8 spooky Halloween happenings in San Diego

For all things creepy, festive, fun and horrifying, here’s where to go out for the scary season.

9.27-11.2: Scream Zone

One of SoCal’s scariest scenes returns with three hair-raising haunts, including a hallucinatory House of Horror, a harrowing Haunted Hayride and a Wizard of Oz-inspired experience called The Chamber.

Del Mar Fairgrounds, Del Mar, thescreamzone.com

9.27-11.2: Haunted Trail & eXperiment Maze

Squeamish peeps should steer clear of this mile-long amusement that starts with a spine-tingling, 3,500-square-foot maze then continues throughout Balboa Park’s perilous paths, brimming with pop culture’s most insidious icons.

Balboa Park, downtown, hauntedtrail.net

10.4-11.2: The Disturbance

This trio of terrifying attractions includes undead outcasts from Downtown’s Haunted Hotel, a congregation of “kill-billies” from the Ozarks and a 3D Freak-Fest designed to melt your mind.

Mission Valley Center, Mission Valley, hauntedhotel.com

10.25-26 and 10.31-11.2: San Diego Zombie Crawl

Now spanning two weekends and coinciding with the Dia de los Muertos, this year’s alcohol-infused undead event offers access to more than 20 of the city’s hottest parties (and escape rooms) and features complimentary shots at 10-plus venues.

Throughout the Gaslamp Quarter and East Village, sandiegozombiecrawl.com

10.25-26: Nightmare Before Halloween at Lafayette

Be there when El Cajon Boulevard’s celebrated inn transforms into a Tim Burton-esque wonderland where guests with the creepiest themed costumes can win big prizes. Some of San Diego’s favorite bands will perform throughout the night, including Low Volts, Shane Hall and Dani Bell & The Tarantist.

Lafayette Hotel, University Heights, lafayettehotelsd.com

10.26: 9th annual Hallo-Wine & Spirits Party

Prepare to see plenty of Pennywise cosplayers as Coronado’s famously haunted hotel invites guests to wear clown-themed costumes for this adults-only affair full of drinking, dancing and decadent desserts.

Hotel del Coronado, Coronado, hoteldel.com

10.26: WCKD Village

Confront fearsome creatures face-to-face at this musical fright-fest featuring three eerie experiences, loads of live music, and a morbid bar crawl among other attractions.

Market Street to J Street, East Village, wckdvillage.com

10.26: Nightmare on Normal Street

Kick off Halloween weekend at this massive 21-and-up block party boasting two enormous bars, an epic outdoor dance party and multiple costume contests — including one for canines.

Pride Flag Plaza, Hillcrest, fabuloushillcrest.com