Experience the best of Halloween in San Francisco! Our guide showcases all the must-attend spooky happenings. Our handbook: perfect for San Francisco specters and spectators alike.
Popular Events: Encounter ghoulish delights at the Tricks and Treats at California’s Great America, where thrilling rides meet festive scares. Explore the lively San Francisco Halloween Pub Crawl, which transforms local bars into haunted venues filled with themed drinks and entertainment. And the SuperNatural at the California Academy of Sciences invites you to enjoy a night of eerie exploration across enchanting exhibits. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Top Halloween Events In and Around San Francisco
- San Francisco Halloween Pub Crawl
- SuperNatural at the California Academy of Sciences
- Tricks and Treats at California’s Great America (Santa Clara)
- Winchester Mystery House - Unhinged: Nightshade's Curse (San Jose)
- Fatal Abduction at the SF Mint
- Goblin Jamboree (Sausalito)
- ZOOtoberfest at San Francisco Zoo
- Halloween Hoopla
- Sacramento Scream Park (Sacramento)
- Mayhem Mansion at the Haas-Lilienthal House
See these and even more events listed below!
San Francisco Area Haunted Experiences
Winchester Mystery House - Unhinged: Nightshade's Curse
What to Expect:
An immersive indoor and outdoor Halloween experience featuring a suspenseful walk-through journey through the historic mansion and an outside scare zone.
Description:
Experience the chilling haunt chapter, Unhinged: Hotel, at the Winchester Mystery House. Stranded with car troubles, a group of friends seeks help at a nearby hotel, only to discover it's hiding more than just empty rooms. Navigate through the darkened halls and immerse yourself in a hauntingly immersive maze filled with special effects, scare actors, and eerie decor.
Where: San Jose | More Info: Winchester Mystery House - Unhinged: Nightshade's Curse
Fatal Abduction at the SF Mint
What to Expect:
Combines theater, 4D effects, and haunted mazes to create an immersive alien invasion experience.
Description:
Fatal Abduction is a fully immersive haunted experience at The San Francisco Mint. This thrilling event combines theater, 4D effects, and haunted mazes to create a heart-pounding narrative where attendees must save humanity from an impending alien invasion. Each group's journey begins every 15 minutes, thrusting guests into a mission involving time travel and unimaginable terror. The event promises unforgettable scares and excitement, with VIP experiences offering exclusive access to special performances and interactive elements.
Where: San Francisco | More Info: Fatal Abduction at the SF Mint
Sacramento Scream Park
What to Expect:
Immersive and terrifying haunted house experiences with detailed sets and live actors.
Description:
Sacramento Scream Park offers a thrilling Halloween experience with its revamped haunted attractions, including Frightmare Midway, where eerie atmospheres come alive with fog, live actors, and towering facades. Visitors can explore the haunting of Silverthorn Amusement Park, where forgotten laughter turns to screams, and navigate through the twisted remnants of games and stalls. The park also features attractions like Voodoo Blackwater Boneyard and Iron Veil Asylum, each with its own dark secrets and terrifying experiences.
Where: Sacramento | More Info: Sacramento Scream Park
Mayhem Mansion at the Haas-Lilienthal House
What to Expect:
Immersive haunted house experience in a historic Victorian-era house.
Description:
Mayhem Mansion at the Haas-Lilienthal House is a spooky, immersive haunted house experience that transforms the historic 1886 Victorian-era house into a mysterious and informative tour. Guests navigate dimly lit halls and discover surprises and scares in the dark corners and behind closed doors. The event also features a no-host bar, Spookeasy, offering a variety of beverages and snacks to steady nerves.
Where: San Francisco | More Info: Mayhem Mansion at the Haas-Lilienthal House
Heartstoppers Haunted House
What to Expect:
Explore four interconnected haunts with a single chilling storyline.
Description:
Heartstoppers Haunts is Sacramento's largest haunted house and scare park, offering four unique haunts within a three-story building. Each haunt is connected by a chilling storyline, providing an immersive Halloween experience with short lines and many screams.
Where: Rancho Cordova | More Info: Heartstoppers Haunted House
San Francisco Ghost Hunt
What to Expect:
A guided walking tour that weaves a web of mystery, magic, and macabre stories from San Francisco's dark past.
Description:
Embark on a chilling journey through San Francisco's fog-draped streets with master magician and actor Christian Cagigal as your guide. Step into the shadows of the city's most haunted landmarks and experience a web of mystery, magic, and macabre stories from San Francisco's dark past. This 90-minute tour is perfect for families and offers a unique blend of entertainment and authenticity, leaving you questioning if it's just a legend or if there's something more.
Where: San Francisco | More Info: San Francisco Ghost Hunt
The Bernal Scream Haunted House
What to Expect:
The Bernal Scream Haunted House presents its darkest and most twisted haunted attraction yet, "Soul Shredder," in 2024.
Description:
The Bernal Scream Haunted House is proud to announce its 2024 season return with an all-new main attraction, "Soul Shredder." This high-endurance haunted attraction, geared for adults but welcoming all ages, promises to deliver the darkest and most twisted scares yet. With a rich history starting as a backyard show in 2013, the event has grown into a Bay Area staple, known for its terrifying experiences and memorable moments.
Where: San Jose | More Info: The Bernal Scream Haunted House
Scotts Valley Haunted House
What to Expect:
Tailored for elementary school children and parents with a unique theme of Schmetterling Village.
Description:
Scotts Valley Haunted House is a family-friendly event designed for elementary school children and parents. The 2024 theme is Schmetterling Village, offering a newly designed experience with various attractions and activities.
Where: Scotts Valley | More Info: Scotts Valley Haunted House
Family-Friendly Fall Activities Near San Francisco
Tricks and Treats at California’s Great America
What to Expect:
A family-friendly Halloween celebration with four uniquely themed areas offering a variety of interactive experiences and live entertainment.
Description:
Tricks and Treats at California’s Great America is a family-friendly Halloween event that transforms the theme park into a festive wonderland. Enjoy spooky, kooky activities, live shows, a costume contest, seasonal food, and drinks. The event features four uniquely themed areas: Everfall, Sweet Tooth Acres, Spooky Spires, and Ickyville. Guests can also participate in pumpkin decorating, carnival games, and trick-or-treating. The event is open on select days from September 20 to October 26, 2024.
Where: Santa Clara | More Info: Tricks and Treats at California’s Great America
ZOOtoberfest at San Francisco Zoo
What to Expect:
A family-friendly fall festival with a large hay maze, Zoo Brew Haus, and Halloween-themed activities.
Description:
ZOOtoberfest at the San Francisco Zoo & Gardens is a festive celebration of fall. The event features San Francisco’s largest hay maze, made from over 500 bales of hay, which incorporates play areas within its design. The Zoo Brew Haus transforms the Playfield Cafe and Lawn into a lively spot where visitors can enjoy a variety of brews and German-inspired dishes. Additionally, Boo at the Zoo offers Halloween-themed enrichment activities and a fun costume parade with prizes for the best costumes.
Where: San Francisco | More Info: ZOOtoberfest at San Francisco Zoo
Goblin Jamboree
What to Expect:
A Halloween celebration with interactive activities and themed events for children.
Description:
The Bay Area Discovery Museum hosts the Goblin Jamboree, a spooktacular Halloween event that transforms the museum into a wickedly fun wonderland. The event features interactive activities like Glow Slime Banquet, Monster Makeover, Goblin Gliders, and Magic Brew, all included in the admission price. Costumes are strongly encouraged, and the event is open to families with children under the age of 8.
Where: Sausalito | More Info: Goblin Jamboree
Halloween Hoopla
What to Expect:
The grand finale Halloween Costume Parade with live music.
Description:
The 24th annual Halloween Hoopla at Yerba Buena Gardens is a family-friendly celebration featuring spectacular performances and activities tailored for kids under 10 and their adults. The grand finale is the popular Halloween Costume Parade with live music, where all kids are welcome to join in their best Halloween looks. This event promises a fun-filled day of family-friendly frights and delights.
Where: San Francisco | More Info: Halloween Hoopla
Halloween Jam at Children's Fairyland
What to Expect:
A variety of festive activities and special performances make Halloween Jam a standout fall celebration.
Description:
Halloween Jam at Children's Fairyland is a festive and fun-filled event celebrating the fall season. This year, the event features special performances, decked-out storybook sets, arts and crafts, puppet shows, bouncy houses, treat stations, games with prizes, and a photo booth. Catch daily shows at the Emerald City Stage and enjoy the "Tricks & Treats" puppet show. Special events include Oakland’s Magic Kitchen with Chef Michele McQueen and a book celebration with Nikki Shannon Smith. It's a magical experience for all ages.
Where: Oakland | More Info: Halloween Jam at Children's Fairyland
Thrill-O-Ween at Thrive City
What to Expect:
A variety of themed activities and entertainment options for a safe and enjoyable Halloween experience.
Description:
Thrill-O-Ween at Thrive City is a spooktacular Halloween celebration designed for all ages. Enjoy themed activities like trick-or-treat stations, a pumpkin patch, live entertainment, and a special screening of Despicable Me 4. The event also features a costume contest, photo booth, slime making, balloon art, and face painting.
Where: San Francisco | More Info: Thrill-O-Ween at Thrive City
SuperNatural at the California Academy of Sciences
What to Expect:
A Halloween celebration with a variety of interactive and educational activities.
Description:
Join the California Academy of Sciences for a spooky yet family-friendly Halloween celebration, SuperNatural. Enjoy a silent disco in the Steinhart Aquarium, trick-or-treat stations, live animal demonstrations, and craft activities. Meet mad scientists and see unusual specimens. Transform into living or undead art with face painting and immortalize your spirit in a photo booth. The event features exclusive teen lounges with arcade games and snacks.
Where: San Francisco | More Info: SuperNatural at the California Academy of Sciences
Trick or Treat on the Farm
What to Expect:
A Halloween-themed trick-or-treat adventure set in a historic farm environment.
Description:
Trick or Treat on the Farm is a family-friendly event where participants can come in their Halloween costumes for a trick-or-treat adventure. The event features various stations around the farm offering activities and treats to take home. This event is an opportunity to step back into history and enjoy the simple things of life, highlighting farm life and the late Victorian era.
Where: San Ramon | More Info: Trick or Treat on the Farm
Jack O’Lantern Jamboree
What to Expect:
A fun-filled Halloween event with pumpkin carving, a Halloween parade, and campfire activities for families.
Description:
Join us for a spooktacular Halloween event around the campfire. Enjoy pumpkin carving, a Halloween parade, roasting hot dogs, and toasting s’mores. As it gets dark, we’ll tell not-so-spooky stories and maybe have a few skits too. All participants will receive a toasting fork, hot dog supper, and s’mores. Children must be accompanied by a parent.
Where: Palo Alto | More Info: Jack O’Lantern Jamboree
Trick or Treating on the Wharf
What to Expect:
A 13-day Halloween celebration featuring trick-or-treating, a Great Pumpkin BINGO Hunt, and a FREE Thriller Dance performance.
Description:
Join us for 13 days of spooktacular fun at the Santa Cruz Wharf Enjoy the Great Pumpkin BINGO Hunt, snap a festive photo at the Wharf Stage, and trick-or-treat your way down the Wharf. The event kicks off on October 19th and includes a FREE Thriller Dance performance on Halloween Day.
Where: Santa Cruz | More Info: Trick or Treating on the Wharf
It’s the Great Pumpkin
What to Expect:
Free viewing of a classic Halloween-themed movie with accompanying activities.
Description:
Enjoy a festive atmosphere at the Charles M. Schulz Museum with "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" playing on the big screen every half hour. Kids can engage in coloring, cartooning, and exploring the museum galleries for free. This event is perfect for families to celebrate the fall season together.
Where: Santa Rosa | More Info: It’s the Great Pumpkin
Halloween Concert at Redwood City
What to Expect:
A variety of fun and spooky activities suitable for kids aged 10 and under.
Description:
Join us for a spooky good time at the Halloween Spooktacular 2024 in Redwood City Enjoy Cool Carnival Games, navigate through the Muah-ah-ah Monster Maze, create Creepy Crafts, and take spooky photos with our themed backdrops. The event also features a Mini Pumpkin Patch and exciting prizes for all participants. This family-friendly event is perfect for kids aged 10 and under.
Where: Redwood City | More Info: Halloween Concert at Redwood City
Halloween on Solano
What to Expect:
A community-driven Halloween celebration with trick-or-treating and a costume contest.
Description:
Halloween on Solano is a family-friendly event where hundreds of families trick-or-treat along Solano Avenue from 3 to 5 PM. The evening culminates in a costume contest at Solano-Peralta Park, featuring cash grand prizes and free pizza. The event is sponsored by Five Little Monkeys and emphasizes safety and community spirit.
Where: Albany & Berkeley | More Info: Halloween on Solano
Halloween Food, Drink, and Parties Near San Francisco
All Day All Night Halloween at Audio Nightclub
What to Expect:
A Halloween-themed party with a renowned electronic music duo.
Description:
Join Audio Nightclub in San Francisco for an unforgettable Halloween celebration featuring the legendary duo THIRD PARTY. The event promises an electrifying night of music and festivities, setting the tone for a spooky yet exciting Halloween weekend.
Where: San Francisco | More Info: All Day All Night Halloween at Audio Nightclub
San Francisco Halloween Pub Crawl
What to Expect:
A massive Halloween celebration with over 10,000 attendees and a variety of drink specials at over 40 bars.
Description:
Join over 10,000 party people for the biggest Halloween event in San Francisco. Enjoy cheap beer, shots, cocktails, and DJs at over 40 bars. The event features a free party bus shuttle and a costume contest with prizes for the best individual and group costumes. This is a fun and exciting way to celebrate Halloween and experience San Francisco's nightlife scene.