Residents of San Diego, Riverside, and Imperial counties have a beautiful fall season to look forward to. Fortunately, there are enough indoor and outdoor activities to fill any Californian’s calendar—and you don’t have to go downtown to enjoy them.
Temecula, Murrieta, Escondido, and San Marcos are hosting events and creative workshops to soothe the mind and body, fill the stomach, and spark your inner artist. Many are free to attend, and most are all-ages, including Halloween events.
Whether you want to learn the art of kintsugi, browse crafts and eat food from local artisans at a night market, or walk a trail while learning about southern California’s spookiest wildlife, the East San Diego area has something to broaden your mind.
Treat yourself in Murrieta
Night markets are known worldwide for bringing food, local culture, arts and crafts together. The aptly named Murrieta Market Nights does so on the first and third Thursday of every month from 5-9 p.m. on Washington Ave. between B St. and C St. More than 100 craft and flea market vendors and dozens of businesses and non-profit organizations will have booths there.
All that shopping will make you work up an appetite, so be sure to fill up at one (or more!) of the 35 local food vendors. Try some Mediterranean dishes at New York Gyros, sausages and breakfast burritos at Citak Smoked Meats, or Filipino fusion at Tisoy Curryative Cuisines.
Chef Matthew Curry at Tisoy Curryative Cuisines said that his booth and catering service represent his Filipino and Black heritage, and he’s especially excited for attendees to try the Lechon Kawali Fries.
“We start with tender pork belly and crisp it to create the signature crunch lechon kawali is known for,” Curry said. “It is served over seasoned fries and finished with chipotle aioli, spicy truffle oil and Parmesan cheese. It combines traditional Filipino flavors with the elevated, creative fusion style that represents our brand.”
Prepare to see all manner of street fair foods as well, from hot dogs and kettle corn to tacos and pizza. Check out the list of vendors right here.
If you prefer a soak to a walk, on Sunday, September 27, and Sunday, November 22, from 4-8 p.m., the Murrieta Hot Springs Resort is hosting Self-Care Sunsets. Alongside the resort’s 50 pools, Self-Care Sunsets boasts more than 50 small businesses and local artisans who promote health, wellness, and positive lifestyles. Send off the season with a long warm dip or a cold plunge at 39405 Murrieta Hot Springs Rd. in Murrieta.
“It’s the perfect oasis to indulge in your preferred soaking experience, whether it be a leisurely swim or a tranquil lounging session, amidst a spectrum of temperatures ranging from cold to hot,” the event website said. “Our market will feature 50+ vendors on a beautiful pasture overlooking the resort just off of Murrieta Hot Springs Rd.”
Get creative in Escondido
California Center for the Arts in Escondido offers several unique activities year-round. Three stand out as particularly exciting for fall.
First is a workshop on the Japanese art of kintsugi. Kintsugi, which is believed to have originated in the 15th century, is the practice of repairing broken pottery by reattaching the pieces with an adhesive mixed with a powdered metal such as gold or silver. This ensures the cracks remain visible, rather than camouflaged, celebrating each piece’s unique history and utilizing a philosophy of embracing our flaws and recognizing life’s fragility. The Center’s kintsugi workshop is offered from 1-3:30 p.m. with upcoming sessions on September 12, October 3, and October 24. Tickets are available for $75. More information is available on the workshop series page here.
Meanwhile, for $20, the Center offers beginner swing dance classes with expert instructor Mercedes Moore. Every class begins by reviewing the basics, so beginners can feel at home before moving on to new choreography. The site boasts that no partner or prior experience is required, so dancers can show up alone and untrained and still leave doing a 6-count Lindy with the best of them. September classes take place on the 12th and the 19th at 2 p.m. Click here for more information.
Finally, San Diego native Kene Lohmann teaches a watercolor class Mondays from 10 a.m. to noon at the Center for students 18 and up. Lohmann encourages signups whether or not painters have previous experience in watercolors. Space is limited to 20 students and painters should bring their own supplies. Sign up or learn more at the class’s webpage for just $20 per class.
Spooky Season comes to San Diego
What would October be without a Halloween experience (or three)? Temecula, San Marcos, and Murrieta each have unique events to ring in everyone’s favorite horror- and candy-filled holiday—and all of them are for all ages.
On October 3, Walnut Grove Park in San Marcos will host a Halloween Spooktacular from 4-8 p.m. According to its event page, there will be “a free Halloween dance party, costume parade, and crafts in the barn” followed by “games for treats and prizes, Halloween activities, and exciting inflatables for just $1 per activity” while supplies last. A food truck will be onsite with food and beverages, too.
On October 23, from 4-9 p.m., the plaza at Promenade Temecula will turn into a ghostly night market known as the “Starlight Bizzare.” The event site, which has full information on the bazaar, encourages dressing up in costume to enjoy “trunk-or-treating, free candy, Halloween games, family friendly activities, and shopping from 50 local vendors.” Trunk-or-treating is a great solution for little feet that might not make it around the entire neighborhood on the 31st, and parents may prefer having their children play Halloween games at the bazaar rather than after a long night of trick-or-treating the following week.
However, you may have to choose between the Starlight Bizzare and Murrieta’s Dark in the Park, which starts the same day at 5:30 p.m. and runs for three hours. Dark in the Park is located at Town Square Park and Amphitheater at 11 Townsquare in Murrieta. It features live music by Monster Mash House Band, a laser show, and a variety of dining options from local food vendors. Again, dressing up is encouraged, which means you get a practice run for getting your and your kids’ Halloween spooky make-up and costumes right.
At 6 p.m. the next day, October 24, visitors to Lakeview Park in San Marcos can go on an October Trail Talk hosted by San Marcos Parks and Recreation. Labeled as “Creatures of the Dark: Halloween Edition,” the event promises “a spooky-but-family-friendly nighttime adventure at Lakeview Park as we uncover the truth behind nature’s most misunderstood creatures.” These include bats, spiders, moths, owls, and others. Park visitors will learn about how they’ve adapted to survive over time and what they do for our ecosystem. Full details can be found at the San Marcos government’s official website.
