The history of Halloween goes back about 2,000 years to the Celts who lived in Ireland, the United Kingdom and northern France and their Samhain celebration on November 1st. They believed the night before Samhain, the dead returned as ghosts, so the living would leave food and wine on their doorsteps to keep the ghosts at bay. The Celts would also wear masks when they went outside, so the ghosts would mistake them for fellow spirits. The traditional family-friendly Halloween that we know really began in the 1950s. In honor and the more tame version of All Hallow’s Eve San Diego will be hosting some spine-chilling and spooky activities this weekend.
Ghouls and boys of all ages are going to love a visit to Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography and their ‘Haunted Aquarium.’ From 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm this Friday and Saturday (Oct 23rd & 24th), they will transform their halls into an eerie, yet highly entertaining, educational party. Rarely seen sea creatures such as the Humboldt Squid (renamed ‘Frankensquid,’ of course), glowing sea-deep fish, skeleton shrimp and sea spiders.
Kids will be able to make and take home their own version of slime from seaweed, as well as other creepy crafts. Costume prizes for those in the best (family-friendly) costumes will be handed out, and the cafe will be open until 8:30pm in case you feel peckish. Billy Lee and the Swamp Critters band will also keep the party hopping with live music. Tickets can be bought online for $17 or $19 at the door.
The Maritime Museum will be hosting ‘Haunted Tales of our Seafaring Past’ this Saturday (Oct 24th) and next Saturday (Oct. 31st). You can decide if the Star of India is haunted as your tour guide leads you through the ship with a lantern. Tour the Star of India as you hear ghost stories from the ship’s past. Tours guides will lead you through by lantern and entertain you with tales of ghost sightings and unexplained phenomenons. The tours begin at 6:00 pm and occur every 15 minutes, with the last one beginning at 9:15 pm. 
Downtown will get a hair-raising spin with the ‘Ghosts of the Gaslamp Walking Tour’ on Friday, Oct. 30th. The tour happens every Friday at 5:00 pm, but we think the night before Halloween is the perfect eve to step out and learn about the horrifying history of Gaslamp Quarter. Reservations need to be made at the latest the Thursday before at 4:00 pm for the half-mile tour. A historian will lead you through hotels, funeral parlors, saloons and end at the Willian Heath Davis House (one of the most haunted buildings in San Diego) all the while relating frightening stories from their past. Adult tickets are $20, kids range from $10 to $8 (7 and under are free), with discounts for seniors and active military, and college students.
For a bit of culture spooky culture, head over to Copley Symphony Hall to watch The Nightmare Before Christmas and here the San Diego Symphony Orchestra perform Danny Elfman’s score for the film. The movie will be projected on a big screen with the dialogue and the orchestra will accompany the film’s unforgettable soundtrack. The film will be shown on Friday (Oct. 30th) at 8:00 pm and Saturday (Oct 31st) at 5:00 pm and tickets start at $20. On Friday, everyone is encouraged to dress up and arrive early (7:15 pm) for a fun costume contest.
All things creepy-crawly and trick-or-treating don’t need to be limited to one night of the year. This year for All Hallow’s Eve, San Diego has something for everyone. How about a celebrating Halloween by the sea in one of our not-haunted residents at Mission Bay? You’ll be close to all the chilling, nightmarish, and overall enjoyable action for the next 10 days.
