Bay Area Fall Bucket List 2021
NORTH BAY
FREE outdoor movie on the Civic Green. Watch Pixar Car’s at Approx. 6:45 PM 901 Sherman Ave. Grab your seats early, movie begins, approx. 6:45pm.
Museum Mondays for Little Ones at the Charles M. Schulz Museum. Designed especially for children ages 1–5 and their caregivers, Museum Mondays features stories, arts and crafts activities, and movement games inspired by changing themes.
Cost: $7.00 per child/free for up to two adults per child before 11:00 am. After 11:00 am, regular museum admission applies. Free for Members with Family level membership and higher. 10/25 is Happy Halloween, Charlie Brown! Come in costume and enjoy spooky arts and crafts. Make ghost slime, collage a Jack-o-Lantern, and watch It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown on the big screen. Also, trick-or-treat around the Museum at 11:30 am.
Movie Nights at the Mart! Every Friday night at 6 p.m. under the tent at the Mart. 10/8 Cars, 10/15 Finding Dory, 10/22 Little Mermaid, 10/29 Coco
Celebrate spooky season at The Bay Area Discovery Museum ! Goblin Jamboree returns for a week-long celebration packed with Halloween themed programs and frightful delights. Capacity is limited for these special themed days. Saturday, October 23 - October 31, closed Monday and Tuesday. Advanced ticket reservations are required.
Lark Drive-in 10/15 ParaNorman . 10/23 Hocus Pocus. 10/29 The Nightmare Before Christmas. 10/30 Harry Potter Part 1 &2. Starts approx at 7pm
Hometown Halloween-Free event! Come dressed in costume and visit downtown Napa to trick or treat at over 100 businesses. October 30 11am-1pm
Halloween at Howarth in Santa Rosa-Trick or treating event. $5/person. Make sure to register in advance for a time slot. October 23 11:30am-3pm
Get your tickets for the Western Railway Museum's Pumpkin Patch Festival 10/9-10, 10/16-17 and 10/23-24
SAN FRANCISCO
Fleet Week early October
Polk Street Family Festival & Free Bouncy Obstacle Course 10/9 from 10am-1pm | Cost: FREE | Located Helen Wilis Park | Broadway and Larkin, San Francisco, CA
SuperNatural at Cal Academy 10/22 “Join us for a spine-chillingly good time as you explore the Academy at night! Start planning your costumes for an evening of phantasmagoric, family-friendly fun with science, specimens, and of course, trick-or-treating. Enjoy even more activities in our outdoor spaces in the gardens and Living Roof.”
San Francisco Zoo “Boo at the Zoo.” 10/23-24, 10/30-31
Halloween Hoopla at Yerba Buena Gardens 10/30 from 12pm-2pm Come out to the Halloween Hoopla to enjoy phenomenal performances, make ghoulishly good crafts, vote for your favorite pumpkin and get a free ride on the LeRoy King Carousel. Halloween Hoopla attendees get free entry to the Yerba Buena Ice Skating and Bowling Center
Family Halloween Day at the Randall Museum Enjoy familiar favorites like Creepy Crafts, Ghoulish Games, Trick-or-Treating, Live Music & Entertainment, Pumpkin Carving and more! 10/30 from 10am-1pm. Reservations required, admission is free and the activities are low cost.
Child-Friendly Haunted House Preview-Sausalito 10/31 A low-key, lights-on version geared for the little ones. Open from 4:15 p.m. - 5:15 p.m. $5 per-person/$20 per-family recommended donation. Than a Halloween Parade and Trick or Treat Lane starts at 6pm. The Halloween Parade and activities in Robin Sweeny Park and the Recreation Center
Halloween Trick or Treat at Westfield San Francisco Centre 10/30-10/31
Little Oceanauts annual Spooktakular. There will be tons of carnival games and prizes (& of course candy) for you! October 30th from 10:00am - 4:00pm for a special treat you don’t want to miss! $18 online RSVP, $20 at the door, $7 Monthly Membership & After School Program Members
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO
The Great Pumpkin Event located at Orange Memorial Park. 10/23 from 12-5pm Pumpkin patch, games, Zombie Zone and more!
PENINSULA
Zoppee Circus is coming to Redwood City 10/7-11/21 Tickets available now! This is the best circus with kids, it’s small and intimate.
PJ Masks Meet & Greet at the north block of Hillsdale Shopping Center. Meet your favorite heroes and strike a hero pose for photos with Catboy, Gekko, and Owlette! These mystery-solving superheroes encourage children to spark their curiosity and inspire imaginative play and teamwork along the way! Don’t forget to bring your camera to capture the special day! Sunday, October 10, 2021 @ 11am-3pm
Pumpkin Weigh off in Half Moon Bay. Monday, October 11, 2021 - 7:00 am - 2:00 pm
Haunter Hanger at Hiller Aviation Museum. October 23 – October 31, Daily 10 AM – 5 PM
Lemos Farm pumpkin patch has pony rides, a haunted house, a not-so-haunted train, hay rides, and a petting zoo all in addition to a great pumpkin selection, it’s a Halloween tradition for many Bay Area families. Kid’s pass $25-30, adult pass $15. They encourage to get tickets before arriving. Open now!
CuriOdyssey’s Pumpkin Days, an exciting and fun-filled Autumn festival for families! All October long, Wednesday to Sunday, 10am–5pm.
Coyote Point Movie Nights. Bring the family, pack a picnic and celebrate summer at Coyote Point Movie Nights! Movies begin 30 minutes after sunset. FREE admission and parking for attendees. Please reserve tickets in advance. Next movie is on 10/30 showing Cruella.
Complete Arata’s huge Labyrinth hay maze!
It’s the ultimate Great Pumpkin Hunt at Gamble Garden this Halloween! Hidden in the gardens are plastic “pumpkins” to be discovered by the most curious child. Arts & Crafts, scavenger hunt, prizes, treats, and free ice cream! Come in costume (or not), enjoy a beautiful morning in our gardens, and celebrate Halloween in a fun, safe way. Don’t miss it. Space is limited. Masks are required for everyone over the age of 2. Advanced-Purchased Tickets required. Saturday, October 23, 2021, 10:30am - 11:30am
Monster Bash at Rengstorff Park 10/30 from 10am to 2pm. This is a FREE event. Activities include: A Twisty Maze, Ghoulish Games, Spooktacular inflatables, Trunk or Treat, Stilt Walkers & Roaming Magician, bubble show, Dia De Los Muertos - Ofrenda & Crafts, Enchanting Music & More!
Celebrate a fun and safe Halloween party with your group of friends at Imagination City. They will provide a trick or treat station and a fun craft station for your group. Email Janine@myimaginationcity.com or give a call at (650)351-4352
EAST BAY
Try Meadowlark’s Drive-Thru Dairy new ice cream flavor, PUMPKIN SPICE!
Where’s the Witch scavenger hunt activity for kids throughout the month of October. To participate, download and print the Colusa Circle map, find the witch, color the map then bring it to Benchmark Pizzeria during the week of October 24th-31st between 4:30-9pm to receive a free organic soft serve ice cream.
Pumpkin Patch Pool Party at Encinal Swim Center. Admission includes one pumpkin per person, pumpkin decorating, and 45 minutes of swim time. Capacity is limited to 300 guests — all ages require tickets. Ticket registration begins October 4.
Oakland Zoo-Boo at the zoo! Calling all ghosts, goblins, and witches - join us for Boo at the Zoo! Due to its popularity, we are extending Boo at the Zoo to four Friday, Saturday, and Sundays in October (October 8-31, 2021). Enjoy this family-friendly Halloween event with a spooky animal-themed scavenger hunt and fun goodies. Tickets must be reserved in advance
Swings and Wings is hosting a costume swap and free play session along with Toy Safari. 10/9 from 10am-12pm
Fall Festival in Cupertino. 10/9 from 11am-3pm. Costume contest, petting zoo, pumpkin patch and games for all ages.
Fun on the farm FREE crafts and activities every Saturday from 10am-2pm. Forest Home Farms Historic Park 19953 San Ramon Valley Blvd San Ramon
-9/9 bubble fun
-9/16 Tractor day
-9/23 fun with felt
-10/30 Trick or treat
Creepy decorating party at Creative Reuse. 10/10 From 3pm to 6pm At the Depot for Creative Reuse! 4695 Telegraph Ave. Oakland, Ca!
Autumn Lights Festival at Lake Merritt. 10/14, 15, and 16th. This event will also feature a Kids Fun Zone, art market, live entertainment, vendors & food trucks, and beer & wine gardens! Sell out risk so reserve your tickets now!
Hocus Pocus Movie Night at Civic Park in Walnut Creek. October 15. Register in advance for tickets. $25 per family of 6.
Movies on the roof at Lesher Arts Center. Hocus Pocus 10/16 Reserve tickets now
Family Fun Night at West Wind Capitola every Tuesday $5.75 Per person, $2 for kids 5-11. Under 4 are free.
Kids Club Event at Serramonte Center. Tuesday, October 19 | 5:30 pm Music, games, crafts, prizes and more!
Float in and find the perfect pumpkin at the City of Dublin's Floating Pumpkin Patch! There will be swimming, pumpkin decorating, prizes and more! Pre-Registration ends 10/20 if you want a pumpkin. Located at The Wave at Emerald Glen Park 4201 Central Pkwy Dublin
Alameda County Fair 10/22-10/31
Running Dead 5K Family Fun Run & Trunk or Treat Saturday,10/24 at the Civic Center/ City Hall | 34009 Alvarado-Niles Road, Union City
Spooktacular Celebration at Danville Community Center 10/28 from 4pm to 5:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Halloween festivities with arts and crafts, face painting, games, trick or treating and more. Make sure to pre-register.
Danville FallFest October 23-24 10am-5pm. Kids’ costume parade Saturday at 10am. Street vendors, kid activities, live music and classic cars (Sunday).
Tot costume parade at Piedmont Community hall 10/31 at 12pm
Not-so-spooky howl-ooo-ween event at Lindsay Wildlife Museum. Ghoulishly good crafts, activities and games, a Mad Scientist and so much more. Join in costume from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Oct. 29. Tickets available now!
Halloween Cookie Decorating event at Claremont Club & Spa, a Fairmont Hotel Family fun for all ages! Decorate a dozen cookies in spooky Halloween themes. Eat as you decorate or take them home with you. October 30 2021 | 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM RSVP
Family-friendly Halloween celebration at Camron-Stanford House! In the Haunted Garden you’ll find…Halloween and Fall themed arts & crafts, Lawn Games, Music, Food Trucks. Tickets: $5 (members and children are free!) Halloween and/or Victorian period costumes for this event are encouraged!
Halloween Jam at Fairyland. Enjoy seasonal surprises like decked-out sets and rides, including the Creepy Crawly (which rhymes suspiciously with “Jolly Trolly”) and the ghost town formerly known as Old West Junction. Families have six days to play: Friday through Sunday, 10/22 to 10/31, in two daily sessions. Reserve tickets now
Halloween party and play time at Kids Play Zone. Costumes are encouraged but not required to come and play. $10 per child plus $5 for adults – Highly encourage purchasing tickets in advance to ensure there are enough treat bags and food for everyone! Sunday, October 31st 10-12:30p
Calling all witches, ghosts, and goblins! Join a Halloween Spooktacular day at Pixieland. Dress up in your costume and have a spooktacular time riding The Ghost Train and all the spooky rides. Every little friend (1 year to 8 years) who rides will be able to gather treats (either as they go or at the exit, TBD). There will be special character appearances throughout the day.
Halloween Fun at Ardenwood Farm October 31 10:15am-3pm Train rides, puppet show and farm games. Drop-in program, no registration is required but Ardenwood admission fee applies.
Trick-or-treat Street in Lafayette. Free for all! Trick or treating on Mt. Diablo. Come in costume and bring a treat bag! October 29 4-6pm
Trunk-or-Treat Spooktacular Visit decorated car trunks and shops in downtown Martinez. Free event! October 24 10am-2pm
Trunk-Or-Treat Halloween Fun at Civic Park. October 29 Free event! Food trucks, games and more.
Halloween Roller Skate Boogie. Sat, October 30, 2021 from 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM. Grove Park. 1730 Oregon Street in Berkeley
SOUTH BAY
The Great Pumpkin Fest at California Great America. The Great Pumpkin Fest offers trick-or-treating with Snoopy and the Peanuts gang, a hay maze, pumpkin decorating, and even a foam pit. It’s all included in the price of regular theme park admission
Diá de los Muertos at the Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose. Saturday, October 23, 2021 Join us for this joyful program where we honor the lives of departed ancestors and loved ones.
Mummy and Me Halloween Fest at Santana Row. No tricks, just treats! Santana Row is excited to welcome back the Halloween "Mummy & Me" Family Fun Fest featuring trick-or-treating, pumpkin decorating, live music and entertainment, balloons and more. Guests are encouraged to wear costumes and trick-or-treat on The Row! This event is free and open to the public. Tuesday, October 26th from 10am-Noon
The Jack O’ Lantern Trail at the Winchester Mystery House – San Jose, September 10 – October 31
History Park’s Halloween Haunt Light Show. Every Weekend in October 2021 from 5:30 PM – 9:00 PM. $10 | General. $ 5 | Youth (6-11)
Family Fun Night every Tuesday at Capitol Drive-in $5.75 Per person, $2 for kids 5-11. Under 4 are free.
FARTHER FROM THE BAY
13 Days of Halloween on the Wharf Join us for 13 days of frightful fun on the Santa Cruz Wharf October 19 - 31! Take part in the Great Pumpkin BINGO Hunt, snap a photo at our scenic photo booth, dance to Thriller at Zombie Night and enjoy festive Wharf specials ALL 13 days! It all kicks off October 19!
Halloween Costume Contest & Sidewalk Stroll in Benicia. October 30th at 10am. Benicia Main Street
Harvest Faire at Roaring Camp Railroad. Take the Redwood Forest Steam Train to Bear Mountain. Pick a pumpkin from the town pumpkin patch. Have fun with Covid-safe children’s heritage activities.
Halloween fun at Gilroy Gardens. At night, Gilroy Gardens will light up the park with seasonal decorations and lights. Kids can trick or treat on “The Boo Trail” from 7pm to 9pm, watch “The Great Big Boo” musical show with characters, or ride “The Boo Train.”
Funtazmagoria at Children’s Museum of Sonoma County. Watch the Children’s Museum transform into a family-friendly Mad Scientist and Glow in the Dark Art Studio. Event included in museum ticket admission.
Trick-or-treat at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk 10/31 Fill your bag with candy from all participating food and shopping locations on the Boardwalk. $12 to participate
Apple Picking in Watsonville. See our Instagram post here for details.
Fright Fest at Six Flags on select days throughout October