Best Halloween Events for Kids in San Francisco in 2026
Festival Fright Nights at the Winchester Mystery House
San Jose
Select dates, September 18-November 1, 2026
Best for: Teens
Scare level: Scary
Winchester Mystery House is at it again with a scary haunted house show. This immersive indoor/outdoor experience has dark walks, special effects, and professional actors to scare you. The show is not suitable for kids under 13 years old, or older kids that are sensitive to scary elements. But if you have big kids who like jump scares, this is a unique-to-San Francisco Halloween event! Website
Tricks and Treats at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
Vallejo
Select dates, September 19-November 1, 2026
Best for: All ages
Scare level: Not scary
All-new fall festival with family-friendly activities, Trick-or-Treat Trail, and world-class family rides. Website
Howl-O-Ween at Great Wolf Lodge Northern California
Manteca
Daily, September 24 - October 31, 2026
Best for: All ages
Scare level: Not scary
Time to get spooky at Great Wolf Lodge Northern California as it gets ready to kick off one of its famed seasonal celebrations, Howl-O-Ween! Fa-boo-less fun awaits all month long as the lodge is decked out with fall leaves, pumpkins, and other festive décor to celebrate the color-changing season. Website
The Great Big BOO at Gilroy Gardens
Gilroy
Friday-Sunday, September 25-November 1, 2026
Best for: Toddlers and preschoolers
Scare level: Not scary
The Great Big BOO is back at Gilroy Gardens, with fun, not-so-spooky decorations, themed programming, live musical shows, games, rides, crafts, and light displays. Trick-or-treating on the BOO trail is a great event for the kiddos! Website
Nightfall at Filoli
Woodside
Daily, September 26-November 1, 2026
Best for: All ages
Scare level: Mildly spooky
Nightfall returns for its 3rd annual takeover, bigger, bolder, and more enchantingly eerie than ever! As twilight descends, Filoli transforms into a mysterious world of roaming slugs, glowing mushrooms, shifting shadows, and spooky scarecrows. Step into the hauntingly beautiful House, immerse yourself in a pumpkin-filled Meadow, or wander moonlit woods where Trolls lurk and unexpected wonders await. Website
Goblin Jamboree
Sausalito
Weekends, October 3-31, 2026
Best for: Toddlers and preschoolers
Scare level: Not scary
The Goblin Jamboree is back at the Bay Area Discovery Museum. Wear your favorite costume and enjoy activities including a hay maze, glow party, slime banquet, web weaving, interactive spooky science, and pumpkin hollow. Website
Halloween Weekends at Jellystone Park
Lodi
Friday-Sunday, October 9-November 1, 2026
Best for: All ages
Scare level: Mildly spooky
To celebrate the spooky season, Jellystone Park™ Tower Park is going all out with themed weekends piled high with activities for the whole family. Costume and campsite decorating contests, Halloween-themed crafts, haunted trails, pumpkin patches, trick-or-treating, spooky soiree, and so much more are all in store. The resort also has a water park, dining area, mini golf, and more for families. Website
Thomas and Percy’s Halloween Party
Felton
Weekends, October 10-25, 2026
Best for: Toddlers and preschoolers
Scare level: Not scary
Roaring Camp Railroads is hosting the opportunity to take a ride with Percy and Thomas all decked out for Halloween. Other activities include storytelling, video viewing, temporary tattoos, a pumpkin patch, and an Imagination Station with arts and crafts. Sir Topham Hatt will be there for meet n' greets. Website
Boo at the Oakland Zoo
Oakland
Weekends, October 17-November 1, 2026
Best for: All ages
Scare level: Not scary
Calling all ghosts, goblins, and witches, Boo at the Zoo is back. Each day, those in attendance will receive a Boo at the Zoo-themed trading card (special edition card changes each day). Win great prizes at our in-person costume contest and enjoy fun Halloween activities throughout the event. Website
Family FUNtaz Night
Sonoma
Thursday & Friday, October 22 & 23, 2026
Best for: Toddlers and preschoolers
Scare level: Not scary
Get ready for a night of spooktacular fun at the Children’s Museum of Sonoma County for the perfect way to kick off Halloween weekend with thrills, giggles, and plenty of memory-making. Here’s what’s brewing: tasty brews and Local wines for the grown-ups (available for purchase), delicious eats from local food trucks (available for purchase), rockin’ tunes, hands-on spooky crafts, creepy science experiments, and silly surprises from our classic FUNtazmagoria weekend. Website
The Haunted Trail of Pleasant Hill
Pleasant Hill—FREE
Friday, October 23, 2026
Best for: Big kids/teens
Scare level: Mildly spooky
Take a Halloween-themed stroll at Pleasant Hill Park with the whole family for a fun nighttime adventure. Starting behind the Teen Center, families can stroll the not-so-scary trail to see Halloween displays and themed activities. There is also a monster freeze-dance competition. Website
SuperNatural at California Academy of Sciences
San Francisco
Saturday, October 24, 2026
Best for: All ages
Scare level: Not scary
This beloved event is back at the California Academy of Sciences. The family-friendly event has all sorts of activities for kids of all ages, including a silent disco, trick-or-treating, magic shows, live animal demonstrations, photo booths, crafts, face painting, mad scientist meet-and-greets, and more. Website
Halloween Haunted Hangar
San Carlos
October 24, 25, 31, November 1, 2026
Best for: Toddlers and preschoolers
Scare level: Not scary
Halloween is on full display at the Hiller Aviation Museum, and there are special activities just for kids on the weekends during the Kids' Carnival and Haunted Hangar Festival & Pumpkin Drop. Website
Halloween for Families at Gamble Garden
Palo Alto
Saturday, October 24, 2026
Best for: All ages
Scare level: Not scary
Family fun with a great magic show, face painting, crafts, trivia, tricks and treats, plus more. Start your Halloween celebration at Gamble. Ideal for guests of all ages. All guests, regardless of age, must have a paid ticket to enter. This event is held entirely outdoors. Website
Monster Bash
Mountain View—FREE
Saturday, October 24, 2026
Best for: All ages
Scare level: Not scary
Rengstorff Park in Mountain View is transformed into a Halloween wonderland filled with a treat trail, spooky games, enchanting performances, stilt walkers, inflatables, a creepy, crawly, ooey gooey zone, lil ghouls corral, bike circus, and more. Website
Halloween Spooktacular in Martinez
Martinez—FREE
Saturday, October 24, 2026
Best for: All ages
Scare level: Not scary
Put on your Halloween costume and join local businesses for some fun and safe trick-or-treating in downtown Martinez. Kids' crafts, games, and trunk-or-treating are also part of the fun while families stroll the streets with creatively themed and decorated car trunks and shops. Website
Trick-or-Treat on Fourth Street
San Rafael—FREE
Saturday, October 24, 2026
Best for: All ages
Scare level: Not scary
Enjoy a family-friendly way to celebrate Halloween! Fourth Street merchants welcome kids and families to dress up, bring a bag, and get ready for some treats! (or tricks). Don't miss the Pet Costume Contest and the Trunk or Treat with a festive SR Police Car passing out candy in Plaza. Website
Halloween Spooktacular 2026 in Redwood City
Redwood City
Saturday, October 24, 2026
Best for: All ages
Scare level: Not scary
Step right up for cool carnival games, the Muah-ah-ah Monster Maze, creepy crafts, spooky photo backdrops, a mini pumpkin patch, prizes, and more. Website
History Park Children's Halloween Haunt
San Jose
Saturday, October 24, 2026
Best for: All ages
Scare level: Not scary
History Park transforms into a haunted, family-friendly location with a ton of activities to celebrate Halloween. Enjoy crafts, activities, and trick-or-treating, with a grand finale of a single showing of the traditional light show. Website
Thrill-O-Ween at Thrive City
San Francisco—FREE
Saturday, October 24, 2026
Best for: All ages
Scare level: Not scary
Kick off the fall season with a spooktacular experience designed for you to enjoy an afternoon of safe Halloween fun. Thrive City will be filled with themed activities for all ages, including a special screening of E.T. Stay alert because you never know who or what may pop out. Don’t forget, best dressed wins the costume contest. Website
Mad Magic at Children's Fairyland
Oakland
Saturday, October 31, 2026
Best for: Toddlers and preschoolers
Scare level: Not scary
Enter Halloween Jam’s mad scientist lab for bubbling brews and Fairyland boos! Join in for a Fairy Fun House, STEM activity stations, DJs, food trucks, arts & crafts, tricks & treats, special performances, and costumes, of course! Website
Halloween Sausalito
Sausalito—FREE
Saturday, October 31, 2026
Best for: All ages
Scare level: Not scary
A Halloween parade, trick-or-treat lane, dog costume contest, and themed movie night are all taking place in Sausalito on Halloween evening. Bring the whole family (including your four-legged family members) and have some spooky but not-so-scary fun. Website
Halloween Hoopla at Yerba Buena Gardens
San Francisco—FREE
Saturday, October 31, 2026
Best for: All ages
Scare level: Not scary
The annual Halloween Hoopla is back with family-friendly frights and delights for kids under 10 and their adults. This year’s festivities are sure to amaze with awe-inspiring performers from Circus Bella, plus live music from the Circus Bella All-Star Trio. The Hoopla grand finale is the popular Halloween costume parade, where all kids are welcome to join in their best Halloween looks. Plus craft and activity tables. Website