Fall's calendar is packed with plenty of things to do around San Diego! From street fairs and cultural celebrations to book festivals, Día de los Muertos and spooky Halloween fun, there's something happening nearly every weekend and MTS is set to help you get there.
We've rounded up some of the season's biggest events that are easily accessible via transit. Pick your favorites of the bunch, grab your family and friends, and use the MTS Trip Planner to plan your ride.
September 10 – October 31 (weekends)
Beachside Fall Fest
Take Route 8 to Belmont Park to enjoy the Beachside Fall Fest. Enjoy festive fall food, free trick-or-treating (Sundays in October), and free kids' rides with an adult wristband (in October).
📍 3146 Mission Blvd., San Diego
🎟️ Free entry (rides extra)
Sept 19-20
Adams Avenue Street Fair
- Saturday, Sept 19: 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
- Sunday, Sept 20: 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
The 44th annual Adams Avenue Street Fair features 75 musical acts on six stages in San Diego's Normal Heights neighborhood. Use Route 2 or Route 11 for access to the street fair.
📍 3400 Adams Ave, San Diego
🎟️ Free entry
Sept 20 | 10 a.m. - 3p.m.
San Diego Bunnyfest
For the over 30 years, the San Diego Bunnyfest has been the largest annual event and fundraiser for the San Diego House Rabbit Society (SDHRS). Celebrate rabbits, rescue, and community at Bunnyfest, the San Diego House Rabbit Society's annual outdoor festival and biggest fundraiser of the year! Take Route 28 to Liberty Station.
📍 2705 Cushing Rd, San Diego
🎟️ $5 Presale, $6 on event day (plus fees)
Sept 25-Nov 1
Haunted Trail
The Haunted Trail of Balboa Park is back for another year of fear! The Experiment Maze and mile-long Haunted Trail winds through the gnarled oaks of Marston Point. Balboa Park can be accessed via transit by taking Route 120 or Route 3 (west side) or Route 7 or Rapid 215 (east side).
📍 Balboa Dr & Juniper in Balboa Park
🎟️ General Admission starts at $34.99
Sept 26 | 12 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Chula Vista ArtFest
Celebrate the creativity of local artists at the fourth annual Chula Vista ArtFest on at Chula Vista City Hall. Use Route 701 or Route 704 for access to the ArtFest.
📍 276 Fourth Avenue, Chula Vista
🎟️ Free
Sept 26 | 5 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
SUGAR SKULL!
Bursting with music, dance, humor, and heart, SUGAR SKULL! captures the spirit of Día de Muertos in a joyful theatrical experience that celebrates memory and connection across generations. The musical will be at Epstein Family Amphitheater just a short walk from the UC San Diego Blue Line.
📍 9480 Innovation Lane, San Diego
🎟️ Tickets start at $27
Photo by wallace Henry on Unsplash
Sept 26 | 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Celebración Mexicana
Celebración Mexicana offers a wonderful opportunity for our dancers and parents to share the rich Mexican culture through traditional dances and outfits from various regions of Mexico with family, friends, and the community. Use Route 44 to get to the University of San Diego campus.
📍 Shiley Theatre - University of San Diego, 5998 Alcala Park Way
🎟️ $25 plus fees
Sept 26 | 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
3rd Annual Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with the Mt. Hope Neighborhood Group with music, face painting, and more! Route 5 will take you to the event at Dennis V. Allen Park.
📍 Dennis V. Allen Park - 850 Boundary St, San Diego
🎟️ Free
Sept 26-27 | Starts at 7:30 a.m.
32nd Annual Pacific Islander Festival of San Diego
The Pacific Islander Festival is an annual celebration of the rich cultures, traditions, and indigenous peoples of Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia and features traditional music, dance performances, cultural workshops, and a wide variety of authentic island food and craft vendors. With limited parking at Ski Beach, taking the Route 9 bus will help avoid parking headaches.
📍 Ski Beach, Mission Bay, San Diego
🎟️ Free
Weekends in October
HalGLOWeen at the San Diego Zoo
Every weekend in October, enjoy family fun in the dark at HalGLOWween light-up-the-night spectacular at the San Diego Zoo. This year's celebration is full of eerie-sistible entertainment, interactive festivities, and lots of spooky surprises! The San Diego Zoo can be accessed via transit by taking Route 7 or Rapid 215.
📍 2920 Zoo Drive, San Diego
🎟️ Tickets start at $73 for adults and $63 for children. In October, kids 11 and under get free admission with the purchase of an adult ticket.
Oct 2-4 | Fri: 4 p.m. - 10 p.m. | Sat: 10 a.m. - 10 p.m. | Sun: 12 p.m. - 8 p.m
La Mesa Oktoberfest
The La Mesa Oktoberfest presents Bavarian festivities that San Diegans of all ages can partake in! Take the Orange Line to the La Mesa Blvd Station for easy access to the event.
📍 Historic La Mesa Village, La Mesa
🎟️ Free
Oct 3 | 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
North Park Book Fair
A neighborhood book fair brought to you by Verbatim Books! Get ready to dive into a world of books, creativity, and community. Use Routes 2, 6, 7, or 10 for access to North Park.
📍 3793 30th St. - North Park
🎟️ Free
Oct 4 | 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
San Diego Family Fun Fest Halloween
Bring the family, from toddlers to teens, for a FREE Halloween celebration filled with festive activities, treats and plenty of fun.
📍 6845 University Avenue, San Diego
🎟️ Free
Oct 10 | 12 p.m. - 4 p.m.
North Park Halloween Party
Join in for a ghoulishly fun community party including live entertainment, pumpkin decorating station, and costume contest with prizes! (Routes 2, 6, 7, or 10)
📍 North Park Mini Park – 3812 29th St
🎟️ Free
Oct 24 | 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
BOO! by the Bay Halloween Carnival
Get ready for San Diego's most spooktacular Halloween celebration, featuring live entertainment, seasonal food and beverages, a bewitching marketplace, spirited games, and a costume contest with prizes. A frightfully fun time for all! ( Route 28)
📍 Naval Training Center Park – Liberty Station
🎟️ Free
Oct 31 | 4-6 p.m.
Halloween in La Mesa Village
The Village comes alive for a family-friendly trick-or-treat along La Mesa Blvd. Dress up, bring your own bag, then hop on the Orange Line to collect treats from local shops - right across the street from the La Mesa Blvd Station.
📍 Downtown La Mesa | 8400 La Mesa Blvd.
🎟️ Free
Oct 31
Adams Avenue Halloween Haunt
Trick-or-treat at 50+ local businesses and enter costume contests for kids, pets, families and adults - prizes up to $100! Use Route 11 to travel to Adams Avenue.
📍 Adams Ave., Normal Heights
🎟️ Free
Nov 1
Día de Muertos in Barrio Logan
Join the festivities on Logan Avenue for a day of ofrendas, art, music, live performances, local vendors, food, and traditions shared across generations. Take Route 12 to get to the celebration.
📍 Logan Avenue Cultural Corridor
🎟️ Free
Nov 1 | 3 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Día de Muertos Celebration Chula Vista
This free community event will include fun for the entire family and is a great way for the community to come together to honor our loved ones that have passed, while still celebrating life. Catch a ride on the UC San Diego Blue Line to the E Street Station, then take Route 704 to F Street & 3rd Avenue. You can also take Route 701, 709, or 929.
📍 Downtown Chula Vista - Third Avenue and Memorial Park
🎟️ Free
