Prepare for a spine-tingling journey through Santa Maria's most haunted territories with our comprehensive Halloween guide, featuring an array of terrifying experiences and ghostly encounters. Find fearsome festivities for local legends and labyrinthine learners.
Popular Events: One standout event this Halloween season is the Santa Ynez Scarecrow Fest, where visitors can explore creatively crafted scarecrows and enjoy seasonal activities. Another intriguing experience is HalGLOWeen at the San Diego Zoo, where the zoo transforms with glowing decorations and family-friendly festivities. And the Halloween Pub Crawl is something you definitely don't want to miss, offering an opportunity to experience local nightlife with a spooky twist. Check out the rest of the page for more details on these and other fun events and activities!
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Top Halloween Events In and Around Santa Maria
- HalGLOWeen at the San Diego Zoo (San Diego)
- Santa Ynez Scarecrow Fest (Solvang)
- Halloween Pub Crawl (Santa Barbara)
- Santa Barbara Ghost Tours (Santa Barbara)
- Boo at the Zoo (Santa Barbara)
- Mission Movie Night: “Coco” (Santa Barbara)
- Santa Barbara Zombie Crawl (Santa Barbara)
- Carved at Descanso Gardens (Pasadena)
- Spooktacular Villain Party
See these and even more events listed below!
Santa Maria Area Haunted Experiences
Santa Barbara Ghost Tours
What to Expect:
Unique feature is the inclusion of a free gift bag with snacks and spiritual protection items.
Description:
Explore the haunted history of Santa Barbara on a guided ghost tour. Visit historic sites like El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park and the downtown post office, where you'll hear chilling tales of the city's most tragic events and encounter the spirits that linger. Each tour includes a free gift bag with snacks and spiritual protection items.
Where: Santa Barbara | More Info: Santa Barbara Ghost Tours
Family-Friendly Fall Activities Near Santa Maria
Santa Ynez Scarecrow Fest
What to Expect:
A month-long celebration featuring creative scarecrows in various categories.
Description:
Santa Ynez Scarecrow Fest is a month-long celebration in downtown Solvang, where Santa Ynez Valley merchants welcome the fall season by creating and displaying creative scarecrows. Residents and tourists are invited to vote for their favorite creations, which concludes on Halloween. The event features scarecrows in six different categories, including Most Danish, Most Humorous, Best Photo Opportunity, Best Use of Business Theme, Best Use of Recycled Materials, and Spookiest.
Where: Solvang | More Info: Santa Ynez Scarecrow Fest
HalGLOWeen at the San Diego Zoo
What to Expect:
A family-friendly Halloween celebration with interactive games, live music, and special performances in a zoo setting.
Description:
HalGLOWeen at the San Diego Zoo is a family-friendly Halloween celebration that transforms the zoo into a vibrant, glowing spectacle. Enjoy live music, interactive games, and special performances like the Skeleton Band and Boo Crew. Explore the Reptile House under the glow of the night, meet wildlife ambassadors, and dance among billions of bubbles. This year's celebration includes new attractions like the Enchanted HalGLOWeen Forest and the animated pumpkin singing group, The GLOW-Gos.
Where: San Diego | More Info: HalGLOWeen at the San Diego Zoo
Boo at the Zoo
What to Expect:
Halloween celebration in a zoo setting with safe trick-or-treating and various themed activities.
Description:
Boo at the Zoo is a family-friendly Halloween event at the Santa Barbara Zoo, featuring safe trick-or-treating, mad science experiments, and various activities like bounce houses, animal encounters, and live entertainment. Guests can enjoy tasty treats and beverages while exploring the zoo grounds in a spooky yet fun atmosphere.
Where: Santa Barbara | More Info: Boo at the Zoo
Spooktacular Villain Party
What to Expect:
A Halloween dance party featuring photo opportunities with iconic villains.
Description:
Join us for the Spooktacular Villain Party at Santa Maria Town Center This Halloween dance party is designed to bring out the spookiest in you. Enjoy photo opportunities with iconic villains like Jack Skeleton, Ursula, the Evil Queen, Maleficent, and Sally. It's a night filled with fun and frightful moments that will leave you screaming for more.
Where: Santa Maria | More Info: Spooktacular Villain Party
Carved at Descanso Gardens
What to Expect:
Immersive pumpkin art installations and family-friendly activities in a beautiful botanical garden setting.
Description:
Descanso Gardens transforms into a mesmerizing pumpkin wonderland during Carved, featuring a new route with luminous jack-o-lanterns, whimsical installations, and hand-carved giant pumpkins. The event includes the illuminated Descano Railroad and family-friendly wood spirits carved by Chainsaw Jenna. Enjoy fall-themed food and drinks while exploring the garden's unique art and festive atmosphere.
Where: Pasadena | More Info: Carved at Descanso Gardens
Halloween Food, Drink, and Parties Near Santa Maria
Halloween Pub Crawl
What to Expect:
Enjoy a night of bar-hopping with exclusive privileges and Halloween-themed activities.
Description:
Join us for a spooktacular Halloween Bar Crawl in Santa Barbara Explore over 4 venues, enjoy generously low drink specials, and participate in a social media costume contest. Each ticket includes a Halloween goodie bag, free entry into the best bars, and a detailed custom digital pub crawl map. Don't miss out on this unforgettable night of thrills and chills.
Where: Santa Barbara | More Info: Halloween Pub Crawl
Santa Barbara Zombie Crawl
What to Expect:
A Halloween bar crawl with exclusive drink specials, free Halloween handouts, and a pre-party event at EOS Lounge.
Description:
Join over 300 guests for the annual Santa Barbara Zombie Crawl Halloween bar crawl on October 26th, 2024. Come in costume and roam lively State Street, stopping at over 10 bars and nightclubs with one all-access pass. The event includes a free welcome shot ticket, drink discount coupons, and free nightclub entry passes. Participants will also receive a Zombie survival kit with a map to all participating bars, lounges, and nightclubs.