Venture into the heart of Salinas's Halloween madness with our all-encompassing guide, featuring the most hair-raising events and supernatural spectacles to investigate. From long-time residents to new arrivals, our guide reveals the supernatural wonders of Salinas.
This season, immerse yourself in the eerie allure of the Winchester Mystery House - Unhinged: Nightshade's Curse, where the haunted halls hold secrets waiting to be uncovered. The Free Trick or Treat in Downtown Salinas transforms the city streets into a whimsical experience for families, offering a safe space for children to enjoy festive activities. And the Fear Overload Scream Park is something you definitely don't want to miss, presenting spine-chilling attractions designed to thrill those seeking a scare. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Top Halloween Events In and Around Salinas
- Winchester Mystery House - Unhinged: Nightshade's Curse (San Jose)
- Free Trick or Treat in Downtown Salinas
- The Bernal Scream Haunted House (San Jose)
- Fear Overload Scream Park (Newark)
- Halloween on the Wharf (Monterey)
- Pumpkin Pandemonium at Del Monte Center (Monterey)
- Carmel’s Annual Pumpkin Roll (Carmel)
- Halloween Bonanza (Seaside)
- Halloween Trick-or-Treat on Lighthouse (Monterey)
- ORCtober Fest 2024 at The SC Vets Hall (Santa Cruz)
See these and even more events listed below!
Salinas Area Haunted Experiences
Winchester Mystery House - Unhinged: Nightshade's Curse
What to Expect:
An immersive indoor and outdoor experience featuring a suspenseful walk-through journey with state-of-the-art special effects and professional actors.
Description:
Experience the thrilling and immersive Halloween event at Winchester Mystery House with Unhinged: Hotel. Stranded with car troubles, a group of friends seeks help in a nearby hotel, only to discover dark secrets and unsettling feelings. This event features a hauntingly immersive maze, special effects, and terrifying scares throughout the mansion and outdoor scare zone.
Where: San Jose | More Info: Winchester Mystery House - Unhinged: Nightshade's Curse
Fear Overload Scream Park
What to Expect:
Experience two terrifying haunted houses with unique themes and special effects, including a pitch-black environment with only one glowstick per group.
Description:
Fear Overload Scream Park is the Bay Area's scariest haunted house event, featuring two unique themes with countless scares and trained actors. Visitors navigate through dark, eerie environments with only one dim flashlight or glowstick, making it a thrilling and psychologically consuming experience. The event includes attractions like Darkmoor Penitentiary and Slotch Sanatorium, each with its own terrifying backstory and haunting atmosphere. Additionally, visitors can explore Eerie Essentials, an emporium offering chilling keepsakes and haunting memorabilia.
Where: Newark | More Info: Fear Overload Scream Park
The Bernal Scream Haunted House
What to Expect:
The Bernal Scream Haunted House features an all-new main attraction, "Soul Shredder," which promises to be the darkest and most twisted show yet.
Description:
The Bernal Scream Haunted House is a thrilling attraction in San Jose, California, returning for its 2024 season with a new main attraction, "Soul Shredder." This high-endurance show is not for the faint of heart, featuring extreme scares and special effects. The event is a continuation of the legacy started by father and son duo Mike and Abel Barrera, who initially began the haunted house as a backyard show in 2013.
Where: San Jose | More Info: The Bernal Scream Haunted House
Family-Friendly Fall Activities Near Salinas
Free Trick or Treat in Downtown Salinas
What to Expect:
The unique feature of this event is its inclusive and interactive activities designed for both children and adults, making it a comprehensive Halloween celebration.
Description:
Free Trick or Treat in Downtown Salinas is a family-friendly event where children can enjoy the ease of trick-or-treating at local businesses. The event includes costume contests for kids and adults, pumpkin decorating, and a scavenger hunt. This festive celebration offers a fun and safe environment for families to enjoy Halloween activities together.
Where: Salinas | More Info: Free Trick or Treat in Downtown Salinas
Halloween on the Wharf
What to Expect:
A family-friendly Halloween celebration with trick-or-treating, a costume contest, and spooky music.
Description:
Halloween on the Wharf is a family-friendly event held at Monterey's Old Fisherman's Wharf. It features trick-or-treating, a costume contest with cash prizes, and spooky Halloween music. Visitors can enjoy sweet treats from participating merchants and take part in fun photo ops with ghoulish characters. The event is a great destination for all ages to celebrate Halloween in a festive setting.
Where: Monterey | More Info: Halloween on the Wharf
Halloween Trick-or-Treat on Lighthouse
What to Expect:
A festive Halloween celebration with local businesses handing out candy in a welcoming community setting.
Description:
Join the Halloween Trick-or-Treat on Lighthouse in Monterey, CA, where shops, restaurants, and boutiques along Lighthouse Avenue and Drake Avenue will be open from 2 PM to 5 PM on October 26, 2024. This family-friendly event is a fun and safe way to celebrate Halloween with little goblins receiving special treats.
Where: Monterey | More Info: Halloween Trick-or-Treat on Lighthouse
Halloween Bonanza
What to Expect:
The event offers a free spooky filled Halloween bag to the first 300 attendees.
Description:
The Halloween Bonanza in Seaside will feature games, a haunted house, interactive crafts, treat bags, and refreshments. A children's costume contest will be held with prizes awarded for the best costumes. The event is free for all children under ten years old, and the first 300 attendees will receive a spooky filled Halloween bag.
Where: Seaside | More Info: Halloween Bonanza
Carmel’s Annual Pumpkin Roll
What to Expect:
The event features a pumpkin-rolling contest down Ocean Avenue with a specially designed course lined with hay bales and fencing.
Description:
Carmel’s Annual Pumpkin Roll is a beloved tradition where participants roll giant pumpkins down Ocean Avenue between Santa Rita and Junipero Streets. The event is part of Carmel-by-the-Sea's month-long birthday celebration in October. The course is lined with hay bales and fencing to keep the pumpkins on track, providing spectators with a front-row view of the heart-stopping action. This festive event combines fun and excitement, making it a must-attend for fall enthusiasts.
Where: Carmel | More Info: Carmel’s Annual Pumpkin Roll
Pumpkin Pandemonium at Del Monte Center
What to Expect:
A festive event offering free pumpkins, candy, and glow sticks, along with various kid-friendly activities.
Description:
Celebrate Halloween with your family at Pumpkin Pandemonium at Del Monte Shopping Center. Enjoy candy and glow sticks, free pumpkins in the Pumpkin Patch, and other kid-friendly activities amidst a fun fall photo backdrop.
Where: Monterey | More Info: Pumpkin Pandemonium at Del Monte Center
ORCtober Fest 2024 at The SC Vets Hall
What to Expect:
A Halloween celebration with live music and a costume contest.
Description:
ORCtober Fest 2024 at The SC Vets Hall is a thrilling Halloween event hosted by PinUp Productions. The evening features a lineup of bands including Orcs System and Clown WarTroll Dungeon Crawl, along with a Most Metal Halloween Costume Contest. This all-ages event promises an exciting 4.5 hours of music, costumes, and festive atmosphere.
Where: Santa Cruz | More Info: ORCtober Fest 2024 at The SC Vets Hall
Trick-or-Treat the Row Halloween Family Fest
What to Expect:
A family-friendly Halloween celebration with various activities like pumpkin decorating and trick-or-treating.
Description:
Trick-or-Treat the Row Halloween Family Fest is a festive event at Santana Row in San Jose, featuring live music, pumpkin decorating, trick-or-treating, stilt-walkers, balloons, and more. It's a fun-filled day for families with kids to enjoy Halloween activities together.