COAST CITIES — The Halloween holiday is already being celebrated throughout North County.
Enjoy Halloween-themed pool activities and games during Carlsbad’s inaugural Halloween Plunge from 5 to 9 p.m. Oct. 18 at Alga Norte Aquatic Center’s heated pool, 6565 Alicante Road. The city’s newest swimming pool will be transformed into a floating pumpkin patch where participants can catch a pumpkin with a hula hoop. Every child will receive a pumpkin to take home.
Come dressed in a swim suit and enjoy other fun and spooky activities including diving for treasures, collecting bones, catching mutant fish and more. As the sun goes down, finish the night off the movie “Hotel Transylvania” on the giant outdoor movie screen. Cost is $8 per person. Children ages 3 and under are free. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. For more information visit carlsbadca.gov, keyword search “Halloween Plunge.”
Again this year, the Young Del Mar Committee hosts the Del Mar Foundation’s Spooktacular Beach Bonfire at 6 p.m. Oct. 17 at Powerhouse Park and Beach, 1658 Coast Blvd., Del Mar. Registration closes on Oct. 14. There is no charge for this event, but reservations are required at delmarfoundation.org/children.html.
Enjoy spooky tales and songs marshmallows and sticks provided by theDel Mar Foundation.
Enjoy a free day of fun from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 11 at the HYPERLINK “http://www.altavistagardens.org/index.html” Alta Vista Botanical Gardens, 1270 Vale Terrace Drive, Vista . Bob for apples, decorate pumpkins, beanbag toss, crafts, and Roxy, the Recycle Robin, will also have games and relays. The Scarecrow Contest is $2 per entry and must be made on site. For more information, visit HYPERLINK “http://www.altavistagardens.org/” altavistagardens.org for more information.
The Friends of the Rancho Buena Vista Adobe present “Spirits of the Adobe,” a paranormal research tour of the historic Adobe. Conducted by members of the San Diego Paranormal Research Society, tours are at 7:30 p.m. or 9:30 p.m. Oct. 25, Nov. 15 and Dec. 13. These include a tour that includes its history of paranormal happenings. Tour guests can participate in a live electronic voice phenomena session, dowsing rod session and an HYPERLINK “http://www.transcommunication.org/” instrumental transcommunication session via the “spirit box.” Tours are open to ages 18 and over and are $25. To register, visit vistarecreation.com or call (760) 643-5275.
The Birch Aquarium, 2300 Expedition Way, La Jolla, presents the family-friendly Haunted Birch Aquarium, Oct. 24 and Oct. 25, There will be dressing up, treats, games, and “spooky” science demonstrations and activities with the help of scientists and students at Scripps Insitution of Oceanography. Cost for non-members is $15
Discover what lurks beneath the surface Oct. 24 and Oct. 25 and soak up spooky science activities, explore the aquarium’s “wreckage” for sunken treasures, hear Zydeco band Billy Lee & the Swamp Critters, and enjoy close encounters of the fishy kind. Children ages 2 and under are free, and children under 16 must be accompanied by a paid adult. Come dressed to impress in your best costume for prizes.
On Halloween night, from 6 p.m. to midnight Oct. 31, the freaks will be unleashed taking over the Gaslamp and East Village of Downtown San Diego, with a $5,000 prize costume contest and 17 DJs. General admission tickets are $35 until Oct. 21, $40 until Oct. 30 and $45 at the door on Halloween night. VIP tickets are only $75 until Oct. 21, $85 from through Oct. 30 and $95 at the door on Halloween night.
Partiers must be 21 or older and have a valid photo ID to enter. For more ticket or event information, visit sandiegomonsterbash.com/.
