Today’s newsletter is presented by San Diego Theatres.
Hello, Downtown!
October delivers the annual countywide “Kids Free San Diego” program overseen by the San Diego Tourism Authority.
LOL, nobody’s giving away free kids, nor are kids allowed to roam free all month. Rather, from Oct. 1 to 31, more than 100 restaurants, museums and experiences are offering freebie deals to children accompanied by paying adults.
In downtown San Diego, some of the free options for kids include: dessert at Alma San Diego, meals at Osteria Panevino, room and meals at Grand Hyatt San Diego and Westin Gaslamp, admission to the Chinese Historical Museum and tickets to rides on Flagship Cruises and City Cruises.
The deal on City Cruises is for its Best of The Bay Harbor Tour. It’s a 90-minute narrated excursion. Families can look for the USS Midway, the Coronado Bridge, sun-loving sea lions and other sights. Kids get a Junior Captain Cruise Kit that has crayons, coloring books and a Junior Captain lanyard.
“Our Junior Captain program gives kids a fun way to make the adventure their own,” City Cruises Regional Director of Marketing Karyn Carreon said.
Up to two kids aged 12-and-under can cruise for free with each paying adult. Adults can use the promo code KIDSFREE2026 when booking.
Even after you check the SDTA’s Kids Free page, be sure to confirm all the details at the venue you’d like to visit. The age limits vary from place to place, and some limit the number of kids that can accompany a paid adult. A few places block out dates that have high demand.
Ron Donoho
Downtown News newsletter host
Downtown story spotlight
SDPD ramps up officer presence in Gaslamp to address violence, ‘lawlessness’ at night
By Drew Sitton • Times of San Diego and Dorian Hargrove • Times of San Diego
In an effort to address nightly disorder in the Gaslamp Quarter, the San Diego Police Department dispatched more officers.
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