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Reed Naliboff

Things to do in San Diego in November 2026: the dates worth knowing

6 min read Checked October 20, 2026Best for November 2026 Report a correction

November 2026 opens with Día de los Muertos (through Nov 2) and the Food + Wine Festival (Nov 1–8), then Beer Week (Nov 6–15), Del Mar's fall racing (Nov 6–29), the Veterans Day Parade (Nov 11) and the Hotel del's ice rink from Nov 20.

Free festival
Nov 1–2

Día de los Muertos, Old Town

Racing
13 days

Del Mar, Nov 6–29

Veterans Day
Wed, Nov 11

Parade 10 a.m.

Ice rink
From Nov 20

Hotel del Coronado

The short version

  • Día de los Muertos in Old Town runs Oct 31–Nov 2 and is free, ending with a candlelit procession on Monday, Nov 2.
  • San Diego Beer Week runs Nov 6–15; the San Diego Food + Wine Festival's Grand Tasting is Saturday, Nov 7 (21+ only).
  • Del Mar's Bing Crosby Season races 13 days from Nov 6 to Nov 29, including Thanksgiving Day.
  • The Veterans Day Parade steps off downtown at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov 11; Cabrillo National Monument is free that day for U.S. residents.
  • The Hotel del Coronado's Skating by the Sea opens Nov 20 ($35–$45).

November is one of San Diego's best-value months: the summer crowds are gone, hotel rates dip, and the calendar fills with food, racing and the start of the holidays. Here are the dates worth planning around in 2026, checked against organizers' pages on October 20.

November's big dates

Nov 2Día de los MuertosprocessionOld Town, 5 p.m.;freeNov 6–15San Diego BeerWeekEvents at breweriescountywideNov 6–29Del Mar racing13 race days, firstpost 12:30 p.m.Nov 11Veterans DayParadeDowntown waterfront,10 a.m.Nov 20Skating by the SeaopensHotel del Coronado,to Jan 3

From organizer pages: Old Town SHP, SD Brewers Guild, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, USS Midway Museum and Hotel del Coronado.

The full November calendar

DatesEventWhereCostKids?
Oct 31–Nov 2Día de los MuertosOld Town State Historic ParkFreeYes
Nov 1–8San Diego Food + Wine Festival (Grand Tasting Nov 7)Embarcadero Marina Park North and venues countywideTicketedNo, 21+
Nov 6–15San Diego Beer WeekBreweries and bars countywidePer eventNo
Nov 6–29Bing Crosby Season racing (Fri–Sun plus Thanksgiving)Del Mar RacetrackTicketedYes
Nov 7Veterans Day ceremonyMt. Soledad National Veterans Memorial, 11 a.m.FreeYes
Nov 11Veterans Day ParadeCounty Admin Center to N. Harbor Dr, 10 a.m.FreeYes
Nov 11Fee-free day (U.S. residents)Cabrillo National MonumentFreeYes
Nov 13 & 14Teddy Swims; Los Tigres del NortePechanga ArenaTicketedVaries
Nov 14SDSU vs. Utah State (Military Appreciation)Snapdragon Stadium, 6:30 p.m.TicketedYes
Nov 20–Jan 3Skating by the SeaHotel del Coronado$35–$45Yes
Nov 26Thanksgiving turkey trotsBalboa Park, Encinitas, OceansideFrom $10Yes

Organizer and agency pages, plus Hoodline and the San Diego Tourism Authority, checked October 20, 2026. Dates can change; confirm before buying tickets.

For families

Start with Día de los Muertos in Old Town, which is free; the Catrina exhibit runs 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through November 2. The Veterans Day Parade is a free, mid-morning event on the downtown waterfront. Del Mar's fall meet is a relaxed family day out compared with the summer season, with a one-mile Family Fun Run on Thanksgiving morning. From November 20, the Hotel del's beachfront ice rink and free nightly light show (5 to 9 p.m.) kick off the holidays.

For adults

San Diego Beer Week (November 6–15) is the Brewers Guild's annual showcase, with tap takeovers and special releases across the county. The San Diego Food + Wine Festival, now in its 22nd year, runs November 1–8; its Grand Tasting at Embarcadero Marina Park North is Saturday, November 7, and the festival doesn't admit anyone under 21, including infants.

Coming for the holiday itself? See Thanksgiving in San Diego 2026. December plans: holiday events. Driving to Del Mar or Snapdragon? Check game-day and race-day traffic.

Is this still right?

We last checked this tip against its sources on October 20, 2026, and we re-research every tip on a schedule. Things in San Diego change, sometimes overnight.

Event dates, times and prices are set by the organizers and can change or sell out. Confirm with the organizer's own page before you plan around them.

This is general information, not legal, financial, tax, medical or safety advice.

SOURCES

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