UESL Guide: October ‘25 IDD-Friendly Events + Activities (San Diego + Imperial Valley)
Happy spooky season friends! Let’s get out there and enjoy low-sensory, inclusive, and IDD-friendly things
Below are 10 community events this October 2025—from sensory-friendly museum mornings to adaptive sports—where IDD individuals + families can show up, connect, and have fun.
Also - come meet the UESL team at these first three epic events!
1. 3rd Annual San Diego Family + Vendor Resource Fair
A one-day hub for services, tools, and community connections for SDRC families. Expect dozens of regional resources—UESL included—under one roof. Come meet our team!
Date: Sat, Oct 4, 9:00am–3:30pm
Location: San Diego Convention Center, 111 W Harbor Dr, San Diego, CA 92101
Link: Official listing + attendee info.
2. San Marcos Harvest Festival
A big, family-friendly street festival with vendors, food, live music, and kid activities—great for casual community time and low-pressure socializing.
Date: Sun, Oct 12, 9:00am–5:00pm
Location: Along North City Dr, San Marcos, CA 92078
Link: San Marcos Chamber of Commerce
3. FERIA Conference
A free, bilingual resource conference focused on Families, Education, Resources, Inclusion + Advocacy—with community exhibitors and supports for diverse needs.
Date: Sat, Oct 18, 8:00am–3:30pm
Location: Otay Ranch High School, 1250 Olympic Pkwy, Chula Vista, CA 91913
Link: Event details + registration.
4. Accessibility Mornings – Fleet Science Center
Lowered lighting/sound and smaller crowds make the museum gentler for sensory-sensitive visitors. October’s session lands on the third Saturday.
Date: Sat, Oct 18, 9:00–10:00am
Location: Fleet Science Center, 1875 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101
Link: Program page; venue address.
5. Sensory Friendly Mornings – San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum (Escondido)
Early-entry, sensory-considerate play with limited capacity; October dates run Sundays 10/5, 10/12, 10/19, 10/26.
Date: Sun, Oct 5, 12, 19, 26; 9:00–10:30am
Location: 320 N Broadway, Escondido, CA 92025
Link: Official October calendar.
6. ASD Mornings – San Diego Natural History Museum (The Nat)
The museum opens early on the second Sunday each month for a quieter visit, with a designated quiet room from 9am–noon.
Date: Sun, Oct 12, 9:00am (early entry)
Location: 1788 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101
Link: Program details + address.
7. AWARE Dance Party – Autism Society San Diego
All-abilities, all-ages dance party with DJs, snacks, and a supportive vibe—great for building comfort + confidence in social settings.
Date: Sun, Oct 26, 5:00–7:00pm
Location: City of San Diego Park + Rec Admin Bldg, 2150 Pan American Rd W, San Diego, CA 92101
Link: Program page.
8. Family Pool Party – Autism Society San Diego
Monthly “second-Saturday” swim that’s structured, friendly, and welcoming—often a big win for sensory seekers who love the water.
Date: Sat, Oct 11, 2:00–4:00pm
Location: Boys & Girls Club of Greater San Diego – Clairemont Branch, 4635 Clairemont Mesa Blvd, San Diego, CA 92117
Link: Program page.
9. Miracle League of San Diego – Fall Baseball (spectator-friendly)
Cheer on athletes with disabilities at an accessible ballfield designed for inclusive play; October games run on Sundays at Engel Family Field.
Dates: Sun, Oct 5, 12, 19, 26 (see schedule for divisions/times)
Location: Engel Family Field, San Dieguito County Park, 1628 Lomas Santa Fe Dr, Del Mar, CA 92014
Link: Fall 2025 schedule + field info. Program info.
10. Sensory-Friendly Films – AMC Theatres (San Diego)
AMC partners with Autism Society for “lights up, sound down” screenings on the second + fourth Saturdays each month (family titles); check your preferred AMC (e.g., Mission Valley 20) for Oct showtimes.
Dates: Sat, Oct 11 + Sat, Oct 25 (per AMC program cadence)
Location: Example venue—AMC Mission Valley 20, 1640 Camino Del Rio N, San Diego, CA 92108
Link: AMC program page + local theater info.
BONUS!
(Imperial Valley): Sensory Sensitive Sunday – Chuck E. Cheese, El Centro
Opens two hours early on the first Sunday with dimmed lights + lower volume; plus a Sensory-Sensitive Halloween morning on Sun, Oct 26, 9–11am.
Date: Sun, Oct 5 (monthly); special Halloween Sun, Oct 26
Location: 803 E Danenberg Dr, El Centro, CA 92243
Link: El Centro Sensory page (with 2025 dates + address).
If you’ve made it this far, you’re already doing something powerful: choosing connection over isolation.
For many IDD families, calendars fill with therapies, appointments, and hard conversations. It’s easy to feel like “free time” is a luxury. But a morning at a museum with the lights turned down, a street festival where your gamer can people-watch at their own pace, a dance party that welcomes stims + joy + headphones—these aren’t extras. They’re the practice field where confidence, communication, and community skills grow in real life.
This month’s lineup isn’t about keeping busy; it’s about building belonging. Each event offers low-pressure ways to say hello, try a new activity, or simply be around others who understand. Some days, success might look like a short visit and a snack. Other days, it might be a full afternoon of exploring. Either way, showing up counts. When you find a rhythm that fits your family, the world starts to feel a little more navigable—and your gamer sees that they have a place in it.
You don’t have to do it alone. UESL will be out in the community this month because we believe the most meaningful growth happens both inside + outside our arenas.
If you see our table at the San Diego Family + Vendor Resource Fair, the San Marcos Harvest Festival, or the FERIA Conference, come say hi. Ask questions. Tell us what’s working for your family and what isn’t. Our team is built to listen first. We can talk through location options, flexible schedules, and pathways for getting started—step by step and at your pace.
If you’re curious about UESL but not ready to jump in, that’s okay. Start small. Visit one event. Try a sensory-friendly morning. Watch a Miracle League game. When your gamer has a positive experience in a supportive space, it becomes easier to imagine the next step—touring a UNIFIED Gaming + Technology Arena, meeting coaches, and discovering how their love of games can become a structured path for skill-building + friendship.
For families already in our community, you’re part of what makes these spaces so welcoming. Thank you for waving someone over to join a game, for sharing a tip about a quiet corner, for modeling patience when plans need to shift. That generosity ripples outward. If you know a family who could benefit from UESL, invite them to connect with us. Our referral program is our way of saying thanks—when a family you refer enrolls, we’ll send a meaningful “thank you” (ask Client Services for current details + terms). Your recommendation doesn’t just help one gamer; it strengthens the whole community.
So pick one event. Put it on the calendar. Pack the headphones, the favorite snack, the comfort item. And remind yourself: progress isn’t always loud—it’s often a quiet brave thing done in small steps. Wherever you go this month, we hope you feel the steady presence of a community that sees you, celebrates your gamer’s strengths, and stands ready to support the next step forward.
If you’re ready to talk, our Client Services team is here to make things simple—no pressure, just real people who care…
