Tag: autumn

Glowing clouds at day’s end in Balboa Park.

Glowing orange clouds at day's end, and the California Tower in silhouette. Photo taken from Plaza de Panama in San Diego's Balboa Park.
Glowing orange clouds at day’s end, and the California Tower in silhouette. Photo taken from Plaza de Panama in San Diego’s Balboa Park.

Days are rapidly becoming shorter. My evening walks after work have magically changed. Bright sunshine has become twilight. Clouds glow like embers as darkness descends.

Here are two photographs I took this evening during a short stroll through the heart of Balboa Park.

A dramatic end to an October day. Photo of iconic California Tower in San Diego's Balboa Park as night falls.
A dramatic end to an October day. Photo of iconic California Tower in San Diego’s Balboa Park as night falls.

…

Follow this blog for more photos of cool stuff! Join me on Facebook or Twitter.

A pile of scary, ghostly horrors in a city park!

Creepy skulls await visitors near entrance to The Haunted Trail for the approaching Halloween season.
Creepy skulls await visitors near entrance to The Haunted Trail.  Many visitors will scream this coming Halloween season.

Is it nearly Autumn? That means Halloween is quickly approaching! And so are the usual nightmarish horrors!

I saw during a walk through Balboa Park’s west end that The Haunted Trail is under construction. Around Halloween, the annual outdoor “haunted house” scares even the bravest living residents of San Diego. Passing through the dark, ghostly trees at night might be scary enough, but imagine being surrounded by legions of hellish ghouls and flesh-eating zombies!

I conquered my own fear and poked my camera over a fence to record the coming terror…

The Haunted Trail is under construction on the west end of Balboa Park. Workers seem to be just getting started.
The Haunted Trail is under construction on the west end of Balboa Park. Workers seem to be just getting started.
Bloody decapitated heads on pikes will scare thrill-seekers in the dark of night!
Bloody decapitated heads on pikes will scare thrill-seekers in the dark of night!
Various dummies arranged on the leafy ground. Like the undead, they will soon rise!
Various dummies arranged on the leafy ground. Like the undead, they will soon rise!
What would Halloween be without a pumpkin head. And some ghouls, ghosts, specters and whatnot.
What would Halloween be without a pumpkin head? And some ghouls, ghosts, specters and miscellaneous whatnot.
That's one big pile of terribly mangled bodies. It almost looks like what happens during a fumble in football.
That’s one big pile of terribly mangled bodies. It almost looks like what happens during a fumble in football.
I thought one grim reaper was quite enough, thank you.
I thought one grim reaper was quite enough, thank you!
And to top it all off, a good old spooky demon with horns. October must be approaching!
And to top it all off, a good old spooky demon with horns. October must be approaching!

…

Follow this blog for more photos of cool stuff!  They usually aren’t this scary!  Join me on Facebook or Twitter.

Spooky fun Boulevard BOO! Parade thrills kids.

Boy dressed as tin man enjoys Boulevard BOO! Parade in San Diego.
Boy dressed as tin man enjoys Boulevard BOO! Parade in San Diego.

I’ve heard about San Diego’s only Halloween parade for years. Today I checked it out!

The Boulevard BOO! Parade is now ten years old. It takes place every late October on El Cajon Boulevard near College Avenue. The neighborhood, just south of San Diego State University, appears to have really embraced this annual Halloween event!

Hundreds of families turned out to view the fun spectacle. The BOO! Parade is mostly for kids, and many young spectators had trick-or-treat bags and were in costume themselves!

Here are my best pics!

10th annual BOO! Parade took place on El Cajon Boulevard.
10th annual BOO! Parade took place on El Cajon Boulevard.
Two scary zombie kids were seen lurching down the street before the parade began.
Two scary zombie kids were seen lurching down the street before the parade began.
These pirates were being rascally and rambunctious in the parade staging area!
These pirates were being rascally and rambunctious in the parade staging area!
BOO! Parade kicks off a few blocks west of College Avenue in the late morning.
BOO! Parade kicks off a few blocks west of College Avenue in the late morning.

The tall ghostly blue creature is the character Boo!

Super tall Boo is blue, and he seems to blend in with the clouds.
Super tall Boo is blue, and he seems to blend in with the clouds.
Looks like all the regular monsters have shown up for this big Halloween parade!
Looks like all the regular monsters have shown up for this big Halloween parade!
There were a few not-so-scary clowns around, too!
There were a few not-so-scary clowns around, too!
Marine Corps marching band gets things rolling near start of parade.
Marine Corps marching band gets things rolling near start of parade.
One of many creative floats seen during the fun late October parade.
One of many creative floats seen during the fun late October parade.
Two different Ghostbusters cars were in the parade.
Two different Ghostbusters cars were in the parade.
Kids get goodies from a ghostbuster patrolling El Cajon Boulevard.
Kids get goodies from a ghostbuster patrolling El Cajon Boulevard.
Costumed parade participants from San Diego Center for the Blind.
Costumed parade participants from San Diego Center for the Blind.
Here come some smiling SDSU cheerleaders.
Here come some smiling SDSU cheerleaders.
The San Diego State University mascot Aztec Warrior gives a high five!
The San Diego State University mascot Aztec Warrior gives a high five!
Lots of cars in the parade were draped with creepy cobwebs.
Lots of cars in the parade were draped with creepy cobwebs.
Kids marching in the parade wore every sort of cool costume you can imagine!
Kids marching in the parade wore every sort of cool costume you can imagine!
Here comes a long line of classic cars with spooky decorations.
Here comes a long line of classic cars with spooky decorations.
A witch waves to a passing skeleton!
A witch waves to a passing skeleton!
The San Diego Police Department must be hiring guys with evil pumpkin heads!
The San Diego Police Department must be hiring guys with evil pumpkin heads!
One of two pirate ships I saw. This was most definitely very cool.
One of two pirate ships I saw. This was most definitely very cool.
Little zombies do a dance routine!
Little zombies do a dance routine!
Several schools were in the parade and everyone was having a blast.
Several schools were in the parade and everyone was having a blast.
Here come the Shriners in their Halloween-themed mini-cars!
Here come the Shriners in their Halloween-themed mini-cars!
And here come more clowns out of the woodwork.
And here come more clowns out of the woodwork.
The second pirate ship rolls along with some waving beauty queens.
The second pirate ship rolls along with some waving beauty queens.
A beauty queen is wearing a big, golden pharaoh headdress!
A beauty queen is wearing a big, golden pharaoh headdress!
I suppose these young ladies are the queens of Zombieland!
I suppose these young ladies are the queens of Zombieland!
And this beauty queen is dressed up as macaroni and cheese!
And this beauty queen is dressed up as macaroni and cheese!
Looks like the ROTC is recruiting young monsters.
Looks like the ROTC is recruiting young monsters.
Headless parader thrills girls and shocks poor old mom.
Headless parader thrills girls and shocks poor old mom.
A whole lot of fun was enjoyed by thousands today, young and old.
A whole lot of fun was enjoyed by thousands today, young and old.
Utility box on El Cajon Boulevard painted with scenes from BOO! Parade.
Utility box on El Cajon Boulevard painted with scenes from BOO! Parade.

…

To enjoy future posts, you can “like” Cool San Diego Sights on Facebook or follow me on Twitter.

Signs of Halloween in downtown San Diego.

Scarecrow and hay bales at pumpkin patch in San Diego's new waterfront park.
Scarecrow and hay bales at pumpkin patch in San Diego’s new waterfront park.

During my mid-afternoon walk around downtown San Diego today, I was watching for fun Halloween photo opportunities. It’s less than two weeks away!  I had a little bit of luck…

(The above pic was taken after all the pumpkins were snatched up, but lots of families were still about enjoying the pleasant day!)

Spiders on side of Little Italy building wrap a skeleton.
Spiders on side of Little Italy building wrap a skeleton.
Spooky shredded sails of haunted Star of India on Embarcadero.
Spooky shredded sails of haunted Star of India flutter in wind on the Embarcadero.
Gaslamp parties celebrate Halloween and Day of the Dead.
Gaslamp parties celebrate Halloween and Mexico’s Day of the Dead.
Alamo Flags at Seaport Village has a smelly witch foot!
Trick or treat?  Alamo Flags at Seaport Village has a smelly witch foot!
Just relaxing on a nice Autumn Sunday by the Seaport Village carousel.
Just relaxing on a nice cool Autumn Sunday by the Seaport Village carousel.
Kid checks out pumpkins and colorful display at Seaport Village.
Kid checks out pumpkins and colorful leafy display at Seaport Village.
Gaslamp banners advertise a monster bash block party.
Gaslamp banners advertise a monster bash block party.
Donut Bar window contains a scary skull-headed server!
Donut Bar window downtown contains a scary skull-headed server!

…

To enjoy future posts, you can “like” Cool San Diego Sights on Facebook or follow me on Twitter.

Halloween art on display at Seaport Village.

halloween art on display at seaport village

Here’s a fun pic of an artistic Halloween display seen on a random shop wall in Seaport Village. I don’t recall the name of the store. The colorful arrangement of crafty witches, owls and pumpkins is a feast for the eyes!

I notice this morning that temperatures outside are cooling. Autumn is in the air and Halloween is around the corner!

Wind-driven witch in front of Kite Flite shop.
Wind-driven witch in front of Kite Flite shop.