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Halloween San Francisco 2026: Fun Things to Do for All Ages
By: Jill Loeffler • Updated: September 8, 2026
San Francisco is the place to be again for this year's 2026 Halloween celebrations.
Whether you are looking to party or prefer family-friendly events, you will find them all here.
Highlights this year include several popular ghost tours, more than a dozen 21+ events, and several museum-sponsored events for the kids.
You will also find some fun places to go trick-or-treating, haunted houses, and a few other fun activities all weekend long.
Other top picks include concerts, theater performances, sporting events, and more.
This year, Halloween falls on a Saturday for a fun-packed weekend.
I've also added events all around the SF Bay Area. You will find them toward the bottom of the page.
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Concerts on Halloween in San Francisco & the Bay Area
You will find dozens of other concerts throughout the weekend in San Francisco and the Bay Area. Here are just a few of the top shows this weekend:
- 10/29 & 10/30: The Chicks at the Masonic
- 10/30: Lost in Dreams Block Party at the Midway
- 10/30 - 11/1: John Scofield's Electrospective at the SFJAZZ Center, Miner Auditorium
- 10/30: Galactic at the Fillmore
- 10/31: Midnight Carnival Block Party with RL Grime at The Midway
- 10/31: Eric Prydz at Pier 48
- 10/31: DJ Mandy at the Castro Theatre
- 10/31: Medium Build at the Regency Ballroom
- 10/31: Zhu at Gold Bar Whiskey Distillery Tasting Room
Ghost Tours in San Francisco
San Francisco is said to be one of the most haunted cities in the US. This makes it the perfect place for fun, yet spooky ghost tours.
They range from a visit to one of SF's most ghostly spots, Alcatraz Island, to a walking tour around Nob Hill or Union Square.
All of them offer chilling stories about the dark events that led to today's mysterious and unusual occurrences. Many run year-round, with a few extra-special tours just for Halloween.
Here are just a few of my favorites:
- San Francisco Ghosts: Gold and Ghouls Tour: This fun tour takes you through Union Square and Nob Hill. You'll hear stories about some of San Francisco's darkest events, including murder, mystery, and other tragedies. Runs nightly.
- Ghost & True Crime Tour: This one runs on Saturday, so it's a great option for the night after Halloween. It's a 3-hour ghost tour with stories about SF's lawless past in Chinatown, during the Gold Rush Era, and more!
- Ghosts, Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: Hear stories from the Gold Rush as you check out some of the great bars around Chinatown and along Pacific Avenue. Includes visits to eight sites, including four bars.
Halloween Events for Kids
Enjoy several kid-friendly activities for Halloween 2026.
Highlights this year include the SuperNatural Halloween Event at the California Academy of Sciences, trick-or-treating events, and other fun kid-friendly activities all around the city.
Nightmare on Front Street
Date: TBD for 2026
This free Halloween Block Party takes place in downtown San Francisco. The street party will include live music, spooky activities, and themed cocktails.
Enjoy one of two costume contests. The first is from 4:30 pm to 5 pm, and the second is from 7:30 pm to 8 pm.
The event takes place along the Front Street Entertainment Zone, located on Front Street between California and Sacramento Streets. It runs from 4 pm to 10 pm on Friday.
Fun Tours Around SF
Top 21+ San Francisco Halloween Parties
This year, you will find dozens of 21-and-older Halloween parties. Most are on Friday and Saturday nights at some of San Francisco's largest venues.
These parties often include music by some of SF and the Bay Area's top DJs, cocktails throughout the night, and a chance to mingle with other Halloween lovers.
Almost all require costumes. Here are just a few to check out in 2026. All are on Halloween night:
- Halloween International Ball with Aykut Events, 9 pm to 1:30 am, five rooms of music, costume contest, and more.
- Halloween Pub Crawl with drink specials and the only one offering a free party bus to shuttle you between neighborhoods. Also includes a costume contest, find the gnome contest, and more.
- Black Pearl Halloween Cruise, 3 decks with 2 top DJs, 3-hour cruise.
- Masivo SF, Reggaeton Rave, 21+ Halloween costume party with nonstop reggaeton, Latin hits, high-energy DJs at 444 Jessie Street from 9 pm to 2 am
- Cosplay Halloween Ball at the Elan Event Venue in San Francisco, an immersive in-person experience with 2 rooms of music, a costume contest, and mandatory cosplay (costumes are strictly required)
SF Theater & Performing Arts
Here are just some of the shows you can see this Halloween!
- 10/13 - 11/1: Oh Mary! at the Curran Theater
- 10/29 - 10/31: SF Symphony, Doctor Atomic and Mendelssohn Violin Concerto at Davies Symphony Hall
- 10/30: San Francisco Opera: Manon at the War Memorial Opera House
- 10/30: Michael Lewis in conversation with Lara Bazelon at the Sydney Goldstein Theater
- 10/31: San Francisco Opera: Marriage of Figaro at the War Memorial Opera House
- 10/30 & 10/31: Dear San Francisco at Club Fugazi
- 10/31: Aura at Grace Cathedral (2 Shows: 7 pm and 8:15 pm)
>> Find additional shows this month in SF
Terror Vault at the SF Mint
Dates: Select dates from 10/1 to 10/31
Location: SF Mint at 88 5th Street, San Francisco
This year's show is called HEXED. It's a dark, witchy and fully immersive experience.
It features three witches spread throughout the world. Each one is from a different culture with unique traditions.
What happens when all three start to perform their rituals and kids around the world start to disappear?
Find out this Halloween at the Terror Value at the SF Mint.
>> Visit this site to learn more and pick up your tickets today
Comedy Shows
You will also find some great comedy shows in San Francisco this Halloween.
- 10/28 - 10/30: Mo Welch at the Punchline Comedy Club
- 10/30 & 10/31: HellaFunny Comedy Night at The Function Comedy Club
- 10/30: J.T. Parr at Cobb's Comedy Club
Sports Events
- 10/30: NBA Cup: Warriors vs Lakers at the Chase Center
- 10/31: San Jose Earthquakes at PayPal Park
- 10/31: San Jose Sharks vs Ottawa Senators at the SAP Center
Free Walking Tours
Find a variety of free walking tours all weekend long.
These tours, given by SF City Guides, give you the chance to learn even more about San Francisco.
Top tours include the Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman's Wharf, and Chinatown.
>> Find out more about these and other tours all around SF
Additional Halloween Events Around the SF Bay Area
East Bay
Some of the best Halloween events in the Bay Area this year are in the East Bay, including Oakland. You will find haunted houses, Boo at the Zoo, and plenty of 21+ costume parties.
Here are just a few of my top picks for Halloween events in the Bay Area for 2026.
"Boo at the Zoo" at the Oakland Zoo
One of my favorite Halloween events in Oakland is the daytime event, "Boo at the Zoo" at the Oakland Zoo. This year's event will take place on 10/17 & 10/18, 10/24 & 10/25, 10/31 & 11/1.
Ghosts of Dublin
What better place to spend Halloween than in a cemetery at night in the quaint city of Dublin? I can't think of one. The "Ghosts of Dublin" tour is, without question, one of the scariest places to be if you are afraid of ghosts, ghouls, or goblins, since one never knows who, or what, may pop up from the graves.
There are seven tours a night, starting every 30 minutes. The first tour is at 7:30 pm, and the final tour starts at 10:30 pm. Tours are about one hour long.
This year's dates are October 23 and 24.
>> Find details to register for the tours here
Halloween Dia De Los Muertos Family Fun Fest
This year, you will find the Halloween Día De Los Muertos Family Fun Fest at Oakland's Jack London Square. This is a family-friendly, free event on TBD.
The event features chalk artists, mariachis, crafts, a costume contest, and Mexican Folklorico dancers. It runs from 1 pm to 3 pm.
Fear Overload Scream Park
Voted the scariest haunted house in California, Fear Overload Haunted House includes two haunted houses for the price of one. This attraction runs from early October to early November and is not for the faint of heart.
This event has been featured in Forbes, and on CBS, ABC and Fox, this is a truly serious horror and scream fest. Just to give you an idea of how scary these houses are, pregnant women or people in casts are NOT allowed to enter.
It is located at 2086 Newpark Mall in Newark, CA. This year's dates are September 25 - November 7.
>> Visit their site for more details and ticketing information
South Bay & Peninsula
The Great Big BOO! At Gilroy Gardens
Located in the Garlic Capital of the world (isn't that scary enough already?), Gilroy Gardens is home to numerous Halloween events this season. These include trick-or-treating, wacky characters, and other fun Halloween surprises all around Boo Alley!
It runs from September 25 through Halloween. It's on Fridays from 5 pm to 10 pm and Saturdays and Sundays from 1 pm to 9 pm. On Halloween night, it will run from 5 pm to 10 pm.
>> Find advanced tickets on their site
North Bay & Wine Country
Petaluma Pumpkin Patch and Amazing Corn Maze
With over 5 acres of homegrown pumpkins and corn mazes, you and your little ghouls are sure to enjoy this annual Halloween experience. If you need pumpkins for your own, there are over 50 varieties to choose from, including some that are massive!
The maze walls are about 10 feet tall, so anyone can try to figure them out. There is a viewing platform in case you want to see the maze and get some help.
They open on September 25, 2026, and stay open through the holiday. The Pumpkin Patch hours are Sunday to Thursday, 10 am to 7 pm, and Friday to Saturday, from 10 am to 10 pm.
>> Visit their site for more details
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom Tricks and Treats (Vallejo)
This year, Six Flags Discovery Kingdom is celebrating spooky season with Tricks and Treats. This daytime, family-friendly Halloween event features tricks, treats, and entertainment for all ages.
Dress in your finest costume for The Costume Contest, enjoy skeletons of delicious seasonal drinks and candy, and enjoy some amazing thrills and chills on your favorite rides!
This year's event runs from September 19 - November 1.
>> Visit their official site for details
Blind Scream Haunted House (Santa Rosa)
Head over to 98 Santa Rosa Plaza for this terrifying Halloween Haunted House.
This year's event is called Daverns of Carnage, which will take you on a thrilling, yet scary journey. It's set in a deep, dark swamp with an endless maze of passages under the earth and scary characters that haunt your dreams for days!
It's open select nights from October 9 - 31.
>> Visit their site for details
Goblin Jamboree at BADM (Sausalito)
The Bay Area Discovery Museum is home to the fun for all ages Goblin Jamboree each year.
Fangtastic programs include the Slime Swamp, Witch's Kitchen, Befriend a Bug with the Beetlelady, Pumpkin Play for little ones, and much more!
Dates for 2026 are weekends from October 3 - 31.
>> Visit their site for details
Hi, I’m Jill!
I’ve been sharing San Francisco travel advice since 2009 and have helped millions of people explore the city like a local. Whether you’re dreaming of sea lions, cable cars, or a great sourdough bread bowl, I’m here to help you plan an unforgettable trip with real tips from someone who actually lives here.
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