North County: the next 90 days

47 dated things in the next 90 days, from the towns', venues' and agencies' own listings, rebuilt every morning. This weekend: Fall City Cycling Class, Mellano Farms Pumpkin and Marigold Fall Festival, San Elijo Lagoon Wildlife Tour. Next weekend: Carlsbad Pumpkin Plunge, Nature Collective Fall Festival, Solana Beach Día de los Muertos, Gem Faire.

This weekend in detail Fall deadlines

• Tue Oct 6 to Sat Oct 31 · Pumpkin Station: Del Mar Fairgrounds. our guide · source
• Thu Oct 8 · noon-2pm · Senior Games Day: La Colonia Community Center, 715 Valley Ave, Solana Beach. Free: Loteria, Scrabble, dominoes, mahjongg, cornhole and new games. Need a ride? On the Go, 858-923-1344, book 5 days ahead. our guide · source

Plus 4 shows at Belly Up and The Sound: plan a show night.

• Fri Oct 9 to Sat Oct 31 · Pumpkin Station: Del Mar Fairgrounds. our guide · source
• Sat Oct 10 · 9am-noon · Fall City Cycling Class: Solana Beach City Hall, 635 S Highway 101. Road rules and skills with a licensed instructor, then a guided ride. Free for Solana Beach residents, ages 12+, register; bring a bike and helmet. our guide · source
• Sat Oct 10 + Sun Oct 11 · 10am-4pm · Mellano Farms Pumpkin and Marigold Fall Festival: Mellano Farm Stand, 5750 N River Rd, Oceanside. Every October weekend: pick a pumpkin, a corn maze, and rows of marigolds (the Día de los Muertos flower). our guide · source
• Sat Oct 10 · 9-11am · San Elijo Lagoon Wildlife Tour: San Elijo Lagoon (meet-up spot emailed after you register). Free guided walk, ages 15+, registration required. our guide · source

Plus 7 shows at Belly Up and The Sound: plan a show night.

Weather, shows, tides and trains for the weekend.

• Tue Oct 13 · 6pm · Pros and Cons of the November state propositions: La Colonia Community Center, 715 Valley Ave, Solana Beach. League of Women Voters North County walks through all 14 state propositions, nonpartisan. Free. our guide · source
• Thu Oct 15 · 10:15am · Great ShakeOut drill: everywhere. Drop, Cover and Hold On at the same minute statewide. our guide · source
• Deadline · Thu Oct 15 · Medicare Open Enrollment opens. Change Medicare Advantage or Part D plans for 2027. Free counseling from HICAP. how to do it

Plus 6 shows at Belly Up and The Sound: plan a show night.

• Fri Oct 16 to Sat Oct 31 · Pumpkin Station: Del Mar Fairgrounds. our guide · source
• Sat Oct 17 + Sun Oct 18 · 10am-4pm · Mellano Farms Pumpkin and Marigold Fall Festival: Mellano Farm Stand, 5750 N River Rd, Oceanside. Every October weekend: pick a pumpkin, a corn maze, and rows of marigolds (the Día de los Muertos flower). our guide · source
• Fri Oct 16 to Sun Oct 18 · Gem Faire: Del Mar Fairgrounds. our guide · source
• Sat Oct 17 + Sun Oct 18 · all day · Bike MS: Bay to Bay: Irvine and Omni La Costa, Carlsbad, to San Diego. A big charity ride down the coast. Day one starts in Irvine and Carlsbad and finishes at La Costa; day two finishes in San Diego. Expect lots of cyclists on the coast road both days. source
• Sat Oct 17 · 5-8pm · Carlsbad Pumpkin Plunge: Alga Norte Aquatics Center, 6565 Alicante Rd, Carlsbad. Pool games, floating obstacles, a splash pad and a floating pumpkin patch where every child lassos a pumpkin. $15 a person; 3 and under free but must register. Presale ends 5pm the Friday before. our guide · source
• Sat Oct 17 + Sun Oct 18 · Fall Home/Garden Show: Del Mar Fairgrounds. our guide · source
• Sun Oct 18 · 10am-1pm · Nature Collective Fall Festival: San Dieguito County Park, 1628 Lomas Santa Fe Dr, Del Mar. Free: costume parade, nature crafts, live animals, face painting, a bounce house. $5 park lot or free street parking. our guide · source
• Sun Oct 18 · 10am-5pm · Solana Beach Día de los Muertos: La Colonia Park, 715 Valley Ave, Solana Beach. Free: 40+ altars blessed at 10am, music, folklórico, a classic car show, kids' crafts and costume contests. This year honors the City's 40th anniversary. Parking is limited; walk, bike or carpool. our guide · source

Plus 8 shows at Belly Up and The Sound: plan a show night.

• Sat Oct 24 + Sun Oct 25 + Sat Oct 31 · 10am-4pm · Mellano Farms Pumpkin and Marigold Fall Festival: Mellano Farm Stand, 5750 N River Rd, Oceanside. Every October weekend: pick a pumpkin, a corn maze, and rows of marigolds (the Día de los Muertos flower). our guide · source
• Deadline · Mon Oct 19 · Register to vote: last day. Register, or re-register after a move, by Oct 19; after that, same-day at a vote center. how to do it
• Tue Oct 20 · 10:30-11:30am · Medicare enrollment talk: La Colonia Community Center, 715 Valley Ave, Solana Beach. Free City talk on what's changing in Medicare for 2027, given by a local broker. For unbiased one-on-one help, HICAP is free. our guide · source
• Tue Oct 20 · 4:30-5:30pm · Music in Glen Park: Glen Park, Cardiff. source
• Deadline · Thu Oct 22 · No-cost County flu clinic. 12:00 to 3:00pm, Lincoln Acres Community Room, 2717 Granger Ave., National City. Public Health Centers give flu shots all season. how to do it
• Sat Oct 24 · 7-11pm · Art After Dark: Oceanside Museum of Art, 704 Pier View Way. Costume party and one of North County's biggest costume contests. 21+, $85 ($65 members). our guide · source
• Sun Oct 25 · 10am-4pm · Oceanside Día de los Muertos Festival: Pier View Way and Coast Highway, Downtown Oceanside. Free, 25th year: altars with marigolds, a chalk cemetery, music, a lowrider and classic car show, a catrín/catrina contest. Parking is limited; the Coaster stops a few blocks away. our guide · source
• Mon Oct 26 · last day to apply · Vista STABLE senior rent help: applications close: Interfaith Community Services (Vista renters). Partial rent help for low-income renters 65+ with a disability who live in Vista; ten spots in this first round. our guide · source
• Deadline · Tue Oct 27 · Replacement mail ballot request: last day. Ballot never came or got ruined? Ask by Oct 27 before 5pm, or vote at a vote center. how to do it
• Thu Oct 29 · 5-9pm · Haunted Market: Oceanside Sunset Market, Pier View Way and Coast Highway. Trick-or-treating, a costume parade and costume contests at the Thursday market. our guide · source
• Sat Oct 31 · 11am-4pm · Carlsbad Halloween in the Village: Carlsbad Village (start at CalRes Homes, 2691 State St). Free: trick-or-treat at shops with the candy corn sign, carnival games at the Boys & Girls Club, costume contest at Village Faire, sensory-friendly stop. First 250 kids get a bucket. our guide · source
• Sat Oct 31 · 5-8pm · Encinitas Safe Trick-or-Treat: Coast Highway 101, Downtown Encinitas. Free: shops stay open late with treats, live music at the Lumberyard, kids' games. Free parking at Pacific View Arts Center for the evening. our guide · source
• Sat Oct 31 · 10am-2pm · Solana Beach Fire Department Open House: 500 Lomas Santa Fe Dr, Solana Beach. Station tours, hands-only CPR, lithium-ion battery safety, live music. Costumes encouraged. our guide · source
• Deadline · Sat Oct 31 · Kids Free October: last day. Kids 12 and under free at 70+ museums with a paid adult. how to do it

Plus 22 shows at Belly Up and The Sound: plan a show night.

• Sun Nov 1 · 8am-4pm · Carlsbad Village Street Faire: Carlsbad Village. One of the biggest one-day street fairs anywhere: 750+ vendors, kids' rides, an international food court and a pancake breakfast. Parking is tight; use the free shuttles. source
• Sun Nov 1 · 2am · Clocks fall back an hour. Daylight saving time ends; sunset comes an hour earlier that evening. source
• Sun Nov 1 · SDG&E winter prices start. On TOU-DR1, 4-9pm gets cheaper and every other hour costs more, through May 31. our guide · source
• Deadline · Tue Nov 3 · Election Day. Ballot drop boxes are open now; vote by 8pm on Nov 3. how to do it
• Fri Nov 6 · Del Mar fall meet opens: Del Mar racetrack. 13 race days, the last on Sun Nov 29. our guide · source
• Thu Nov 19 · 1 to 2:30pm · Care Options: Residential Placement (Alzheimer's San Diego): Carlsbad Senior Center, 799 Pine Ave. The types of residential care, what they cost, and how to choose. Register with Alzheimer's San Diego. our guide · source
• Sat Nov 21 · Pinery Christmas tree lots open: Pinery lots around San Diego. Same company as Pumpkin Station. our guide · source
• Sun Nov 22 · 9am-4pm · Encinitas Holiday Street Fair: Coast Highway 101, Downtown Encinitas. Vendors, a beer garden and live music on two stages. source
• Tue Nov 24 to Thu Nov 26 · King tides: the whole coast. The highest tides of the year, on the California Coastal Commission's dates. our guide · source
• Thu Nov 26 · Thanksgiving morning · O'side Turkey Trot: Coast Highway to the Strand, Oceanside. 5K run or walk plus a kids' run, costume contest and medals for everyone; benefits the San Diego Food Bank. Register ahead. source
• Sat Nov 28 · Encinitas noon-3pm; Cardiff from 9am · Small Business Saturday: Downtown Encinitas and Cardiff. Local deals, live music and a free limited-edition poster with a purchase. Cardiff's Holiday Passport to Savings runs through Jan 31. source
• Deadline · Mon Nov 30 · Property tax assessment appeal: last day. Think your assessed value is too high? File by Nov 30. how to do it

Plus 49 shows at Belly Up and The Sound: plan a show night.

• Sat Dec 5 · 5:30-7:30pm · Encinitas Holiday Parade: S Coast Highway 101, D St to J St, Encinitas. source
• Sun Dec 6 · from 10am · Cardiff Kringle Mingle: Downtown Cardiff. Free: photos with Santa, music, coffee, hot chocolate and treats. source
• Deadline · Mon Dec 7 · Medicare Open Enrollment: last day. Change Medicare Advantage or Part D plans for 2027. Free counseling from HICAP. how to do it
• Deadline · Thu Dec 10 · Homeowners' exemption, this year: last day. No $7,000 line on your bill? File the free form by Dec 10 for 80% this year. how to do it
• Deadline · Thu Dec 10 · Property tax, first installment: last day. Due Nov 1, late after Dec 10 at 5pm. e-check is free. how to do it
• Sun Dec 13 · 5-7pm · Solana Beach Holiday Tree Lighting: La Colonia Park, 715 Valley Ave, Solana Beach. Free: the tree lights up, Santa arrives at 5:20pm, sweets and Mexican hot cocoa. source
• Wed Dec 23 to Fri Dec 25 · King tides: the whole coast. The highest tides of the year, on the California Coastal Commission's dates. our guide · source
• Deadline · Thu Dec 31 · Covered California, for Jan 1 coverage: last day. Renew now; new sign-ups Nov 1; enroll by Dec 31 for Jan 1. how to do it

Plus 4 shows at Belly Up and The Sound: plan a show night.

• Halloween 2026: trick-or-treat times by town, the haunts, and why the Scream Zone isn't on the list.
• Día de los Muertos: Solana Beach and Oceanside, altars, parking, marigolds.
• Pumpkin patches · Kids Free October · Del Mar fall racing · king tides · meteor showers · fairgrounds events by train

Hand picks are dated through Dec 13 so far; later dates go in as the towns post them. Know something that isn't here? Text PJ and it gets added.

Need a human?

This page is built every morning from public data by SideGuy, run by PJ, a local in Solana Beach. If something looks off, or you want a hand with your plans, text PJ at 858-461-8054. A real person answers.

Local help, free to read: make your fix plan · senior benefits checkup · lower your SDG&E bill · Medicare Extra Help · the next 90 days. Plans start as low as $25.