In today’s Carlsbad Scoop:
North County comes alive with fall festivities, pumpkin patches, and family-friendly Halloween events, offering plenty of ways to celebrate the season.
Weekend vibes feature arts and crafts fairs, local street markets, live music, and community gatherings across Carlsbad, Encinitas, and Oceanside.
Carlsbad Boulevard sees upcoming construction updates, while the city and nearby Del Mar Sports Park open new opportunities for local events and recreation.
Wellness and lifestyle offerings, including grand openings, pilates studios, and mindful community experiences, provide ways to stay active and connected this fall.
Farmers markets, seasonal celebrations, and community happenings keep North County buzzing with energy and family-friendly fun.
Let’s get to it.
🗓️ Upcoming Events in (and around) Carlsbad
Thursday 10/30:
🚗 Fall Festival & Trunk or Treat | Thu Oct 30 | 1975 Chestnut Ave, Carlsbad | 6:30–8pm | Enjoy dinner, live music by Turnstone and Punch the Duck, trunk-or-treat fun, a bounce house, and inflatables for kids. Free community event — costumes encouraged!
🧠 Free Trivia Night | Duck Foot Brewing Leucadia, 978 N Coast Hwy 101 #2051, Encinitas | Thurs 7pm–9pm | Test your knowledge on fun topics while enjoying drinks and friendly competition. Hosted by comedian Alex Petit, winners score bar cash prizes: $30 for 1st, $20 for 2nd, and $10 for 3rd. All ages welcome, free parking available.
Friday 10/31:
🏇 Breeders’ Cup | Oct 31–Nov 1 (All Day) | Del Mar Racing, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd, Del Mar | Experience the pinnacle of the racing season at this prestigious horse racing event featuring world-class thoroughbreds and ocean views.
🪩 Halloween Back to the 80s Party | CBar Carlsbad, 2917 State St | Fri 6pm–10pm | Take a groovy trip back to the 80s with big hair, neon lights, and epic dance floors. DJ spins 80s prom hits from 6:30–10:30pm. Enjoy best dressed prizes, wine flights, 30% off select bottles, seasonal cocktails, and beer tastes from Bay City Brewing. Dust off those leg warmers and get ready to party like it’s 1985!
🃏 Carnivale Noir: Halloween Rooftop Party | The Rooftop Bar, 201 North Myers St, Oceanside | Fri 7pm–Late | Step into a twisted circus in the sky at this sultry Halloween rooftop party. DJs spinning House, Hip Hop, and Dark Disco, enjoy firelit ambiance and ocean views, savor a late-night carnival menu, and compete in a costume contest for hauntingly good prizes.
🍬 Safe Trick-or-Treat | Oct 31 | Downtown Encinitas | 5–8pm | Families can stroll historic Coast Hwy 101 for festive trick-or-treating, live music, and games in the Lumberyard Courtyard. Free arts & crafts at Pacific View and free parking. Sponsored by Lazy Acres Market.
🎃 Dave & Boo-sters Boo Bash | Dave & Buster's Carlsbad, 2501 El Camino Real, Carlsbad | Fri Oct 31 4pm | Enjoy family-friendly Halloween fun with crafts, activities, games, and unlimited simulator play. Enter the costume contest for a chance to win free game play for a year. First 100 ticket holders receive souvenir cups. Tickets $14.99 per person (advance purchase required, excludes taxes/fees). All ages welcome.
🎃 Boo Bash Farmers Market | North City San Marcos, 251 North City Dr | Fri 4pm–8pm | Enjoy a spooky evening of fall fun with trick-or-treating along the Boo Bash Treat Trail, kid-friendly crafts at the coloring station, festive shopping from local vendors, and costumes encouraged for all ages.
🎃 Halloween at GOODONYA: Organic Trick-or-Treat & Kid Zone | GOODONYA Organic, 1051 S Coast Hwy 101, Encinitas | Fri 5pm–9pm | Enjoy a family-friendly Halloween with organic treats, games, and a supervised Kid Zone. Activities include costume contests, a fortune teller, a photo booth, and staff dressed as farm animals.
🎃 Halloween at The Highlands | Fri Oct 31 | Del Mar Highlands Town Center | 10am–6pm | Start the morning with a Party at the Pop Jet at 10am, then enjoy trick-or-treating from 4–6pm with live music, themed meet-and-greet zones, and over 40 participating shops. Free family event and costumes encouraged!
Saturday 11/1:
🛹 Exposure Skate 2025 | Sat–Sun Nov 1–2 | Encinitas Community “Poods” Park | 9am–5pm | Watch 200+ women and girls compete in Bowl, Street, and Vert events at this world-class skate comp. Enjoy food trucks, a vendor village, and a free skate clinic. Free admission and parking.
💪 b∙long Modern Pilates Grand Opening | Sat Nov 1 | 2832 State St, Carlsbad | 8–11am | Celebrate the grand opening of this woman-owned Pilates studio with community vibes, mindful movement, and a modern coastal twist.
💀 Día de Muertos | Thread Spun, 1114 N Coast Hwy 101, Suite 4, Encinitas | Sat 6pm–7:30pm | Celebrate the Day of the Dead with a free community event featuring a discussion with local death doulas, complimentary champurrado and pan dulce, and an ofrenda to honor loved ones. Open to all ages (under 18 with parent/guardian) and free parking available.
🎀 2025 Komen San Diego MORE THAN PINK Walk | Sat Nov 1 | Balboa Park, San Diego | 6:30–9:45am | Kick off breast cancer awareness with the walk starting at 8:00am, opening ceremony at 7:20am, and a post-walk celebration including a mascot dance-off at 9:45am.
Sunday 11/2:
🎨 Carlsbad Village Street Faire | Downtown Village, Carlsbad | Sun 8am–4pm| One of the largest one-day street fairs in the nation, featuring over 750 vendors selling handmade crafts, international food, local art, and more. Enjoy family-friendly entertainment, children’s rides, live music, and a festive marketplace atmosphere. Parking is limited; free shuttles run from The Shoppes at Carlsbad and Poinsettia Coaster Station, plus a free bike valet is available.
🍦 Mary’s Tack & Feed Ice Cream Social | Sun Nov 2 | 3675 Via De La Valle, Del Mar | 11am–1pm | Enjoy a family-friendly morning with free ice cream, kids’ Breyer painting kits, face painting, and a Hobby Horse Freestyle Competition with prizes. Costumes encouraged — free to attend!
🍊🥑Farmers Markets:🍓🧺
Wednesday: Carlsbad: 2:30pm-7pm | State Steet | details
Thursday: Oceanside: 9am-1pm | Pier View Way | details
Friday: San Marcos: 4pm-8pm | N City Drive | details
Saturday:
Sunday:
🌤️🌊 Carlsbad Weather and Wave Forecast
Weather ☀️
Thursday 10/30
79 🌡️ 52 | ☀️
Friday 10/31
73 🌡️ 55 | ☀️
Saturday 11/1
70 🌡️ 51 | ☀️
Sunday 11/2
75 🌡️ 51 | ☀️
🚧 Beach Access Construction Update - Carlsbad Boulevard
Construction will begin soon along Carlsbad Boulevard between Pine and Tamarack avenues to replace the upper seawall stairs and widen sidewalks. The project will run in two phases from October 2025 through Spring 2027, with a pause during summer months (Memorial Day to Labor Day).
The work includes replacing four aging stairways between Pine and Hemlock avenues and widening the sidewalk between Pine and Cherry avenues by 2½ feet. During construction (Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. - 4 p.m.), expect west-side sidewalk closures, limited beach stair access, and some parking restrictions. The southbound bike lane will remain open.
⚽️ Del Mar Polo Fields Update: City Lifts Event Limits at Surf Sports Park
San Diego City Council just lifted use restrictions at Surf Sports Park (formerly Polo Fields) near Del Mar. The decision lets the park host more soccer tournaments and youth events each year, moving up from the old 25-day limit to a maximum of 40 days of larger gatherings.
Neighbors have raised concerns about parking and traffic, while supporters say these events are great for local families and kids who play sports. The new rules will be in place through 2044. Community conversations will likely continue, but for now, you can expect more local action on the fields just a short drive from Carlsbad.
🏠💸 Tax Time Reminder for Homeowners!
It’s that season again: property tax bills for homes, condos, and land are due soon. Your first payment is due November 1 (late if not paid by December 10), and the second is due February 1 (late after April 10). If a deadline lands on a weekend or holiday, you have until the next business day to pay without penalty.
Thanks to Proposition 13, most local homes are taxed at about 1% of assessed value, plus voter-approved extras—so double-check your bill. The Carlsbad area’s median rate runs close to 1.11%, putting the average property tax just under $7,000, but your exact bill depends on location and value.
💵 Miss a payment? There’s a 10% penalty, plus added interest if your tax goes unpaid past June 30. Avoid the headache and pay online by e-check—it’s fast, free, and simple with your bank account info. If needed, the county offers payment plans and support for those who need extra time.
🎃 Fall Fun: Pumpkin Patches Around North County
If last week’s newsletter missed your radar, don’t worry! North County offers plenty of fantastic pumpkin patches to jumpstart your fall celebrations. Check out these top spots to enjoy seasonal fun with family and friends:
Carlsbad Strawberry Company
1050 Cannon Rd, Carlsbad
Open daily 9am–6pm, with extended hours until 10pm Fridays and Saturdays in October.
For $15 (free under age 4), you get access to a vibrant pumpkin patch, marigold fields, and extras like tractor rides, a corn maze, and a petting zoo. Plus, the Haunted Corn Maze opens Oct 3 for thrill seekers.
Pumpkin Patch & Polar Palooza
1200 Laurel Tree Ln, Carlsbad
Hours vary: 2-8pm Mon-Thurs, 9am-9pm Fri-Sun
Just $3 for entry, with optional fun zone tickets. Expect giant slides, a petting zoo, wagon hay rides, snacks, and weekend movie nights in the patch.
Mellano Farm Stand Fall Festival
5714 North River Rd, Oceanside
Saturdays & Sundays 10am–4pm through October
Tractor rides, a pumpkin patch, corn maze, live music and kids activities make it a festive weekend stop. Parking is $5.
Until next time,
Carlsbad Scoop