Illuminate the darkness of San Rafael with our Halloween lantern of events. Discover San Rafael's haunted wellness centers with our guide, a health manual for health-conscious haunts and spectral spa-goers.
Popular events abound this Halloween season, including Fright Fest at Six Flags, where thrill-seekers can enjoy a mix of haunted attractions and adrenaline-pumping rides. Fear Overload Scream Park brings a unique interactive experience, mesmerizing guests with themed mazes and immersive scares. And the Winchester Mystery House – Unhinged: Nightshade's Curse is something you definitely don't want to miss, offering a chilling exploration of one of California's most mysterious landmarks. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Top Halloween Events In and Around San Rafael
- Fright Fest at Six Flags (Vallejo)
- Winchester Mystery House - Unhinged: Nightshade's Curse (San Jose)
- Fear Overload Scream Park (Newark)
- Blind Scream (Santa Rosa)
- The Bernal Scream Haunted House (San Jose)
- Haunt the Academy (San Francisco)
- Sacramento Scream Park (Sacramento)
- Unhinged: Hotel at the Winchester Mystery House (Scotts Valley)
- Halloween at Ghirardelli Square (San Francisco)
- Tara Firma Farms Halloween Event (Petaluma)
See these and even more events listed below!
San Rafael Area Haunted Experiences
Fear Overload Scream Park
What to Expect:
Immersive and terrifying haunted house experience with detailed sets and trained actors.
Description:
Fear Overload Scream Park offers a terrifying experience with two haunted houses, Slotch Sanatorium and Darkmoor Penitentiary. These attractions are filled with eerie settings, moving shadows, and ghostly whispers. Visitors can also explore Eerie Essentials, an emporium offering chilling keepsakes and haunting memorabilia. The event is not recommended for children under 12 and features line performers to keep you on edge even in line.
Where: Newark | More Info: Fear Overload Scream Park
Winchester Mystery House - Unhinged: Nightshade's Curse
What to Expect:
An immersive indoor and outdoor Halloween experience featuring a new storyline, characters, and scares throughout both the house and the estate.
Description:
Experience the thrilling and immersive Halloween event, Unhinged: Hotel, at the Winchester Mystery House. This year's chapter features a new storyline, characters, and scares throughout both the house and the estate. Guests will navigate a hauntingly immersive maze, encounter professional actors, and face their deepest fears in the outdoor scare zone, The Mist. The event includes themed food and drinks, a Halloween museum, and interactive activities. It is not recommended for children under 13 due to intense imagery and themes.
Where: San Jose | More Info: Winchester Mystery House - Unhinged: Nightshade's Curse
The Bernal Scream Haunted House
What to Expect:
The Bernal Scream Haunted House features its most twisted and terrifying attraction yet, "Soul Shredder," designed to push even the bravest visitors to their limits.
Description:
The Bernal Scream Haunted House is proud to announce its 2024 season return with the all-new main attraction "Soul Shredder." This high endurance adult attraction is not for the faint of heart, featuring the darkest, meanest, and most twisted scares yet. Founded by father and son duo Mike and Abel Barrera, The Bernal Scream has grown from a backyard show to one of the Bay Area's premier commercial haunted attractions. With a legacy of terrifying scares and TV news coverage, this event promises an unforgettable experience.
Where: San Jose | More Info: The Bernal Scream Haunted House
Blind Scream
What to Expect:
Immersive haunted house experience with community involvement and special effects like strobe lights and fog.
Description:
Blind Scream Haunted House is a terrifying experience located in the southern overgrown woods of Santa Rosa, CA. The dilapidated old house is covered in thick, twisting ivy, and as you approach, a severe sense of terror grips you. The haunted house features strobe lights, fog, moving floors, pitch darkness, strong smells, intense audio, and other special effects. It has been part of the North Bay for over 15 years and supports local community groups and nonprofits by inviting them to be part of the scare team.
Where: Santa Rosa | More Info: Blind Scream
Unhinged: Hotel at the Winchester Mystery House
What to Expect:
An immersive Halloween experience with new characters and terrifying scares.
Description:
Experience the thrilling Unhinged: Hotel at the Winchester Mystery House, where a group of friends stranded with car troubles discover a hotel with dark secrets. Navigate through the hauntingly immersive maze, encounter terrifying scares, and immerse yourself in the spooky ambiance. The event includes themed food and drinks, fortune tellers, and a Halloween Museum featuring vintage decor and artifacts.
Where: Scotts Valley | More Info: Unhinged: Hotel at the Winchester Mystery House
Sacramento Scream Park
What to Expect:
Immersive haunted experiences with meticulously designed settings and live actors.
Description:
Sacramento Scream Park offers a thrilling Halloween experience with its revamped haunted attractions, including Frightmare Midway and haunted houses like Iron Veil Asylum and Silverthorn Amusement Park. Each attraction is meticulously designed to immerse visitors in a world of terror, with eerie settings, ghostly echoes, and chilling encounters. The park also features Eerie Essentials, a boutique offering chilling keepsakes and haunting memorabilia.
Where: Sacramento | More Info: Sacramento Scream Park
NightMare Island
What to Expect:
Extensive transformation of a 45,000 square foot warehouse into a haunted attraction with an additional 900 square feet of haunt.
Description:
NightMare Island in Vallejo, California, offers a terrifying haunted house experience in a 45,000 square foot warehouse with 3-story ceilings and roll-up doors. The event features an additional 900 square feet of haunt, making it a true rollercoaster of frights. Open every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in October from 5 PM.
Where: Vallejo | More Info: NightMare Island
Fright Fest at Six Flags
What to Expect:
Immersive haunted maze experiences with themed attractions.
Description:
Fright Fest at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom is a Halloween-themed event featuring haunted mazes, scare zones, and thrilling shows. Guests can explore eerie attractions like Hotel Hellview 666, Club Fear 3D, and Midnight Mansion, while enjoying scare-free activities like Kids BooFest during the day. The event also includes immersive magic shows and a nightly scaremony.
Where: Vallejo | More Info: Fright Fest at Six Flags
Family-Friendly Fall Activities Near San Rafael
Haunt the Academy
What to Expect:
A Halloween celebration featuring a silent disco, live animal demonstrations, and exclusive teen lounges.
Description:
Join the California Academy of Sciences for a spooky yet family-friendly Halloween celebration, SuperNatural 2024. Enjoy a silent disco in the Steinhart Aquarium, trick-or-treat stations, live animal demonstrations, and more. The event features exclusive teen lounges, face painting, and a variety of crafts and activities. Early admission tickets offer 5 p.m. entry with complimentary food and premium open bar, while VIP packages include additional perks like behind-the-scenes tours and exclusive access to the VIP Garden.
Where: San Francisco | More Info: Haunt the Academy
Halloween at Ghirardelli Square
What to Expect:
A festive Halloween celebration with a dog costume contest and kids' costume parade.
Description:
Ghirardelli Square invites families and their dogs to celebrate Halloween with its third annual Spooky Square. The event features a Dog Costume Contest, a Kids Costume Parade, and the first 200 kids receive a Ghirardelli Square tote bag filled with treats and sweets. All participating dogs can win a 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place prize sponsored by Ghirardelli Square’s YAP.
Where: San Francisco | More Info: Halloween at Ghirardelli Square
Tara Firma Farms Halloween Event
What to Expect:
A heartwarming experience with glowing jack-o-lanterns in the corn field.
Description:
Join Tara Firma Farms for their annual Pumpkins on Pikes event, a family-friendly Halloween celebration featuring pumpkin carving, live music, food, and a straw maze. The festivities take place on two Saturdays (October 12 and 19) and one Sunday (October 20) from 2 to 10 PM. Admission includes a free pumpkin for carving, and children under 3 years old are admitted free. This event is a fundraiser for the Tara Firma Farms Institute and promises to be a heartwarming experience with glowing jack-o-lanterns in the corn field.
Where: Petaluma | More Info: Tara Firma Farms Halloween Event
Trick or Treat at The Village
What to Expect:
Trick-or-treating with participating businesses around the historic Sonoma Plaza.
Description:
Join us for a fun-filled Halloween event in Sonoma Plaza Trick-or-treat around the historic plaza, visit the Sonoma Valley Visitors Center, and enjoy the festive atmosphere. This family-friendly event is designed for children 10 and under, with participating businesses handing out candy and treats. Wear your best costume and have a spooktacular time with your family.
Where: Sonoma | More Info: Trick or Treat at The Village
Halloween at Larson Family Winery
What to Expect:
A family-friendly Halloween celebration with a pumpkin patch and canine costume contest.
Description:
Larson Family Winery in Sonoma, CA, is hosting a festive Halloween event featuring a pumpkin patch, free admission, and the opportunity to purchase pumpkins. The winery also offers a canine costume contest on October 27, 2024, with wine-related prizes for the top three costumed pups. Families can enjoy the winery's large lawn, bocce ball court, and shaded picnic area while parents sample wine and relax.
Where: Sonoma | More Info: Halloween at Larson Family Winery
Trick or Treat in Santa Venetia
What to Expect:
Trick-or-treating in a closed-off neighborhood setting with multiple locations offering candy and fun activities.
Description:
Trick or Treat in Santa Venetia is a family-friendly Halloween event where children can enjoy a safe and festive atmosphere. The event takes place on Adrian Way, which is closed to traffic, allowing kids to trick-or-treat at various locations. The Glenwood Neighborhood, Marinwood, and Sun Valley/Forbes Street are also participating in the festivities, offering loads of candy and fun activities for all ages.