San Diego Weekend Guide: Oct. 24-26 – ‘Hey You Guys!’

It’s our time this weekend, San Diego County. From a Goonies-themed bash aboard the USS Midway to SDFC’s historic playoff debut, the fun spans lowriders, zombie crawls and everything in between.

Spend Friday night camping under the stars alongside exotic rescue animals at Lions Tigers & Bears sanctuary in Alpine. This Halloween-themed overnight campout includes campfire songs, pumpkin carving, a costume contest and family-friendly haunted house. Saturday morning at 10 a.m., campers and day visitors alike can enjoy the sanctuary’s Pumpkin Bash. Watch the resident animals play with and tear into treat-filled pumpkins carved by overnight guests. Camping and Pumpkin Bash tickets remain available, with member discounts offered. Visitors are encouraged to bring donations from the sanctuary’s wishlist. 

“Hey you guys!” The USS Midway Museum is hosting a Goonies-themed Haunted Hangar Halloween Bash on Friday from 6:30-9 p.m. Guests are invited to step aboard the historic carrier for pirate-inspired fun, including trick-or-treat treasure hunts, DIY pirate hats, magic shows and a live DJ. Guests can join a Truffle Shuffle dance-off, test their Goonies trivia knowledge and compete in costume contests, with prizes up to $500. General admission is $20, or $16 for Midway members. Children 3 and under are free. One note: The Goonies film will not be screened.

Feel like pumpkin patching? Pumpkin season is in full swing across San Diego County, with plenty of festive patches to explore: 

• Visitors to Carlsbad Strawberry Company can wander the pumpkin patch and snap photos with giant pumpkins; weekends bring extra activities such as tractor rides to the Jurassic Fright and haunted corn maze. Admission is $15 for ages 4 and up.
• The Goff Family Pumpkin Patch returns to Liberty Station through Oct. 31 with free admission and weekend beer and wine from the Tap Truck. Leashed dogs are welcome. 
• Pumpkin Station operates multiple locations countywide, including farms in Rancho Bernardo and Bonita with living patches and corn mazes, plus spots in Del Mar, Mission Valley and National City featuring petting zoos and inflatable play areas.
• Bates Nut Farm in Valley Center celebrates more than 50 years of fall tradition with tractor hayrides, pony rides and wheelbarrow-assisted pumpkin picking. The annual human and dog costume contests and parades take place this weekend. 

We’ve got spirit, yes we do! Mt. Carmel High School in Rancho Peñasquitos hosts its 48th annual Tournament of Bands at 8 a.m. Saturday, welcoming 38 high school marching bands for a day filled with parade and field show performances. Starting at $15, tickets help fund the school’s music, color guard and orchestra programs through the Mt. Carmel Music Foundation. Pro tip: park in nearby neighborhoods since campus parking won’t be available. 

Get spooky with sustainability this Halloween season at the San Diego Fixit Clinic happening Saturday at Carlsbad’s Georgina Cole Library. Drop by between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. to mend costumes, swap Halloween outfits, fix small appliances, craft upcycled seasonal home décor and even sharpen tools – completely free. Space is limited, so RSVPs are encouraged.

Rev up for reading! Chrome meets chapter books at the second annual Lowriders for Literacy Car Show and Reading Fair on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Vista’s Rancho Buena Vista High School. The free, family-friendly event includes lowriders from across San Diego County, book giveaways, performances by local student groups and food trucks. 

In the Gaslamp Quarter, step into the spellbinding elegance of the “Witches of the Westgate Tea” Saturday and Sunday from 1-5 p.m. at the Westgate Hotel, where haunted charm meets champagne, gourmet treats and family-friendly whimsy. When the sun sets, the streets come alive with the San Diego Zombie Crawl, a Halloween and Día de los Muertos adventure through 25+ bars and clubs from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. Grab your wristband and follow the undead to sample spooky delicacies and eerie elixirs along the way.

This NCIS investigates laughs, not crimes. The North County Improv Squad (NCIS) presents its Halloween Spooktacular Saturday from 7:30-9 p.m. at Oceanside Theatre Company’s Studio 219. The troupe will perform improv games and craft a spooky story on the spot, with proceeds benefiting the Project Athena Foundation, which supports survivors of medical challenges in pursuing their dreams. Costumes are encouraged for this PG-13-rated event, meaning it’s appropriate for ages 13 and older. Tickets are $22.

In exciting soccer news, San Diego FC makes history Sunday with its first-ever postseason match, 6:30 p.m. at Snapdragon Stadium. They’ll square off against the Portland Timbers in the Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs. SDFC earned home-field advantage by finishing first in the Western Conference with a record 19 wins and 63 points in its inaugural season. The first 25,000 fans through the gates will score a commemorative SDFC-branded scarf. Tickets start at $68. 

Yes, it’s a bit awkward, but Dodgers fans in San Diego County can watch every World Series game at Offshore Tavern in Bay Park or Grand Slam Pizza in Vista. La Central in Chula Vista will show Games 2 and 3 only. The Dodgers face the Toronto Blue Jays in the best-of-seven series starting Friday, with Games 1 and 2 in Toronto before moving to Los Angeles for Games 3 through 5.