Weekend Guide
Weekend Events in Santa Clarita: September 18-20, 2026
This is the weekend autumn officially takes over the Santa Clarita Valley calendar. Thursday evening the SENSES Oktoberfest block party fills Main Street in Old Town Newhall. Friday night Fright Fest 2026 opens at Six Flags Magic Mountain while five Broadway stars bring the Doo Wop Project to CanyonPAC. Saturday GRACEFEST returns to Castaic Lake with live music by the water while Pococktoberfest kicks off its two-day Oktoberfest, and Sunday is made for the College of the Canyons market and one last golden weekend at the lake. Here is your complete weekend guide from SCV insider Sam Silver.
September 18-20, 2026 Sam Silver 5 min read
A Note for Our Community
The August 24, 2026 fire destroyed at least five businesses along Old Town Newhall's Main Street, including the Newhall Refinery restaurant, The MAIN performing arts theater, an auto collision center, Care Tucker Style House, and the former El Trocadero restaurant. Our hearts are with the owners, employees, and families. If your weekend plans include dining, shopping, or a tasting room in Old Town Newhall, that is one of the most direct ways to support the recovery. The SENSES Oktoberfest below takes place outdoors on Main Street and is unaffected.
Ways to support Old Town Newhall recoveryThursday, September 17 the city's SENSES block party returns in its Oktoberfest edition on Main Street. Friday, September 18 is a big one: Fright Fest 2026 opens at Six Flags Magic Mountain while the Doo Wop Project opens the CanyonPAC season. Saturday, September 19 is the biggest day of the year at the lake: GRACEFEST returns to Castaic Lake while Pococktoberfest day one pours at Pocock Brewing, and the valley's farmers markets are in full harvest swing. Sunday brings Pococktoberfest day two and the College of the Canyons market. Here is everything happening, with current events listed first.
Thursday, Sep 17
SENSES Oktoberfest on Main Street, Newhall
Friday, Sep 18
Fright Fest opens, Doo Wop Project at CanyonPAC
Saturday, Sep 19
GRACEFEST at Castaic Lake, Pococktoberfest & markets
Sunday, Sep 20
Pococktoberfest finale, COC market
Current Weekend Events
This weekend's events, listed newest first. All times and venues verified.
Fright Fest 2026 Opening Weekend
Friday-Sunday, Sept 18-20 · Six Flags Magic Mountain, 26101 Magic Mountain Pkwy, Valencia
The SCV's own Southern California big scare returns for its 33rd Fright Fest, and this is the opening weekend, running its first full Friday-Saturday-Sunday slate through November 1. Expect seven haunted mazes, seven scare zones, and four live shows, with two brand-new mazes debuting this year: Final Destination: Death's Playground, based on the New Line Cinema franchise, and Wolves' Blood, an original werewolf maze. Evening hours run 7 PM to midnight on Thursdays and Sundays and 7 PM to 1 AM on Fridays and Saturdays. During the daytime the same weekends host Tricks and Treats, a family-friendly alternative with a Trick-or-Treat Trail and no scares.
Fright Fest 2026 Complete GuideThe Doo Wop Project: Echoes of the Street
Santa Clarita Performing Arts Center · College of the Canyons
The Santa Clarita Performing Arts Center at College of the Canyons opens its 2026-27 Spotlight Series with the Doo Wop Project. Five Broadway stars from Jersey Boys, Motown the Musical, and Beautiful take the CanyonPAC stage Friday night, bringing doo-wop, soul, and Motown favorites to life with a live band. It is a polished, crowd-pleasing show, and this one sells out, so book ahead.
Friday, September 18 at 8:00 PM at the Santa Clarita Performing Arts Center, 26455 Rockwell Canyon Road, Valencia.
SCV Performing Arts & Theater GuideGRACEFEST at Castaic Lake
Saturday, Sept 19 · Gates 1:30 PM · Castaic Lake State Recreation Area
The 18th annual GRACEFEST, a music and message festival, returns to Castaic Lake State Recreation Area with headliners including Lecrae, Bethel Music, and Jeremy Camp, plus food vendors, a kids zone, and live worship from the stage with the lake as the backdrop. Gates open at 1:30 PM. Admission is free and the event is family-friendly, making a full afternoon at the water and music one of the best values of the season.
Saturday, September 19, gates 1:30 PM at Castaic Lake State Recreation Area, 32133 Castaic Lake Drive, Castaic.
Castaic Lake Recreation GuidePococktoberfest at Pocock Brewing
Saturday & Sunday, Sept 19-20 · Pocock Brewing Company
Pocock's Oktoberfest weekend is a two-day celebration with free admission, live music all day, German sausages, Bavarian pretzels, and souvenir Bavarian-edition beer mugs. It is one of the friendliest beer weekends on the SCV craft calendar and pairs perfectly with a Saturday at Castaic Lake.
Saturday, September 19 and Sunday, September 20 at Pocock Brewing Company, 24907 Avenue Stanford, Valencia. Check the tasting room for daily music times.
Full SCV Oktoberfest GuideSENSES Oktoberfest on Main Street
Thursday, Sept 17 · 7:00-10:00 PM · Old Town Newhall
The city's SENSES block party returns to Main Street in Old Town Newhall with its Oktoberfest edition Thursday evening: stein-holding and barrel-rolling contests, live music, food vendors, and craft cocktails under the string lights. Free and family-friendly. It is also a meaningful night to be in Old Town, supporting the businesses working through the fire recovery.
SCV Oktoberfest Season GuideSaturday Farmers Markets: Old Town Newhall & Bouquet Canyon
Saturday, Sept 19 · 8:30 AM - 1 PM & 8 AM - 1 PM
Early autumn produce is showtime at the valley's Saturday markets. The Old Town Newhall Farmers Market fills the library parking lot at 24500 Main Street from 8:30 AM to 1 PM with peppers, stone fruit, artisan goods, and a coffee and brunch walk down Main. North of town, the Bouquet Canyon Certified Farmers Market & Crafters Show runs 8 AM to 1 PM at 27000 Bouquet Canyon Road in Saugus. Both are free to browse.
Certified Farmers' Market at College of the Canyons
Sunday, Sept 20 · 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
The valley's biggest market sets up in Parking Lot 5 at College of the Canyons (Valencia Blvd & Rockwell Canyon Rd) on Sunday morning from 8 AM to noon, year-round, rain or shine. With fall produce arriving, it is the best single stop for apples, grapes, winter squash, fresh-pressed juice, and artisan goods. Arrive by 9 AM for the best selection.
More Weekend Highlights
Additional ways to spend the weekend around the valley.
Castaic Lake: One Last Summer Push
All Weekend
GRACEFEST fans can make a full day of it at Castaic Lake: swim at the lower lagoon, paddleboard, kayak, or picnic by the water before the music starts. September water is still some of the warmest of the year. About 15 minutes from central SCV.
Golden-Hour Parks & Trails
All Weekend
Early fall light makes the paseos and parks glow. Stretch your legs on the valley's paved trails before the season turns. See the paved trails guide.
Fright Fest Opening Weekend
Opens Fri, Sep 18
Six Flags Magic Mountain's Fright Fest opens this Friday and runs select nights through November 1. It is a headline event this weekend, with the family-friendly Tricks and Treats running during the day. Full details in the Fright Fest 2026 guide.
Next Weekend in SCV: September 25-27
A quick look at what is coming up the weekend after GRACEFEST, newest first.
2026 Economic Outlook Forecast
Friday, Sept 25 · 7:00 AM · CanyonPAC
The city's annual breakfast event brings business leaders and stakeholders together for expert projections on the local economy, real estate trends, and development outlook. A must-attend for anyone invested in SCV's future.
Gilchrist Farm Harvest Festival
Sat-Sun, Sept 26-27 · Gilchrist Farm
The beloved family fall kickoff: hayrides, corn maze, farm animals, face painting, pumpkin patch, and fall food vendors. See the full harvest festival guide.
Oktoberfest Season Rolls On
Sep 26 · Lucky Luke Brewing
Luketoberfest takes over Lucky Luke Brewing September 26, then the Greater Pacific Oktoberfest dinners begin Thursdays in October at the Hyatt Regency Valencia. Full lineup: SCV Oktoberfest guide.
Looking for events from earlier this season? Check out our previous weekend guides: September 11-13 (Patriot Day), September 4-6 (Labor Day), August 28-30, August 14-16, August 7-9, and July 31-August 2.