30+ Bay Area Halloween happenings, haunts and festivals for 2023
Here’s a list of all the eerie events happening in the Bay this Halloween
With October approaching, ghouls and ghosts will soon descend on the Bay, and there will be no shortage of eerie events to attend. From haunted houses to family-friendly frights and adults-only boos and brews, here’s a spooky sampling of local Halloween thrills and chills.
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom’s Fright Fest runs from September 23 to October 31, at 1001 Fairgrounds Drive in Vallejo. This Halloween season, Six Flags will be transformed into a terrifying array of haunted attractions, scare zones, entertainment shows, and Halloween themed rides. $50-$99. http://tinyurl.com/SixFlagsFrightFest2023
‘Brick-or-Treat’ at LEGOLAND: September 28-October 31, 870 Great Mall Drive, Milpitas. Monsters take over LEGOLAND Discovery Center Bay Area, promising spooky fun. Get in the Halloween spirit with some monsterrific activities and a special 4D Halloween film, “The Great Monster Chase.” $26.99-$29.99. https://www.legolanddiscoverycenter.com/bayarea/
‘Unhinged’ at Winchester Mystery House, 525 S. Winchester Blvd., San Jose, Sept. 29-Oct. 31. You’ve received a strange invitation to the century’s grandest housewarming party. However, as the night wears on, a mysterious air settles in, revealing more than meets the eye. winchestermysteryhouse.com/unhinged/ $65-$100
Halloween at Jellystone Park, 14900 Highway 12, Lodi, weekends Sept. 22-Oct. 29. Jellystone Park will be crawling with costume and campsite decorating contests, scare zones, haunted trails, pumpkin patches, and tons of trick or treating this Halloween. The festivities are free with park admission. towerparkresort.com/halloween
Terror Vault at the San Francisco Mint: September 29-October 31, 88 Fifth St., San Francisco. Terror Vault invites you to a recruitment seminar for “INSight,” a spiritual cult whose sole goal is to awaken you to true consciousness. The cult will assist you in seeing the horrors hidden within the darkness. $55-$85. http://www.intothedarksf.com/
Pirates of Emerson Haunted Theme Park will be open from September 29 to October 31, at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton. Ahoy! This classic Halloween walk-through experience will have you trembling in fear as you make your way through four terrifying attractions: Demented Dolls, Pirates of Emerson, Halloween Hell, and See Sawz Circus. $40-$80. http://www.piratesofemerson.com/
Fear Overload Scream Park is open from September 29 to November 5, at 2086 Newpark Mall in Newark. As you enter the fourth dimension at Fear Overload Scream Park, prepare for an adventure filled with mystery, adventure, and horror. Dare to enter their two enigmatic Bay Area haunted houses, where you’ll be given a single dim flashlight to reveal chilling secrets. $19.99-$32.99. http://www.fearoverload.com/
Boo at the Zoo runs from October 1 to 29, at 9777 Golf Links Road in Oakland. For Halloween, the Oakland Zoo is inviting all ghosts, goblins, and witches to visit. Navigate a 500-bale hay maze, see life-size Halloween decorations, and follow the clues on a self-guided scavenger hunt to find animal X-rays throughout the zoo. $0-$24. http://bit.ly/BoottheZoo2023
‘Rocky Horror Picture Show’ with the Original Brad Majors: Curran Theater, 445 Geary St., San Francisco, 8 p.m., Oct. 4. Join Barry Bostwick, the original Brad Majors, for a screening of the original unedited film, complete with a live shadow cast and audience participation. A memorabilia display and a costume contest are among the extras. $60-$183.50. bit.ly/BroadwaySFRockyHorror
The Paranormal Cirque will be in Oakland on October 6-9 and Antioch on October 13-16. Under the black and red big top of this clown castle, acrobats of the air, illusionists, freaks, and mysterious monsters provide a paranormal experience unlike any other. Enjoy a fusion of circus, theater, and cabaret that will transport you to a dark world populated by mysterious creatures with incredible abilities. $20-$65. http://www.paranormalcirque.com/
‘Spooked’ Live: Oct. 13 at 8 p.m., Fox Theater, 1807 Telegraph Ave., Oakland. The hit podcast Spooked comes to life onstage for a night of live storytelling magic to celebrate Friday the 13th. Hear incredible true-life supernatural stories from people who can’t believe they actually happened. kqed.org/event/3558 $29.50-$75
The Ballet’s ‘Dracula’: October 13-15, Hammer Theatre Center, San Jose. Join us in honoring Bram Stoker’s haunted novel. Dancers will create an emotional tapestry, their bodies expressing the anguish and yearning that pervade every page of Stoker’s gothic tale. $40-$60. http://www.hammertheatre.com/
Haunted History Tours at the Claremont, 41 Tunnel Road, Berkeley, Oct. 13-31. These walls have seen a lot in their 108-year history, and legend has it that some guests never left. Take a look down some of Claremont’s legendary halls and restricted areas… including its most haunted chamber. bit.ly/ClaremontHalloweenTour $40
Martinez Zombie Brew Crawl: October 14, 1 to 4 p.m., Main St., Downtown Martinez. The undead are descending on Martinez, and they’re thirstier than ever. Zombies will wander the city’s downtown, sampling over 30 craft beers from various breweries stationed at participating small businesses. bit.ly/MartinezZombieCrawl $45.
RITUAL Halloween Art Market: Oct. 14-15, 12-8 p.m., 88 Fifth St., San Francisco. Join Menagerie Oddities Market for strange, unusual, and creepy wares, curious creatures, provocative circus entertainment, fortune telling, tricks, treats, and more. $10–$75. http://bit.ly/RitualMarketSF
Candlelight – A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics, Chabot Space & Science Center, Oakland, Oct. 19-20. Candlelight combines the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience with the sounds of the world’s most terrifying films. Feverup.com/m/119855 (price range: $52-$79).’Ghostbusters’ at Sundown Cinema: Oct. 20 at dusk, 40 John F. Shelley Drive, San Francisco. In honor of Halloween, San Francisco’s Sundown Cinema will host a screening of the cult classic film, “Ghostbuster,” at the Jerry Garcia Amphitheater, complete with local food trucks and themed pre-show entertainment. Admission is free. bit.ly/SundownCinemaSF
Halloween Jam at Children’s Fairyland, 699 Bellevue Ave., Oakland, Oct. 20-29. Come to Fairyland for spooky performances and activities, costumed characters, bouncy houses, treat stations, scavenger hunts, and a Monster Mash costume parade. bit.ly/FairylandHalloween $5-$18
Randall Museum’s Family Halloween Day is Oct. 21 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 199 Museum Way, San Francisco. This Halloween, the Randall Museum will be transformed. Explore the haunted Animal Room, get crafty with creepy crafts, win prizes while playing Ghoulish Games, and watch live entertainment in the theater. Admission is free. randallmuseum.org/
Hiller Aviation Museum’s Haunted Hangar: Oct. 21-29, 601 Skyway Road, San Carlos. This October, the Hiller Aviation Museum will host the Kids’ Carnival and Haunted Hangar Festival, complete with spooky decorations and a Great Pumpkin Scavenger Hunt. Hiller.org/event/halloween-haunted-hangar-2/ $0-$21
‘Fantasy and Phantom’ – A Halloween Concert: Oct. 22, 3 p.m., Lincoln Glen Church, 2700 Booksin Ave., San Jose. Come out to the Winchester Orchestra’s Halloween Concert, directed and conducted by James Beauton, if you’re in the mood for some spooky sounds. Winchesterorchestra.com/event_1/ $0-$25
Concannon Vineyard’s Witching Hours: 5:30 to 8 p.m. Oct. 25, 4590 Tesla Road, Livermore. Step into an enchanted world under a full moon, where witches, wizards, and wine enthusiasts gather for an unforgettable evening. Enjoy costumes, carving, and karaoke while sipping on frighteningly fine wine. Concannonvineyard.com/event/the-witching-hours/. $35-$45.
The Bay Area Oddities & Curiosities Expo will be held on October 28 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the San Mateo County Event Center in San Mateo. This Halloween event includes crazy clowns, taxidermy demonstrations, preserved specimens, handcrafted horrors, and creepy costumes. $6.27 – $249.09 www.OdditiesExpo.com
Trick-or-Treat in Martinez Spooktacular will take place on Main Street in Downtown Martinez from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on October 28. Stroll through Downtown Martinez with the kids to see creatively themed car trunks, kids activity game booths, and candy and treat shops. DowntownMartinez.org/trick-or-treat is free.
Halloween Hoopla at Yerba Buena: Oct. 28 from 12 to 3 p.m., 799 Howard St., San Francisco. This Halloween event for the whole family includes a costume contest, live music, clowns and comedy, arts and crafts, and palm readings. Admission is free. ybgfestival.org/event/halloween-hoopla-2023/
Halloween Haunt in History Park: Oct. 28 from 2 to 6:30 p.m., 635 Phelan Ave., San Jose. This Halloween, History Park will be transformed into a haunted, family-friendly haven. Crafts, activities, trick-or-treating at historic homes, and a spectacular Light Show are all available. Historysanjose.org/ is free.
Crawloween San Francisco: Oct. 28 from 2 to 10 p.m., various venues in San Francisco. The Halloween Pub Crawl in San Francisco is back and bigger than ever. Over 14,000 costumed crawlers took over Polk Street last year for cheap drinks, music, dancing, and costume contests, and they’re ready to do it all again this year. Consider it trick or treating… for adults. $12-$55. http://tinyurl.com/CrawloweenSF
Santa Rosa Official Halloween Bar Crawl: Oct. 28 from 4 to 10 p.m., various Santa Rosa venues. Enjoy a Halloween bar crawl that includes themed drink specials, lethal décor, spooky surprises, and a costume contest. Each bar has a special drink to fit the Halloween theme, from ghostly cocktails to pumpkin beer. $13.99–$24.99. http://bit.ly/HalloweenBarCrawlSR
Hall-O-Wine Party: Oct. 28 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., 6097 Bennett Valley Road, Santa Rosa. Raising a glass to All Hallows Eve at Matanzas Creek Winery’s Spooky-licious Hall-O-Wine party! Enjoy a costume contest, a DJ-led dance party, sinister treats, and wine club pick-up. $50. http://bit.ly/HallOWine
Avenue of the Altars: Oct. 28 from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m., 1700 Alum Rock Ave., San Jose. Celebrate Da de los Muertos at Mexican Heritage Plaza with an eerie immersive experience that includes a beautifully curated altar walk, an art exhibition, tarot readings, live entertainment, and delicious food and drinks. Admission is free. bit.ly/AvenueoftheAltars
Oakland Dia de los Muertos Festival: Oct. 29, Fruitvale Village, Oakland, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. This fall, make your way to Fruitvale for a family-friendly festival complete with live music, rides and activities, Aztec rituals, traditional Latin American artisans, and stunning altar installations. Admission is free. unitycouncil.org/program/diaoakland/
Trick-or-Treat at the Ferry Building: Oct. 29, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Ferry Building Marketplace, San Francisco. Trick or treating, a scavenger hunt, a live pumpkin carving demonstration, arts and crafts, face painting, and tarot readings are all available. Admission is free. bit.ly/FerryHalloween2023
Halloween at Old Fisherman’s Wharf: Oct. 31, 4 to 7 p.m., 101 Washington St., Monterey. Enjoy Monterey’s fifth annual Halloween on the Wharf, which will include spooky decorations, a Candy World, a costume contest, fun photo opportunities, and a live DJ spinning spooky Halloween favorites. Admission is free. montereywharf.com/
