Halloween 2025: Family Fun in the Bay Area

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Halloween Events in the Bay Area: A Guide for All Ages

Get ready to show off your creative costumes and to fill those trick-or-treat buckets. October is here and you don’t need to look far to find supernatural excitement for all ages.

Check out the Chronicle’s guide to local happenings designed to please the little ghosts and ghouls of the family.

Treasure Island Harvest Festival and Pumpkin Patch

Celebrate spooky season with great views of the downtown San Francisco skyline. The fall fun includes a pumpkin patch, hay bale pyramid, bounce houses, a petting zoo and family-friendly activities. Enjoy treats from Silverwings Coffee and live music.

10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 5
Free admission
Cityside Park, 387 Avenue of the Palms, S.F.
www.tisf.com

Filoli ‘Witches Tea’ and ‘Nightfall’

Join an afternoon tea party and cast spells in a spooky ballroom, snack on treats, sip bubbly brews and enjoy a magical story time. Adults get a complimentary drink. Additional potions can be conjured for purchase.

Come back later or linger to enjoy the venue’s family-friendly, after-dark immersive adventure. See the “Trolls: Save the Humans” large-scale sculptural exhibition by moonlight. Explore haunted, candlelit halls and a witches’ apothecary set inside the historic house. Head outside for flickering jack-o’-lanterns, games, live music and fire pits. Follow a fairy light trail for hay mazes, a blacklight mushroom forest with trolls, children’s activities and more. Food and beverages available for purchase.

Witches Tea: 11 a.m., 12:30 and 2:30 p.m. Friday-Sunday. Through Nov. 2. $75, includes garden admission.
Nightfall Evenings: 5:30-10 p.m. daily. Through Nov. 10. $35-$49; VIP ticket options available.
Filoli, 86 Cañada Road, Woodside. 650-364-8300.
www.filoli.org

Bubbling Cauldrons and Were-Creatures at the Walt Disney Museum

The Disney Museum will celebrate Halloween in the museum throughout October with a series of animation workshops, a mask making activity and more.

1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11 and 18; 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 12.
Free-$15, reservations required.
Walt Disney Family Museum, 104 Montgomery St., Presidio, S.F. 415-345-6800.
www.waltdisney.org

Pumpkin Decorating for Kids

Get creative and decorate a little pumpkin during a self-guided workshop with helpers on hand to spark creativity.

10 a.m.-1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12.
$5; garden admission not included.
Ruth Bancroft Garden, 1552 Bancroft Road, Walnut Creek. 925-944-9352.
www.ruthbancroftgarden.org

Hiller Aviation Museum’s Haunted Hangar

Wear your costume, enjoy the spooky decor and participate in a scavenger hunt. On weekends, the event will include aircraft exploration, a paint-a-plane activity and on the final weekend, pumpkins dropped from a helicopter and a children’s Halloween festival.

10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday-Monday, Oct. 17-27.
Kids Halloween Festival: 10 a.m-noon Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 25-26.
Included with museum admission.
Hiller Aviation Museum, 601 Skyway Road, San Carlos. 650-654-0200.
www.hiller.org

Randall Museum Family Halloween Day

Come in costume for an afternoon of Halloween fun with games, craft activities, live critters, a costume contest and live entertainment from the Luke Schwartz Trio and Brian Scott Magic.

10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18.
Free admission. Randall Museum, 199 Museum Way, S.F. 415-554-9600. www.randallmuseum.org

Goblin Jamboree at the Discovery Museum

The annual Halloween event at the Sausalito museum is scheduled to feature a hay maze, live entertainment, arts and crafts activities including glow slime, magic brews and more. Costumes are encouraged.

10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18; 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 19 and Friday-Sunday, Oct. 24-26.
$10-$30, reservations required.
Bay Area Discovery Museum, 557 McReynolds Road, Sausalito.
www.bayareadiscoverymuseum.org

Contra Costa Halloween Con

Try out your Halloween costume before trick-or-treat day at this family-friendly pop culture, apparel and collectibles show. Live characters and an eclectic mix of vendors, all-ages cosplay costume contests and interactive activities are on the schedule.

10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 19.
$12, under 10 free.
Hilton Concord Ballroom, 1970 Diamond Blvd., Concord. 925-408-4014.
www.kidfestconcord.com

Children’s Fairyland Halloween Jam: Mad Magic

Fairyland’s annual event will feature seasonal surprises, including live entertainment, costumed characters, trick-or-treat stations, a mad science fairy fun house, hands-on mad science activities and more. Costumes are encouraged.

10 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday-Sunday, Oct. 24-26; noon-7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31.
$10-$25.
Children’s Fairyland, 699 Bellevue Ave., Oakland. 510-452-2259.
www.fairyland.org

Boo at the Zoo

In-person attendees are encouraged to enter a costume contest, while remote visitors can tag themselves on the zoo’s social media channels for an online costume contest. Then keep autumn lights aglow by attending the zoo’s annual nighttime lantern festival, Glowfari, from Nov. 7 through Jan. 25.

10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24-26.
Included with zoo admission; reservations required.
Oakland Zoo, 977 Golf Links Road, Oakland. 510-632-9525.
www.oaklandzoo.org

Scaregrove: ‘Boo on the Bayou’

The annual San Francisco Halloween festival will offer spooky fun for all ages. It’s set to include live entertainment and carnival rides, a hay maze, a costume contest, a haunted house, Mobile Rec and craft activities, food vendors and more.

3-9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24.
Free admission.
Stern Grove, 19th Avenue and Sloat Boulevard, S.F. 415-831-2700.
www.sfrecpark.org

California Academy of Sciences’ ‘SuperNatural’

Come in costume for a spine-tingling evening of family-friendly fun with a silent disco in the aquarium, a Halloween ride, live “mad” science, trick-or-treat stations, a teen lounge, face painting, photo booth and more set throughout the museum.

6:30-9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24.
5 p.m. early-admission and VIP tickets available.
$40-$200, registration required.
California Academy of Sciences, Golden Gate Park, S.F. 415-379-8000.
www.calacademy.org

Mountain View Monster Bash

Bring the kids out in their costumes for a community event in the park which includes a ‘Treat Trail,’ spooky games, live entertainment, stilt walkers, an inflatable bounce area, the ‘Creepy Crawly Ooey Gooey Zone,‘ a bike circus and more.

10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25.
Free.
Rengstorff Park, 201 S. Rengstorff Ave., Mountain View. 650-903-6300.
www.mountainview.gov

Gamble Garden Halloween for Families

Get into your favorite costume for a family-friendly morning event set to take place at the historic home and garden’s campus. There will be treats, face painting, craft activities, a scavenger hunt and animal programming, trivia and prizes.

10:30-11:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 25.
$36-$55, reservations required.
Gamble Garden, 1431 Waverley St., Palo Alto. 650-329-1356.
www.gamblegarden.org

Chinatown Halloween Neighborhood Festival

Dress up for Halloween and head over to Chinatown for a family festival set to include a costume contest, lion dancers, craft activities, live entertainment, food, treats and a pumpkin patch.

11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25.
Free admission.
Waverly Place, 830 Sacramento St., S.F. 415-988-1862.
www.cycsf.org

43rd annual Sandcastle Classic: ‘Level Up’

Local elementary school students team up with architects, engineers and businesses, working together to build giant sand sculptures with video game elements. Observe the builds, enjoy live DJ sets, music and dance performances. Build your own sand creations at a community castle-building area and grab a bite to eat at a food truck. Costumes encouraged. Proceeds benefit arts programming in Bay Area schools.

11 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25.
Free.
Ocean Beach, Great Highway at Balboa Street, S.F. 415-512-1899.
www.leapsandcastleclassic.org

Boo at the San Francisco Zoo

This event will feature a costume parade by the Elinor Friend playground, a hay maze, live entertainment, treats, pumpkin treat enhancements for resident animals and more.

11 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 25-26.
Included with zoo admission.
Reservations required.
San Francisco Zoo, Sloat Blvd. at the Great Highway, S.F. 415-753-7080.
www.sfzoo.org

Bon Air Halloween Bash: Trick-or-Treat so Others Can Eat

Come in costume and bring a costumed pet to be part of a pet parade with treats for furry friends. Bring nonperishable food items to help fill the S.F.-Marin Food Drive bins in exchange for a trick-or-treat bag to use at Bon Air shops and restaurants. Learn spooky dance moves, enjoy face painting and balloon twisting and more.

11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25.
Free.
Bon Air Center, Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, Greenbrae. 415-461-0200.
www.bonair.com

Ghirardelli’s Spooky Square

Enjoy Halloween at the Square with seasonal activities, including a spooky magic show, a children’s costume parade, a pumpkin patch fountain area, free goodie bags and a doggie costume contest.

1-4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25.
Free.
Ghirardelli Square, 900 North Point St., S.F.
www.ghirardellisq.com

San Rafael Trick-or-Treat on Fourth

Bring the kids in costume to enjoy a pet costume contest, trick-or-treating from local merchants and live, local entertainment.

1-3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25.
Free.
West End Village to Downtown, Fourth Street, San Rafael. 415-849-1874.
www.downtownsanrafael.org

Mare Island Halloween Block Party

Join the fun at this family- and dog-friendly party happening on Officers Row. Little monsters can dive into trick-or-treating, pumpkin decorating and magical face painting. There will be costume contests, food trucks, hot chocolate and cauldrons full of festive drinks available.

4-8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25.
Free admission.
1015 Walnut Ave., Mare Island, Vallejo.
www.mareislandco.com

Oceánica Ballet: ‘The Headless Horseman’ and ‘Viva La Vida’

Enjoy a two-act, family-friendly production featuring a dance adaptation of Washington Irving’s “Legend of Sleepy Hollow” followed by an original multicultural tale of Lucio and Lupita, in a folklórico-infused piece inspired by Día de los Muertos.

4 p.m. Saturday, October 25; 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26.
$29-$46.
College of San Mateo Theatre, 1700 W. Hillsdale Blvd., San Mateo.
www.oceanicaballet.org

Thrive City’s Thrill-o-ween

Celebrate Halloween with a family-friendly event featuring themed activities, a costume contest, live entertainment and a screening of “The Nightmare Before Christmas.”

Noon-5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26.
Free.
Thrive City, 1 Warriors Way, S.F. 888-479-4667.
www.chasecenter.com

The Great Hauntway

The Friends of Sunset Dunes Park fifth annual family-friendly community Halloween event is set to feature more than a mile of trick-or-treating, live entertainment and kids activities including pumpkin decorating, big bubbles, bounce houses and music.

1-6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26.
Free.
Upper Great Highway between Judah and Taraval streets, S.F.
www.sunsetdunes.org

Santa Rosa Symphony: ‘Magical Melodies’

Dress in costume for a spellbinding musical adventure as Francesco Lecce-Covington conducts the symphony in a family concert series event with Snoopy as a guide. Ballet dancers and festive Halloween fun accompany the live music.

3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26.
$13-$23.
Weill Hall, Green Music Center, 1801 E. Cotati Ave., Rohnert Park. 707-546-8742.
www.srsymphony.org

Redwood Symphony Halloween Concert

Join the symphony for a family-friendly program titled “Scary Music from Disney, the Movies and the Classics.” Come in costume, take a tour of the orchestra and enjoy a conducting lesson with a free, glowing baton. Ten lucky kids will get a chance to try their hand at conducting the large ensemble.

3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26.
$15-435.
Cañada College Main Theater, 4200 Farm Hill Blvd., Redwood City.
www.redwoodsymphony.org

Santana Row Halloween Family Festival

Get in costume and trick-or-treat with merchants throughout the large outdoor mall. Enjoy pumpkin decorating, live music and entertainment, face painting, arts and crafts and more.

10 a.m.-noon Tuesday, Oct. 28.
Free.
Santana Row, 377 Santana Row, San Jose. 408-551-4611.
www.santanarow.com

San Francisco Symphony: ‘Coco’

Conner Gray Covington will conduct the symphony accompanying a screening of the 2017 Academy Award-winning film about a music-loving boy who makes a journey to the Land of the Dead to reunite with his great-great-grandfather.

7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 29.
Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Ave., S.F. 415-864-6000.
www.sfsymphony.org

Halloween and Día de los Muertos Market Celebration

Stock up on fall produce, enjoy live entertainment, and celebrate the harvest season with local farmers and community in the Mission. Bring little ones in costume and visit the kids’ area for family-friendly activities and treats.

3-7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30.
Free admission.
Mission Community Market, 22nd Street (between Mission and Valencia), S.F. 415-291-3276.
www.foodwise.org/events

Trick-or-Treat at the Ferry Building

Try out your costumes a day early and trick or treat and enjoy spooky craft activities inside the Ferry Building Marketplace.

4-6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30.
Free.
Ferry Building, 1 Ferry Bldg., S.F. 415-983-8030.
www.ferrybuildingmarketplace.com

SFJazz Presents: ‘Phantom of the Opera’

The sacred space of Grace Cathedral transforms into a grand movie palace for a Halloween Eve screening of Rupert Julian’s 1925 silent horror classic film with an original score performed live on the venue’s tremendous 1934 Aeolian-Skinner pipe organ by Dorothy Papadakos.

8-10 p.m. Thursday-Friday, Oct. 30-31.
$25-$35.
Grace Cathedral, 1100 California St., S.F. 415-749-6300.
www.sfjazz.org

Oakland Museum of California: Halloween Friday Night

Come in costume and join a procession at noon to kick off the special Halloween edition of the museum‘s weekly block party. It’s scheduled to include live psychedelic cumbia music from Ritmos Tropicosmos, hands-on art making, trick-or-treating, a museum-inspired costume contest, live DJ sets, an exhibition of community-created ofrendas, craft activities, food vendors, live folk dance and mariachi performances, as well as a marketplace with local artisans.

11:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31.
$7-$25, under 12 free.
Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak St., Oakland. 510-318-8400.
www.museumca.org

Marin Country Mart Halloween Festival

Celebrate the season of scare at the open-air marketplace with merchant trick-or-treating, a kids costume contest and activities, a screening of “Monsters Inc.” and a spooky bar under the big tent for the adults in the mix.

4-7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31.
Free.
Marin Country Mart, 2257 Larkspur Landing Circle, Larkspur. 415-448-5043.
www.marincountrymart.com

Halloween Sausalito

Bring your prized creations to enter into a carved pumpkin competition, march in a costume parade and enjoy the town’s downtown trick-or-treat event, scheduled to include a “Howl-o-ween” dog costume contest and more.

5-8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31.
Free.
Robin Sweeny Park, 420 Litho St., Sausalito. 415-289-4198.
www.sausalito.gov

Portola Spooky Garden Reverie

Enjoy a Halloween light walk at the Portola Green in Between. Stroll on lantern-lit trails through an illuminated haunted garden habitat with glowing sculptures and fanciful illusions.

6:30-9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31.
Free.
2 Burrows St., S.F. www.portolasf.org

Yerba Buena Gardens Festival: Halloween Hoopla

Enjoy the 25th anniversary edition of the annual, family-friendly event. It will include mild frights, delights and live music from Circus Bella performers, craft and activity tables. The event culminates with a Halloween costume parade and live music in the garden designed specially for the under-10 set.

Noon-3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1.
Free.
Yerba Buena Gardens Children’s Garden, 799 Howard St., S.F. 415-543-1718.
www.ybgfestival.org