San Diego Fall Festivals – Fall 2025 CA Events
Julian Country Christmas Tree Lighting - Julian, CA - Nov 30 to Nov 30, 2024
Due to their Cuyamaca Mountains location, the holiday time in Julian gets closer to a “white Christmas” than most spots in Southern California. You’ll feel a nip in the air, sniff wood fires, and maybe catch a glimpse of snow capped mountains surrounding town. The holiday season in Julian also offers an opportunity to shop at small boutiques, without crowds or lines, for one-of-a-kind gifts. Enjoy musical performances, watch the tree lighting, and see Santa! If you get the chance to stop for a slice of Julian’s famous pie, have a piece for us! We hit up quite a few pie establishments in October 2021 and enjoyed every single slice.
Father Joe’s Villages Thanksgiving Day 5K - San Diego, CA - Nov 28 to Nov 28, 2024
San Diego’s original & longest-standing Thanksgiving Day turkey trot has returned in person, and we are so excited to welcome you back to Balboa Park! Help provide life-changing meals to feed hungry neighbors in need through Father Joe’s Villages’ Food Services Program.
Challenge Walk MS: Southern California - Oceanside, CA - Nov 8 to Nov 10, 2024
Come together for an endurance walking event fueled by your passion and your steps. 3 days, 50 miles, for a world without MS
San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival - San Diego, CA - Nov 2 to Nov 10, 2024
One of the West Coast’s premier wine and culinary celebrations, this year’s lineup includes Celebrity Chef tastings, wine and food delights, culminating in a Grand Tasting event. Various venues.
San Diego Beer Week - San Diego, CA - Nov 1 to Nov 10, 2024
A 10-day celebration of independent craft breweries in San Diego County, with events held across the county in breweries, bars, restaurnats and more.
Fallbrook Harvest Faire - Fallbrook, CA - Oct 20 to Oct 20, 2024
Come on down to Main Avenue in Fallbrook for craft and food vendors, pony rides and a petting zoo, pumpkin contests and a pumpkin patch, a pie baking contest and more!
SD WhoCon - San Diego, CA - Oct 18 to Oct 20, 2024
A weekend dedicated to the Doctor Who series
Ocean Beach Oktoberfest - San Diego, CA - Oct 11 to Oct 12, 2024
The annual Ocean Beach Oktoberfest. This two-day eclectic, beachside festival will include a variety of exciting activities, contests and entertainment with proceeds benefiting local non-profit organizations. The event will kick off at 3:30 Friday afternoon with live music in the 21 and older beer garden. There will be a 2 for 1 happy hour Friday from 4:30 to 6:01. The Saturday morning festivities will kick off early with a Drill instructor workout on the beach, followed at 9 a.m. with the fifth annual OB Brat Trot, a fundraiser sponsored by the Ocean Beach Community Foundation with proceeds going towards local youth sports. All ages are invited to participate; registration is $25 per family (up to 6 participants) for the 2K Family Fun Run at 9 a.m. and $30 per person for the 5K Beach Run to follow at 10 a.m. Registration for the 5K Beach Run includes free entrance into the beer garden and two complimentary beers for runners 21 and older. New to the event this year, there will be a German microbrew tasting benefiting the Warrior Foundation Freedom Station. The special tastings dubbed Poured with Courage will be served by active and retired wounded service members on behalf of the Warrior Foundation Freedom Station, which will share in the proceeds. Tasting tickets are $30 and will be sold online at www.OBOktoberfest.com prior to the event and at the gate as long as they last. Saturday will also include a free beachside all-ages stage with performances by an OB Oktoberfest band, along with a food and craft vendor area on the Veterans Plaza lawn. Beer garden entertainment will include live music; the annual Sausage Toss Competition for a $1,000 cash prize; and bratwurst-eating, stein-holding and other competitions.
Catalina Island JazzTrax Festival - Catalina Island, CA - Oct 10 to Oct 20, 2024
Lots of jazz with big name entertainers. Headliners include Keiko Matsui, Nick Colionne, Boney James, Brian Culbertson, Ray Parker Jr., and many others.
Carlsbad Rotary Oktoberfest - Carlsbad, CA - Oct 5 to Oct 5, 2024
Family event with German dinner, beer, dancing, live music, pumpkin patch and pumpkin decorating contest for kids. Net proceeds are donated to local causes.
EdUCate! Oktoberfest - San Diego, CA - Oct 5 to Oct 5, 2024
Annual Oktoberfest from 1 to 6 PM to raise money for five U.C. public schools. Bratwurst, beer garden, live music from three bands, home brew contest and kids games.
La Mesa Oktoberfest - La Mesa, CA - Oct 4 to Oct 6, 2024
It now attracts 200,000 to the 3 day festival. German food, beer, entertainment and childrens activities. Hosted by the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce and the La Mesa Village Merchants Association.
Encinitas Oktoberfest - Encinitas, CA - Sep 29 to Sep 29, 2024
Annual German festival hosted by Encinitas Chamber of Commerce from 10 AM to 6 PM on Mountain Vista Drive and El Camino Real. Street craft fair with 200 vendors, German music, family fun zone. Ceremonial parade kicks it off at noon. Craft Corner is 21+ only and will highlight craft breweries. Free parking is available at Flora Vista Elementary School with free shuttle service.
La Jolla Art & Wine Festival - La Jolla, CA - Sep 28 to Sep 29, 2024
A two day juried art show and fundraiser featuring the works of over 150 established artists.
Oktoberfest in El Cajon - El Cajon, CA - Sep 27 to Oct 6, 2024
Two weekends. Hosted by The German American Societies of San Diego, the Oktoberfest usually runs the last weekend in September and the first weekend in October. Authentic German food, beers, folk dancing, kids zone, craft booths and live music by the Guggenbach-Baum band from Germany.
Artwalk Carlsbad - Carlsbad, CA - Sep 21 to Sep 22, 2024
This fine art festival is part of the ArtWalk San Diego brand known for bringing together all facets of the arts in San Diego while promoting the experience of owning original art. More than 175 visual artists will show and sell their work, alongside colorful chalk art that will fill the asphalt as you watch street paintings being created before your eyes on the pavement.
Adams Avenue Street Fair - San Diego, CA - Sep 21 to Sep 22, 2024
75 musical acts on 7 stages plus carnival rides, beer garden, arts and crafts booths and more
San Diego Festival of Beer - San Diego, CA - Sep 20 to Sep 20, 2024
An indoor/outdoor event with live music and nearly 60 different breweries.
Build a Scarecrow - Julian, CA - Oct 14 to Oct 21, 2023
Bring Your family to Julian and build a scarecrow together
Julian Autumn Jubilee - Julian, CA - Sep 23 to Oct 29, 2023
Enjoy a day at Fort Cross with hayrides, cider pressing & tasting, candle dipping, mini pumpkin painting, hoedown & jug band show, petting zoo, reptile show, u-pick pumpkin patch & veggie garden, archery, tomahawk throwing, ghost town slingshot range, fairy & dinosaur garden making, the lilac maze, tire swings, walking trails, and more
Amps & Ales - Chula Vista, CA - Sep 16 to Sep 16, 2023
Almost 40 breweries to sample from, multiple stages of live entertainment and more, at Memorial Park in Chula Vista
Thank You Run - San Diego, CA - Nov 24 to Nov 24, 2022
Discontinued on a high note to focus on other avenues of fundraising for ALS. Formerly: 5K tradition is back at 4S Ranch – Del Sur this Thanksgiving, all while benefiting the ALS Association – Greater San Diego Chapter
San Diego Jazz Festival - San Diego, CA - Nov 23 to Nov 27, 2022
The San Diego Jazz Fest is one of the longest running annual music festivals dedicated to celebrating jazz music of the early 20th Century. Since 1980, this event has been held during Thanksgiving weekend in San Diego, California, and features a variety of musical artists performing traditional jazz, swing, blues, ragtime, boogie woogie, gospel, and rhythm and blues
Carlsbad Music Festival - Carlsbad, CA - Nov 5 to Nov 6, 2022
Annual event with 3 days of adventurous music by the beach
Welk Resorts Oktoberfest - Escondido, CA - Oct 1 to Oct 2, 2022
Get the whole gang together for a full day of delicious German-themed food, rides, games, live music, and of course —beer! This family-friendly festival offers craft brews from multiple local breweries for the adults, and great games and activities to keep the kids entertained
Run for the Hungry - San Diego, CA - Nov 28 to Nov 28, 2019
2021 race is canceled.
Julian Oktoberfest - Julian, CA - Oct 5 to Oct 6, 2019
A weekend of German folk music, dancers, children’s events, food and drink.