Weekend Guide
This Weekend in SCV: Fright Fest, GRACEFEST & Oktoberfest Vibes (Sept 18–20)
Friday night Fright Fest opens at Six Flags Magic Mountain while the Doo Wop Project takes the stage at CanyonPAC. Saturday is GRACEFEST by the water at Castaic Lake, Pococktoberfest day one, the SoCal Etsy Guild Market at Valencia Town Center, and the Saugus Community Garage Sale. Sunday brings Pococktoberfest day two, the 23rd Annual Duck Dash, and Open Sunday at The Gentle Barn. Here is your friendly local 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.
Ways to support Old Town Newhall recoveryFriday, September 18 kicks off spooky season as Fright Fest opens at Six Flags Magic Mountain, and the Doo Wop Project performs Friday night at CanyonPAC. Saturday, September 19 is arguably the biggest day of the year at the lake: GRACEFEST returns to Castaic Lake while Pococktoberfest pours day one and the SoCal Etsy Guild Market and Saugus Community Garage Sale round out the day. Sunday wraps it all with Pococktoberfest day two, the 23rd Annual Duck Dash, and Open Sunday at The Gentle Barn. Here is everything happening, with current events listed first. Details are subject to change, so please confirm with each organizer before heading out.
Friday, Sep 18
Fright Fest opens, Doo Wop Project at CanyonPAC
Saturday, Sep 19
GRACEFEST, Pococktoberfest, Etsy Market, Garage Sale
Sunday, Sep 20
Pococktoberfest, Duck Dash, Gentle Barn Open Sunday
Current Weekend Events
The weekend's highlights, listed newest first. Please confirm details with each organizer before you go.
Fright Fest 2026 Opening Weekend
Friday night, Sept 18 · Six Flags Magic Mountain
Six Flags Magic Mountain brings back Fright Fest this Friday, opening the spooky season run that continues through the Halloween season. Expect haunted mazes, scare zones, and live entertainment, with operating nights that vary by week, so check the park's calendar before planning your visit. If fright is not your thing, ask about the park's family-friendly daytime options for the same weekends.
Fright Fest 2026 Complete GuideThe Doo Wop Project: Echoes of the Street
Santa Clarita Performing Arts Center · College of the Canyons
The Doo Wop Project performs Friday night at CanyonPAC, the Santa Clarita Performing Arts Center at College of the Canyons. Broadway stars take the stage with doo-wop, soul, and Motown favorites in a polished, crowd-pleasing show. This one tends to sell out, so book ahead and confirm show time with the box office. SCV Performing Arts & Theater Guide
GRACEFEST at Castaic Lake
Saturday, Sept 19 · Gates 1:30 PM · Castaic Lake State Recreation Area
The GRACEFEST Music & Message Festival returns on Saturday with gates at 1:30 PM at Castaic Lake State Recreation Area. Expect live music and a welcoming, family-friendly afternoon by the water, with food vendors and festival energy from the stage. Headliner schedules and any admission details are set by the organizers, so confirm everything before you go. Castaic Lake Recreation Guide
Pococktoberfest at Pocock Brewing
Saturday & Sunday, Sept 19-20 · Pocock Brewing Company
Pococktoberfest pours Saturday and Sunday as a two-day Oktoberfest celebration. Expect German-style beer, music, and plenty of community cheer, one of the friendliest weekends on the Santa Clarita craft calendar and a natural pairing with a Saturday at the lake. Times, food, and any admission details are set by the brewery each year, so confirm current details before you go. Full SCV Oktoberfest Guide
SoCal Etsy Guild Market
Saturday, Sept 19 · 3 PM · Valencia Town Center
Handmade and vintage finds pop up at the Valencia Town Center on Saturday afternoon starting at 3 PM with the SoCal Etsy Guild Market. It is a great mid-afternoon browse between the lake and the brewery, and a fun way to support local makers and small businesses around the valley. Market hours and vendor lineups are coordinated by the guild, so confirm details ahead of your visit.
Saugus Community Garage Sale
Saturday, Sept 19 · 7 AM - 1 PM
Treasure hunters, rev your engines: the Saugus Community Garage Sale runs Saturday from 7 AM to 1 PM, a neighborhood-wide community garage sale where local families put their pre-loved goods out for the morning. It is a fun, low-key way to spend a Saturday hunting for vintage finds, kids' items, tools, and everything in between. Maps and participating addresses are organized by the community each year, so check local listings or confirm with the organizer before heading out.
Open Sunday at The Gentle Barn
Sunday, Sept 20 · The Gentle Barn
On Sunday, The Gentle Barn hosts its regular Open Sunday, a chance to meet the rescued cows, pigs, goats, chickens, and other animal residents who call this Santa Clarita sanctuary home. It is a gentle, family-friendly way to end the weekend, and a lovely way to teach kids about compassion toward animals. Visiting hours, reservations, and entry details are announced by the sanctuary, so confirm with them before you go.
The Gentle Barn Guide23rd Annual Duck Dash
Sunday, Sept 20 · Benefits Samuel Dixon Family Health Center
The 23rd Annual Duck Dash returns on Sunday as the signature family fundraiser for the Samuel Dixon Family Health Center, which provides primary care to uninsured and underserved residents of the Santa Clarita Valley. Rubber ducks race while families enjoy the festivities alongside, and every duck entry and donation supports local health services for neighbors in need. Event times, locations, and entry pricing are set by the organizers each year, so confirm details before you go.
R.E.D. Friday
It is R.E.D. Friday, and in the Santa Clarita Valley that means one thing: wear red and remember everyone deployed. It is a simple, powerful tradition that says to our deployed service members, we have not forgotten you. Throw on a red shirt, bracelet, or ribbon today and keep them in your thoughts. As a U.S. Army veteran, this tradition is personal to me. Learn more below.
RED Friday: Remember Everyone DeployedMore 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.
Oktoberfest Season Rolls On
Get the Full Lineup
Pococktoberfest is just one stop on the valley's fall beer calendar. See every SCV Oktoberfest event in the SCV Oktoberfest 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.
CalDRE 01412755 · Equal Housing Opportunity
Details are subject to change, so please confirm with each organizer before attending. This guide is offered as a community resource and is not intended as a solicitation if you are currently working with another real estate broker.