In today’s Carlsbad Scoop:
Hedwig, the Hogwarts Express and a sky full of drones over the Del Mar Fairgrounds
A floating pumpkin patch in the pool at Alga Norte
More than 40 altars and Aztec dancers at La Colonia Park
A free LagreeRed workout outside Vuori at The Forum
Ponto's last open lot goes to townhomes, and the Village train tracks move a step closer to going below the street
Let's get to it.
🗓️ Upcoming Events in (and around) Carlsbad
Thursday 10/15
Meet the Farmer: Frantoio Grove | The Garden at evanhealy, 5925 Priestly Dr #120, Carlsbad | 5:30-7:30pm
Patrick and Claire of Frantoio Grove talk about their regenerative organic farm and lead a tasting of their award-winning olive oil with gazpacho and, of all things, vanilla ice cream. Jimbo's brings light bites. details
Pumpkin Station | Del Mar Fairgrounds, East Parking Lot, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd, Del Mar | 10am-7pm
No charge to get in or walk the patch, and pumpkins are priced by size. Kid rides, two giant slides and the antique carousel are $5 a ticket, and leashed dogs are welcome. Open daily through Halloween, until 9pm Fridays and Saturdays. details
Friday 10/16
DroneArt Show: Harry Potter | Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd, Del Mar | 7pm
1,200 drones fly scenes from the films in time to the soundtrack, with a live electric violinist. Doors open at 5 for food, drinks and wands, and there's a second show Saturday. Kids under 3 get in free. details
Atomic Groove's RocktoberFest | Belly Up, 143 S Cedros Ave, Solana Beach | 5:30pm The cover band's happy-hour dance party is a benefit for Gurkhas Rugby this time, with drink specials 5 to 8. $12 ahead or $14 at the door. details
Haunted Corn Maze | Carlsbad Strawberry Company, 1050 Cannon Rd, Carlsbad | 7-10pm
A haunted maze through the corn, run with the Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation and meant for teens and adults. It's open Fridays and Saturdays through Halloween. details
Saturday 10/17
Halloween Boo-Nanza | Plaza Paseo Real, 6941 El Camino Real, Carlsbad | 10am-12pm
Trick-or-treat stations, photos with a costumed character, live music, crafts, face painting and balloon twisting, so come in costume if you've got one. details
Bichon Bash | Cardiff Sports Park, North Extension, 1661 Lake Dr, Encinitas | 10am-2pm Bichon FurKids rescue's yearly fundraiser, with a fenced-in area where the dogs can play, plus food and raffles. Getting in is a $48 tax-deductible donation to the rescue ($100 for a family), and it comes with a swag bag. details
Fall Festival | San Diego Botanic Garden, 300 Quail Gardens Dr, Encinitas | 11am-3pm Regular Garden admission covers bubble artist Alan Kler on the lawn, plant bingo with plants for prizes, tacos from Surf Me A Taco and a new beer brewed with Fox Point Brewing from the Garden's own fruit. The Yamaokas play the gazebo from 1 to 3. details
C You Saturday! | ICA San Diego North, 1550 S El Camino Real, Encinitas
The museum's monthly open day is free, with the galleries and the outdoor Sculpture Trail to explore. details
Día de los Muertos Festival | Mellano Farm Stand, 5750 N River Rd, Oceanside | 10am-4pm
Two days of U-pick marigold fields for ofrendas and flower crowns, a corn maze, tractor rides, free garden talks and kids crafts, with pumpkin pie eating contests at noon, 1 and 2. Parking is $5. details
Chicana Art Festival | Downtown Vista, by the flagpole, 110 S Citrus Ave, Vista | 1-6pm
Free all afternoon, with live mural painting, local artists and vendors, music and food, in a day for Chicana, Latina and Indigenous women artists. details
Halloween Trunk or Treat | Mance Buchanon Park, 425 College Blvd, Oceanside | 2-5pm
Decorated cars fill the lot for a free afternoon of candy, and the city hands out awards for the best, most creative, funniest and spookiest trunks. details
Pumpkin Plunge | Alga Norte Aquatic Center, 6565 Alicante Rd, Carlsbad | 5-8pm
Pool games with prizes, floating obstacles and a floating pumpkin patch where every kid lassos a pumpkin to keep. The splash pad is open for little ones, with a bounce house on dry land. $15 a person, under 3 free but register them too, and the online presale ends Friday at 5. details
Sunday 10/18
Free Outdoor LagreeRed Class at Vuori | Vuori, The Forum Carlsbad, 1905 Calle Barcelona, Carlsbad | 9-11am
A free outdoor workout led by LagreeRed from 9 to 10, then an hour of discounted shopping and refreshments inside. RSVP to hold a spot, and bring a mat and a towel. details
Fox Point Farms Pumpkin Patch | Fox Point Farms, 1200 Fox Point Farms Ln, Encinitas | 9am-6pm
This is the one day a week the patch opens to everyone, at $3 to get in. Walk the field the pumpkins grew in, pick one right off the ground and pay for it on the way out. details
Fallbrook Harvest Faire | Main Ave, Fallbrook | 9am-4pm
Free to get in, with scarecrow stilt walkers, pony rides and pie and costume contests downtown, plus a beer and wine garden at Village Square. No pets in the festival area. details
Día de los Muertos Celebration | La Colonia Park, 715 Valley Ave, Solana Beach | 10am-5pm
Free, with more than 40 altars blessed by Danza Azteca San Luis Rey to start the day, allet folklórico, Catrina and dog costume contests, kids crafts and a cake cutting for the city's 40th. Parking is limited, so carpool or bike. detailsKids' Pumpkin Decorating at the Farmers Market | Leucadia-Encinitas Farmers Market, Oak Crest Middle School, Encinitas | 10am-2pm
Free pumpkin decorating and a fall art project for kids, set up by Leucadia 101. Get there early, since supplies run out, and grab breakfast or lunch from the vendors while they paint. details
Oceanside Shock vs. Stockton Thunder | Frontwave Arena, 3475 Hero Dr, Oceanside | 5pm
The city's new Federal Prospects Hockey League team plays its third home game, a week after opening weekend. details
🍊🥑Farmers Markets🍓🧺
Wed Carlsbad, State Street, 2:30-7pm details
Thu Oceanside, Pier View Way, 9am-1pm details
Fri San Marcos, N City Drive, 4-8pm details
Sat Vista, Courthouse lot, 8am-12pm details
Sat Cardiff, MiraCosta Campus, 10am-2pm details
Sat Del Mar, Civic Center, 12-4pm details
Sun Rancho Santa Fe, Del Rayo Center, 9:30am-2pm details
Sun Leucadia, Oak Crest Middle School, 10am-2pm details
Sun Solana Beach, Cedros Avenue, 12-4pm details
🌤️🌊 Carlsbad Weather and Wave Forecast
Day | Weather | Waves |
|---|---|---|
Thursday 10/15 | 84 🌡️ 67 | ☀️ | 5-6 ft |
Friday 10/16 | 89 🌡️ 73 | ☀️ | 5-6 ft |
Saturday 10/17 | 86 🌡️ 66 | ☀️ | 5-6 ft |
Sunday 10/18 | 83 🌡️ 65 | ☀️ | 5-7 ft |
💧🌡️ Water temperature = 72°F
Note: Above forecast is for Tamarack
🚆 Carlsbad Moves Closer to Lowering the Village Train Tracks
Carlsbad's long-running plan to drop the train below street level through the Village and the Barrio moved forward last week. Trains would run in a trench about 30 feet down, roughly between the Buena Vista and Agua Hedionda lagoons, with a second track added. The streets would pass over the tracks, so traffic and people crossing wouldn't stop for trains, and the city says it would address safety and traffic concerns there.
The City Council approved an agreement with SANDAG and North County Transit District to fund the design and environmental studies, a phase estimated at about $26 million, including $5.22 million the city set aside in 2023. SANDAG's board still has to sign off later this year. If it does, the studies could start next year and wrap up in 2030, and paying to build it comes after that. Learn more
🏖️ Coastal Commission Clears the Way for Townhomes at Ponto
The California Coastal Commission voted 7-4 on Oct. 8 to approve land-use changes that allow 120 rental townhomes on the empty 11-acre lot by South Ponto Beach, rejecting residents' appeals to keep it for a public park. The hearing ran about five hours, and most of the 93 speakers opposed housing there.
H.G. Fenton's plan also adds commercial space and public trails. People for Ponto, which gathered more than 20,000 signatures, says South Carlsbad has no coastal park, while the city says every quadrant meets its parkland standard. Nothing gets built until the City Council approves the project. Learn more
Until next time,
Carlsbad Scoop