Family Friendly Halloween Events in the Bay
By 965koit on October 24, 2018
SAN FRANCISCO
San Francisco Parks and Recreation
Scaregrove at Stern Grove – This annual family-friendly Halloween event features haunted houses, hayrides, carnival rides, giant inflatables and food. Oct. 26. 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.
San Francisco Zoo
Boo at the Zoo – Trick or treat surrounded by incredible animals. Watch them enjoy tasty holiday treats and brave the Haunted Nature Trail when the sun goes down. Oct. 27 and Oct. 28.
Yerba Buena Gardens
Halloween Hoopla – This free event in the beautiful Yerba Buena Gardens is perfect for kids. Oct. 28 from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
SANTA CLARA COUNTY
Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad
The Pumpkin Train – Take a ride through the pumpkin patch on this adorable train! You’ll have the opportunity to pick from a variety of locally grown pumpkins, too. Train runs Fridays-Sundays from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
De Anza College
Spooktacular Halloween Laser Light Show – Celebrate the scariest holiday of the year with an incredible display of laser lights and spooky music under the night sky of the planetarium at De Anza College. Oct. 27 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Deer Hollow Farm
Spooky Times at Deer Hollow Farm – This farm transforms into a dark forest with haunted barns. Enjoy children’s activities and crafts and meet Deer Hollow’s friendly farm animals. Treats and drinks available for purchase. Oct. 27 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Family Community Church, San Jose
Pumpkin Palooza – A safe, family-friendly way to celebrate this spooky holiday. Get lost in the Harvest Maze, dance to the music, and participate in the games and activities. Oct. 27 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Mountain View Community Center
Monster Bash – Play games and make Halloween-themed crafts in Pioneer Park! Costumes are optional but certainly encouraged. Oct. 27 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Spina Farms, San Jose
Pumpkin Patch – Pick your favorite pumpkin from the bunch! Or, hop on a hayride, train, pony, or barrel train ride. With so much to do, the whole family can enjoy this outing! Sunday to Thursday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
ALAMEDA COUNTY
Alameda South Shore Center
Halloween Festival at the Alameda South Shore Center – the annual free Halloween Festival feature family-friendly trick-or-treating at participating merchants, frightening face painting, and a silly selfie booth. South Shore Center totes will also be available. Costumes are encouraged. Friday Oct. 26, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 27 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Oct. 28 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Albany Recreation
Halloween Carnival – Bring the whole family to enjoy an evening of spooky games, cookie decorating, and prizes galore. It’s sure to be a scary good time for all! Oct. 26 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Bay Street Emeryville
Boo Bash – Celebrate Halloween with the whole family. There’ll be pumpkin decorating, face painting, Halloween treats, a costume parade (human and doggy!) and so much more! Oct. 27 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Berkeley Community Center
Halloween Community Parade – Watch the creative, cute, creepy and festive parade as they make their way down the streets and around San Pablo Park. Don’t forget to wear a costume! Oct. 31 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze – Bring the whole family to the beautiful Livermore Valley. There’s fun for all ages at G&M Farms! Oct 1-31.
Harbor Light Activities Center, Fremont
Harvest Festival – This fun-packed day will have carnival games, prizes, an obstacle course, and (of course), tons of candy! Bring the whole family and celebrate in the fun. Oct. 29 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Hayward Recreation
Unhaunted House and Carnival- The Unhaunted house features many family friendly characters as well as face painting, food and more. Oct. 19 from 6-9 p.m. and Oct. 20 from 4-8 p.m.
J.E. Perry Farms, Fremont
Perry Family Pumpkin Patch – Bring the kids and explore this lovely pumpkin patch! Search for the perfect pumpkin, get lost in the kids’ maze, and snap a few seasonal photos. Open Monday to Thursday from 12 p.m.-7 p.m and Friday from 12 p.m.-9 p.m. Saturday and Sundays are 9 a.m.-9 p.m.
Oakland Museum
Thriller Night! – Enjoy a night full of live music and dancing a la Michael Jackson. Wander through the outdoor street market or through the open exhibits in the museum. Fun for all the family! Oct. 26 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Oakland Zoo
Boo at the Zoo – Oakland’s zoo has its own Boo event. Dress up in your costume and collect candy around the park. Other activities include face painting, treats for the animals and much more. Check out how the animals at the Oakland Zoo celebrate Halloween! Oct. 27 and 28 from 10 a.m.- 3 p.m.
Piedmont Pumpkin Patch
Pumpkin Patch – Pick out the perfect pumpkin at this Pumpkin Wonderland. Open all of October from 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.
USS Hornet, Alameda
Monster Bash – Sleepless nights and nonstop dancing may occur. Costume contest with a $500 cash prize! Bring your family and friends. Oct. 27 from 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
Downtown Martinez
Halloween Trunk-or-Treat Spooktacular – A safe alternative for trick-or-treating. Decorated car trunks and shops lining downtown Martinez will be passing out candy and treats to all costumed kids. Sunday Oct. 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Downtown Walnut Creek
11th Annual Trick or Treat – Calling all goblins, superheroes, princesses, and witches! You’re invited to creep through downtown collecting halloween treats from participating businesses. Friday Oct. 26 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
El Cerrito Recreation
Halloween Carnival & Haunted House. The Carnival will feature Carnival Games and a bounce house. Please be aware that the Haunted House can frighten young children. Saturday Oct. 27 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Joan’s Farm and Pumpkin Patch
Pumpkin Patch and Activities – Open daily Oct. 1-31 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Lindsay Wildlife Experience
Howl-ooo-ween 2018 – Come in costume and enjoy face-painting, a costume parade, spooky story-time, the Arachnid Arcade, then meet some creepy crawly friends and not-so-scary animals! Thursday Oct. 25 from 5:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Sunvalley Mall
Trick-or-Treating – Children and families are welcome to celebrate Halloween by trick-or-treating at Sunvalley Mall! Wednesday Oct. 31 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Webb Ranch
Webb Ranch Pumpkin Patch – This attraction features hayrides, train rides, pony rides, petting zoo and a jumpy house. Open all of October from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
MARIN COUNTY
Bay Area Discovery Museum
Goblin Jamboree – Put on your spookiest costume and join the Goblin Jamboree at the Bay Area Discovery Museum. This two-day Halloween festival is designed for children ages 6 to 10 so bring the little ones for a day of fun. Pony rides, petting zoo, face painting, boo bowling, mini-golf and even hay rides will be available at this event. Oct. 21 and 22.
Downtown Novato
Halloween Scream on the Green – Do you dare to enter the Haunted House? Kids will surely enjoy dressing up in their costumes and participating in the festivities. Oct. 26 from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Oct. 27 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Marin City Library
Not-So-Spooky Halloween Party – Join in on the 3rd annual event. It’ll be filled with “ghoulish games, creepy crafts, and terrible treats!” Appropriate for a Spanish/Bilingual audience. Oct. 20 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
SAN MATEO COUNTY
ABC Tree Farms
Pick of the Patch Pumpkins – Several varieties of pumpkins are available for purchase as well as an interactive pumpkin patch tour, bounce house, slide, retail items and Halloween-themed photographs, open through Oct. 31.
Lemos Farm
Lemos Pumpkins and Halloween – Pony rides, train rides, bounce houses and a petting zoo are all available during the Halloween season.
The Repetto’s Pumpkin Farm
The Repetto’s Pumpkin Farm is a Bay Area family tradition in Half Moon Bay. Repetto’s includes a corn maze escape challenge, a tractor-pulled hayride, a climbing haystack pyramid and a giant pumpkin-decorated hay bench to pose with your family for Halloween photos! Many varieties of pumpkins are available for purchase for decoration and cooking.
Serramonte Center
Costume Contest for kids 12 years and younger – Bring your kids and enjoy a day filled with arts and crafts, face painting, a Spook Parade, and trick-or-treating in the mall! Oct. 31 from 3 p.m to 7 p.m.
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY
Big Basin State Park
Spooky or Not Spooky? – Take a walk in the forest, keeping an eye out for the weird and wonderful. Examine cobwebs, burls, holes and other mysterious natural features from a different perspective. Come along if you dare! Oct. 2 at 1:00 p.m.
Roaring Camp Railroads
Thomas and Percy’s Halloween Party – Dress up for Halloween with your favorite train characters, Thomas and Percy, as you take a ride through Felton, CA. Oct. 20 – 21 and 27 – 28.
Santa Cruz Wharf
Trick-or-Treating – Kids of all ages are asked to dress up for a spooky night of trick-or-treating on the Santa Cruz Wharf. Special guests include Princess Elsa and Moana, who will be handing out candy. This free event is open to all families who want to enjoy a beautiful night in Santa Cruz! Oct. 31 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Seymour Marine Discovery Center
Marine Masquerade – For a magical mystery marine masquerade adventure, dress up as your favorite marine mammal and join in on a night full of scavenger hunts, creature crafts, costume parade, music, and so much more! Oct. 31 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
SOLANO COUNTY
Benicia Main Street
Frightfully First Street – During the month of October, Benicia’s Main Street transforms into an eerie promenade filled with all kinds of activities. From a Brew Crawl (for the parents) to a Costume Contest (for the kids), family members of all ages will be sure to find a way to satisfy their spooky side! Oct. 1-31.
SONOMA COUNTY
Downtown Petaluma
Halloween Trick or Treat Trail – Bring the little ones to trick or treat with over 60 participating businesses. Oct. 31 from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Muelrath Ranches
Pumpkin Patch and Activities – Shop for the perfect pumpkin while you enjoy free activities such as hayrides, pumpkin slingshot, pumpkin cannon and more. They also have decorations available for all your fall needs, open Sept. 29 – Oct. 31.
Safari West
Halloween Spook-tacular – Celebrate Halloween by delving deeper into osteology – aka bones! There will also be trick-or-trek tours (exploring the herds of giraffe and antelope), as well as a conservation costume contest. Perfect for children of all ages. Oct. 27 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
