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Downtown and Balboa Park Events

39 confirmed dates are listed for Downtown San Diego, Balboa Park, Little Italy, Old Town and the waterfront, each read on the organizer’s own page. 21 are marked family-friendly. Weekly markets are shown under Every Week. Check each organizer page for prices and times.Checked October 22, 2026.

39confirmed dates ahead
21marked family-friendly by the organizer
Free to $$see each organizer page for prices
Organizerpages are the source for every date

Every Week

  1. Little Italy Mercato Farmers' Market

    Every Saturday 8:00 am to 2:00 pm, and every Wednesday 9:30 am to 1:30 pm, year-round, rain or shine

    West Date Street (Saturday: Kettner Blvd to Front St); Piazza della Famiglia area (Wednesday: Kettner Blvd to State St) · Price: See event site · Organizer page

  2. Hillcrest Farmers Market

    Every Sunday 9 am to 2 pm, rain or shine and on holidays (temporary location on University Ave. while the Normal Street Promenade is built)

    University Ave between Herbert St and Park Blvd (1601 University Ave), temporary location · Price: See event site · Organizer page

  3. Spreckels Organ Society free Sunday concerts

    Sundays at 2:00 pm, October 25 to December 6, 2026, on the schedule the organizer has posted

    Spreckels Organ Pavilion · Price: Free and open to the public · Organizer page

July 2026

  1. Cecil Beaton's Fashionable World

    Jul 11 to Jan 10, 2027 · 10:00 am-5:00 pm · San Diego Museum of Art, 1450 El Prado

    Price: Free-$25.00 · Organizer page

    On nowFamily

October 2026

  1. Painted Prayers: The Japanese Folk Art Tradition of Ema

    Oct 10 to Mar 19, 2027 · 10:00 am-5:00 pm · Mingei International Museum, 1439 El Prado

    Price: Free-$15.00 · Organizer page

    On now

  2. Altar Tours (Dia de los Muertos)

    Fri, Oct 23, 2026 · 10:30 AM, 2:00 PM, 3:30 PM · Old Town San Diego State Historic Park

    Price: See event site · Organizer page

    On now

  3. Back from the Brink

    Oct 23 to Nov 19, 2026 · Not listed · San Diego Natural History Museum (The Nat), 1788 El Prado

    Price: See event site · Organizer page

    On now

  4. Community Spotlight: Sherman Heights Community Center (Dia de los Muertos altar)

    Oct 23 to Nov 9, 2026 · 10:00 am-5:00 pm · Mingei International Museum, 1439 El Prado

    Price: $5.00-$8.00 · Organizer page

    On now

  5. Deep Sky (IMAX space film)

    Oct 23 to Dec 31, 2026 · Fleet Science Center, 1875 El Prado

    Price: $19.95-$24.95 · Organizer page

    On now

  6. Kids FREE October at the Maritime Museum

    Oct 23 to Oct 31, 2026 · Maritime Museum of San Diego

    Price: Two free youth admissions (ages 17 & under) with each paid adult general admission ticket · Organizer page

    On nowFamily

  7. Ocean Paradise

    Oct 23 to Nov 19, 2026 · Not listed · San Diego Natural History Museum (The Nat), 1788 El Prado

    Price: See event site · Organizer page

    On now

  8. Sea Otters: A Wild Family Adventure (IMAX film)

    Oct 23 to Oct 31, 2026 · Fleet Science Center, 1875 El Prado

    Price: See event site · Organizer page

    On nowFamily

  9. The Ball Pool at Fleet Science Center

    Oct 23 to Nov 22, 2026 · 11:00 a.m. daily (venue open 10 a.m.-5 p.m.) · Fleet Science Center, 1875 El Prado

    Price: See event site · Organizer page

    On nowFamily

  10. Wild San Diego

    Oct 23 to Nov 19, 2026 · Not listed · San Diego Natural History Museum (The Nat), 1788 El Prado

    Price: Free · Organizer page

    On now

  11. Meet The Strings: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star (Symphony Kids)

    Sat, Oct 24, 2026 · 10am and 11:30am · Jacobs Music Center

    Price: See event site · Organizer page

    Family

  12. Toy Story 5 Movie Night (Costume Contest)

    Sat, Oct 24, 2026 · Not confirmed · San Diego Air & Space Museum

    Price: See event site · Organizer page

  13. Trick-or-Treat on India Street

    Sun, Oct 25, 2026 · 3:30pm-7:30pm · India Street (W. Cedar to W. Grape closed to traffic); Piazza della Famiglia

    Price: See event site · Organizer page

    Family

  14. Dia de los Muertos celebration, Old Town

    Oct 31 to Nov 2, 2026 · Not listed · Old Town San Diego State Historic Park

    Price: See event site · Organizer page

  15. Trick or Treat Symphony – A Family Concert

    Sat, Oct 31, 2026 · 11am · Jacobs Music Center

    Price: See event site · Organizer page

    Family

November 2026

  1. Spreckels Organ: The Enchanted Tail, an opera for kids

    Sun, Nov 1, 2026 · 2:00 PM · Spreckels Organ Pavilion

    Price: Free · Organizer page

    Family

  2. Concert Series: Broken Threads (Hausmann Quartet)

    Sun, Nov 8, 2026 · 2:30 PM · Maritime Museum of San Diego (aboard Berkeley)

    Price: General Admission $35 advance / $40 at door; Students/Military $10 advance / $12 door · Organizer page

    Family

  3. Accessibility Mornings (sensory-friendly)

    Sat, Nov 21, 2026 · 9:00 a.m. · Fleet Science Center, 1875 El Prado

    Price: See event site · Organizer page

  4. International Air & Space Hall of Fame 2026

    Sat, Nov 21, 2026 · Not confirmed · San Diego Air & Space Museum

    Price: See event site · Organizer page

  5. BOARDED! A New Pirate Adventure

    Nov 28 to Dec 26, 2026 · 10:30 AM or 12:45 PM, about 90 minutes · Maritime Museum of San Diego (San Salvador or Californian)

    Price: Adults $93; Youth (under 18) $38 · Organizer page

    Family

  6. Spreckels Organ: Nutcracker highlights with San Diego Civic Youth Ballet

    Sun, Nov 29, 2026 · 2:00 PM · Spreckels Organ Pavilion

    Price: Free · Organizer page

    Family

December 2026

  1. December Nights

    Dec 4 to Dec 5, 2026 · Japanese Friendship Garden free Upper Garden 3-9 PM; San Diego Museum of Art free 5:00-9:00 PM (last entry 8:45 PM); other venue hours not posted yet · Balboa Park

    Price: Free · Organizer page

  2. Small Town Holiday & Tree Lighting

    Sat, Dec 5, 2026 · Not listed · Not confirmed (listed by Port of San Diego)

    Price: See event site · Organizer page

    Family

  3. Spreckels Organ: The Bear and the Pear Tree and annual Sing-Along

    Sun, Dec 6, 2026 · 2:00 PM · Spreckels Organ Pavilion

    Price: Free · Organizer page

    Family

  4. Makers Arcade Holiday Fair

    Dec 12 to Dec 13, 2026 · Not listed · Broadway Pier

    Price: See event site · Organizer page

  5. Meet The Brass: March of the Toys (Symphony Kids)

    Dec 12 to Dec 13, 2026 · 10am and 11:30am · Jacobs Music Center

    Price: See event site · Organizer page

    Family

  6. 56th Annual San Diego Bay Parade of Lights

    Dec 13 to Dec 20, 2026 · Times not listed · San Diego Bay

    Price: See event site · Organizer page

  7. Noel Noel (San Diego Master Chorale and San Diego Children's Choir)

    Dec 18 to Dec 20, 2026 · Fri Dec 18 7:30pm; Sat Dec 19 6pm; Sun Dec 20 4:30pm · The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park

    Price: See event site · Organizer page

  8. Port of San Diego Holiday Bowl Parade

    Mon, Dec 28, 2026 · Not listed · Bayside streets in downtown San Diego

    Price: See event site · Organizer page

    Family

January 2027

  1. Happy 112th Birthday, Spreckels Organ

    Fri, Jan 1, 2027 · 2:00 PM · Spreckels Organ Pavilion

    Price: See event site · Organizer page

February 2027

  1. Lunar New Year: Music in Full Bloom

    Sat, Feb 6, 2027 · 11am · Jacobs Music Center

    Price: See event site · Organizer page

    Family

  2. Meet The Percussion: One, Two, Buckle My Shoe (Symphony Kids)

    Sat, Feb 13, 2027 · 10am and 11:30am · Jacobs Music Center

    Price: See event site · Organizer page

    Family

March 2027

  1. Carnival of the Animals: Music on the Wild Side

    Sat, Mar 6, 2027 · 11am · Jacobs Music Center

    Price: See event site · Organizer page

    Family

April 2027

  1. Meet The Winds: Peter and the Wolf (Symphony Kids)

    Sat, Apr 3, 2027 · 10am and 11:30am · Jacobs Music Center

    Price: See event site · Organizer page

    Family

July 2027

  1. Comic-Con International 2027

    Jul 22 to Jul 25, 2027 · Preview Night July 21; other hours not posted · Venue not stated on comic-con.org page (organizer is San Diego Comic Convention)

    Price: See event site · Organizer page

    Family

What We Could Not Verify

  • Zoo, Old Globe, Japanese Friendship Garden, USS Midway, Petco Park, library and City parks events could not be read (their event pages did not load), so none are listed.
  • Comic-Con 2027: the venue and city were not named on the page we read.
  • Small Town Holiday and Tree Lighting (December 5): location and hours not confirmed. Parade of Lights and Holiday Bowl Parade: times not confirmed.
  • Symphony Kids “March of the Toys”: one page says December 12 and another December 13, 2026; both dates are shown.
  • Balboa Park events after the first page, and most of January to September 2027, could not be read.
  • Recurring rows (Mercato, Hillcrest market, Sunday organ concerts) show their season, not every date.
  • Left out because they are for adults or their age suitability was not stated: evening shows, wine events, 21+ events and haunted attractions.

Places to Visit in Downtown, Balboa Park & Central

Park

Balboa Park Visitor Guide

Hours, parking, the free tram, tours and how the park began.

Savings

Balboa Park Free Days

The rotating free days for San Diego residents, museum by museum.

Garden

Botanical Building and Lily Pond

A historic lath garden building with 2,100 plants. Free daily.

Garden

Alcazar Garden

A tiled Spanish-style garden with fountains, open around the clock.

Garden

Japanese Friendship Garden

A hillside Japanese garden and museum, open daily until 6 p.m.

Zoo

San Diego Zoo

The Zoo in the north of Balboa Park. Kids free all October 2026.

Science

Fleet Science Center

Hands-on science and a giant dome theater. Open daily 10 to 5.

Museum

San Diego Natural History Museum

Fossils, a giant-screen theater and kids free in October 2026.

Museum

San Diego Air and Space Museum

Aircraft and spacecraft in the Palisades area. Open 10 to 4:30.

Art Museum

San Diego Museum of Art

The region’s largest art museum. Youth 17 and under free.

Art Museum

Timken Museum of Art

A small art museum on El Prado that balboapark.org says is always free.

Folk Art

Mingei International Museum

Folk art and design. The entry level is free for everyone, always.

Museum

San Diego Model Railroad Museum

Giant model train layouts and a toy train gallery. Wed to Sun.

Museum

San Diego Automotive Museum

More than 75 cars and motorcycles. Open daily 10 to 5.

Concerts

Spreckels Organ Pavilion

Free outdoor organ concerts every Sunday at 2 p.m., rain or shine.

Theater

The Old Globe

The park’s professional theater, with Grinch shows this holiday.

Museum Ship

USS Midway Museum

A retired aircraft carrier on San Diego Bay. Open daily 10 to 5.

Museum Ships

Maritime Museum of San Diego

Historic ships on the Embarcadero, including the Star of India.

Waterfront

Seaport Village

A bayfront shopping and dining spot with a historic carousel.

Kids

The New Children’s Museum

A hands-on art museum for kids. Open 9 to 4, closed Tuesdays.

Library

San Diego Central Library

A children’s library, art gallery and tours in East Village.

Ballpark

Petco Park Tours

Behind-the-scenes ballpark tours, which the Padres say run daily.

Museum

Gaslamp Museum at The Davis-Horton House

A historic house museum with daytime walking tours of the Gaslamp.

Market

Little Italy Mercato

San Diego County’s largest farmers market, Saturdays and Wednesdays.

Historic Park

Old Town San Diego State Historic Park

The adobes and museums of early Spanish and Mexican San Diego.

Historic Mission

Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcala

The first California mission, founded in 1769 and still a parish.

Historic Park

Presidio Park and Serra Museum

The hilltop site of the 1769 Spanish presidio.

Market

Hillcrest Farmers Market

A Sunday market on University Avenue, rain or shine.

Landmark Park

Chicano Park

Murals under the Coronado Bridge in Barrio Logan, a national landmark.

FAQ

Are these dates confirmed?

Each date was read on the organizer’s own page on October 22, 2026. Items we could not confirm are listed under What We Could Not Verify.

When is Comic-Con 2027?

The Comic-Con site lists July 22 to 25, 2027, with Preview Night July 21. It did not name the venue or city on the page we read.

Sources

  1. Balboa Park events
  2. Spreckels Organ Society
  3. Port of San Diego events
  4. Little Italy Association
  5. Hillcrest Farmers Market
  6. San Diego Symphony
  7. Comic-Con International
  8. Maritime Museum of San Diego
  9. Old Town San Diego State Historic Park

Checked October 22, 2026 by It’s San Diego. Cite this page: It’s San Diego (itssandiego.com), checked October 22, 2026. Free to quote with a link to this page; tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.