What's On in San Diego This Weekend (Oct. 9 to 11)

If you want the strongest single area this weekend, go to Balboa Park on Saturday. You can move from a free Día de los Muertos celebration to local glass art, a Filipino makers market and a hands-on pumpkin engineering event without relocating the car. At night, The Haunted Trail takes over the park until close to midnight.

Friday night: The Haunted Trail of Balboa Park

The Haunted Trail is the obvious Friday-night anchor. The City of San Diego lists the outdoor haunt plus its eXperiment Maze, with the 2026 version ending in a new Dark Carnival section.

• When: Friday, Oct. 9, 6:30 to 11:55 p.m.

• Where: Balboa Park

• Why go: It is one of the few Friday events this weekend that runs late enough to build dinner around first.

• Source: City of San Diego events

The city calendar also lists Saturday from 6:30 to 11:55 p.m. and Sunday from 7 to 11 p.m.

Saturday morning: Little Italy Mercato

Little Italy's Saturday market runs year-round, rain or shine, with produce, eggs, meat, seafood, bread, cheese, sauces, coffee, prepared food and local makers.

• When: Saturday, Oct. 10, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• Where: Little Italy

• Why go: It is the easiest breakfast-and-shopping start before heading to Balboa Park.

• Source: City of San Diego events calendar

Balboa Park: the best cluster of the weekend

You could spend most of Saturday inside the park and still have to choose.

Día de los Muertos Celebration

The San Diego Automotive Museum is holding its first Día de los Muertos celebration, with family activities during the day and live music in the evening.

• When: Saturday, Oct. 10, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with an evening program from 6 to 10 p.m.

• Source: Balboa Park October calendar

Pumpkin Chunkin'

The San Diego Air & Space Museum brings back a hands-on STEM morning built around engineering, coding, creativity and flying pumpkins.

• When: Saturday, Oct. 10, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

• Why go: If you have children who would rather build something than browse a market, this is the best daytime pick.

• Source: Balboa Park October calendar

Art Glass Guild Show and Sale

The park calendar describes this as the largest art-glass show in Southern California, focused on work by local San Diego glass artists.

• When: Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 10 and 11, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• Cost: Free

• Source: Balboa Park October calendar

Golden Guide Market

Merkado Kultura brings 28 Filipino and Filipino American creatives to the La Atalaya Foundation Theater at Mingei International Museum for a two-day makers market.

• When: Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 10 and 11, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Cost: The market is listed as free to the public after VIP shopping begins.

• Source: Balboa Park October calendar

North Park: Vegan Food Popup

The City of San Diego lists the monthly Vegan Food Popup at the North Park Mini Park with more than 60 vendors.

• When: Saturday, Oct. 10, noon to 4 p.m.

• Cost: Free entry

• Why go: It is a proper food-market stop, not a token row of stalls.

• Source: City of San Diego events

Gaslamp: Artisan Market, Saturday and Sunday

If you are downtown, the Gaslamp Artisan Market runs on Fifth Avenue both days.

• When: Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 10 and 11, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• What you will find: Handcrafted art, jewelry, clothing and other local goods.

• Source: City of San Diego events

Sunday in Balboa Park: Norway, Persia and community makers

Sunday is surprisingly strong in Balboa Park.

House of Norway Lawn Program: Leif Erikson Day

• When: Sunday, Oct. 11, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• What to expect: Viking music, food, crafts and activities.

• Cost: Free

• Source: Balboa Park October calendar

Mehregan Festival

Balboa Park describes Mehregan as an ancient Persian festival associated with gratitude, friendship, kindness, community and light.

• When: Sunday, Oct. 11, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• Cost: Free

• Source: Balboa Park October calendar

WorldBeat Community Market

Local makers, artists, wellness practitioners, clothing, plants, organic produce and food gather at the WorldBeat Cultural Center.

• When: Sunday, Oct. 11, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Cost: Free

• Source: Balboa Park October calendar

A suggested weekend

Friday: Dinner in Hillcrest or North Park, then The Haunted Trail after dark.

Saturday: Little Italy Mercato first. Move to Balboa Park by late morning for Pumpkin Chunkin', the art-glass show and Golden Guide Market. Finish with the evening Día de los Muertos program or another run through The Haunted Trail.

Sunday: Gaslamp Artisan Market in the morning, then pick one Balboa Park cultural program instead of trying to do all three.

Quick planner

• Fri 6:30 to 11:55 p.m.: The Haunted Trail (Balboa Park). Check organizer

• Sat 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Little Italy Mercato (Little Italy). Free entry, pay per vendor

• Sat 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Día de los Muertos Celebration (Balboa Park). Check museum

• Sat 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Pumpkin Chunkin' (Balboa Park). Listed free

• Sat-Sun 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Art Glass Guild Show and Sale (Balboa Park). Free

• Sat-Sun 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Golden Guide Market (Balboa Park). Free public market

• Sat noon to 4 p.m.: Vegan Food Popup (North Park). Free entry

• Sat-Sun 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Gaslamp Artisan Market (Gaslamp). Free entry

• Sun 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Leif Erikson Day (Balboa Park). Free

• Sun 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Mehregan Festival (Balboa Park). Free

Check individual organizer pages before you leave, especially ticket status for The Haunted Trail and any museum-specific admission.