SIGN UP FOR MY EMAIL TO RECEIVE YOUR FREE SAN FRANCISCO PLANNING GUIDE.
Halloween San Francisco 2024: Fun Things to Do for All Ages
by Jill Loeffler •
San Francisco is the place to be again for this year's 2024 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 Thursday, so most events are in the weekends before and after. You will also find handful of fun events on the holiday itself.
I've also added events all around the SF Bay Area. You will find them toward the bottom of the page.
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 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 all year long 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 a fun tour that takes you through both Union Square and Nob Hill. You'll hear stories about some of San Francisco darkest events including murder, mystery, and other tragedies. Runs nightly.
- The Haunt - Ghost Hunting Walking Tour: This 1.5 hour tour takes you around the Gold-Rush era neighborhoods including Jackson Square and Chinatown.
- Ghosts, Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: Hear stories from the Golden Rush as you check out some of the great bars around Chinatown and along Pacific Avenue. Includes visits to eight sites including four bars.
>> Find additional ghost tours of San Francisco
Halloween Events for Kids
Enjoy several kid-friendly activities for Halloween 2024. 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.
Nightmare on Front Street
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 along Front Street between California and Sacramento Streets. It runs from 2 pm to 10 pm on Thursday, October 31.
>> Reserve your spot on Eventbrite
Fun Tours Around SF
Other Fun Events for Halloween
Here are a few additional events this Halloween in San Francisco!
The Play that Goes Wrong
This cute and funny theater performance is set in the 1920s. It's a whodunit that turns into a complete disaster.
From the actors tripping over each other to a leading lady that they can't wake up, this show is one that you will love.
It's playing at the SF Playhouse through November 9.
>> 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:
10/26 & 10/27: Breakaway Music Festival at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium at 6 pm both nights
10/26: The Musical Box at The Regency Ballroom at 8 pm
10/27: Testament & Kreator at the Warfield at 6:50 pm
10/31: Opeth at the Warfield at 7:30 pm
10/31: Alan Walker at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium at 8 pm
10/31: Buckethead at The Fillmore at 8 pm
10/31: Oliver Tree at 1015 Folsom Nightclub at 10 pm
10/31: Danilo Perez, John Patitucci & Brian Blade at the SFJAZZ Center at 7:30 pm
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: 10/4 - 11/3 for 2024
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 27: San Francisco 49ers take on the Dallas Cowboys at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara
Wednesday, October 30: Golden State Warriors host the New Orleans Pelicans at the Chase Center at 7 pm
Thursday, October 31: San Jose Sharks take on the Chicago Blackhawks at the SAP Center at 7:30 p.m.
>> Find additional sports events around the SF Bay Area
Comedy Shows
You will also find some great comedy shows this Halloween in San Francisco.
10/24 - 10/27: Dave Attell at Cobb's Comedy Club
10/27: Jenny Slate at the Palace of Fine Arts at 7:30 pm
10/31: Cheaper Than Therapy Stand-Up Comedy at the Shelton Theater at 8 pm
10/31: Ha Ha Halloween Showcase at the Punch Line Comedy Club at 7:30 pm
10/31: A Ghostly, Ghastly Get It?! Gameshow at Cobb's Comedy Club at 7:30 pm
>> Find additional comedy shows around SF
Symphony Performances
Head to Davies Symphony Hall on Halloween San Francisco for a fun night of live music.
This year's show is Scott Terrell - Psycho: Film with Live Orchestra at 7:30 pm.
>> 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 2024.
"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 is October 25 - 27.
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.
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 2024" 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.
There are seven tours a night and start 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 10/25 & 10/26 for 2024.
>> 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, November 3, 2024.
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.
This year's dates are select nights from September 21 - November 2.
>> Visit their site for more details and ticketing information
South Bay & Peninsula
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, 2024.
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 returns on September 27, 2024. 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 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 20, 2024 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 21 to November 3.
>> 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 select nights from 10/11 - 10/31.
>> 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 19 and 20 and October 25 - 27, Fangtastic programs include the Slime Swamp, Witch's Kitchen, Befriend a Bug with the Beetlelady, Pumpkin Play for little ones and much more! Tickets go on sale on Friday, September 20.
>> Visit their site for details
Comments? Questions? Suggestions?
I would love for you to join me in my private Facebook group!
It's a great place to interact with me and others who know the area well.
You can ask questions, get advice for your upcoming stay, and then share your photos and advice with others when you return home. It's a great community and the fastest way to get answers to those nagging questions about your visit!