Attractions & Events

All October long, kids are invited to stay, eat and play for free as a part of the annual “Kids Free San Diego.” Offers include free hotel stays or amenities, free entrance to theme parks and attractions and free meals for children with a paid adult throughout the month and region. With over 100 offers to choose from, there is something for every child and child-at-heart to do this fall.

The San Diego Food and Wine Festival returns to the Embarcadero November 7-9 to showcase cross-border cuisine, celebrated chefs, winemakers and more. The festival also spotlights sustainability, features award-winning chefs including James Beard–recognized talent, and supports culinary education programs through scholarships that benefit aspiring hospitality professionals across the region.

Twitchcon 2025 will return to the San Diego Convention Center October 17-19 to celebrate the culture of live streaming, esports, internet culture, and entertainment. This year’s event expands on fan favorites like Creator Camp, Glitch Theater, Twitch Rivals, Artist Alley, and the famous Block Party, plus exclusive merch and elevated lounge experiences. 

New Hotels & Renovations

Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina is continuing the celebration of the arrival of giant pandas in San Diego with the Pandamonium Package, created in partnership with the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. Available through the end of 2025, the package includes a stay in a panda-themed suite, complete with bamboo accents and plush décor, plus general zoo admission and an exclusive behind-the-scenes Wildlife Adventures ‘Inside Look’ tour.

As part of a property-wide transformation, Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego has debuted its fully redesigned deluxe guest rooms in the Seaport Tower. This milestone marks the first completed phase of the 1,628-room hotel’s top-to-bottom renovation, which will continue through 2026 with additional upgrades to guest accommodations, dining venues, meeting spaces, and rooftop recreation.

Arts & Culture

San Diego Design Week is September 17–21, spotlighting the role of human-centered design in shaping solutions to today’s social, environmental, and civic challenges. This year’s theme, Design for Impact, calls on creatives and changemakers to drive meaningful, measurable progress through bold and purposeful design. Through exhibitions, workshops, talks, and cross-disciplinary collaborations, the festival transforms the city into a vibrant design lab where innovation meets community.

La Jolla Playhouse's fall lineup features three productions, all of which are world-premiers. The Heart (Aug. 19–Sept. 21) is a gripping, emotionally charged musical following a life-saving heart transplant journey. All the Men Who’ve Frightened Me (Sept. 16–Oct. 12) is a genre-blending new play about a trans man who decides to carry his own child while confronting figures from his past. AndWorking Girl (Oct. 28–Nov. 30), a fresh and funny musical adaptation of the iconic 1988 film, with music by Cyndi Lauper.

The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego will present “Alex Katz: Theater and Dance” from August 21, 2025-January 4, 2026. This exhibition is the first comprehensive exploration of Katz’s playful and inventive collaborations with choreographers, dancers, and members of avant-garde theater ensembles over six decades. The touring exhibition showcases nearly 90 rare archival materials, major sets and paintings, and previously unexhibited sketches from more than two dozen productions.

Dining & Libations

From the team behind North Park’s Cori Pastificio Trattoria comes Dora, opening this Fall in UCSD’s Theatre District. Named after Chef Accursio Lota’s grandmother, Dora will bring coastal Southern Italian cuisine to La Jolla with house made pastas, breads, gelato, and Mediterranean seafood rooted in Sicilian tradition. Just steps from the La Jolla Playhouse, Dora will also offer pre-theatre menus inspired by current productions, creating a seamless journey from table to stage. 

Vulture, the newest concept from the team behind Kindred and Mothership, is now open in University Heights. Vulture reimagines mid-century Continental fine dining through a bold, plant-based lens—complete with tablecloth service, rich sauces, and theatrical tableside presentations. Helmed by Executive Chef Pancho Castellón and Head of Pastry Amy Noonan, the menu features standout dishes like Steak Diane made with lion’s mane mushrooms and a reworked Caesar with chickpea-based Parmiagiana and seaweed caviar.

Awards & Recognitions

The 2025 Michelin Guide recently named the newly opened Lilo as San Diego’s newest one-star Michelin restaurant. Lilo is an intimate, design-forward tasting restaurant from Eric Bost and John Resnick, the team behind Michelin-starred Jeune et Jolie and Campfire, serving 12-course dinners to just 22 guests per evening. With Lilo’s addition, San Diego County now boasts five Michelin-starred establishments: the three-star Addison by Chef William Bradley, and one-star restaurants Valle (Oceanside), Juene et Jolie (Carlsbad), and Soichi (University Heights). Beyond the starred restaurants, San Diego has earned recognition for nine Bib Gourmand eateries and several recommended restaurants, totaling well over a dozen Michelin-recognized establishments.

Transportation

San Diego International Airport’s Terminal 1 transformation will reach a major milestone in September with the completion of phase 1. The reimagined terminal will welcome travelers with 19 gates, a new elevated departures roadway, an outdoor check-in pavilion, and a variety of shopping and dining experiences.

Sustainability

As part of its sustainability efforts, Town and Country Resort has introduced an on-site beehive in partnership with Encinitas Honey to support local pollination and eco-friendly practices. The resort is incorporating the honey into dishes and drinks across its restaurants, including specialty cocktails at ARLO and sweet treats at Lapper Sports Bar + Kitchen. Additional bee-inspired offerings include a limited-edition honey blonde ale with Pure Project Brewery and BeeKind organic toiletries in all guestrooms, further highlighting the resort’s commitment to environmental stewardship.

San Diego International Airport (SAN) has activated a cutting-edge hydrant fueling system as part of its ongoing commitment to sustainability and operational excellence. Hydrant fueling systems streamline the refueling process by delivering fuel directly from storage facilities to aircraft via underground pipelines.The new system reduces aircraft turnaround times, minimizes fuel truck traffic, and lowers carbon emissions.

For more information on San Diego’s offerings, including exciting vacation packages and valuable coupons for attractions, restaurants and more, visit the San Diego Tourism Authority’s website at www.sandiego.org.