Yes, plenty is free with little kids in San Diego this week: we found 20 free outings, including Día de los Muertos in Old Town, Halloween Family Storytime (Casa de Oro Library, Spring Valley) and Spooky Storytime with Hooray Miss Marae (La Mesa Library), plus three library programs. Seven free days and events are coming up, including one museum or zoo free day, each with its date. And three places never charge admission.
This week
Every free outing on this week’s San Diego list, rebuilt every Thursday. Library programs may need a quick sign-up.
Casa de Oro Library · 9610 Campo Road, Spring Valley, CA 91977
Halloween stories and songs. It’s aimed at ages 3 to 5, but the whole family is welcome. Free.
La Mesa Library · 8074 Allison Avenue, La Mesa, CA 91942
Miss Marae brings her ukulele for spooky sing-along songs and movement for kids of all ages. Free.
Oceanside Public Library, Civic Center Library · 330 North Coast Hwy, Oceanside, CA 92054
A Halloween storytime for toddlers and preschoolers. Costumes are encouraged. It runs Tuesday at the Mission Branch (3861 Mission Ave) and Thursday in the Civic Center Library's Children's Storycorner.
Julian Library · 1850 Highway 78, Julian, CA 92036
Drop in and decorate a mini pumpkin for a chance at a prize. Kids 11 and under and teens are judged separately on Oct 30, and pumpkins go home after judging.
4S Ranch Library · 10433 Reserve Drive, San Diego, CA 92127
One story, then an hour of moving to music with egg shakers, scarves, bells and bean bags.
Solana Beach Library · 157 Stevens Avenue, Solana Beach, CA 92075
Wear your costume and trick-or-treat at the library any time during the day. Free.
Cardiff-by-the-Sea Library · 2081 Newcastle Avenue, Cardiff-by-the-Sea, CA 92007
Color and build a haunted house luminary to take home. No sign-up, but supplies are limited, so get there on time. Free.
Escondido Public Library · 239 S Kalmia St, Escondido, CA 92025
Stories, songs and an art project inspired by a picture book. It's set up for kids of all ages and abilities.
Escondido Public Library · 239 S Kalmia St, Escondido, CA 92025
A lap-sized storytime with rhymes and songs for babies and their grown-ups.
El Cajon Library · 201 E. Douglas, El Cajon, CA 92020
Songs, rhymes and play time for babies, toddlers and their caregivers.
Cardiff Library · 2081 Newcastle Avenue, Cardiff-by-the-Sea, CA 92007
Open sensory play with play-doh, blocks, sensory sand and shakers for toddlers and preschoolers.
Del Mar Library · 1309 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar, CA 92014
Little ones play with educational toys while caregivers get to know each other.
Old Town San Diego State Historic Park · San Diego Ave. and Twiggs St., Old Town, San Diego, CA 92110
Old Town’s yearly Día de los Muertos with a community altar. Kids can make paper flowers and papel picado for free on Saturday and Sunday, and there’s a bilingual story time at 2:30 both days. The Catrina contest on Sunday at 2 starts with the kids. Rain is likely Sunday morning and should clear after noon, so the afternoon is the better time to go.
Poway Library · 13137 Poway Road, Poway, CA 92064
Storytime songs to dance along to, aimed at toddlers 18 months to 3. Free.
Imperial Beach Library · 810 Imperial Beach Boulevard, Imperial Beach, CA 91932
A Saturday story time with Halloween songs and stories, then a craft and play time. Best for ages 1 to 3. Free.
4S Ranch Library · 10433 Reserve Drive, San Diego, CA 92127
Come in a Star Wars or Halloween costume for a creature scavenger hunt, Star Wars trivia, treats and prizes. Free.
Downtown Encinitas · 101 South Coast Highway 101, Encinitas, CA 92024
Downtown shops along Coast Highway 101 hand out candy, with live music in the Lumberyard Courtyard and free family art activities at Pacific View Arts Center.
Poway Library · 13137 Poway Road, Poway, CA 92064
Music, dance and crafts for Día de los Muertos. Free.
Carlsbad Village · Carlsbad Village Drive, Carlsbad, CA 92008
The big fall street fair fills Carlsbad Village with vendors, food and children's rides. Free shuttles run from The Shoppes at Carlsbad and the Poinsettia COASTER station. Rain is likely Sunday morning, so after about noon is the drier bet.
California Center for the Arts, Escondido · 340 N. Escondido Blvd., Escondido, CA 92025
The 31st annual festival has Día de Muertos crafts, face painting, food trucks and quinceañera dress shows at 5, 6 and 7pm. The museum is free from 4 to 9pm.
Nothing free on this day yet. Try an always-free place.
Mark the calendar
Museum and zoo free days, free festivals and other one-off free events, soonest first. Some free days are only for residents or cardholders, so each one says who gets in free. For regular free days, Museums on Us and EBT discounts all year, see free museum days in San Diego.
Old Town San Diego State Historic Park · Old Town
Fleet Science Center and The Nat · Balboa Park
Liberty Station, North Promenade and Vesper Venue · 2640 Historic Decatur Rd, San Diego, CA 92106
5–9pm. The 88-foot Norfolk pine lights up, with live entertainment, firetruck rides and a showing of The Grinch.
Balboa Park · El Prado, Balboa Park, San Diego, CA 92101
Fri 4–10pm; Sat noon–10pm. Balboa Park’s free holiday festival with lights, music and food.
Third Avenue, downtown Chula Vista · 847 3rd Ave, Chula Vista, CA 91911
See the parade site for times. Chula Vista's evening holiday parade down Third Avenue, run by the city.
San Diego Bay, from Shelter Island · Viewing along the Embarcadero and at Coronado Landing, San Diego, CA
5:30pm. Lit-up boats sail from Shelter Island past the Embarcadero. Bring a blanket and get there early for a spot.
Coronado Public Library, Winn Room · 640 Orange Ave., Coronado, CA 92118
11am–noon. Crafts, snacks and dance parties, with a balloon drop at noon sharp.
Any day
Parks, gardens, nature centers and museums that don’t charge admission.
Every week
Free baby, toddler and family story times at branches across the county.
Most weekdays
Weekly baby and toddler story times in North County.
Toddler Tales on Tuesdays and Baby Lapsit on Fridays, 10:30am
Every weekly storytime by day and branch: library storytimes in San Diego.
Keep planning
November: things to do in San DiegoEvery dated listing for the month, by weekDecember: things to do in San DiegoEvery dated listing for the month, by week
Free museum days in San DiegoFree days, Museums on Us and EBT discounts, with who gets in
Indoor play in San DiegoIndoor playgrounds, toddler times, museums and classes, with pricesLibrary storytimes in San DiegoBaby, toddler and preschool storytimes by day and branch
Ice skating in San DiegoHoliday and indoor rinks, skate aids and prices
Thanksgiving weekend in San DiegoParades, turkey trots and what’s open on Thursday
Noon Year’s Eve in San DiegoKid-friendly countdowns, home by nap
Christmas parades in San DiegoParades and tree lightings with dates and start timesChristmas trains in San DiegoPolar Express, Santa and lights trains with datesThe Nutcracker in San DiegoBallet and touring shows, sensory-friendly flagged
Christmas markets in San DiegoChristkindlmarkts and winter wonderlands with hours
Christmas break in San DiegoWhat’s open on Dec 24, Dec 25 and Jan 1This week in San DiegoDated outings for ages 0–6, checked every Thursday
Good questions
This week we found 20 free outings for ages 0–6, including Día de los Muertos in Old Town, Halloween Family Storytime (Casa de Oro Library, Spring Valley), Spooky Storytime with Hooray Miss Marae (La Mesa Library) and Trick or Treat at the Library (Solana Beach Library). See free this week; the list is rebuilt every Thursday.
Día de los Muertos in Old Town: Sat Oct 31 and Sun Nov 1. Resident Free Tuesday at Fleet and The Nat: Tue Nov 3. Dates come from each venue’s own page; see free days and free events.
Liberty Station Holiday Tree Lighting, December Nights, Starlight Parade & Festival, San Diego Bay Parade of Lights and Noon Year Eve at Coronado Public Library are free this season. Dates and times are on each card under free days and free events.
San Diego County Library, December Nights and San Diego Bay Parade of Lights don’t charge admission. Some charge for parking or special exhibits; the cards say so where the place does.
Yes. San Diego County Library and Escondido Public Library run free storytimes for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. Times change by branch, so check the calendar linked below.
Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page and links to it. We only list a date, time or price when that page shows it, and anything we can’t confirm stays off. These were last checked Oct 29, 2026, and we recheck them every Thursday for dated events and once a month for free places. How we choose and check.
One short email every Thursday evening with the best things to do with little ones in San Diego that weekend, free ones flagged.
