Conjure up some Halloween magic in South San Francisco with our bewitching event guide. From South San Francisco regulars to Halloween tourists, our guide unlocks the city's spookiest treasures for everyone.
Popular events abound this Halloween season, starting with Tricks and Treats at California’s Great America, where families can indulge in festive activities and enjoy thrilling rides under eerie lights. Unique haunted experiences await at Unhinged: Hotel at the Winchester Mystery House, featuring spine-chilling tours that explore the mansion’s mysterious history. And the ZOOtoberfest at San Francisco Zoo is something you definitely don't want to miss, offering a delightful blend of autumn festivities and animal encounters. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Top Halloween Events In and Around South San Francisco
- Tricks and Treats at California’s Great America (Santa Clara)
- Nightmare: House on Franklin St. (San Francisco)
- SuperNatural at the California Academy of Sciences (San Francisco)
- ZOOtoberfest at San Francisco Zoo (San Francisco)
- Unhinged: Hotel at the Winchester Mystery House (San Jose)
- Scaregrove (San Francisco)
- Goblin Jamboree (Sausalito)
- Halloween Hoopla (San Francisco)
- The Bernal Scream Haunted House (San Jose)
- Pirates of Emerson (Pleasanton)
See these and even more events listed below!
South San Francisco Area Haunted Experiences
Unhinged: Hotel at the Winchester Mystery House
What to Expect:
An immersive indoor and outdoor experience with state-of-the-art special effects, professional actors, and disturbing scenes.
Description:
Unhinged: Hotel at the Winchester Mystery House is a chilling Halloween event where guests navigate a hauntingly immersive maze. Stranded with car troubles, a group of friends seek help in a nearby hotel, only to discover dark secrets hidden within its walls. The event features an indoor and outdoor scare zone, a Halloween museum, interactive activities, themed food and drinks, and themed photo opportunities.
Where: San Jose | More Info: Unhinged: Hotel at the Winchester Mystery House
Nightmare: House on Franklin St.
What to Expect:
An immersive haunted storyline through a historic Victorian-era mansion.
Description:
Nightmare: House on Franklin Street is an immersive haunted house experience at the historic Haas-Lilienthal House. Created by the team behind Unhinged at the Winchester Mystery House, this event offers 45-minute guided tours through the haunted mansion. Guests can enjoy themed drinks at the 21+ Cellar of Cursed Spirits before or after the visit. Due to its disturbing nature, this attraction may be too intense for those with a faint heart.
Where: San Francisco | More Info: Nightmare: House on Franklin St.
Pirates of Emerson
What to Expect:
Immersive haunted house experiences with four themed attractions and a Virtual Fear VR ride.
Description:
Pirates of Emerson Haunted Themed Park is Northern California's premier haunted attraction, offering a spine-chilling adventure with four terrifying attractions and a Virtual Fear VR ride. The event features live music, games, and immersive environments designed to create a unique and terrifying experience. General admission tickets are limited due to capacity restrictions, and age limitations require anyone under 16 to be accompanied by an individual 21 or older.
Where: Pleasanton | More Info: Pirates of Emerson
The Bernal Scream Haunted House
What to Expect:
The Bernal Scream's unique feature is its return with an all-new, highly intense haunted attraction called "Soul Shredder," which is designed to push the limits of fear.
Description:
The Bernal Scream Haunted House, located in San Jose, California, is a premier haunted attraction that has been thrilling audiences since 2013. Founded by father-son duo Mike and Abel Barrera, the attraction has evolved from a backyard show to a commercial success. After a seven-year hiatus, The Bernal Scream returned in 2023 with "Lucifer's Wrath" and now presents its most twisted show yet, "Soul Shredder," from September 20 to November 3, 2024. This event promises intense scares and special effects, making it a must-visit for horror enthusiasts.
Where: San Jose | More Info: The Bernal Scream Haunted House
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 thrilling Halloween event featuring frightful haunted houses, eerie scare zones, and spine-chilling live entertainment. Guests can explore haunted mazes like Hotel Hellview 666, Club Fear 3D, and Midnight Mansion, and experience scare zones such as Murder Mill and Weeping Wharf. The event also includes thrilling shows like Spencer Grey’s Magic After Dark and Unleashed.
Where: Vallejo | More Info: Fright Fest at Six Flags
Blind Scream
What to Expect:
An immersive and terrifying haunted house experience featuring strobe lights, fog, moving floors, pitch darkness, strong smells, intense audio, and other special effects.
Description:
Blind Scream Haunted House is an immersive and terrifying experience located in the southern overgrown woods. The dilapidated old house, covered in thick, twisting ivy, sets the stage for a severe sense of terror. Each groan of the creaky floorboards echoes like a warning, drawing you deeper into the haunted house. The attraction features strobe lights, fog, moving floors, pitch darkness, strong smells, intense audio, and other special effects, making it a unique and unforgettable Halloween experience.
Where: Santa Rosa | More Info: Blind Scream
Sacramento Scream Park
What to Expect:
Immersive and terrifying haunted house experiences with various ticket options to enhance the thrill.
Description:
Sacramento Scream Park offers a thrilling experience with its revamped haunted attractions, including Frightmare Midway, where towering facades, spooky snacks, and scare actors await. The park features four haunted houses: The Haunting at Iron Veil Asylum, Voodoo Blackwater Boneyard, and Hollow Hill High. Each attraction is meticulously designed to immerse visitors in eerie environments filled with ghostly echoes, moving shadows, and faint sounds of distant cries. This event is not recommended for children under 12 and offers various ticket options, including Fast Pass and Immediate Admission, to enhance the experience.
Where: Sacramento | More Info: Sacramento Scream Park
Family-Friendly Fall Activities Near South San Francisco
Tricks and Treats at California’s Great America
What to Expect:
An immersive Halloween celebration with four uniquely themed lands offering a variety of spooky and family-friendly activities.
Description:
Tricks and Treats at California’s Great America is a family-friendly Halloween event featuring four uniquely themed lands: Everfall, Sweet Tooth Acres, Spooky Spires, and Ickyville. Enjoy spooky, kooky activities, live shows, a costume contest, seasonal food and drinks, and candy. The event also includes favorite rides and attractions throughout the park, making it a delightful experience for all ages.
Where: Santa Clara | More Info: Tricks and Treats at California’s Great America
ZOOtoberfest at San Francisco Zoo
What to Expect:
A family-friendly Halloween celebration with a large hay maze and German-inspired food offerings.
Description:
ZOOtoberfest at the San Francisco Zoo & Gardens is a festive celebration that welcomes the fall season. The event features a large hay maze made from over 500 bales of hay, incorporating play areas within the design. Additionally, 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. The event culminates in a family-friendly Halloween celebration with special Halloween-themed enrichment for the animals and a costume parade and contest.
Where: San Francisco | More Info: ZOOtoberfest at San Francisco Zoo
SuperNatural at the California Academy of Sciences
What to Expect:
A unique blend of Halloween festivities and scientific exploration under one living roof.
Description:
SuperNatural at the California Academy of Sciences is a family-friendly Halloween party featuring a silent disco in the Steinhart Aquarium, trick-or-treat stations, live animal demonstrations, and interactive activities like face painting and crafts. The event includes exclusive teen lounges with arcade games and snacks, as well as VIP packages offering early entry and premium open bars. Guests can enjoy live animal encounters, magic shows, and explore the Academy's unique exhibits.
Where: San Francisco | More Info: SuperNatural at the California Academy of Sciences
Goblin Jamboree
What to Expect:
The unique feature of Goblin Jamboree is its variety of playful and educational activities designed to inspire creativity and joyful learning for the whole family.
Description:
Goblin Jamboree is a family-friendly Halloween event at the Bay Area Discovery Museum, offering playful adventures like building a beast with collage paper, creating surreal animal prints, and befriending bugs. The event supports the museum's mission to provide joyful learning experiences for children and families. Enjoy festive programming, tasty treats, and hands-on activities in a delightfully spooky atmosphere.
Where: Sausalito | More Info: Goblin Jamboree
Scaregrove
What to Expect:
A comprehensive Halloween celebration with a variety of activities for all ages.
Description:
Scaregrove is an annual Halloween event at Sigmund Stern Grove in San Francisco, featuring Grimm fairy tale fun for the entire family. The event includes carnival rides, hay rides, a costume contest, a haunted house for ages 10 and under, arts and crafts, a climbing wall, the San Francisco Public Library's Bookmobile, the Randall Museum's "Randall on the Road" activity truck, food for sale, live entertainment, and more. Admission is free, and free bike parking is available.
Where: San Francisco | More Info: Scaregrove
Boo at the Zoo
What to Expect:
Immersive Halloween celebration with a self-guided scavenger hunt and trick-or-treating for special edition animal Trading Cards.
Description:
Boo at the Zoo is a family-friendly Halloween event at the Oakland Zoo, featuring a self-guided scavenger hunt where participants can trick-or-treat for special edition animal Trading Cards. The event includes a costume contest, both in-person and virtual, with the chance to win great prizes. Participants also receive a bonus Trading Card and fair trade organic chocolate upon completing the scavenger hunt. The event is included with regular zoo admission, and advanced reservations are required for general admission.
Where: Oakland | More Info: Boo at the Zoo
Thrill-O-Ween at Thrive City
What to Expect:
A spooktacular afternoon filled with themed activities, including a special screening of Despicable Me 4 and various contests.
Description:
Thrill-O-Ween at Thrive City offers an immersive outdoor Halloween experience. Enjoy themed activities for all ages, including a special screening of Despicable Me 4. Participate in trick-or-treat stations, decorate mini pumpkins, and engage in live entertainment with a DJ and magic show. The best-dressed contestants can win prizes in various categories. Snap festive photos at the photo booth and enjoy slime making, balloon art, and face painting. This family-friendly event is perfect for celebrating the fall season with safe Halloween fun.
Where: San Francisco | More Info: Thrill-O-Ween at Thrive City
Halloween Hoopla
What to Expect:
The grand finale Halloween Costume Parade with live music.
Description:
The 24th annual Halloween Hoopla at Yerba Buena Gardens in downtown San Francisco offers spectacular performances and activities 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 is a place to be for family-friendly frights and delights.
Where: San Francisco | More Info: Halloween Hoopla
Family Halloween Day at Randall Museum
What to Expect:
A variety of daytime Halloween activities suitable for all ages.
Description:
Join the Randall Museum for its annual Family Halloween Day, a fun-filled event for the whole family. Explore the Haunted Animal Room, get creative with Creepy Crafts, and enjoy Ghoulish Games, Live Music, and Entertainment. This family-friendly celebration includes Trick-or-Treating, Pumpkin Decorating, and more spooky yet not scary delights.
Where: San Francisco | More Info: Family Halloween Day at Randall Museum
Halloween at Gamble Garden
What to Expect:
Pokémon-themed scavenger hunt in a historic garden setting.
Description:
This year, Gamble Garden transforms into a festive haven for Halloween. Join the fun as Pokémon hides around the garden, and participate in a scavenger hunt to find Pikachu and friends. Enjoy tattoos, face painting, crafts, prizes, and trading cards. The Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo will showcase Sequoia, the great bald eagle, adding to the excitement. This event is perfect for families, offering a variety of activities for all ages.
Where: Palo Alto | More Info: Halloween at Gamble Garden
Halloween Jam at Children's Fairyland
What to Expect:
A variety of festive activities and special events make Halloween Jam at Children's Fairyland a unique and engaging experience for families.
Description:
Halloween Jam at Children's Fairyland is a festive and fun-filled event featuring special performances, decked-out storybook sets, arts and crafts, puppet shows, bouncy houses, treat stations, games with prizes, a photo booth, and new surprises each year. The event includes daily shows like the "Tricks & Treats" Puppet Show and performances at Emerald City Stage. Special events include Oakland’s Magic Kitchen with Chef Michele McQueen and a Book Celebration with Nikki Shannon Smith.
Where: Oakland | More Info: Halloween Jam at Children's Fairyland
Halloween Extravaganza
What to Expect:
The event offers a variety of activities including a pumpkin patch and floating pumpkin patch games, making it a unique and enjoyable experience for families.
Description:
The Halloween Extravaganza in South San Francisco is a family-friendly event that takes place at Orange Memorial Park on October 19, 2024. The event features a pumpkin patch, floating pumpkin patch games, trunk-or-treat, and many more exciting activities for all ages. Attendees are encouraged to come in their best costumes to enjoy the festive fun.
Where: South San Francisco | More Info: Halloween Extravaganza
Laser Spooktacular Halloween
What to Expect:
A Halloween celebration featuring laser-drawn images and spooky music.
Description:
Laser Spooktacular Halloween is a festive event celebrating Halloween under the planetarium sky. The show features a fantastic display of laser-drawn images accompanied by spooky music, including songs like "Ghostbusters" and "Hot." This event is designed to create a fun and eerie atmosphere perfect for the Halloween season.
Where: San Jose | More Info: Laser Spooktacular Halloween
Jack O’Lantern Jamboree
What to Expect:
A spooktacular evening of Halloween fun around the campfire with activities like pumpkin carving and a Halloween parade.
Description:
The Lion & Tiger Jack-O-Lantern Jamboree is a spooktacular Halloween event designed for Lions and Tigers. Join us for an evening of Halloween fun around the campfire, where you can carve pumpkins, participate in a Halloween parade, roast hot dogs, and toast s’mores. All participants, including adults and siblings, will receive a toasting fork, hot dog supper, and s’mores. Children must be accompanied by a parent. This event promises a fun and memorable experience for the whole family.
Where: Palo Alto | More Info: Jack O’Lantern Jamboree
Floating Pumpkin Patch at West Campus Pool
What to Expect:
A fun and interactive Halloween event where participants can enjoy swim time and take home a pumpkin while learning if pumpkins float.
Description:
Join us for the Floating Pumpkin Patch at West Campus Pool, where you can find out if pumpkins float This fun event returns for its third year, offering swim time in the pool, fun activities, and a pumpkin to take home. Ghoulish attire is welcome, but proper swimming attire is required for floating. Advanced registration is highly recommended, and all children under 6 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Swimmers must pass a swim test to swim in the deep end.