Fun Fall Activities in San Diego
The weather may not have received the memo, but fall is here! While San Diego is known for its summer activities being so close to the water, America’s Finest City also has a slew of things to do to ring in autumn. All over the city, from Old Town San Diego to Balboa Park to the San Diego Zoo to SeaWorld San Diego to the San Diego Whaley House and everywhere in between, there are plenty of fall festival activities for the family. There’s the San Diego Beer Week and the San Diego Restaurant Week both happening in the fall. Plus, come October 31st, there will be loads of Halloween parties and festivities during that time. To start your fall festivities, we’ve rounded up a few must-see fall activities in San Diego.
SD DOES FALL FESTS THE BEST
Your list of things to do in San Diego in the fall should definitely include checking out some of the amazing festivals America’s Finest City has to offer! From pumpkin beer to cinema, San Diego’s got it all!
FLEET WEEK SAN DIEGO
When: November 1-13, 2022
Where: 1000 N. Harbor Dr., San Diego, CA 92101
One of the best San Diego November events is Fleet Week San Diego. Taking place in Downtown San Diego, Fleet Week San Diego pays homage to those who have served in the military through entertaining events such as military ship tours, the Veteran’s Day Boat Parade (11.11), a 3-mile Boot Camp Challenge, and much more!
SAN DIEGO BAY WINE & FOOD FESTIVAL
When: November 9-13, 2022
Where: Embarcadero Marina Park North
This is a must-see for every San Diegan and tourist alike of all the fall activities in San Diego San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival is one of the country’s most talked about food and wine weeks, having won the 2019 USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice travel award contest for Best General Food Festival! Featuring dozens of events, hundreds of domestic and international wineries, the celebration of craft beer and spirits, local culinary legends and nationally recognized celebrities, and a Grand Tasting Finale on the stunning Embarcadero.
AL FRESCO DINING DOWNTOWN
The perk of having amazing San Diego weather is enjoying outdoor dining in the fall season! Downtown and Little Italy are filled with restaurants waiting for you to enjoy food, drink, and fun al fresco!
BALLAST POINT — LITTLE ITALY
Located in the heart of Little Italy, enjoy bay breezes, award-winning brews and Downtown views as you sip on pints on the patio while watching planes fly overhead and people walk throughout Little Italy. What’s on tap to check out? Give the Wahoo White a try. The Ballast Point Wahoo Wheat Beer is created using the same ingredients that were once used in Belgium, including flaked unmalted wheat, oats and malted barley.
Address: 2215 India St, San Diego, CA
Tasting Room Hours: Sun-Thur 11am-11pm / Fri-Sat 11am-12am
Kitchen Hours: Sun-Thur 11am-9pm / Fri-Sat 11am-10pm
NONNA’S ITALIAN COMFORT FOOD — LITTLE ITALY
Enjoy true Sicilian comfort cuisine with a view of bustling Little Italy at Nonna’s patio. To top off your amazing, authentic dishes, you can also enjoy live entertainment and delicious drinks. We recommend their famous lasagne – made with fresh pasta sheets layered with bolognese and Bechamel! And top it off with a delicious Sicilian Paloma cocktail (Casamigos Repo, San Pellegrino Pompelmo, and Grapefruit Bitters).
Address: 1735 India Street, San Diego, CA 92101
Hours: Monday – Thursday, 9 am – 9:30 pm | Friday 9 am – 11 pm | Saturday, 8 am – 11 pm | Sunday, 8 am – 9:30 pm
RUSTIC ROOT — GASLAMP
Rustic Root showcases a take on New American Comfort food with a California twist. Enjoy rooftop views as you take bites from southern classics like rustic fried chicken, corn fritters, and mac and cheese. Enjoy a modern spin on timeless classic cocktails using creative spirits and a rooftop brunch!
Address: 535 5th Ave, San Diego, CA 92101
Hours: Monday-Thursday: Open at 5:30pm | Friday: Open at 5pm | Saturday & Sunday: Open at 9am
Explore + Experience
Daily Tours
A walking history tour of San Diego’s thriving “New Town”
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Enjoy haunted tales, mariachi music, lots of food, and fun!
Explore little italy, while sampling premium wines and Italian food.
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Join our Little Italy walking tour full of food, fun, and Italian culture.
Indulge your senses and taste original flavors from restaurants.
Most PopularCAFE SEVILLA — GASLAMP
Photo courtesy of Cafe Sevilla
Photo courtesy of Cafe Sevilla
Soak in the authentic Spanish ambiance as you share tapas and paella family-style dishes on their huge outdoor patios, taking full advantage of San Diego’s amazing fall weather! Cafe Sevilla prides itself on giving people the authentic Spanish ambiance in their tapas bar, restaurant and nightclub. Join them for live Latin music seven nights a week, flamenco dinner shows on the weekends, salsa dance classes, happy hour and so much more!
Address: 353 Fifth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101
Hours: Monday-Friday: 4:30 PM – 1:30 AM | Saturday-Sunday: 11 AM – 1:30 AM
Want to fully immerse yourself in Little Italy or the Gaslamp Quarter? Join us on one of our daily tours to get the full picture of these amazing pockets of San Diego! Experience the best bites and drink samples during our Little Italy Food tour or Gaslamp food tour.
APPLE PICKING IN JULIAN
Photo courtesy of San Diego Explorer
One of the best fall activities in San Diego is a short drive away! Bust out your best fall threads for a day trip to the iconic gold mining town that is known for its apple picking, Julian! There are several U-pick farms to choose from to get the true apple-picking experience and bring home some great finds for your own apple pie! Due to the drought, fewer places are open than usual, but these two are ready for the picking!
JULIAN FARM & ORCHARD
Address: 4381 Julian Hwy, Santa Ysabel, CA 92070
Hours: Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 10-4 p.m
Contact: info@julianfarmandorchard.com | (760) 765-5494
JULIAN MINING CO.
Address: 4444 highway 78, Julian, CA 92036
Hours: Saturday: 10-4, Sunday: 12-4
Contact: (951) 313-0166
Photo courtesy of Beyond Sweet and Savory
Scared to attempt your own pie? No problem! Downtown Julian has many local pie shops you can swing by to pick up a heavenly apple or pumpkin pie!
MOM’S APPLE PIE JULIAN
Address: 2119 Main St, Julian, CA 92036
Hours: Daily 9am to 5pm
Contact: (760) 765-2472
JULIAN APPLE PIE COMPANY
Address: 2225 Main St, Julian, CA 92036
Hours: Open Daily from 9am – 5pm
Contact: (760) 765-2449
Whether in our backyard or up the road, we hope you enjoy a fun-filled fall in San Diego! Have any questions about our favorite city? We’d love to hear from you — Book a tour with us today!
This blog was written by San Diego native, Melissa Harter. She is passionate about sharing her favorite spots to explore in the city by the bay, San Diego.
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