Here are some of the best things to do this weekend in San Diego from Friday, Oct. 11 to Sunday, Oct. 13.
Friday
Free museum ission for kids: The San Diego Museum Council runs the Kids Free San Diego program Oct. 1-31. Children ages 12 and younger can get free ission with a paid adult to more than 50 museums, aquariums/zoos, gardens, state parks, historic sites and other family-friendly attractions throughout San Diego County, ranging from the USS Midway Museum and Fleet Science Center to Birch Aquarium and San Diego Air & Space Museum, Some locations are free for the entire family or offer pay-what-you-wish ission year-round. A list of participating museums is at sandiegomuseumcouncil.org/specials/kidsfree.
San Diego Parks and Recreation fall events: There are over 20 fall events scheduled at various parks and community centers that will be hosted by the San Diego Parks and Recreation Department. Some of the autumn events include a Halloween carnival at the Nobel Athletic Fields and Recreation Center on Oct. 11, a pumpkin carving night at the Montgomery Waller Recreation Center on Oct. 23 and a trick-or-treat event with a haunted maze and games at the Bay Terraces Community Park on Oct. 25. For a full list of all the Parks and Recreation events, go to sandiego.gov/park-and-recreation/activities.
“A View from the Bridge”: North Coast Repertory Theatre presents its final performances of Arthur Miller’s 1955 drama about a Brooklyn longshoreman struggling to find his place in the world. 8 p.m. Friday; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday; 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday. 987 Lomas Santa Fe Drive, Solana Beach. $52-$74. (858) 481-1055, northcoastrep.org
“The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)”: Palomar College presents this fast-paced comedy that condenses all of the Bard’s plays into 97 wacky minutes. 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday. 2 p.m. Sunday. Howard Brubeck Theatre, Palomar College, 1140 W. Mission Road, San Marcos. $10-$16. palomarperforms.com
“Searching for Kapwa” screening: As part of its Filipinx American History Month Celebrations, the San Diego Community College District will host a screening of “Searching for Kapwa.” It’s a documentary about the Filipino value of kapwa, or shared identity. 6:30 to 8 p.m. Friday. Miramar College, L-101, 10440 Black Mountain Road. Free. sdccd.edu/departments/communications/newscenter/articles/2024/filipinx-american-heritage-month.aspx
Haunted Corn Maze: During the fall, the strawberry fields also serve as a haunted corn maze at the Carlsbad Strawberry Company. The Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation helps create this Halloween event that is recommended for teens and adults. 7 to 10 p.m. Oct. 4-5, 11-12, 18-19, 25-26. Nov. 1-2. 1050 Cannon Road, Carlsbad. $25-$45. aguahedionda.org/haunted-corn-maze-2024
‘Stranger Sings: The Parody Musical”: Oceanside Theatre Company presents this comic spoof of the Netflix sci-fi horror series “Stranger Things.” 8 p.m. Fridays; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. Through Oct. 20. Sunshine Brooks Theater, 217 N. Coast Highway, Oceanside. $20-$50. (760) 433-8900, oceansidetheatre.org
Haunted Amusement Park: At the old grounds of the Marshal Scotty’s Playland in El Cajon, the Haunted Amusement Park will rise from the dead this Halloween season. The Haunted Amusement Park is designed as a trail meant to frighten guests as they maneuver their way through 1960s carnival rides such as bumper cars, a roller coaster and a Ferris wheel. There is also a circus maze, graveyard and slaughter house. This haunted park is about a one-mile walk. 7 p.m. Sept. 27-29. Oct. 4-6, 11-13, 18-20, 25-27, 31. Nov. 1-2. 14011 Ridge Hill Road, El Cajon. $25-$35. scaretrail.com
“Sweeney Todd”: San Diego Musical Theatre presents Stephen Sondheim’s horror musical-opera about a vengeful barber killing off his enemies in Victorian England. 7 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays; 8 p.m. Fridays; 2 and 7 p.m. Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. Through Oct. 20. 4650 Mercury St., Kearny Mesa. $60-$70. (858) 560-5740, sdmt.org
“Primary Trust”: La Jolla Playhouse presents Eboni Booth’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play about a many who must rebuild his life and community after losing his job. 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 1 and 7 p.m. Sundays. Through Oct. 20. La Jolla Playhouse’s Mandell Weiss Forum Theatre, 2910 La Jolla Village Drive, UC San Diego, La Jolla. $39-$94. (858) 550-1010, lajollaplayhouse.org
Spooky season at Rooftop Cinema Club: The rooftop movie screening venue on top of the Manchest Grand Hyatt has a packed lineup of Halloween and scary-themed films this October. This weekend’s list includes “Hocus Pocus,” “Practical Magic,” “The Night Before Christmas” and “Ghostbusters.” 1 Market Place, San Diego. $16.50 for teens, $19.80 for adults. rooftopcinemaclub.com/embarcadero
“Dracula, a Comedy of Terrors”: The Old Globe presents this 90-minute parody of Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel but set in the present day with a narcissistic bed-hopping playboy vampire. 7 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays; 8 p.m. Fridays; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays. Through Nov. 3. Old Globe’s Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, Balboa Park. $45 and up. (619) 234-5623, theoldglobe.org
The Haunted Forest: Banner Ranch in Julian is turning into The Haunted Forest once again. This third-annual Halloween event is a half-mile trek with strobe lights and gory sights and sounds. There will also be beer, refreshments and snacks for sale. Some of the ticket sales will go to Julian’s Christmas event decorations. 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sept. 27-28, Oct 4-5, 11-12, 18-19, 25-26, 31. 36342 California 78, Julian. $15.43-$17.55. (760) 237-0046, eventbrite.com/e/the-haunted-forest-tickets-186401791777?aff=ebdssbdestsearch
“The Importance of Being Earnest”: Lamb’s Players Theatre presents Oscar Wilde’s witty comedy about a pair of Victorian-era bachelors both romancing women under the pseudonym Earnest. 7 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays; 2 and 7 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. Through Nov. 10. Lamb’s Players Theatre, 1142 Orange Ave., Coronado. $38-$82. (619) 437-6000, lambsplayers.org
Haunted Trails: Locals who dare to enter the Haunted Trails at Balboa Park get two different experiences. The first is The eXperiment Maze, which has 3,500 square feet of twists and turns through various spooky encounters with childhood fairy tales such as Goldilocks and the Three Bears. The Haunted Trail takes visitors outdoors through a path with dense fog and several haunting installations with zombies, a ghoul bus, a graveyard filled with ghosts, chainsaw maniacs and more. 7 p.m. Oct. 9-13, 16-20, 22-31; Nov. 1-2. Balboa Drive and Juniper Road, San Diego. $32.99-$47.99. hauntedtrail.net
SeaWorld Howl-O-Scream: For about six weeks in the fall, SeaWorld San Diego gets transformed into a Halloween-themed haunted house as its Howl-O-Scream returns starting Sept. 27. This spooky event will have a vast number of haunted displays, scare zones, activation areas, shows and music stages. Plus there will be Halloween-themed rollercoasters and rides, six-themed bars and speakeasies and food for sale. Oct.10-13, 17-20, 24-27, 31; Nov. 1-2. 500 Sea World Drive, San Diego. $43.99-$144.99. (619) 222-4732, seaworld.com/san-diego/events/howl-o-scream
Saturday
Howl-O-Ween Harvest Family Festival: The Helen Woodward Animal Center is hosting a family-friendly Halloween event, filled with children’s activities, critters and creatures, pumpkins and more. The Howl-O-Ween Harvest Family Festival will offer hands-on encounters with reptiles and farm animals, face painting, an arts and crafts area, trick-or-treat stations and a mini pumpkin patch. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19, 26, 27. 6461 El Apajo, Rancho Santa Fe. $5-$17.75. (858) 756-4117, animalcenter.org/howl-o-ween-harvest
Western Hoedown: Ivey Ranch Park will host its 14th annual hoedown fundraiser with a silent auction, hay rides, musical entertainment, a kids corral, barbecue and a riding demonstration. 3 to 7 p.m. Saturday. 110 Rancho del Oro Dr., Oceanside. $75. flipcause.com/secure/cause_pdetails/MjA3MjEz
“Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show”: Cygnet Theatre presents this campy sci-fi/horror musical spoof about a couple who stumble upon a colorful mix of residents at a remote mansion, including the transvestite space alien/mad scientist Frank N. Furter. 7 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays; 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Through Nov. 20. Cygnet Theatre, 4040 Twiggs St., Old Town San Diego. $39 and up. (619) 337-1525, cygnettheatre.com
‘The Thanksgiving Play’ opens Saturday: New Village Arts presents Native American playwright Larissa FastHorse’s comic satire about a terminally woke high school Thanksgiving pageant. Opens Saturday and runs through Nov. 3. 7:30 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. Select Wednesdays at 2 p.m. 2787 State St., Carlsbad. $25 and up. (760) 433-3245, newvillagearts.org
“Masa”: OnStage Playhouse presents the world premiere of Solomon Maya’s play inspired by the true story of a Mexican woman overcoming trauma following an earthquake. 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays; 5 p.m. Sundays. Through Oct. 27. 291 Third Ave., Chula Vista. $15-$25. (619) 422-7787, onstageplayhouse.org
October Nights: Novo Brazil Brewing Company will host a paint and sip event with supplies provided. All ages are invited but participants under the age of 18 need adult supervision. 2 p.m. Saturday. Novo Brazil Brewing, 901 Lane Ave., Chula Vista. Tickets start at $28.50. eventbrite.com/e/special-paint-sip-event-for-all-ages-novo-on-lane-ave-october-nights-tickets-1021354347347
San Diego Symphony: “The Romantic Lyricism of Schoenberg and Brahms”: Violinist Sergey Khachatryan jions the San Diego Symphony and conductor/music director Rafael Payare for Brahms’ Violin Concert in D major and Schoenberg’s Pelléas und Mélisande, Op. 5. 7:30 p.m. Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. Jacobs Music Center, 1245 Seventh Ave., downtown. $39-$82. 619-235-0804, sandiegosymphony.org
“My Intimate Partner”: Oceanside Museum of Art presents this group show by 12 regional artists who explore their personal and complex relationships with intimate partner violence through their art practice. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays-Saturdays (open until 8 p.m. Fridays), through March 16. Oceanside Museum of Art, 704 Pier View Way, Oceanside. Free-$10. 760-435-3720, oma-online.org
“The Power of Place: Inspirations from Ilan-Lael”: Santa Ysabel Gallery presents this group exhibit by eight artists inspired by the work of the late artist/sculptor James Hubbell and his Ilan-Lael art compound. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursdays-Mondays, through Oct. 27. 30352 Highway 78, Santa Ysabel. 760-765-1676, santaysabelartgallery.com
Sunday
San Marcos Harvest Festival: The San Marcos Chamber of Commerce celebrates autumn with a harvest festival filled with family-friendly activities. The San Marcos Harvest Fest will include over 250 vendors selling food, refreshments, adult beverages, handmade goods and more. There will also be areas offering several activities such as face painting, composting stations, a literacy nook, a petting zoo and a soap box stage for performances. Plus, there will be live entertainment and music on four stages. ission is free and complimentary parking will be available at North City and Cal State University, San Marcos. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. 251 North City Drive, San Marcos. (760) 744-1270, smharvest.com
Halloween Improv: Combining horror, comedy and other variety show moments, sketch comedy duo, Dad Skeleton, will host a special Halloween show. 7 p.m. Sunday. Finest City Improv, 3746 Sixth Ave., San Diego. $15. finestcityimprov.com/-shows/?eid=135616&edid=REFboned
Day of the Dog: This traveling dog festival and block party will arrive in Ocean Beach this weekend. Featured activities include a foam party for dogs, a wave machine, a snow play area, a running of French bulldogs, a fashion show and other things to do for dogs. noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. Free. Voltaire Street between Cable and Bacon streets. thedayofthedog.com
Roomful of Teeth at UCSD this weekend: ArtPower at UC San Diego presents this Grammy-winning American vocal ensemble, which performs new and commissioned works designed specifically for eight amplified voices. 2 p.m. Sunday. Conrad Prebys Concert Hall, UCSD, La Jolla. $40-$65. 858-534-1430, artpower.ucsd.edu
