The Ultimate Day of the Dead Celebration of Life, Reverence & House Music,” Danse Macabre (aka the “Dance of Death”) takes place in the shadowy abyss of an actual mortuary underground. Be immersed in San Diego Day of the Dead lore as you danse between the veil to celebrate the beauty of life, the ubiquity of death, and the soul of house music. This one-of-a-kind exploration of the world below features six immortal DJs, food, a remembrance vigil (11 p.m.) and more. The event is open to all ages and alcohol-free; costumes are optional (but welcomed!). 8:30 p.m.-2 a.m. See website for tickets. Bravo Family Mortuary, 4427 Rainier Ave., Mission Valley. Get Tickets
The Haunted Trail at Balboa Park
Through Nov. 2. Test your fears by experiencing two “haunts” at one location. The 3,500-square-foot eXperiment Maze turns your cherished childhood fairytales into adulthood “scarytales.” (You’ll never think of Pinocchio the same way again!) And The Haunted Trail—named by CNN as one of the “Top 5 Best Haunted Attractions in America”—takes you on a 1-mile path of terror through twisted pines, oaks and unpleasant surprises. (Five words: zombie rodeo clowns wielding chainsaws.) See website for hours and tickets. Balboa Drive and Juniper, Balboa Park. hauntedtrail.net
Carlsbad Strawberry Co. Pumpkin Patch
Through Nov. 3. This family farm’s fall wonderland is fun for all ages. After picking your perfect gourd from the ample pumpkin patch, wander through an enchanting corn maze; take a tractor ride; meet Shetland sheep and Nubian goats; and explore fields of marigolds and lavender. There’s even a separate haunted corn maze for teens and adults (see website for dates and times); plus festive fall treats and beverages. Open daily at 9 a.m. $15 general admission (ages 4 and under are free); $25 per person for haunted corn maze admission. 1050 Cannon Road, Carlsbad, 760.603.9608. More Info
Susan G. Komen MORE THAN PINK Walk
Nov. 3. Put on some pink and join thousands of survivors, family members, supporters and advocates for this annual walk that raises funds and awareness for breast cancer research, patient/family support and more. Event site opens at 6:30 a.m.; opening ceremony at 7:30 a.m.; walk begins at 8 a.m.; post-walk festivities begin at 9:30 a.m.; and the crowd-favorite San Diego Mascot Dance-Off begins at 10:15 a.m. See website to donate, register and/or volunteer. (A portion of CA-163 will be closed for the walk.) Corner of Sixth Avenue and Laurel Street, Balboa Park. Details
Food + Drink
San Diego Beer Week
Nov. 1-10. Celebrating San Diego’s brimming beer scene, the 16th annual San Diego Beer Week returns for a 10-day, countywide festival—presented by the San Diego Brewers Guild—with dozens of participating breweries, bars and restaurants. The fun includes a virtual kickoff toast on Nov. 1 at your favorite brewery or tasting room (7:30 p.m.); “The Guild on the Streets” community cleanups in Grantville on Nov. 8 and North Park on Nov. 10 (both at noon); and the Capital of Craft Beer Fest at Kilowatt Brewing on Nov. 9 (noon-4 p.m.). See website for full event schedule and participating venues. sdbeer.com
Arts + Culture
Día de los Muertos Celebration in Chula Vista
Nov. 2. The largest Día De Los Muertos celebration in South Bay, this fourth-annual event returns to Chula Vista—which will be transformed into a place to honor deceased ancestors and welcome their return as memories. Festivities include an altar-building contest, with three categories and cash prizes; a Catrín/Catrina ensemble competition; themed photo ops; a car show by Impalas Card Club SD; live music and dance performances; face painting; artisan retailers at Mercado by Las Jefas Market; and food vendors. 3-8 p.m. Free entry. Downtown Chula Vista. More Info
Día de los Muertos Celebration in the Gaslamp
Nov. 2-3. The Gaslamp Quarter hosts a family-friendly weekend comprising its 14th annual Day of the Dead celebration. The ‘hood will transform into a bustling mercado filled with artisan vendors for this cultural community event; plus live music and entertainment, with headliner Grupo Marca Registrada performing on Sunday; margaritas and other libations; and dozens of dining options. Sa 10:30 a.m.-8 a.m.; Su 10:30 a.m.-7 p.m. General admission is free; VIP tickets are also available (and required to get up close for Sunday’s concert). Fifth Avenue, Gaslamp Quarter. dayofthedeadsd.com
“Mask-O-Raid IV” at Comic-Con Museum
Nov. 2. Promising “a scream of a good time,” this special costume party features raffle drawings to win oversized Funko protypes; a chance to meet Funko’s founder Mike Becker; an appearance by Disney Imagineer Bob Gurr; a costume contest (“dress to distress!”) with prizes for “Funniest,” “Scariest” and Best in Show”; an art sale of one-of-a-kind pieces created by Comic-Con staff and other artists; spooky jams by DJ Chino; and bites and libations. Proceeds benefit Comic-Con Museum’s youth engagement programming. 6-10 p.m. Tickets are $130 per person. 2131 Pan American Plaza, Balboa Park. Details
The Thanksgiving Play at New Village Arts
Closes Nov. 3. Ease your way from Halloween to Thanksgiving season with this comedic play written by Larissa Fasthorse. New Village Arts presents its San Diego premiere, running through Sunday. The hypocrisies of “woke America” surface when four well-meaning theater people attempt to stage an elementary school Thanksgiving pageant that won’t ruffle any feathers. The Hollywood Reporter hails it as “very, very funny… this clever satire is something for which to be truly thankful.” See website for showtimes and tickets. 2787 State St., Carlsbad, 760.433.3245. newvillagearts.org
Photo credits: The Thanksgiving Play / New Village Arts (pictured: Erica Marie Weisz as Alicia) by Dupla Photography / Jason Sullivan. All other images are courtesy of the venues and businesses featured.
