San Diego Weekend Guide: April 4-6 October – terrible autumn

Ah, autumn. This weekend in San Diego, the season begins in earnest – Oktoberfest brings the beer to celebrate your inner German And Take the edge off the spooky as Halloween approaches.

The Del Mar Wine + Food Festival runs through Monday with local food, wine and cocktails. This weekend, the fest picks up the current game of 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, takes place on Friday and Saturday. It offers bites from celebrity chefs and local restaurants as well as over 200 wines, beers and spirits. General admission is $165.

Oktoberfests take place throughout the district:

• La Mesa Oktoberfest returns Friday at 4 p.m., offering three days of free entertainment on three stages, plus food and lots of beer. Start at Spring Street and La Mesa Boulevard. Continues on Saturday at 10 a.m. and Sunday at 12 p.m.
• The East Village Oktoberfest begins at noon Saturday at the Quartyard. It is an Oktoberfest with a difference that combines “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 as well as a selection of draft beer and wines, a costume contest, a pumpkin patch and live music. Hosted by Carlsbad Strawberry Company. Admission is $10.

You like your favorite places Really haunted? Get carried away with all the screaming leading up to Halloween with these seasonal fright-filled attractions—we're not talking spooky-cute here, folks. Here you will find frightening horror films of serial killers, zombies, evil clowns and more:

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

Two film festivals continue – the San Diego Filipino Film Festival ends Sunday at the AMC Theater Plaza Bonita with shorts and feature films including When this is all over and the final film GomBurZa. Day tickets start at $30 and individual screenings are $12. The San Diego Italian Film Festival is just getting started. See Dieci Minuti, Krypton and more this weekend at the Museum of Photographic Arts. Screenings are $16.

Additionally, if you want to celebrate Filipino culture again, attend the free Filipino American History Month Festival with folk dancers, singers and food at the La Jolla Library on Saturday at 2 p.m.

The City of Carlsbad is hosting its Super Hero Obstacle Race on Sunday at 8 a.m. at Alga Norte Community Park, featuring obstacle challenges with inflatable mazes, slides, wrecking balls, etc
tight ropes. But the fun part? Teams compete against villains while overcoming 20 obstacles. Register online for $25. Open for ages 4 and up.

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