What's On in San Diego This Weekend (Oct. 16 to 18)
Mission Bayfest, Little Italy's Bella Vita Fest, the Balboa Park Haunted Trail and two Rady Shell concerts
The biggest event of the weekend is Mission Bayfest, a three-day music festival at Mariner's Point Park in Mission Beach, Friday through Sunday. Little Italy fills up Saturday and Sunday with the Galbani Bella Vita Fest (chalk art and wine) plus its Saturday Mercato market. In Balboa Park, the Haunted Trail runs nightly, "Topdog/Underdog" plays its final weekend at the Old Globe, and the Spreckels Organ Pavilion has its free Sunday concert. The Rady Shell has MUNA on Friday and Bonnie Raitt on Saturday.
Suggested weekend plan
Friday: Early dinner in Balboa Park, then "Topdog/Underdog" at the Old Globe at 7 p.m. Or head to the Rady Shell for MUNA at 7 p.m. Mission Bayfest doors open at 3 p.m. in Mission Beach.
Saturday: Little Italy Mercato from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., then the Bella Vita Fest from 11 a.m. Mission Bayfest doors open at noon. Evening choices: Bonnie Raitt at the Rady Shell (7 p.m.), "Topdog/Underdog" (2 or 8 p.m.), or the Haunted Trail in Balboa Park.
Sunday: Bella Vita Fest, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Then the free organ concert in Balboa Park at 2 p.m. "Topdog/Underdog" closes with shows at 2 and 7 p.m. Mission Bayfest doors open at noon.
Mission Beach: Mission Bayfest (Friday to Sunday)
Mission Bayfest is a three-day festival on the Mission Bay side of Mission Beach. The festival site lists the dates as October 16, 17 and 18, 2026. Tiers 1 through 3 of the 3-day pass are marked sold out on the festival's page, and Tier 4 is on sale. Check the festival site for the lineup and each day's set times.
When: Friday, Oct. 16, doors at 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17 and Sunday, Oct. 18, doors at noon. Closing times are not listed.
Where: Mariner's Point Park, 3119 Mariners Way, San Diego, CA 92109
Cost: Prices are not listed on the festival's page. Single-day and 3-day passes are sold through Ticketmaster.
Know before you go: The festival is cashless. No outside food or drink, and no chairs. It runs rain or shine, and ticket sales are final.
Source: Mission Bayfest information
Little Italy: Bella Vita Fest and the Saturday Mercato
Galbani Bella Vita Fest (Saturday and Sunday)
An Italian chalk art and wine festival on the streets of Little Italy. The organizer's page mentions chalk art on India Street and a link for wine tasting tickets.
When: Saturday, Oct. 17, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Little Italy, downtown San Diego (the organizer lists the neighborhood, not a street address)
Cost: Entry price is not listed on the organizer's page. Wine tasting tickets are sold separately.
Little Italy Mercato (Saturday)
The Little Italy Association's farmers market runs every Saturday. It sets up on West Date Street. A smaller Wednesday market also runs, but that falls outside the weekend.
When: Saturday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: West Date Street, from west of Kettner Boulevard to Front Street, Little Italy
Cost: Price not listed (pay per vendor)
Source: Little Italy Mercato
Balboa Park: Haunted Trail, the Old Globe and the organ concert
The Haunted Trail of Balboa Park (nightly through Nov. 1)
A walk-through Halloween attraction in the park. The city of San Diego calendar lists Friday, Oct. 16, as 6:30 to 11:55 p.m. The Balboa Park events page lists 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. daily. The two give different closing hours, so call the hotline at 619-696-SCARE (7227) or check the schedule page before you go. If it rains and the trail closes, the organizer says it posts that on social media.
When: Nightly, Sept. 25 to Nov. 1. Start time 6:30 p.m.
Where: Corner of Balboa Drive and Juniper Street, Balboa Park, San Diego
Cost: Timed general admission starts at $34.99. Fast Pass starts at $49.99, VIP at $99.99.
Source: Haunted Trail tickets
"Topdog/Underdog" at The Old Globe (final weekend)
Suzan-Lori Parks' play runs through Sunday, Oct. 18, so this is the last chance. The Balboa Park listing says The New York Times called it "the greatest American play of the past 25 years."
When: Friday, Oct. 16, 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Where: The Old Globe, 363 Old Globe Way, San Diego, CA 92101
Cost: Price not listed on the page. Call (619) 234-5623.
Source: Balboa Park: Topdog/Underdog
Spreckels Organ Pavilion Sunday concert
The Spreckels Organ Society holds an organ concert every Sunday at 2 p.m. The society's page does not name an artist or program for Oct. 18, so check its site for who is playing.
When: Sunday, Oct. 18, 2 p.m.
Where: Spreckels Organ Pavilion, Balboa Park. The society lists parking in the Lower Inspiration Point lot on Presidents Way.
Cost: Free
Source: Spreckels Organ Society
Downtown: The Rady Shell
The Rady Shell, the San Diego Symphony's outdoor venue, has two evening shows this weekend per its own events page.
MUNA: Gets So Hot Tour. Friday, Oct. 16, 7 p.m.
Bonnie Raitt: Live 2026. Saturday, Oct. 17, 7 p.m.
Where: The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park (the events page does not print a street address; use the directions page on the site)
Cost: Prices not listed on the events page. MUNA tickets go through Ticketmaster. Raitt tickets are sold on the Rady Shell site.
Source: The Rady Shell events
Quick planner
Fri 3 p.m. (doors): Mission Bayfest, day 1 (Mission Beach, See festival site)
Fri 6:30 p.m.: Haunted Trail of Balboa Park (nightly) (Balboa Park, From $34.99)
Fri 7 p.m.: "Topdog/Underdog," Old Globe (Balboa Park, Price not listed)
Fri 7 p.m.: MUNA, Rady Shell (Downtown, Ticketed)
Sat 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Little Italy Mercato (Little Italy, Pay per vendor)
Sat 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Bella Vita Fest (Little Italy, Entry price not listed)
Sat noon (doors): Mission Bayfest, day 2 (Mission Beach, See festival site)
Sat 2 and 8 p.m.: "Topdog/Underdog" (Balboa Park, Price not listed)
Sat 7 p.m.: Bonnie Raitt, Rady Shell (Downtown, Ticketed)
Sun 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Bella Vita Fest (Little Italy, Entry price not listed)
Sun noon (doors): Mission Bayfest, day 3 (Mission Beach, See festival site)
Sun 2 p.m.: Spreckels organ concert (Balboa Park, Free)
Sun 2 and 7 p.m.: "Topdog/Underdog" closing day (Balboa Park, Price not listed)
Sources worth bookmarking
Details can change. Check the organizer pages above before you go, especially hours for the Haunted Trail and ticket status for Mission Bayfest and the Rady Shell. For local businesses across the city, browse the San Diego directory.
By Thomas Hassett and Eric Andrews, Local Business America
Photo: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Balboa_Park_Botanical_Building_01.jpg)
