🎃This Weekend in San Diego: Día de los Muertos, Carlsbad Faire & Halloween

Halloween weekend brings a little of everything to San Diego! Old Town celebrates Día de los Muertos with more than 40 colorful altars, the Carlsbad Village Faire returns with 750+ vendors, and the Gaslamp Quarter turns back the clock at the Fall Back Festival.

In Encinitas, Temaki Bar celebrates its reopening with a special sushi roll benefiting local firefighters.

Rain in the forecast? Explore the Museum of Making Music in Carlsbad, or choose from 200+ live music events across the county.

Plus, get a head start on next weekend's Gem Diego, Food + Wine Festival, and Fleet Week festivities.

Let's dive in.

 Steve DeLong
Publisher

PS - This weekly update goes out to folks who registered through our Facebook promotion for local events. If these messages are no longer a fit, there’s a simple opt-out link in the footer - one tap and delivery stops right away. Thanks for giving us a look!

The Events

💀 Old Town Día de los Muertos - Sat, Oct 31 & Sun, Nov 1 • Old Town San Diego. Celebrate the Day of the Dead with more than 40 colorful altars honoring loved ones, traditional music, artisan vendors, cultural performances, and festive decorations throughout historic Old Town.

🎪 Carlsbad Village Faire - Sun, Nov 1 • 8:00 AM–4:00 PM • Carlsbad Village. One of the nation's largest one-day street fairs, featuring more than 750 vendors, handmade crafts, clothing, international foods, live entertainment, and a children's area. Free admission.

🎩 Fall Back Festival - Sun, Nov 1 • Gaslamp Quarter, Downtown San Diego. Step back into the 1880s with old-fashioned games, historical demonstrations, live entertainment, and family activities celebrating San Diego's Victorian-era heritage.

🌼 Día de los Muertos at Leo Carrillo Ranch - Sat, Oct 31 • Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park, Carlsbad. Celebrate Mexican traditions at this historic ranch with colorful altars, live music, storytelling, cultural activities, and family-friendly festivities.

🦇 Secret Society of Adultologists - Fri, Oct 30 • San Diego Natural History Museum, Balboa Park. The Nat transforms into an adults-only Halloween celebration with after-hours museum access, themed activities, drinks, and spooky surprises.

Join Mark Guiducci for a series of wide-ranging conversations with cultural leaders from the worlds of Hollywood, Politics, Style, Silicon Valley, and beyond. 

On every episode, Vanity Fair pulls back the curtain on how some of the most interesting and powerful minds in our society work – and where they see us going. On Fair Game from Vanity Fair, no subject is off limits.

Watch on YouTube, listen anywhere.

🍣 Temaki Bar Reopens After Fire - Fri–Sun • 11:00 AM–10:00 PM Fri & Sat, 11:00 AM–9:00 PM Sun • Encinitas. After a September fire forced a seven-week closure, the popular hand-roll sushi bar reopened October 19. To thank the firefighters who saved the restaurant, Temaki created the $10 Phoenix Roll with spicy tuna, tempura shrimp, and jalapeños. All proceeds from Phoenix Roll sales through Halloween benefit the Encinitas Firefighter's Association.

💎 Gem Diego 2026 - Sat, Nov 7 & Sun, Nov 8 • 10:00 AM–6:00 PM Sat, 10:00 AM–4:00 PM Sun • Liberty Station Conference Center, Point Loma. Discover gemstones, minerals, crystals, fossils, and handcrafted jewelry from nearly 30 dealers. Features 20+ exhibits, live lapidary demonstrations, gemstone identification, a kids' zone, and door prizes. Free admission and parking. San Diego Mineral & Gem Society

🍷 San Diego Food + Wine Festival - Nov 1–8 • Grand Weekend Nov 6–8 • Various San Diego locations. The 22nd annual culinary celebration brings together acclaimed chefs, wineries, and tastemakers for dinners, wine experiences, and waterfront festivities. Highlights include Saturday's Grand Tasting and Sunday's Grand Fiesta at Embarcadero Marina Park North

🎬 Coronado Island Film Festival - Wed, Nov 4–Sun, Nov 8 • Various Coronado venues. Celebrating its 11th anniversary with five days of independent films, premieres, filmmaker discussions, workshops, and special events. Highlights include I Play Rocky, directed by Peter Farrelly, and Paper Tiger, starring Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson.

⚓ Fleet Week San Diego - Nov 6–15 • Various San Diego locations. Celebrate San Diego's military community with Navy ship tours, military equipment displays, live entertainment, STEM activities, and family events. Highlights include Meet the Fleet at 32nd Street on Nov 7 and public ship tours at Broadway Pier Nov 13–15. Free admission

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Rain in the forecast? Head indoors and explore the Museum of Making Music in Carlsbad. Discover how musical instruments have evolved over the past century, from vintage guitars and keyboards to cutting-edge technology. Interactive exhibits let you try your hand at making music, whether you're a seasoned musician or have never played a note. A fun, hands-on alternative to our usual weekend hike.

Location: 5790 Armada Drive, Carlsbad
Hours: Friday–Sunday, 10 AM–5 PM
Admission: Adults $15

Plan your visit

Mexican Navy Tall Ship Cuauhtémoc in San Diego Bay a few weeks ago.

Fri 10/30
High 70° / Low 62° • ☁️ 22%

Sat 10/31
High 72° / Low 64° • 🌦️ 49%

Sun 11/1
High 70° / Low 62° • 🌧️ 77%

Friday stays cloudy and mild with a high of 70°. Halloween brings a chance of afternoon showers and a high of 72°, so keep an eye on the forecast if you’re heading out Saturday evening. Sunday looks like the wettest day of the weekend, with rain likely and a high around 70°.

Koi Zen Cellars – John Patrick – Carmel Mountain Ranch – 5-8pm
Twisted Horn Mead & Cider – Silk Button Butchers – Vista – 6-9pm
The Rabbit Hole – Jimmy Lewis – Normal Heights – 6-9pm
Coomber Craft Wines Oceanside – The Tipsy Riders – Oceanside – 6-9pm
The Galley at the Marina – Cafe Con Leche – Chula Vista – 6-10pm
Solterra Winery & Kitchen – Colette Sings – Encinitas – 6-9pm
Amalfi Marina Bar – The Dysfunktionals – San Marcos – 6-9pm
Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina – Mike Myrdal – Harbor Island – 6-9pm
The Loma Club – Fish & the Seaweeds – Liberty Station – 6-9pm
Le Papagayo - Leucadia – Swingin Johnsons – Leucadia – 6:30-9:30pm
Aztec Brewery – Dark Unicorn * The Pause * The Tomi Tom Sho – Vista– 7-10pm
1st Street Bar – Bastard Sons Of Johnny Cash – Encinitas – 7:30-9:30pm
Pal Joey's – Soul Addiction – Allied Gardens – 8pm-12am
The Roxy Encinitas – Jukebox Junkies – Encinitas – 8:30-11pm
Moonshine Flats – Nate Botsford – Gaslamp Quarter – 9:30-11:30pm

Over 200 more events are on the web version…click the button to see them!

🎤 Karaoke

710 Beach Club – Karaoke – Pacific Beach – 8pm-12am
Harry's Sports Bar & Grill – Harryoke Fridays – Fallbrook – 8pm-1am
Happy Does Bar – Karaoke – Gaslamp Quarter – 8:30pm-1:30am
Werewolf American Pub – Karaoke – East Village – 9pm-1am

🧠 Trivia

Dirty Birds - Ocean Beach – Sunset Trivia – Ocean Beach – 7-9pm

Coomber Craft Wines Vista – Raynaldo Martine – Vista – 1-4pm
Humphreys Backstage Live – Slytr – Point Loma – 5-7pm
Gaylord Pacific – Orion Song – Chula Vista – 5-8pm
Del Mar Plaza – Greg Russo – Del Mar – 5-7pm
Amalfi Marina Bar – Cadillac Fringe – San Marcos – 6-9pm
Plaza Del Sol – Helena Holleran – Mission Bay – 6-9pm
Eddie V's V Lounge – Archie Thompson Trio – Marina District – 6:30-10:30pm
Misadventure & Co – Jesse London – Vista – 6:30-10:30pm
The Jazzy Wishbone – Thee Oddz – Oceanside – 7-10pm
Lou Lou’s Club @ Lafayette Hotel – Fresh Veggies Micro Brass – University Heights – 8-11pm
The Roxy Encinitas – The Black Shades – Encinitas – 8:30-10pm
The Salty Frog – The Crash Shouts – Imperial Beach – 9pm-12am
710 Beach Club – CroonDog * Three Legged Dog – Pacific Beach – 9pm-12am
Pal Joey's – Blame Betty – Allied Gardens – 9pm-1am
Moonshine Flats – Discofox – Gaslamp Quarter – 10pm-12am

The list has gotten too big! To see everything click the button…

🎤 Karaoke

Junkyard Sports Bar & Grill – Karaoke – Oceanside – 7-9:30pm
Ringer's Cocktail Lounge – Karaoke – Bonsall – 8pm-12am
Happy Does Bar – Karaoke – Gaslamp Quarter – 8:30pm-1:30am
Werewolf American Pub – Karaoke – East Village – 9pm-1am

🧠 Trivia

Dirty Birds - SDSU Area – Sunset Trivia – College Area – 8-9pm

Farmer & The Seahorse – Blaise Guld – Torrey Pines – 10am-1pm
Seasons Restaurant – Shea Givens – Carlsbad – 10am-1pm
The Landings at Carlsbad – Sheila Sondergard – Carlsbad – 11am-2pm
Covewood Restaurant – Orion Song – Mission Bay – 11am-2pm
Fairmont Grand Del Mar – David Yuter – Del Mar – 12-3pm
The Roxy Encinitas – Jon Campos – Encinitas – 1-4:30pm
The Galley at the Marina – Slytr – Chula Vista – 3-7pm
Duke's La Jolla – Kevin Ryan – La Jolla – 3-6pm
Grand Ole BBQ – CreepXotica – El Cajon – 3-5pm
The Kraken – Thunderbird Mountain – Cardiff – 4-7pm
The Surf Club – Blues Farm – Oceanside – 4-7pm
Chandler's Oceanfront Dining – Alex Elisabeth – Carlsbad – 4:30-6:30pm
Rancho Bernardo Inn – Mike McGill – San Diego – 5-8pm
Eddie V's V Lounge – Burt Brion Trio – Marina District – 6:30-10:30pm
Tio Leo's Mexican Restaurant & Lounge – Jazz: Irving Flores Afro-Cuban Quartet – Morena – 7-10pm

Over 200 more events are on the web version…click the button to see them!

🎤 Karaoke

American Legion Post 282 – Karaoke with TerryOke – La Mesa – 5-8pm
Casino Inn Bar and Grill – Karaoke w/ Jess & Tony – Alpine – 5-10pm
The Salty Frog – Karaoke – Imperial Beach – 7pm-2am
710 Beach Club – Karaoke – Pacific Beach – 8pm-12am
Winstons OB – OBoke Karaoke – Ocean Beach – 8-11pm
Full Circle Saloon – Karaoke – Santee – 8:30-11:59pm
1st Street Bar – Karaoke Night – Encinitas – 9pm-12am
North Bar – Karaoke – Escondido – 9pm-1am
Pal Joey's – Karaoke – Allied Gardens – 9pm-1am
Werewolf American Pub – Karaoke – East Village – 9pm-1am

🧠 Trivia

Uvas Winery – Music Trivia – Poway – 5-7pm
Eastbound Bar & Grill – Trivia – Lakeside – 6:30-8:30pm
Dirty Birds - LIberty Station – Sunset Trivia – Liberty Station – 8-9pm

*Some events may require tickets, reservations, cover charges, or be full/sold out, and we sometimes estimate the end time if not provided by the venue plus typos or errors can happen but we try our best!! …

Answer: C.

In November 1602, Spanish explorer Sebastián Vizcaíno sailed into a harbor that Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo had named San Miguel 60 years earlier. Vizcaíno's flagship was named San Diego, and November 12 was the feast day of San Diego de Alcalá, a Spanish Franciscan friar. Vizcaíno renamed the harbor San Diego, and the name stuck.

Vizcaíno had been sent to chart California's coastline and identify safe harbors for Spanish trading ships returning from the Philippines. His maps helped guide Pacific navigators for generations.

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San Diego Meteor is published every Friday morning by Steve DeLong. Steve is an Escondido High graduate and has lived in San Diego County since 1972.