Before you gather your friends, pick your costumes, and head out for a night of scares, check your destination. A few familiar names are missing from San Diego County’s Halloween lineup in 2026, and older event listings can make planning confusing.The Scream Zone, The Haunted Hotel’s Disturbance, and El Cajon’s HauntFest on Main are sitting out this season. Their situations differ: one has announced a seasonal hiatus, another is waiting for a new home, and the third has been canceled for the year.
Here’s what to know before making your Halloween plans.
The Scream Zone at Del Mar Fairgrounds: On Hiatus for 2026
If your October traditions include a trip to The Scream Zone, you’ll need a different destination this year. The attraction’s official website confirms that it is taking a hiatus for 2026 and directs visitors to The Haunted Trail of Balboa Park instead. See The Scream Zone’s official announcement.
The notice does not announce a reopening date or explain the reason for the break. A hiatus also does not establish that the attraction has closed permanently.
For planning purposes, leave The Scream Zone off your 2026 itinerary. Older descriptions, photographs, and schedules may still appear online, but they should not be treated as evidence of an operating season this October.
The Haunted Hotel’s Disturbance: Still Waiting for a New Location
The Haunted Hotel’s Disturbance remains unavailable while its operator works toward a new location. Its current announcement directs guests looking for 2026 scares to The Haunted Trail of Balboa Park.
The operator specifically says this is not a permanent closure and intends for the attraction to return. However, the announcement does not provide a confirmed reopening date or new address. Read the operator’s update.
There is a detail worth watching when researching this attraction: the website still contains an older “Closed for 2024” label alongside its newer message referring to 2026. The current relocation announcement is the relevant guidance for this season.
Don’t use an old address or previous-year listing to plan a visit. Wait for the operator to announce a new location and active dates.
HauntFest on Main in El Cajon: Canceled for 2026
El Cajon’s HauntFest on Main is also off the calendar. The City of El Cajon’s official event page explicitly confirms that the 2026 festival has been canceled. Check the city’s HauntFest notice.
The downtown celebration has featured costume contests, carnival rides, live entertainment, and family Halloween activities. East County Magazine reports that the city attributed this year’s cancellation to budget constraints. Read the cancellation report.
This cancellation applies to HauntFest on Main—not every Halloween event in El Cajon. Separately operated attractions need to be checked individually.
Check This Year’s Announcement Before Heading Out
A familiar event name and an October date do not necessarily mean a listing is current. Look for the year, an organizer’s announcement, and a working booking page before arranging transportation or inviting your group.
This guide covers the closures and cancellations verified for the attractions above. An event without published dates should not automatically be described as canceled.
Your Halloween Night Can Still End at SideBar
Your favorite haunt may be taking a break, but your Halloween plans don’t have to. You can always make SideBar your Halloween destination in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter.
Gather your friends, bring your costumes, and trade the scare trail for cocktails, music, and a night on the dance floor. Whether you’re replacing a canceled outing or keeping the celebration going after another attraction, SideBar gives your group a reason to stay out.
Explore SideBar’s 2026 Halloween parties, tickets, and VIP table options and choose the night that works for your crew.
Keep your Halloween plans alive at SideBar in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter. Gather your crew, bring your best costumes, and get ready for a night of cocktails, music, and $5,000 costume contests. Grab early bird tickets while they’re available, or reserve a VIP table to give your group a home base for the celebration. Get Halloween tickets and explore VIP tables at SideBar.
