October 1:
Start planning excursions to more than 40 local museums this month for Kids Free in October, when admission fees are waived for children 12 and under.
October 2:
Catch the Australian pop rock band 5 Seconds of Summer at Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre.
October 5:
Cross into Baja California for the three-day Valle Food & Wine Festival to dine with acclaimed celebrity chefs including Rick Bayless, Michael Mina, and Jonathan Waxman at Finca Altozano.
See Susan Ressler’s photography from boardrooms of days past, on display for the new exhibit Executive Order: Images of 1970s Corporate America at Joseph Bellows Gallery (through 11/30).
October 6:
Stroll the two-day La Jolla Art & Wine Festival, which showcases work from more than 150 artists across the US and Mexico and includes a wine and craft beer garden focusing on local pours.
Inventors and DIYers unite for the weekend at Maker Faire San Diego in Balboa Park, a hands-on experience that spans virtual reality experiences, art sessions, and beer-making workshops.
San Diego Events Calendar: October 2018
Maker Faire San Diego
Violin virtuoso Lucia Micarelli brings a powerful performance to California Center for the Arts, Escondido.
October 10:
Catch five days of independent cinema during the San Diego International Film Festival, including filmmaker meet-and-greets, held at various venues.
Make your way down Orange Avenue for A Taste of Coronado.
Restaurants new and old will serve up samples at the Taste of Mission Hills, including live music and free trolley rides to participating venues.
October 12:
San Diego Events Calendar: October 2018
Dierks Bentley
Discover new designers and their latest runway collections during three days of Fashion Week San Diego, held at various venues.
Slip into your lederhosen for two days of steins, sausages, and live music at Ocean Beach Oktoberfest. Mexican comedian Franco “El Diablo” Escamilla performs his sarcastic standup in Spanish at Balboa Theatre.
Join the three-day Polish Festival at St. Maximilian Kolbe Roman Catholic Polish Mission in Pacific Beach for traditional music, dance, food, and beer.
Country star Dierks Bentley stops at Mattress Firm Amphitheatre on his Mountain High Tour.
October 13:
Enjoy An Evening of Classic Lily Tomlin as the comedienne performs her timeless characters at Balboa Theatre.
Train like a marine in the Bootcamp Challenge obstacle course at Marine Corps Recruit Depot.
More than 50 artists are set to showcase their work for Bread & Salt’s inaugural two-day Latin American Art Fair.
October 14:
San Diego Dance Theater presents Installation Dances, site-specific performances in Liberty Station Arts District.
San Diego Events Calendar: October 2018
Sting & Shaggy
October 16:
Unlikely musical duo Sting & Shaggy perform hits from their new island-inspired collaborative album at Harrah’s Resort SoCal.
October 17:
The disappearance of Sherlock Holmes makes for a suspenseful plot in the West Coast premiere of Holmes & Watson at North Coast Repertory Theatre (through 11/11).
October 18:
Behold the music, dance, and costumes of Mexican civilization from the pre-Columbian era through today when 76 folk dancers of Ballet Folklórico de México perform at California Center for the Arts, Escondido.
Watch high-performance boat races during the four-day Extreme Sailing Series off Harbor Island.
Celtic and bluegrass music converge with a performance from We Banjo 3 at California Center for the Arts, Escondido.
October 20:
San Diego Opera presents Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro, a comic and messy love story, at the Civic Theatre (through 10/28).
Pay tribute to local servicemembers during eight days of Fleet Week San Diego events, including public ship tours at Broadway Pier.
The 11th annual Hallo-Wine Fall Festival, held at the Historic Burnham House, will raise funds for Home Start’s child abuse prevention and treatment programs.
Invite the whole crew to the South Park Fall Walkabout to explore popular neighborhood shops and restaurants on foot.
Northern Irish sculptor Tim Shaw explores humanitarian issues through immersive large-scale installations in his first American exhibit, Beyond Reason, at the San Diego Museum of Art (through 2/24).
October 21:
Treat yourself at Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa’s latest Self-Care Sunday, Pilates + Prosecco.
October 23:
The Pearl Hotel hosts its ninth annual Pumpkin Carving Contest, providing all supplies and a seasonal cocktail while a spooky movie plays on the big poolside screen. The winner gets a free night’s stay at the Point Loma property; second place earns you happy hour for four.
October 26:
Costumed kids can get their sugar rush at Trick-or-Treat on India Street, starting in Little Italy’s Piazza della Famiglia.
October 27:
Experience a wicked wonderland at the annual Monster Bash block party, with a costume contest and ghastly entertainment aplenty in the Gaslamp and East Village.
Indulge in hearty comfort food during the San Diego Mac N’ Cheese Fest at Waterfront Park.
San Diego Events Calendar: October 2018
San Diego Mac N’ Cheese Fest
October 28:
Expect only Southern California–grown bounty at The Lodge at Torrey Pines’ Celebrate the Craft food festival.
Pay respect to the spirits of the deceased at Old Town’s Day of the Dead celebration.
Head to Hillcrest for a Halloween party that’s equal parts scary and sassy at Nightmare on Normal Street.
October 31:
Beloved Broadway musical Wicked shares untold stories of witches from the Land of Oz at the Civic Theatre (through 11/25).
San Diego Events Calendar: October 2018
Wicked | Photo: Joan Marcus
