San Diego’s Scary Halloween Happenings

Last year it was Avatar and Lady Gaga, and this year it might as well be wannabe Snookies and – well – Lady Gagas hitting the streets in their full mock-celebrity regales.  But in order to don all those magnificent costumes, you need just the right event to show up in your brilliant head-to-toe transformations.

SDEntertainer has compiled a list of great events, so that you could retire all those safe with zip-appeal costumes forever and don the greatest adventure of your lives. And don’t think – ditch the old witch-suit, smear on some tanning lotion along with a great boudoir wig, and adjust that wicked crackle that will surely scare away any pedestrian and you may have gotten yourselves a great Jersey Shores’ guise. Check out our list of events below – a great costume needs an even greater occasion to show-off the goods.  Let the festivities begin!

Del Mar Scaregrounds

The 14^th annual Screm Zone is San Diego County’s largest haunted experience.  From 7:00pm to midnight Fridays and Saturdays, 7:00 to 11:00pn other days, starting September 30, the Del Mar Fairgrounds will be opening up its doors to victims far and wide.  In its 14^th year, Scream Zone has amped up the terror and bloodcurdling scares.  Prepare yourselves, this year will include advanced scare-tastic attractions like House of Horror, The Chamber and The Haunted Hayride.  For more info, please visit www.thescreamzone.com.

The Haunted Hotel

The Haunted Hotel, located downtown in the Gaslamp District, is the longest running haunted house in San Diego, according to their website. It has been rated one of the top 13 haunted houses in America and was also featured on the Travel Channel in 2009. Since then, the “hotel” has worked hard to maintain the scary tradition the venue is known for.

The Haunted Hotel is open and this year you’ll go down the “Hellevator” to Freddy Krueger’s workshop which twists and turns through room after room where zombies and the un-dead will keep you on your toes.

Balboa Park’s Haunted Trail

The Haunted Trail is San Diego’s only all outdoor haunted attraction, twisting and turning through Balboa Park, which has been transformed to visitors’ worst nightmare. The mile-long trail is full of spooks and surprises; you’ll never know when someone or something will jump out.  This year you’ll also find the addition of a maze called “The eXperiment”. For an additional fee “you can find out what happens when Mother Nature takes her eye off the ball for even just a second,” says the site.

Hard Rock Hotel Halloween

On Saturday, Ocotober 29, the Hard Rock is hosting a great Halloween extravaganza in San Diego.  The hotel will be transformed into a high-end haunted house with plenty of celebrity-ghouls haunting the sanctuary.  VIP Halloween party room packages are currently available online.

11^th Annual Dos Equis XX Monster Bash

The streets of downtown San Diego will be blocked off for the annual Monster Bash block party.  This once a year bash is one of the largest and most unique Halloween party experiences in America’s Finest City.  With three themed Mega-Clubs bouncing to the beat of featured DJs that include Kurch and DJ shift, the sexiest and scariest costume will also take home $3,000 for wowing the crowd.

Haunted Harbor Cruise

Flagship Cruises and events is hosting a new Haunted Harbor Cruise on Saturday, October 29.  This extremely upscale event will feature entertainment by DJ Digital Opinion, Frankie Lektro, and DJ Business.  In addition to a Halloween costume contest, drink specials, taco bar, and a few ghouls running around, step aboard for a rendezvous over the harbor that you’d never forget.

Halloween Ball at The Prado

The Halloween Ball at The Prado at Balboa Park will be transforming the historical venue into a wonderful escapade enough to wake up the spirits into joining the fun Monday, October 31.  With a great lineup of MCs including DJhere Productions, Dtown Productions and TK Productions, the event will also be boasting over 20 bars and four different areas of music.

Photo Courtesy of Andrew Ackroyd via Flickr