Halloween and autumn events are gearing up. Venues around the Bay Area are hosting fun celebrations to get families in the spirit of the season.
East Bay
Unhaunted House and Carnival: “Din-o-ween”
OCT. 17-18. Dress as your favorite dinosaur or explorer and enjoy thrilling activities, creepy crafts and spine-chilling surprises. The event is for all ages. 6-8:30pm Fri., 4-8pm Sat. $8, children under 3 FREE.
Sulphur Creek Nature Center, 1801 D St., Hayward
Marin
Goblin Jamboree
OCT. 18,19, 24-26. This spooktacular Bay Area Discovery Museum fundraiser includes joyful costumes, hands-on magic, bug buddies and not-so-spooky surprises in every corner. Check website for details.
Bay Area Discovery Museum, 557 McReynolds Road, Sausalito
bayareadiscoverymuseum.org/events/goblin-jamboree
Peninsula
Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival
OCT. 18-19. One of the Bay Area’s most iconic festivals, it features giant gourds, live entertainment, arts and crafts, a parade, costume contest, food and more. The festival kicks off 7am Oct. 13 with the Safeway World Champion Pumpkin Weigh-off at the IDES Ground, 735 Main St. The Great Pumpkin Parade is at 12pm Sat. on Main Street. 9am-5pm. FREE.
Downtown Half Moon Bay, Main Street
Filoli’s Nightfall
OCT. 3-NOV.10. This after-dark immersive adventure at Filoli features the only chance to see “TROLLS: Save the Humans” glowing in the moonlight as well as haunted halls in the historic house and magical meadows and woods where wonders await. The evening includes giant slugs, a Fairy Light Trail marked by twinkling lights, a hay maze, Shadow Creatures and Blacklight Mushroom Forest. 5:30-8:30pm. Adults $45-49, children $35-39.
86 Cañada Road, Woodside
San Francisco
Randall Museum’s Family Halloween Day
OCT. 18. The Randall Museum fills with Halloween delights and monster mischief. Enjoy games, crafts, activities, creepy critters, a costume contest and more. There will be live entertainment by Luke Schwartz Trio and Brian Scott Magic. For ages 12 and under and their families. 10am-2pm. Admission is FREE with low-cost activities.
Randall Museum, 199 Museum Way, San Francisco
Silicon Valley and Coast
Halloween at the Boardwalk
OCT. 26. Enjoy trick-or-treating, a costume contest and a “Fright Walk” underneath the boardwalk. Trick-or-treating is from 12-7pm. $12 trick-or-treating package includes a collectible candy bag that can be filled from all the participating food and shopping locations on the Boardwalk. The “Fright Walk” cost $8.
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, 400 Beach St., Santa Cruz
Thomas & Percy’s Halloween Party
OCT. 4-5 (THOMAS ONLY), 11-12, 18-19, 25-26. Enjoy a train ride on Thomas the Tank Engine, and on select days Percy too. There will be themed entertainment, a costume contest, live music, arts and crafts, a pumpkin patch and an opportunity to meet Sir Topham Hatt, the controller of the railway on the Island of Sodor. 9am-5pm. Tickets are $25-27, parking $10.
Roaring Camp Railroad, 5401 Graham Hill Road, Felton
New Ballet Halloween Gala
OCT. 25. The event features a preview performance of New Ballet’s upcoming season and Halloween gala for the whole family on the rooftop terrace. There will be dancing, a costume contest, treats, games and fun surprises. The event will raise money for New Ballet’s production of “The San Jose Nutcracker.” 7pm performance, 8pm party. Performance $50, party $200.
Hammer Theatre Center, 101 Paseo de San Antonio, San Jose
The Great Big BOO!
OCT. 4-NOV. 2. Gilroy Gardens presents this not-too-spooky Halloween event for the whole family with live musical shows, themed rides, trick-or-treating along the BOO Trail, food and drinks and dazzling light displays. 5-10pm. $45-50.
Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park, 3050 Hecker Pass Highway, Gilroy
Festival Fright Nights at the Winchester Mystery House
THROUGH NOV. 1 ON SELECT NIGHTS. At this new event, a traveling fortune teller with a flair for the theatrical invites the public to Halloween on the estate grounds where there will be a 1920s masquerade ball. Check website for more information about times and tickets.
Winchester Mystery House, 525 S. Winchester Blvd., San Jose
