Halloween in San Clemente is a small-town affair, and that is a big part of its charm. You will not find a huge theme-park scene here. You will find a fun run along the coast, candy at the Outlets, church and community trunk-or-treats, and neighborhoods where the street decorations come out a week early. This guide pulls together what is actually on this year, where the listings disagree, and how to plan a weekend around it.
A note on how we built this list. We checked the City of San Clemente's events calendar and the Outlets at San Clemente events page first, because they come straight from the organizers. For anything else we used local event roundups and flagged them as third-party. Where two sources disagree, we say so. Event details change, so confirm times and locations with the organizer before you head out.
When is Halloween this year, and what is on this week?
Halloween is Saturday, October 31, 2026, so the main event weekend lands a week earlier, on Friday, October 23 and Saturday, October 24. Here is the whole picture in one place, sorted by how reliable the source is.
| Event | Date and time | Where | Source and note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monster Dash & Creepy Crawl Fun Run | Sat, Oct 24, 7:30 to 11:00 AM | San Clemente Community Center, 100 N. Calle Seville | City events calendar. Check the city for registration and costs |
| Big Jack's Pet Costume Contest & Candy Crawl | Sat, Oct 24, 11 AM to 2 PM | Outlets at San Clemente, 101 W. Avenida Vista Hermosa | Outlets events page. Cost and exact meeting spot not listed |
| Pumpkin Patch | Oct 2 to Oct 31 | Outlets at San Clemente | Outlets events page. Hours and costs not listed |
| Big Jack's Great Hide & Seek Adventure | Oct 1 to Oct 31 | Outlets at San Clemente | Outlets events page. Details not listed |
| Trunk or Treat (ages 12 and under) | Fri, Oct 23 | Listed at Pacific Coast Church, 2651 Calle Frontera | Third-party roundup. Another listing gives a different location, so confirm |
| Pumpkin Splash | Oct 17 (already happened) | San Clemente Aquatics Center | Third-party roundup. Held annually |
Two things stand out. First, nearly everything in town happens the weekend before Halloween, so if you want the events, plan for October 23 and 24, not the 31st. Second, the official sources give us fewer events than the roundup sites do. That does not mean nothing else is happening. It means we could not verify the rest, and we would rather tell you that than guess.
What can you do on Friday, October 23?
The one listed event is a Trunk or Treat for ages 12 and under. A local roundup places it at Pacific Coast Church, 2651 Calle Frontera. A different listing we saw placed a trunk-or-treat at the Outlets, with a different time. We could not reconcile the two, so treat the location as unconfirmed and call the church or the Outlets before you drive over.
Trunk-or-treats are a good low-pressure way to do Halloween if your kids are small. Cars parked in a lot are decorated, kids walk from trunk to trunk, and there is usually no street traffic to manage. Bring a bag, a flashlight and a jacket, since evenings near the coast cool off quickly.
What can you do on Saturday, October 24?
Saturday is the big day, and you can fit in more than one thing if you plan the order well.
| Time | What | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| 7:30 to 11:00 AM | Monster Dash & Creepy Crawl Fun Run, Community Center | Runners and walkers who like costumes |
| 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM | Pet Costume Contest & Candy Crawl, Outlets at San Clemente | Families and dog owners |
| Afternoon | Pumpkin patch and Big Jack photos at the Outlets | Photos and younger kids |
| Evening | Dana Point events nearby (see below) | A second round if you want more |
The Outlets are close to the freeway and have plenty of parking, which makes them the easiest stop. The Community Center is a short drive inland, and the City's recreation page lists registration for its programs. If you are doing the fun run in the morning and the Candy Crawl at 11, build in time to change out of running gear and walk across the Outlets. A costume that works for both is a good plan.
Thinking about living near these spots? See which San Clemente neighborhoods are closest to the Outlets and the Community Center. Explore the neighborhoods
What about trick-or-treating on Halloween night?
There is no official city-run trick-or-treat route in San Clemente that we could find. Like most towns, trick-or-treating is a neighborhood thing: you walk your own street and the ones next to it, and the best streets are the ones where people leave the porch light on and the decorations out.
Neighborhoods built around walkable streets with lots of front doors tend to get the most foot traffic, so planned communities and older grid streets near Downtown are the usual starting points. We have not verified any specific street's turnout this year, and we are not going to claim one. If you are new, the easiest way to find out is to ask a neighbor a few days before.
| Neighborhood type | What to expect | Learn more |
|---|---|---|
| Planned communities with sidewalks and short blocks | Lots of front doors close together | See Talega and Forster Ranch |
| Walkable streets near Downtown and the Pier Bowl | Busier, with more foot traffic | See Downtown and Pier Bowl |
| Hilltop and view neighborhoods | Steeper streets, often quieter | See Rancho San Clemente |
Is there anything nearby worth the drive?
If you want a second option, a local roundup also lists events in neighboring towns on October 24: Spooky Seas at the Ocean Institute in Dana Point, and a Halloween Spooktacular & Trunk or Treat at the Dana Point Community Center, with a costume parade at 5:00 PM and no cost listed. They are about a 15 to 20 minute drive, depending on traffic on the 5 or Pacific Coast Highway. Check the Ocean Institute's website for ticket details and times.
We list these because they are close enough to fit into the same Saturday, but we have not verified them with the organizers, so treat the times as a starting point.
What about Treat Street and Spooky San Clemente?
In past years, downtown San Clemente has hosted a Treat Street along Avenida Del Mar, where participating shops hand out candy, and a Spooky San Clemente evening at the Community Center. A 2021 Patch article described both, with carnival games, a scarecrow contest and a lawn movie night. An earlier listing described a Candy Crawl at the Outlets followed by Treat Street from 3 to 5 PM.
We could not find a 2026 announcement for Treat Street or Spooky San Clemente. They may still happen. It is worth checking the City's events page, the Downtown Business Association and the San Clemente Times events listings in the next few days.
What are some local tips for a smooth Halloween?
- Park early. Lots near the Outlets and the Community Center fill up on event days. Arrive 15 to 20 minutes before the start.
- Dress for coastal weather. Evenings can be cool and damp, so build costumes that can handle a jacket.
- Use reflective gear or glow sticks. Streets with no sidewalks can be dark. The National Fire Protection Association's Halloween page has simple safety tips, including costume and candle guidance.
- Keep pets safe. Pet costume contests are fun, but pets can get stressed by crowds and noise. Bring water and plan a quiet break.
- Check candy. A quick look through the candy before eating is a long-standing safety habit.
- Be a good neighbor. Turn your porch light on if you are giving out candy, and off if you are not.
Is Halloween a good time to look at homes?
It can be, and in an unexpected way. Halloween week shows you how a street really lives: how many front doors are close together, how people use their yards, how much foot traffic a neighborhood gets, and whether neighbors are out and about. A neighborhood that feels quiet on a Tuesday can look very different on October 31.
If you are house-hunting, it is worth driving or walking through a couple of areas on Halloween evening, parking, and noticing how it feels. Our neighborhood guides cover what each area is like day to day, and our moving guide covers what to plan for before you relocate.
Curious about a neighborhood? Alex can show you what a street feels like at different times of day, and which homes are on the market in the areas you like.
What comes after Halloween?
San Clemente's holiday season ramps up quickly. See our Thanksgiving guide and our Christmas lights and holiday events guide for the best places to see holiday lights and the downtown holiday night. For year-round local fun, see our guides to the beaches, parks and trails, and where to eat.
If you want a calendar of local events as they come up, the City of San Clemente's events page is the official source, and the Outlets at San Clemente events page is the one to watch for shopping-center events.
Frequently asked questions about this topic
When is Halloween in 2026?
Halloween is on Saturday, October 31, 2026. Most San Clemente events happen the weekend before, October 23 and 24.
What Halloween events are in San Clemente this year?
The City lists a Monster Dash & Creepy Crawl Fun Run on October 24, 7:30 to 11:00 AM, at the Community Center. The Outlets at San Clemente list a Pet Costume Contest & Candy Crawl on October 24 from 11 AM to 2 PM, and a pumpkin patch and Hide & Seek through October 31.
Is there a trunk-or-treat in San Clemente?
A third-party roundup lists one on October 23 for ages 12 and under at Pacific Coast Church, 2651 Calle Frontera. Another listing gives a different location, so confirm before you go.
Does San Clemente have an official trick-or-treat route?
We could not find an official city-run route. Trick-or-treating is neighborhood-based. Ask neighbors where the busiest streets are.
Is Pumpkin Splash still on?
This year's Pumpkin Splash at the Aquatics Center was listed for October 17 and has already happened. It is typically an annual event.
Is Treat Street happening this year?
Treat Street on Avenida Del Mar has run in past years. We could not confirm a 2026 date, so check the City and downtown businesses.
Are there Halloween events near San Clemente?
A local roundup lists Spooky Seas at the Ocean Institute and a Halloween Spooktacular & Trunk or Treat at the Dana Point Community Center, both on October 24. Confirm times with the organizers.
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Further reading
- City of San Clemente events calendar
- Outlets at San Clemente events
- Orange County Halloween events roundup (Sandy Toes and Popsicles)
- San Clemente Downtown Business Association
- San Clemente Times events
- City of San Clemente recreation
- Ocean Institute, Dana Point
- NFPA Halloween safety
- San Clemente neighborhoods
- Moving to San Clemente
Figures are from the cited sources and change over time. Confirm current details with Alex or the MLS before making decisions.
