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Halloween San Francisco 2023: Fun Things to Do for All Ages

Jill on a windy day at the Golden Gate Bridge

by Jill Loeffler  •

Updated: October 25, 2023

San Francisco is the place to be again for this year's 2023 Halloween celebrations. Whether you are looking to party or for some family friendly events, you will find them all here. 

Highlights this year include several popular ghost tours, more than a dozen 21 and older 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, it falls on a Tuesday, so most events are throughout the weekend including quite a few options on both Friday and Saturday. You will also find handful of fun events on the holiday itself.

Scroll down to the bottom for additional Halloween events around the SF Bay Area.

Halloween decorations at a house on Divisadero Street in San Francisco.Halloween decorations at a house on Divisadero Street in San Francisco.

Disclaimer: I receive a small commission from some of the links on this page.

Top 21+ San Francisco Halloween Parties 

This year, you will find dozens of 21 and older Halloween Parties. Most are on Friday and Saturday night at some of San Francisco's largest venues.

You'll find smaller events this year than in past years, but there are still plenty of options.

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.

>> Full List of the Best 21+ Parties in SF

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 through City Hall.

All of them offer chilling stories about the dark events that led to today's mysterious and unusual occurrences. Many run all year long with a few extra special tours just for Halloween.

>> Ghost Tours of San Francisco

Halloween Events for Kids

Enjoy several kid-friendly activities for Halloween 2023. These events fall both on the weekend before and on the big holiday, so you can celebrate both weekends.

Highlights this year include the SuperNatural Halloween Event at the California Academy of Sciences and other fun kid-friendly events.

>> Halloween Events for Kids 

Fun Tours Around SF

Other Fun Events on Halloween Weekend

Here are a few additional events this Halloween in San Francisco!

Theater on Halloween San Francisco

This Halloween you will find  a few theater performances. 

Nollywood Dreams

Head over to the SF Playhouse for a performance of Nollywood Dreams. It's about a young women that works for her parents travel agency with dreams to become a star in Nigeria's version of Hollywood. 

Tensions rise when she hits it off with Nigeria's biggest star and his ex find out.

Find out what happens this Halloween in San Francisco.

Find tickets.

we are continuous

The other theater show on stage this weekend is we are continuous. This play digs into the love and acceptance by families.

It's all about Simon, who decides to come out to his family. What happens with his relationship with his best friend, his mother? See how his mother and his entire family reacts to changes in their family dynamics.

>> Find additional shows this month in SF

Concerts on Halloween in San Francisco & the Bay Area

You will find dozens of other concerts all weekend long in San Francisco and the Bay Area. Here are just a few of the top shows this weekend:

10/27: Hozier & Madison Cunningham at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, find tickets

10/28: RL Grime at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, find tickets

10/28: Bright Light Social Hour at Cafe Du Nord, find tickets

10/29: Kim Petras at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, find tickets

10/31: Agar Agar at The Great American Music Hall, find tickets

10/31: Doja Cat & Doechii at the Chase Center, find tickets

10/31: Leisure at The Independent, find tickets

Click the link below for additional shows in SF and around the Bay Area

>> October & Halloween concerts in the SF Bay Area

Into the Dark at the SF Mint

Dates: Several days from September 29 - October 31

Location: SF Mint at 88 5th Street, San Francisco

This interactive haunted experience is part haunted house and part theater. You will be immersed into a story that includes 4D effects, haunted mazes, and more. You will also be part of a real live séance. It's not your typical Halloween adventure! 

The experience lasts about an hour and each group will include up to eleven people. The actors will take you through the experience including walking, climbing steps, and breaking through the 4th wall. 

Make sure to arrive at least 15 minutes before your reserved entry time for check in. You will also need to wear a mask the entire time during the performance.

>> Visit this site to learn more and pick up your tickets today

Sporting Events this Halloween

There are two sports events this weekend in the SF Bay Area.

Sunday, October 29, 2023: San Francisco 49ers take on the Cincinnati Bengals at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara. Find tickets.

>> Find additional sports events around the SF Bay Area

Comedy Shows

You will also find some great comedy shows this Halloween in San Francisco. 

10/28: Russell Peters at the Warfield, find tickets

10/27 & 10/28: Yannis Pappas at Cobb's Comedy Club, find tickets

10/21: Peter Antoniou at the Punch Line Comedy Club, find tickets

10/31: A Ghostly, Ghastly Get It?! Gameshow at Cobb's Comedy Club, find tickets

>> Find additional comedy shows around SF

Symphony Performances

Head to Davies Symphony Hall the weekend of Halloween San Francisco for a fun night of live music. The show this weekend is Harding conducts The Planets. You will find a show on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

>> Find a full schedule of symphony performances in SF

Find Halloween Costumes

If you are looking for the perfect Halloween costume, then check out my list of my five favorite places to shop. You can design your own look or find the perfect pre-made option. All are open year around.

>> 5 Places to Find Costumes in SF

10 Most Haunted SF Places

Would you like to investigate some of SF's most haunted locations? On this list, you will find a list of the most haunted places in San Francisco that are open to the public. This allows you to stop by and investigate these ghostly sightings for yourself!

>> 10 More Haunted SF Locations

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 2023.

"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. It's held over several weekends throughout the month including: 10/1 - 10/29

The normal price of admission allows you to ride the spooky zoo train, try out treats and if your kid wears a costume, they get a free ride ticket! Ghouls and goblins of all ages are invited! 

Attendance is limited and you must purchase tickets in advance. It runs from 10 am to 4 pm.

>> Visit their site for details

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 2023" tour is without question one of the scarier 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. 

Popcorn and cider are available and tours are from 7:30 pm to 10:30 pm. Doors open at 7pm. Tours are about one hour long.

This year's dates are October 20 and 21.

>> Find details to register for the tours here

Halloween Dia De Los Muertos Family Fun Fest

This year, you will find the Halloween Dia De Los Muertos Family Fun Fest at Oakland's Jack London Square. This is a family-friendly, free event on Sunday, October 29.

The event features chalk artists, mariachis, crafts, costume contest and Mexican Folklorico dancers. It runs from 1 pm to 3 pm on the Plaza near The Plank.

Fear Overload Haunted House

Voted the scariest haunted house in California, Fear Overload Haunted House includes 2 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's new location is at 2086 Newpark Mall in Newark, CA.

>> Visit their site for more details and ticketing information

More Great Events

  • 10/27: Festival of Laughs with Sommore, Bruce Bruce, Bill Bellamy, Don D.C. Curry, Tony Roberts and Donnell Rawlings at the Paramount Theatre in Oakland
  • 10/27: Cypress Hill at the Fox Theatre in Oakland
  • 10/28: USC vs California Golden Bears College Football in Berkeley
  • 10/31: Travis Scott at the Oakland Arena
  • 10/31: Rocky Horror Picture Show at The UC Theatre in Berkeley

South Bay & Peninsula

Dead Time Dreams

Dead Time Dreams in San Jose, CA is known for their horrifying mazes and madhouses that scare everyone that enters them. This event runs several days a week between October 6 to October 31. This gives you plenty of chances to see how much you can handle this Halloween season. 

There is also the Midway of Terror for you to hang out at before or after going through "The River Styx" and "The Deathworx" adventures. 

>> Visit their site for tickets and more details

Harvest Faire

Ride the train to the pumpkin patch to pick out that perfect pumpkin at Roaring Camp in Felton. This year's event is on October 7 & 8.

The Forest Train includes a 75-minute ride with fun activities at the faire such as a Scarecrow Craft Table, Jack-o-Lantern Mask Decorating, Trick-or-Treating and so much more! 

>> Visit their site for details

The Great Big BOO! at Gilroy Gardens

Located in the Garlic Capital of the world (isn't that scary enough already?), the Gilroy Gardens are home to numerous Halloween events this season. These include tricking or treating, wacky characters, and other fun Halloween surprises all around Boo Alley! 

It runs from September 29 - October 31. 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

More Great Events

North Bay & Wine Country

Petaluma Pumpkin Patch and Amazing Corn Maze (Petaluma)

With over 5 acres of home grown 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 Friday, September 22, 2023 and and stay open through the holiday. The Pumpkin Patch hours are Sunday to Thursday 10 am to 6 pm, and Friday to Saturday from 10 am to 10 pm.

>> Visit their site for more details

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom Fright by Night (Vallejo)

There is no place to hide when you enter Fright by Night as the entire theme park is inhabited by ghouls, goblins, and other scary monsters.

Featuring haunted houses, stage shows, and scare zones throughout the park, you and your little ones will be sure to have a great time as you check out the rides and thrills all day, and night, long. This year's event runs from September 23 to October 29.

>> Visit their official site for details

Blind Scream Haunted House (Santa Rosa)

Head over to 98 Santa Rosa Plaza for this terrifying Halloween Haunted Houses. 

This year's event is called The Witch House which will take you on a thrilling, yet scary journey. It's home to 3 terrible sisters and each one is more evil than the next! 

It's open several nights from October 13 - 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. Happening October 21 and 22 and October 25 - 29, it features pony rids, glow-in-the-dark trains, a broom obstacle course, and so much more for everyone to enjoy. 

There is also a costume contest and live music throughout the event. The Goblin Jamboree has three sessions each day. 

>> Visit their site for details

Halloween Bay Area San Francisco

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