San Diego Weekend Guide: Oct. 4-6 – Frightful Fall

Ah, fall. This San Diego weekend, the season begins in earnest – Oktoberfest brings the beer to celebrate your inner German and take the edge off the scaries as Halloween draws near.

The Del Mar Wine + Food Festival continues through Monday with local food, wine and cocktails. This weekend, the fest picks up the game of the moment with celebrity pickleball at Bobby Riggs Racket & Paddle in Encinitas, hosted by former NFL quarterback Drew Brees. But the main event, the Grand Tasting at Surf Sports Park, is Friday and Saturday. It features bites from celebrity chefs and local restaurants plus over 200 wines, beers and spirits. General admission is $165.

Oktoberfests are breaking out throughout the county:

• La Mesa Oktoberfest returns at 4 p.m. Friday for three days of free entertainment on three stages, with food and lots of beer to boot. Set off from Spring Street and La Mesa Boulevard. Continues at 10 a.m. Saturday and noon Sunday.
• East Village Oktoberfest begins at noon Saturday at the Quartyard. It’s Oktoberfest with a twist, fusing “German tradition and Mexican flair,” with craft beer, live Polka and banda music, vintage cars and interactive games. Admission starts at $10.
• Carlsbad’s Oktoberfest Fall Festival includes a special Oktoberfest brew, along with a variety of draft beer and wines, a costume contest, pumpkin patch and live music. Carlsbad Strawberry Company plays host. Admission is $10.

You like your haunts really haunted? Get a jump on all the howls leading up to Halloween with these seasonal attractions packed with horrors – we’re not talking creepy cute, people. Here’s where you’ll find fearsome frights from serial killers, zombies, evil clowns and more:

• Haunted Trail at Balboa Park – Balboa Drive and Juniper Street, through Nov. 2. Admission starts at $33.
• Haunted Amusement Park at Marshal Scotty’s Playland – 14011 Ridge Hill Road, El Cajon, weekends through Nov. 2, plus Oct. 30-31. Admission – $25-28.
• Howl-O-Scream at SeaWorld San Diego – Thursdays to Sundays through Nov. 2. Admission starts at $42.

Two films fest continue – the San Diego Filipino Film Festival concludes Sunday at AMC Theater Plaza Bonita with shorts and feature films including When This is All Over and the closing film GomBurZa. Day passes start at $30 and individual screenings cost $12. The San Diego Italian Film Festival, meanwhile is just getting started. See Dieci Minuti, Kripton and more at the Museum of Photographic Arts this weekend. Screenings cost $16.

In addition, for another celebration of Filipino culture, head to the La Jolla Library for the free Filipino American History Month Festival with folk dancers, singers and food at 2 p.m. Saturday.

The city of Carlsbad hosts its Super Hero Obstacle Race at Alga Norte Community Park at 8 a.m. Sunday with obstacle challenges using inflatable mazes, slides, wrecking balls and
tight ropes. But the fun part? Teams take on villains as they make their way across 20 obstacles. Register online for $25. Open for ages 4 and up.

Finally, eat your way through the neighborhood with Taste of North Park, including more than 50 restaurants, breweries and more, beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday. Admission is $50.