12 Things That Should Be On Southern Californians' Calendars This September

September is always a busy month as Southern Californians return to school and work routines, and 2025 is no exception.

If it's not a meeting with your kids' teachers, it's a football game or fall musical. If it's not an imposing deadline at work, it's out-of-town business trips and demands on your volunteer time.

Don't forget to schedule date night, family day or even "you" time before the usually mild month of September slips away. To help you to fill out your calendar, we've rounded up 12 can't-miss events from around Southern California.

ArtWalk Carlsbad: The weekend-long festival focuses on fine art for sale by local artists, as well as those who travel from all over the U.S. and Mexico to show and sell their work. More than 150 fine artists' work will be featured, along with interactive art for families at KidsWalk, a full palette of musical performers, food trucks and stands, and more. Located above the Flower Fields, the event will take place Sept. 20-21 at 5790 Armada Drive in Carlsbad.

Cardiff Greek Festival: The two-day festival features Greek food and pastries, live Greek music, folk dance performances, a wine and beer garden, a marketplace, a kids' fun zone and more. The event will take place Sept. 6-7 at Saints Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church at 3459 Manchester Ave. in Encinitas.

East Village Oktoberfest: The ninth annual event will bring Munich vibes with a SoCal twist to San Diego. Co-hosted by Quartyard and the East Village Association, the one-day event will feature craft beer, festive bites, live music and games in a lively seated beer hall atmosphere. The event is slated from 3 to 8 p.m. Sept. 20 at Quartyard at 1301 Market St. in San Diego.

Halloween Spooktacular: Halloween is kicking off early with Halloween Spooktacular at SeaWorld San Diego. The theme park's family-friendly Halloween event will feature enchanting mermaids, whimsical pirates, spooky surprises and trick-or-treating throughout the park. This year, Spookley the Square Pumpkin will make his SeaWorld debut alongside his companion Jack. The event will take place on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from Sept. 5 to Nov. 5. The event will also include the celebration of the Mexican holiday Día de los Muertos on Nov. 1 and 2.

Harry Potter High Tea: Corbeaux Wine & Tea House, in collaboration with Spine & Vine, will serve up a special menu and bring in special edition Harry Potter books and merchandise for fans of the fantasy series. The experience will include a glass of sparkling mead, seasonal iced tea or themed cocktail followed by a seasonal soup, salad and a three-tiered Harry Potter themed pastry tower. Throughout the seating, guests will also enjoy four rounds of seasonal teas and savory bites. The event takes place at noon Sept. 14 at Corbeaux Wine & Tea House at 41923 2nd Street, Suite 105, in Temecula.

Los Angeles Kids Book Festival: The festival celebrates early childhood education, bilingualism and multiculturalism for young children and their families. The third annual event will feature nearly 100 children's authors and illustrators, author and industry panels, a foam party, live performances, story times, food trucks and more. The festival takes place from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sept. 7 at West Hollywood Park at 647 North San Vicente Blvd. in West Hollywood.

Malibu Food & Wine: The three-day destination event unites celebrated chefs, acclaimed vintners, local legends, and visionary culinary creatives for a special culinary experience along the coastline. The festival blends elevated tastings, immersive dining and curated activations that spotlight the very best of California's bounty. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Malibu, according to event organizers. The event takes place Sept. 5-7 at Saddlerock Ranch at 31727 Mulholland Highway in Malibu.

Maritime Festival: The Maritime Festival has been a beloved community event for the past 41 years, celebrating Dana Point's rich maritime history. This year's event will feature local marine life, sailor re-enactors, tall ships, beer gardens, kids' activities, food trucks, local vendors and more. The festival is scheduled Sept. 12-14 at Ocean Institute at 24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive in Dana Point.

O'Hoppe Bowl All-Star Bowl: Los Angeles Angels catcher Logan O'Hoppe and some of his teammates are inviting fans to a charity bowling tournament to compete, socialize with the players, and support the YMCA of Orange County. Each ticketed person in attendance will receive three hours of bowling with O'Hoppe and his friends, autographs and photos, food and a gift bag. The event will take place from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. Sept. 7 at Fountain Bowl at 17110 Brookhurst St. in Fountain Valley.

Oktoberfest: Dig out your Deutsche duds and raise a stein. It's Oktoberfest time! The German celebrations are held September and October throughout SoCal. Oktoberfest at Old World Huntington Beach is known as Orange County's "biggest party" since 1978. The annual festival features German beer, food and music. This year's event will take place every Wednesday through Sunday from Sept. 7 through Nov. 9 at the Biergarten at Old World Huntington Beach at 7561 Center Ave. #49 in Huntington Beach.

San Diego International Summer Organ Festival: The 37th annual festival is the largest organ festival in the U.S. The summer-long festival runs through Sept. 1 in the heart of Balboa Park. The 90-minute concerts take place at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion. This summer's final free concert takes place on Labor Day. The all-Beatles Labor Day Classic Rock Concert will commemorate the 60th anniversary of the San Diego Beatles concert. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 1 at Spreckels Organ Pavilion at 2125 Pan American East Road in San Diego.

San Diego Restaurant Week: This countywide event features exclusive multi-course menus from more than 100 restaurants across 30-plus neighborhoods. From oceanfront gems to hidden neighborhood favorites, participating restaurants will offer special limited-time menus crafted to highlight fresh, local ingredients and creative culinary talent. San Diego Restaurant Week runs from Sept. 14 through Sept. 21 at various locations across the county.

Are you planning an event this fall? Feature it, so nearby readers see it all across Patch — including in roundups like this!