SAN DIEGO COUNTY, California — October 30, 2026. The San Diego region has a rare Saturday mix: pumpkin archery in a city park and a historic Old Town remembrance program spanning the weekend. These activities are not interchangeable; visitors should choose by age and respect the Día de Muertos context.

Halloween Saturday, October 31

Pumpkin Archery Party at Chollas Lake

Saturday schedule: Saturday, Oct. 31, 2–5 p.m.. Location: Chollas Lake Archery Range, 6350 College Grove Drive, San Diego.

The City of San Diego calendar lists pumpkin archery and holiday games. Contact the recreation staff for required registration, safety rules and age eligibility. Organizer or source information.

Día de Muertos at Old Town State Historic Park

Saturday schedule: Saturday Oct. 31 through Monday Nov. 2, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. daily. Location: Old Town San Diego State Historic Park.

California State Parks advertises remembrance altars and associated activities; some optional crafts require a separate materials charge. Organizer or source information.

Balboa Park Haunted Trail

Saturday schedule: Saturday, Oct. 31, evening; ticketed. Location: Balboa Park, San Diego.

San Diego’s official city event calendar lists the haunted trail on Halloween night. This is a paid scare experience rather than a free children’s candy walk. Organizer or source information.

How to spend the day without wasting time

A family might choose the Chollas Lake activity in the afternoon and Old Town for a more reflective cultural experience earlier or on Sunday. These are separate neighborhoods; parking and accessibility can differ. Archery is a supervised activity, so verify waivers and gear rules first. Old Town’s altars are not simply Halloween decorations.

Additional context for the weekend

For Sunday, November 1, check the official community calendar before assuming a Saturday venue will keep its seasonal program open. Some Día de Muertos activities occur Sunday but are different from Halloween festivities.

What to check just before leaving

Confirm any updated hours, road closures, age rules, ticket prices and remaining capacity with the source above. Halloween falls on Saturday, October 31, 2026; many similar-looking flyers are actually for Friday, October 30. Do not rely on last year’s event page. For highway conditions check Caltrans QuickMap. For families, use reflective costume details, supervised crossings and extra time around crowded parking lots.

San Diego County’s local journalism · Send corrections or a dated organizer notice.

California58 Halloween weekend desk; information researched October 30, 2026 from organizer and regional calendars. Any activity without a verifiable schedule is explicitly distinguished from an organized event.

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