Ready to get spooked? These Bay Area Halloween attractions, some of which start as early as Sept. 10, range from haunted theme parks to Halloween markets and even a mini-version of the Half Moon Bay pumpkin festival.
Winchester Mystery House Hallows’ Eve: Now through Oct. 31, 525 S. Winchester Blvd., San Jose. Featuring the Lost in the House Tour, an indoor theatrical paranormal investigative adventure, and a family-friendly Jack O’ Lantern Trail through the Victorian gardens. $35-$70. https://winchestermysteryhouse.com/all-hallows-eve/#
Fright Fest: Select days through Oct. 31, Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, 1001 Fairgrounds Drive, SW, Vallejo. Featuring family-friendly shows and attractions during the day and thrilling rides and scary haunted houses at night. Find details at sixflags.com/discoverykingdom/events/fright-fest.
Pirates of Emerson Haunted Themed Park: This Pleasanton attraction is offering walk-through frights Thursday-Sunday through Oct. 31 at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton. Attractions include: Dorm of Doom, Pirates of Emerson, Hillbilly Hollar, Maze Haze and Mystery Mansion. $10-$76.50. www.piratesofemerson.com
Halloween Haunt: Now through Oct. 31, California’s Great America, 4701 Great America Parkway, Santa Clara. Experience terrifying scare mazes, spooky shows and frightening themed zones packed with monsters at every turn. Plus: Halloween activities such as circus acts, live music, festive lights and haunting décor. Tickets start at $34. cagreatamerica.com/events/haunt
CuriOdyssey Pumpkin Days: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. through October, 1651 Coyote Point Drive, San Mateo. Explore Halloween-themed science experiments, animal ambassadors and a pumpkin patch. $13-$16. curiodyssey.org/exhibits-events/pumpkin-days/
“Twisted Cabaret”: Described as part seance, part vaudeville show, the production includes juggling, magic, sword swallowing, knife throwing, fire eating, and lots of comedy. With live music by “the worst band in the world.” 8-10:30 p.m. Oct. 29-30, Great Star Theatre, 636 Jackson St., San Francisco. $25-$75; twistedcabaret.com.
Nightmare Island: Every weekend throughout October, Ninth Street and Nimitz Avenue, Mare Island, Vallejo. Find details at nightmareislandvallejo.com/
Pumpkin Patch Express: Saturdays and Sundays through October, 18095 County Road 117, West Sacramento. Enjoy a family-friendly, 2-hour experience aboard a vintage train and at a private park, complete with trick-or-treating and other Halloween activities. River Fox Train: bit.ly/3hEUMbB
Welcome to Your Nightmare: Every Friday and Saturday in October and on Oct. 31, Monterey County Fair and Event Center, 2004 Fairground Road, Monterey. This safe walk-through haunted house at a pumpkin patch includes several costumed discount nights, such as zombie night and witches and warlocks night. $10-$30. artichokefestival.org/events/haunted-house/
Blind Scream Haunted House: 7-11 p.m. on select dates from Oct. 8-31, 98 Santa Rosa Plaza, Santa Rosa. This year’s haunts feature a dilapidated Witch House deep in the dank, dark woods. $25-$35. blindscream.com/hauntedhouses/
Frightmare Home Haunt: 7-10 p.m. Oct. 29-31, daylight tours, 1-4 p.m. Oct. 30-31, 697 Sonoma Ave., Livermore. Powered by Steve Profumo who has always been a fan of Halloween and classic scary movies. Instagram: bit.ly/3mrPi6N
V-Town ShakesFear in the Dark: 5-9 p.m. Oct. 29-31, 2112 Sonoma Blvd., Vallejo. Participants will be led through the Zombie Apocalypse where the world has been overrun by the undead. $20. Vallejo Shakespeare in the Park: https://bit.ly/3lS2BNG
The Ameswell Spooky Movie Night: 4-9 p.m. Oct. 30, 800 Moffett Blvd., Mountain View. Enjoy lawn games, themed-cocktails, and treats from the Airstream bar while watching a classic Halloween movie. $10. Eventbrite: bit.ly/2XY7efX
Virtual Ghost Walk: Virtual 7:30 p.m. Oct. 30. Ghost hosts will guide your tour of downtown Pleasanton’s most haunted locations. Tours depart the museum every 30 minutes between 6 and 8 p.m. on Ghost Walk nights. www.museumonmain.org
Goblin Jamboree: Oct. 23-31, Bay Area Discovery Museum, 557 McReynolds Road, Sausalito. The museum is offering Halloween themed programs and frightful delights. $20-$25. bayareadiscoverymuseum.org
The Great Pumpkin Party: 5:30-7 p.m. Oct. 28, Sonoma Community Center, 276 East Napa St., Sonoma. Celebrate the fall season with crafts, music, refreshments and a carved pumpkin contest. Free admission. Sonomacommunitycenter.org
Bolloween Ball Cruise: 9 p.m.-midnight Oct. 29, 2394 Mariner Square Drive, Alameda. Enjoy a Bollywood-themed Halloween costume party with DJ Dharak, unlimited appetizers, wine, champagne and entertainment. $59-$99. Eventbrite: bit.ly/3iW9ZWk
Halloween Jam 2021: Oct. 22-24 and October 29-31, Children’s Fairyland, 699 Bellevue Ave, Oakland. Enjoy decked-out sets and rides, including the Creepy Crawly and the Ghost Town, and march in the physically-distanced Monster Mash parade. Fairyland: bit.ly/3kgE2t6
The Haunted Trail in Pleasant Hill Park: 6-8 p.m. Oct. 29, Pleasant Hill Park, 147 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill. This Halloween-themed stroll is a frightfully fun park-in-the-dark adventure. Each participant receives a goody bag at the end of the trail. Register by Oct. 22: bit.ly/3uKBXcl
Pumpkin Carving Party: 7-9 p.m. Oct. 29, 5901 Coronado Lane, Pleasanton. This family-friendly event will include pumpkin carving and a movie. Snacks, water, tea lights and carving tools will be provided. Bring a pumpkin, imagination and a mask (nothing scary or gory). Ridgeview Hope Church: 925-462-4362.
Kidz Town Halloween Hay Day: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Oct. 30, 29 S. Livermore Ave., Livermore. Elementary school kids and tots can trick or treat at participating downtown businesses and local organizations in Stockmen’s Park, with a costume contest from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. livermoredowntown.com/events
Family Halloween Day: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Oct. 30, Randall Museum,199 Museum Way, San Francisco. Enjoy creepy crafts, ghoulish games, trick-or-treating, live music and entertainment and pumpkin carving. Free admission. https://randallmuseum.org
Tricks and Treats in the Laurel: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Oct. 30, 4222 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland. Enjoy trick-or-treating, a costume contest, bag making crafts and entertainment. laureldistrictassociation.org//love
Epidemic Ales Halloween Party: Noon-10 p.m. Oct. 30, 150 Mason Circle, Concord. Check out the food truck, costume contest and the release of the annual Concord VIBE DIPA. All ages welcome. visitconcordca.com/events
Spooktacular Drive Thru Boo BBQ: 4-6 p.m. Oct. 30, 1510 Mendocino Drive, Concord. Enjoy a drive thru Kinder’s three-piece meal and dessert treat bag and virtually meet Bay Area Crisis Nursery clients and hear their stories from home. $40. Bayareacrisisnursery.org
Monster’s Bash Halloween Party: 7 p.m.-1 a.m. Oct. 30, USS Hornet Sea, Air and Space Museum, 707 West Hornet, Ave., Alameda. Enjoy tunes by Lee Presson and the Nails and DJ Rockin Raul. Drinks and food will be available for purchase. $20-$35. USS Hornet: bit.ly/3pdWDsx
Tri-Valley Halloween Con: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 31, Shannon Community Center, 11600 Shannon Ave., Dublin. This family-friendly Halloween-themed show features toys, pop culture, anime, LEGO, comics and art. Eventbrite: bit.ly/3xYSVUq
Halloween Spooktacular: 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Oct. 31, Pixieland Amusement Park, 2740 E. Olivera Road, Concord. Enjoy costumes, spooky rides and trick-or-treat fun. pixieland.com/halloween-spooktackular
Halloween Pawty and Contest — Trick and Costume: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Oct 31, 1770 Hester Ave., San Jose. This benefit for the Perfect Dog Rescue will feature dog tricks and a dog and human costume contest with prizes. $10 registration fee. oriondogtraining.com/book-online
HalloQueen Drag Brunch: Noon Oct. 31, Fairmont, 950 Mason St., San Francisco. Halloween-themed performances and costumes by the best San Francisco drag entertainers. Guests are encouraged to dress in costume. $125. Open Table: bit.ly/3tLsykv
Halloween Parade: Noon-2 p.m. Oct. 31, Rockridge Library, 5366 College Ave., Oakland. Participating merchants will host trick-or-treating along both sides of College Avenue. Join the costume pageant at noon at the BART station and games and entertainment at 1 p.m. at Rockridge Library. rockridgedistrict.com/halloween
Howl-o-Ween Benefit for the Humane Society: Noon-4 p.m. Oct. 31, Left Bank Brasseries in Larkspur, Menlo Park and San Jose. Celebrate Halloween with your four-legged friends. Registration for the doggy fashion show begins at noon. The show is at 3 p.m. with awards for best dog costume, best duo costume and most creative costume. Special doggy dining treats will be available all day, along with Halloween-themed specialty Tito’s cocktails for the humans. leftbank.com/events-calendar/
Wicked Fun Benefit: 1-6 p.m. Oct. 31, Quarter Note Bar, 1214 Apollo Way, Sunnyvale. Enjoy live music, barbecue, car show, auction, costume contest, raffles, K-9 demo at this benefit for Santa Clara County Search and Rescue K-9 Unit. www.quarternote.com
Halloween Frights and Delights: 4 p.m. Oct. 31, 601 Murray Circle, Sausalito. Wear your costume to these Halloween festivities, which include pumpkin carving, trick or treating and a costume contest. Registration for all events begins at 3:30 p.m. $25-$45. Cavallo Point: bit.ly/3m3AUkZ
DAY OF THE DEAD
Avenida De Altares: 5:30-10:30 p.m. Oct. 30, Mexican Heritage Plaza, 1700 Alum Rock Ave., San José. This Day of the Dead commemorative event features a curated altar walk, an Aztec dance performance, DJs, and more. schoolofartsandculture.org
Dia de los Muertos Celebration with Oakland Ballet Company: 2-5 p.m. Oct. 30, Peralta Hacienda Historical Park, 2465 34th Ave., Oakland. Enjoy family-friendly arts and cultural activities, including face painting and trick-or-treating throughout the park from 2-4 p.m., and a performance of ‘Luna Mexicana’ by Oakland Ballet Company starting at 4 p.m. peraltahacienda.org
SF Symphony — Día de los Muertos: 2 p.m. Nov. 6, Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco. Enjoy a concert program of traditional and contemporary Latin American music, preceded by festive family-friendly activities and followed by a Fiesta reception and dinner. Starting at $300. sfsymphony.org/Home/Diadelosmuertos
Did we miss one? Add your Halloween or Day of the Dead event here:
