Spooks will be haunting the beachfront in La Jolla, Pacific and Mission beaches throughout October and Day of the Dead Nov. 1-2.

BARBARELLA BOO PUB

Barbarella Restaurant & Bar at 2171 Avenida de la Playa in La Jolla Shores is Halloween central every fall. The establishment has gone all out for years with spooky animatronics and other terrifying decorations inside and out. Those scary enhancements turn the popular eatery into a fall destination for locals and visitors alike. Guests are treated to all manner of monsters, mummies, skeletons, creepy black spiders, jack-o-lanterns, etc., which seem to leap out from every shadow poised to shout “Boo” to the delight – and fright – of guests.

“Our spooky decor will be up through the first weekend of November,” said restaurant co-owner Kirstin Hamerslag. “There’s no shortage of spider webs, goblins, and ghouls, and many of our menu items and cocktails are on theme as well. We also have some live spooky characters who make their rounds. Our staff will be in costume through the Halloween season.”

Barbarella was named for the previous owner Barbara Beltaire, who used to host a party and holiday toy drive on St. Barbara’s Day in December for all ladies named Barbara. The Barbaras during Beltaire’s tenure were treated to cocktails and appetizers on the restaurant’s patio.

MAVERICKS MADNESS

Pacific Beach’s Club de playa Mavericks at 860 Garnet Ave. will be transforming its 15,000-square-foot beach bar into “Beetlejuice” this year for Halloween. Party-goers can visit the five themed bars – Beetlejuice’s graveyard, the twisted circus, sandworm land, the afterlife, and the waiting room for the afterlife. Plan to visit starting on Wednesday, Oct. 30 through Monday, Nov. 4. The holiday weekend kicks off Thursday, Oct. 31 with DJ sets throughout the evening. And the ultimate Halloween weekend bash will take place on Friday, Nov.1, and Saturday, Nov. 2. Join in for themed drink specials, DJs, and roaming entertainment like sword swallowers, fortune tellers, acrobats, and more. VIP tables will be available, text or call 858-256-6423 or email [email protected].

CREEPY CANDY CRAWL

It’s time once again for little princesses and pirates, ghouls and goblins, superheroes, and heroines to “pillage the village,” as they trick or treat their way through La Jolla Village streets and shops on Halloween day on Thursday, Oct. 31. Kids can stop in at Real Estate Brokers Association (REBA) at 908 Kline St. to pick up their goodie bags.

This is a free Halloween event in La Jolla for everyone. Children of all ages can participate in a costume contest with prizes donated by Geppettos. Disguised as witches, costume judges will stroll the village in search of the most memorable costumes. Costume contest winners will be announced at REBA at approximately 4:15.

The Creepy Candy Crawl is one of the village’s most popular annual events with many merchants participating. To join in the fun, merchants don’t need to pre-register. All they need to do on Halloween day is to pick up a balloon, indicating they’re participating, at La Jolla Village Merchants Association at 7734 Herschel Way, Suite C, starting at noon. Merchants need to stock up on treats because they can expect hundreds of trick-or-treaters between 3-6 p.m. Everyone needs to dress up, decorate, and have fun.

SILVER SCREEN SOIREE

The time has come for a spine-tingling, star-studded night of ghoulish glamour at Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa at 9700 North Torrey Pines Road. This year, Estancia is rolling out the red carpet for a Halloween celebration like no other, inviting guests to join the establishment on Saturday, Oct. 26 from 7-11 p.m. for an evening of Hollywood glitz and charm.

Step into the shadows of the silver screen and immerse yourself in a world where the eerie elegance of old Hollywood meets the thrill of the supernatural. Come dressed as your favorite movie monsters, classic film stars, iconic celebrities, or silver-screen scream queens. Dare to dazzle with your sinister style, as awards will be given for the most creative, glamorous, and frightful outfits.

Prepare for a night filled with eerie entertainment and ghoulish glamour. One ticket includes a welcome beverage, unlimited cuisine experiences, two complimentary cocktails of your choice, and complimentary parking. Must be 21-plus to attend. Make it a weekend-long celebration with the hotel spa’s Silver Screen Stay, which includes the best available room rate, two tickets to the Silver Screen Soirée, and a custom ‘Morning After’ revival amenity to enjoy the morning after.

HALLOWEEN AGLOW
On Oct. 25-26 from 6-8:30 p.m., Birch Aquarium, 2300 Expedition Way in La Jolla, transforms for one weekend to hold a family-friendly Halloween event with trick-or-treating, live music from Billy Lee and the Swamp Critters, games, and more. The “Living Light Experience” shows the ocean’s bioluminescence and fluorescence. Be sure to wear an ocean-themed costume. Advance registration is required, and ticket prices differ for members and the general public. For more information, visit aquarium.ucsd.edu.

BOO! BY THE BAY HALLOWEEN CARNIVAL
Over 100 vendors will swarm the lawn at Ski Beach Park, within Mission Bay Park, from noon to 6 p.m. on Oct. 26. From spooky performances to seasonal food and drink selections, the green will be filled with entertainment for everyone. Experience the immersive haunted maze of true terrors from Fright for Future. Enjoy the spooky season while also making an effort to divert waste from landfills at this zero-waste event. Two free parking lots will be available near Ski Beach Park.

SEAWORLD SPOOKTACULAR
Fridays through Sundays until Nov. 3, set sail on the all-new pirate-themed Halloween adventure featuring more trick-or-treating stations than ever before. Head to the pumpkin patch and enjoy the festivities during this daytime event. Entrance is included with park admission.

THE HAUNTED TRAIL AND THE EXPERIMENT MAZE
The 3,500-square-foot eXperiment Maze at Balboa Park is home to “Fairy Tale Freaks” like “Moldy Locks” and her three man-eating bears through Nov. 2. Also, the mile-long Haunted Trail features a “foggy ghost-filled graveyard” and “chainsaw laden barn.” Upgraded tickets are available for shorter wait times. Parking is free.

GASLAMP GHOST TOURS
Walk around downtown San Diego looking into the dark history, true crime, and haunting ghost stories that permeate the Gaslamp District. The tour is around two hours and participants will walk a total of 1 1/2 miles to over 30 locations.

BALBOA PARK HALLOWEEN SYMPHONY
The annual San Diego Youth Symphony Halloween Concert returns to Balboa Park’s Spreckels Organ Pavilion at 2 p.m. with Raul Prieto Ramirez at the organ. The Overture Strings, Symphonic Strings, and Concert Strings orchestras are set to perform for a special Halloween concert experience.

TRICK-OR-TREAT ON INDIA STREET
Little Italy’s India Street will be swarmed by candy-seeking monsters from 3:30-7:30 p.m. on Oct. 27 as the Halloween tradition continues. Families can stop at businesses for trick-or-treating. The neighborhood will be decked out with a giant 13-foot “Nightmare Before Christmas” Jack Skellington and large pumpkin stacks in the Piazza della Famiglia. Maps of participating businesses will be available at the Piazza on India and W. Date Street.

MV TRICK-OR-TREAT

Mission Valley open-air shopping center invites children and their families to visit participating stores to collect Halloween candy (while supplies last) from 3-6 p.m. on Oct, 31. Each participating store will be marked. The trick-or-treat event is free with no pre-registration. For more information, visit mission-valley.com/events.

HALLOWEEN

Halloween or All Hallows’ Eve or All Saints’ Eve is a celebration observed in many countries on Oct. 31, the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Saints’ Day. One theory holds that many Halloween traditions were influenced by Celtic harvest festivals, particularly the Gaelic festival Samhain, which is believed to have pagan roots. Celebrated in Ireland and Scotland for centuries, Irish and Scottish immigrants took many Halloween customs to North America in the 19th century. Then, through American influence, various Halloween customs spread to other countries by the late 20th and early 21st century.

DAY OF THE DEAD

Día de los Muertos is traditionally celebrated on Nov. 1-2 and is widely observed in Mexico, where it largely developed. It has a much less solemn tone than Halloween and is portrayed as a holiday of joyful celebration rather than mourning. The multi-day holiday involves family and friends gathering to pay respects and to remember friends and family members who have died. Traditions connected with the holiday include honoring the deceased using calaveras and marigold flowers known as cempazúchitl, building home altars called ofrendas with the favorite foods and beverages of the departed, and visiting graves with these items as gifts for the deceased.