OCT 26 – NOV 1 San Diego · America’s Finest City

Things to do with kids in San Diego this weekend, found and checked for you.

Halloween lands on Saturday, and the San Diego Zoo stays open until 9 for HalGLOWeen, with kids 11 and under free through the end of October. Old Town’s Día de los Muertos starts the same day, and it’s free. County library branches from Imperial Beach up to Poway have costume story times and trick-or-treating. This week has 28 outings, 20 of them free and 19 indoors.

What’s on today, Friday, Oct 30: HalGLOWeen at the San Diego Zoo, Trick or Treat at the Library (Solana Beach Library) and Animal Presentations at the Living Coast Discovery Center, plus 8 more.

Last checked · 28 kids events and outings at 22 places · 20 free · 19 indoor. Every listing links to the page we checked it on. How we choose

Top 5 picks

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Saturday, sorted

Our plan for Saturday

Here’s how we’d do Saturday, Oct 31. Two things from this week’s list, plus one of our regulars from Around town. Tap a stop for the details.

  1. MORNINGDía de los Muertos in Old Town10am–5pm · Old Town San Diego State Historic Park · Free
  2. LUNCHAround townLiberty Public MarketOpen 9am–8pm · Liberty Station, 2820 Historic Decatur Rd. · $$ (opens their site)
  3. NAPHome by 1:30 for nap.
  4. AFTER NAPHalloween Spooktacular at SeaWorld San Diego4–7pm, 1–7pm · SeaWorld San Diego · Included with park admission; kids get in free with a paid adult through October; the Candy Trail needs a reusable bag (bring your own or buy one for $4.99)

Times come from each event’s page or the place’s own site. Times can change, so check before you head out. Print this plan

Every outing this week

Find your thing

5–9pmHalGLOWeen at the San Diego ZooSan Diego Zoo · San DiegoFree with zoo admission
Sat 9am–4pmHalloween at The New Children’s MuseumThe New Children’s Museum · San DiegoIncluded with admissionIndoor
Fri 10–10:30am and 11–11:30amToddler Time at The New Children’s MuseumThe New Children’s Museum · San DiegoIncluded with admissionIndoor
10am–5pmDía de los Muertos in Old TownOld Town San Diego State Historic Park · San DiegoFree
Fri 10am–5pmTrick or Treat at the Library (Solana Beach Library)Solana Beach Library · Solana BeachFreeIndoor
Fri 3:30–4:30pmLuminary Haunted House Craft (Cardiff Library)Cardiff-by-the-Sea Library · San DiegoFreeIndoor
Sat 10:30–11amDance Party Storytime (Poway Library)Poway Library · PowayFreeIndoor
Sat 10:30–11:30amHalloween Storytime (Imperial Beach Library)Imperial Beach Library · Imperial BeachFreeIndoor
Sat 1–2:30pmStar Wars Halloween Spooktacular (4S Ranch Library)4S Ranch Library · San DiegoFreeIndoor
Sun 2–3pmDía de los Muertos (Poway Library)Poway Library · PowayFreeIndoor
Fri–Sun 4–7pmHalloween Spooktacular at SeaWorld San DiegoSeaWorld San Diego · San DiegoIncluded with park admission
During park hoursBrick or Treat at LEGOLAND CaliforniaLEGOLAND California Resort · CarlsbadIncluded with park tickets
Sun 8am–4pmCarlsbad Village Street FaireCarlsbad Village · CarlsbadFree
Sun 4–9pmDía de Muertos Festival at the California Center for the ArtsCalifornia Center for the Arts, Escondido · EscondidoFree
Sat 5–8pmEncinitas Safe Trick-or-TreatDowntown Encinitas · EncinitasFree
Thu–Sun 10:30am–3pmAnimal Presentations at the Living Coast Discovery CenterLiving Coast Discovery Center · Chula Vista$22 adults
Fri 3:30–4:30pmInclusive Art Club at Escondido Public LibraryEscondido Public Library · EscondidoFreeIndoor
Fri 10:30–11:30amBaby Lapsit at Escondido Public LibraryEscondido Public Library · EscondidoFreeIndoor
Fri 10:30–11amToddler Circle Time at El Cajon LibraryEl Cajon Library · El CajonFreeIndoor
Fri 10am–12pmToddler Time sensory play at Cardiff LibraryCardiff Library · San DiegoFreeIndoor
Fri 10:30–11:30amFamily Play Time at Del Mar LibraryDel Mar Library · Del MarFreeIndoor

Holiday season in San Diego

Around town

San Diego favorites

A few of the places we keep going back to. The full list, with prices, hours and kid-friendly restaurants, lives in the guide.

BALBOA PARK, 2920 ZOO DRIVE
San Diego Zoo
A big zoo in Balboa Park.
Kids $68Adults $782 and under
This week: HalGLOWeen at the San Diego Zoo
BALBOA PARK, 1875 EL PRADO
Fleet Science Center
Hands-on science in Balboa Park.
Kids $18.95Adults $21.952 and underIndoor
BALBOA PARK, 1788 EL PRADO
San Diego Natural History Museum (The Nat)
Natural history on five floors.
Kids $16.95Adults $24.952 and underIndoor
DOWNTOWN, 200 WEST ISLAND AVE
The New Children’s Museum
Art-based play downtown.
Kids $20Adults $25Under 1Indoor
This week: Halloween at The New Children’s Museum
See the full San Diego guide →Visiting with little kids
On the horizon

Coming up

NOV 26Thanksgiving weekend2 outings for Thanksgiving weekend so far, including Father Joe’s Villages Run for Hope 5K and North County Turkey Trot Kids 1K. Plus what’s open on Thanksgiving Day.See the list → FROM NOV 20Christmas lights6 light displays on our list so far. Lightscape opens first, on Nov 20.See the list → NOV – DECSanta visits6 places to see Santa so far, with dates, times and prices.See the list →
Good questions

What to do with kids this weekend in San Diego: the FAQ

What can we do with kids this weekend in San Diego?

This weekend (Oct 30–Nov 1) our top picks are HalGLOWeen at the San Diego Zoo (Fri, Oct 30 and Sat, Oct 31); Día de los Muertos in Old Town (Sat, Oct 31 and Sun, Nov 1); Halloween at The New Children’s Museum (Sat, Oct 31); Trick or Treat at the Library (Solana Beach Library) (Fri, Oct 30). That’s four of 21 outings on this weekend, all checked on the organizer’s page and picked for kids ages 0–6. See the full list.

What are kid-friendly things to do in San Diego this weekend?

This week we found 28 outings that work for kids ages 0–6, and 21 of them are this weekend (Oct 30–Nov 1). Our top three: HalGLOWeen at the San Diego Zoo, Día de los Muertos in Old Town, Halloween at The New Children’s Museum. See the full list.

Where are the Halloween events for kids in San Diego this week?

7 Halloween outings are on this week’s list for ages 0–6, including HalGLOWeen at the San Diego Zoo, Halloween at The New Children’s Museum, Trick or Treat at the Library (Solana Beach Library) and Star Wars Halloween Spooktacular (4S Ranch Library). Each one’s page has the date, time, price and the organizer’s link. See them in the list.

Are there free things to do with little ones in San Diego this week?

Yes, 20 of this week’s 28 picks are free, including library storytimes and Día de los Muertos in Old Town. Tap “Free” in Find your thing. For free places you can visit any week, see free things to do in San Diego in the city guide. Free museum days and free events coming up are on free things to do with kids in San Diego. Regular free days, Museums on Us and EBT discounts for 2027 are on free museum days in San Diego.

What are good indoor activities for kids in San Diego when it rains?

19 picks this week are indoors, mostly at the New Children’s Museum and the libraries. Tap “Rainy-day OK” in Find your thing. For indoor playgrounds and play spaces you can visit any week, see indoor play places in San Diego.

Where is storytime for little kids in San Diego this week?

3 storytimes are on this week’s list: Dance Party Storytime (Poway Library) (Sat 10:30–11am), Halloween Storytime (Imperial Beach Library) (Sat 10:30–11:30am) and Baby Lapsit at Escondido Public Library (Fri 10:30–11:30am, Escondido Public Library). Each one links to the library or venue page we checked it on, so check there for registration. See them in the list. For every weekly storytime by day and branch, see library storytimes in San Diego.

What’s on for babies and toddlers under 3 in San Diego this week?

6 of this week’s picks are baby or toddler programs or made for ages 3 and under, including Toddler Time at The New Children’s Museum, Dance Party Storytime (Poway Library) and Halloween Storytime (Imperial Beach Library). 5 are free, and all are indoors. See them in the list.

How do you pick what goes on the San Diego list?

We go through San Diego’s library calendars, parks, museums, zoos and local family pages every week, and keep what works for ages 0–6. Each listing links to the page we checked it on, and where the organizer or venue has its own page, we confirm the date, time, place and price there. This list was last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we choose and check listings.

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