Whether you’re chasing haunted thrills, sipping themed cocktails with friends, or taking the kids trick-or-treating, there’s something for every kind of celebration. From Oceanside to Del Mar, here’s your guide to the most festive, spooky, and downright fun ways to spend Halloween across North County San Diego.

Parties & Night Life

• Costume Party at The Belly Up: Get ready for the world’s greatest Halloween dance party — Halloween HEAT at Belly Up Tavern. It’s 80s Heat vs. 90s Ice with DJs Chris Cote and Blair Alley, live performances by Bella Lux Entertainment, and a late-night set from Senzo. Costumes encouraged.

• Carnivale Noir at The Rooftop Bar in Oceanside: Step into a seductive, circus-themed Halloween party under the stars Friday 10/31, complete with firelight, ocean-view dance floors, DJs spinning house, hip-hop, and dark disco, a costume contest, bottle service cabanas, and late-night carnival bites from 9 to 11 p.m.

• Witch Creek Winery in Carlsbad is hosting a free, all-ages Halloween Costume Party on October 31 from 6–10 p.m., featuring happy hour, a DJ, multiple costume contests (including one for pets), and prizes for the best dressed.

PHOTOS VIA LA VALENCIA & MORNING LAVENDAR CAFE

Culinary Experiences & Treats

• 20|Twenty Carlsbad: Sip on spooky season perfection with two Halloween-inspired cocktails, the Black Widow’s Kiss and Witch’s Ember, each shaken to perfection for just $14.

• Glass Box at Del Mar Highlands: Celebrate spooky season in style with a trio of dark and elegant Halloween cocktails — the shimmering Oh, Witch, Please, the sultry Black Widow Margarita, and the bold Bloody Potion — available all October long.

• Barbarella La Jolla: Known for going all out every October, Barbarella transforms into a Halloween wonderland with cobweb-covered ceilings, glowing pumpkins, eerie music, themed cocktails, and family-friendly dining — a spooky pop-up dinner experience running all month long.

• Morning Lavender Café: Celebrate Halloween with the Boo-Tea-Ful Afternoon Tea at their Solana Beach café on October 31, featuring a three-tier service of fall-inspired bites, cozy teas, and limited-edition Halloween cocktails.

• La Valencia Hotel’s Halloween High Tea: Celebrate spooky season in style with a hauntingly elegant twist on their beloved Pink Tea Series, featuring pumpkin-spiced treats, enchanting sweets, and ocean views that are simply to die for.

PHOTO VIA CARLSBAD STRAWBERRY COMPANY

Haunted Houses & Scares

• Haunted Corn Maze: Brave the Haunted Corn Maze at Carlsbad Strawberry Company open Fridays and Saturdays through November 1 from 7–10 p.m. Created in partnership with the Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation, this spooky maze offers a heart-pounding adventure perfect for teens and adults—$25 general admission or $45 with a Fast Pass.

• Olivenhain Haunted Hotel: Encinitas’ Scout Troop 2000 is keeping the beloved radition alive for its 25th year, transforming the historic Germania Hotel into a community-run haunted house and carnival with live music, crafts, and both high- and low-scare experiences—raising funds and fostering leadership among local scouts.
  
  
• Oceanside’s longest-running home haunt returns for one night only on October 31, as Box Creep Films transforms 3432 Ricewood Drive into a free, scare-actor-filled walkthrough with fog effects, horror props, metal music, and even a kid-friendly mini maze for younger guests.
  

• A free, family-friendly walk-through haunted house returns to 4831 Kelly Drive in Carlsbad on Oct. 24, 25 & 31 from 7–9 p.m., featuring candy (including allergy-friendly options) and a spooky but kid-appropriate maze of themed scenes from a “SCARE-age” garage to a glowing blacklight tunnel and ghoulish garden.
  
  

For the Whole Family: Pumpkin Patches, Trick-or-Treating, & More

• The Carlsbad Strawberry Company: Celebrate Halloween and Día de los Muertos weekend at with trick-or-treating, a Día de los Muertos egg hunt with Chick-fil-A prizes, and U-Pick marigolds all weekend long — two days of treats, blooms, and family fun in true fall fashion.

• LEGOLAND: The Brick-or-Treat Monster Party returns Saturday, November 1, inviting families and LEGO® fans to enjoy a full day of not-too-spooky fun with themed entertainment, character meet-and-greets, and Halloween activities — all included with general admission and Elite Annual Passes.
  
  
• Encinitas Safe Trick-or-Treat: On Friday, October 31 from 5–8 p.m., downtown Encinitas comes alive as local shops and restaurants open their doors for trick-or-treating, live music in The Lumberyard Courtyard, kids’ games by the 101 Artists Colony, and free family arts activities at Pacific View Arts Center — plus a festive pumpkin display at the Self-Realization Fellowship.

• GOODONYA in Encinitas is hosting an organic, family-friendly Halloween celebration on October 31 from 5–9 p.m., complete with trick-or-treating, a kids activity zone, and a festive fall atmosphere.

• San Marcos Farmers Market: Don’t miss Boo Bash at North City on Friday, October 31 from 4–8 p.m.—a festive Halloween edition of the beloved market featuring fall fun, local vendors, and spooky seasonal treats.
  

• Solana Beach Farmers Market: Celebrate Halloween with decorated pumpkins, festive treats, handmade Día de los Muertos decor, and fresh marigold bouquets from local vendors.
  

• The Shores Restaurant in La Jolla is hosting a Howl-O-Ween Happy Hour and pet costume party on October 31 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., where diners can bring their dogs for themed photos, canine menu items, Happy Hour pricing, prize giveaways, and a chance to win an overnight stay at La Jolla Shores Hotel.
  
  
• Bressi Ranch Village Center in Carlsbad is hosting a free family-friendly Halloween Spooktacular on October 31 from 4–7 p.m., featuring center-wide trick-or-treating, pumpkin rolling, live DJ music, bubble play, and festive fun for kids in costume.

How do you spend Halloween?
Give us a ghouly shout!