Last updated: September 2026
Looking for the best Halloween events in San Francisco in 2026? From immersive haunted experiences inside a historic mint to pumpkin patches, ghost tours, family-friendly festivals, and Halloween night in the Castro, San Francisco has plenty of ways to get into the spooky spirit.
Whether you’re planning Halloween with kids, looking for a creepy date-night idea, or simply want to experience San Francisco at its most atmospheric, here are some of the best Halloween events and things to do in San Francisco in 2026.
Halloween in San Francisco 2026 at a Glance
Best immersive Halloween experience: Terror Vault
Best Halloween event for families: SuperNatural
Best free family event: Halloween Hoopla
Best spooky San Francisco experience: Alcatraz Night Tour
Best for local history and ghost stories: San Francisco Ghost Hunt
Best pumpkin patch in the city: Clancy’s Pumpkin Patch
Best Halloween night atmosphere: Castro Halloween Night Market
Best Halloween day trip: Nightfall at Filoli
1. Castro Halloween Night Market
The Castro is one of the most fun places to be in San Francisco on Halloween night, and the Castro Night Market returns with a special October 31 edition in 2026. The neighborhood night market brings together local food vendors, merchants, entertainment, and the Castro community around 18th and Castro streets. Come in costume and make an evening of it by exploring the surrounding neighborhood, bars, restaurants, and shops.
Where: 18th & Castro streets, San Francisco
When: October 31, 2026
Good for: Adults, groups of friends, couples
Admission: Free
2. Terror Vault: SLASHED – Return to Hellville
If you want something genuinely scary, make Terror Vault your Halloween night out. The immersive haunted attraction inside the historic San Francisco Mint returns in 2026 with a new production, SLASHED: Return to Hellville. Inspired by classic slasher horror, Terror Vault combines theatrical performances, elaborate sets, interactive storytelling, and plenty of jump scares inside one of San Francisco’s most atmospheric historic buildings. VIP guests can also enter the Wainwright Family Carnival, an immersive pre-show experience featuring characters, games, themed cocktails, and interactive environments. This is one of the Halloween experiences I’d book well in advance.
Where: The San Francisco Mint, 88 5th Street
When: October 1 – November 1, 2026
Good for: Horror fans, adults, date nights
Tickets: Advance reservations recommended
3. SuperNatural at the California Academy of Sciences
For families, SuperNatural is one of San Francisco’s best Halloween events. The California Academy of Sciences transforms into a Halloween playground for one special evening, with costumes, trick-or-treating stations, live animal demonstrations, crafts, face painting, unusual scientific specimens, and a silent disco inside Steinhart Aquarium. There’s even a dedicated Teen Lounge, making this a good option for families with older kids as well as little ones.
Where: California Academy of Sciences, Golden Gate Park
When: Saturday, October 24, 2026, 6:30–9 p.m.
VIP/Early Admission: From 5 p.m.
Good for: Families, kids and teens
4. Halloween Hoopla at Yerba Buena Gardens
If you’re celebrating Halloween with younger kids, put Halloween Hoopla on your calendar. The free annual celebration at Yerba Buena Gardens returns on Halloween Day with performances from Circus Bella, live music, and plenty of costumes. The afternoon ends with the popular Halloween Costume Parade, when kids can join the procession in their best spooky, funny, or imaginative Halloween looks. The event is designed primarily for children under 10 and their families.
Where: Children’s Garden at Yerba Buena Gardens
When: Saturday, October 31, 2026, 12 – 3 p.m.
Good for: Families with younger children
Admission: Free
5. Take an Alcatraz Night Tour
Take the ferry across San Francisco Bay as daylight fades and explore one of the city’s most atmospheric landmarks after dark. The Alcatraz Night Program includes the Cellhouse audio tour as well as special evening programs, with dramatic nighttime views back toward the San Francisco skyline. It’s not an official Halloween event, which is exactly why I like including it here: it’s an authentically San Francisco way to add something eerie to an October trip. Night tours operate Tuesday through Saturday, and availability is limited.
Where: Ferry departs from Pier 33 Alcatraz Landing
When: Tuesday – Saturday evenings
Good for: Couples, visitors, history lovers, older kids
Tip: Reserve well in advance.
6. San Francisco Ghost Hunt Walking Tour
Pacific Heights is beautiful during the day. At night, its Victorian mansions become the setting for stories about ghosts, strange happenings, and some of San Francisco’s darker history. The San Francisco Ghost Hunt has been running since 1998 and takes visitors on a 90-minute walk through the neighborhood. Stops and stories include the infamous Chambers Mansion, early feminist writer Gertrude Atherton, civil rights pioneer Mary Ellen Pleasant, and the ghost bride of California Street.
Where: Tour begins at 1801 Bush Street at Octavia
When: October evenings
Duration: Approximately 90 minutes
Good for: Visitors, couples, older kids, history lovers
7. Clancy’s Pumpkin Patch
You don’t have to leave San Francisco to find a proper pumpkin patch. Clancy’s has been part of San Francisco’s fall traditions for decades, and in 2026 the pumpkin patch will operate at its 7th Avenue and Lawton Street location only. Pick out your carving pumpkin, take fall photos, and enjoy a surprisingly rural-feeling October moment without leaving the city.
Where: 1620 7th Avenue at Lawton Street
When: October 2 – 31, 2026
Hours: 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. daily
Good for: Families, kids, fall photos
Parking: Free parking available
8. Castro Street Fair
The 52nd annual Castro Street Fair takes place Sunday, October 4, 2026. Founded by Harvey Milk in 1974, it’s one of San Francisco’s iconic neighborhood celebrations, filling Castro, Market, and 18th streets with performers, artists, vendors, community organizations, and dancing. It’s not strictly a Halloween event, but it makes a great addition to an October San Francisco itinerary—and then the neighborhood returns to full Halloween mode for the Castro Halloween Night Market on October 31.
Where: Castro & Market streets
When: Sunday, October 4, 2026, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Admission: Suggested donation
9. Explore San Francisco’s Victorian Neighborhoods
October is a great time to explore neighborhoods filled with Victorian and Edwardian architecture, especially around Pacific Heights, Haight-Ashbury, and the Castro. Walk around before sunset, photograph decorated houses, stop somewhere for dinner, and then pair your neighborhood walk with a ghost tour or Halloween event after dark. For an especially atmospheric route, start around Alamo Square and the Painted Ladies, continue through Lower Haight, and finish in the Castro.
Good for: Photography, couples, visitors
Cost: Free
10. Spend a Halloween Day in Golden Gate Park
If you’re looking for something less structured, make a fall day out of Golden Gate Park. Start with a walk through the park, stop at the Conservatory of Flowers or Japanese Tea Garden, visit the California Academy of Sciences, and finish the afternoon at nearby Clancy’s Pumpkin Patch. If you’re visiting on October 24, you can turn it into a full Halloween day by staying for SuperNatural at the Academy that evening. It’s a particularly good option if you’re visiting San Francisco with kids and don’t want your entire day tied to one ticketed Halloween event.
Halloween Events Around the Bay Area Worth the Drive
Some of the Bay Area’s most elaborate Halloween experiences happen outside San Francisco. If you have a car – or don’t mind making a day trip – these are worth adding to your October plans.
Nightfall at Filoli – Woodside
The historic Filoli estate transforms after dark for Nightfall, an immersive Halloween experience spanning the Historic House, Meadow, gardens, and redwood trails. The 2026 edition features more than 1,000 illuminated jack-o’-lanterns, over 200 scarecrows, the Witches’ Village, glowing woodland trails, and a new miniature railway with 1,000 feet of track and eight trains. It’s atmospheric rather than terrifying, making it suitable for families as well as couples and groups of friends.
Where: 86 Cañada Road, Woodside
When: September 26 – November 1, 2026
Hours: 5:30 – 10 p.m.; last entry at 8:30 p.m.
Typical visit: 2 – 2.5 hours
Parking: Complimentary
Good for: Families, couples, photography, date nights
Goblin Jamboree at Bay Area Discovery Museum – Sausalito
For families with younger children, Goblin Jamboree is one of the best Halloween events near San Francisco. The Bay Area Discovery Museum turns into a playful Halloween world with giant spiders, Goblin Village, creepy-creature art projects, bug activities, harvest-themed play, and plenty of opportunities to come dressed in costume.
Where: Bay Area Discovery Museum, Sausalito
When: Weekends in October 2026
Good for: Families with young children
Tickets: Advance tickets recommended
The Great Big BOO! at Gilroy Gardens – Gilroy
Gilroy Gardens goes all-in on kid-friendly Halloween with The Great Big BOO! Families can follow the BOO Trail through trick-or-treat stations, explore BOO Alley, meet Halloween characters, ride attractions, and watch the park’s live Halloween musical. Costumes are encouraged, and trick-or-treating is included with admission.
Where: 3050 Hecker Pass Highway, Gilroy
When: Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, September 25 – November 1, 2026
Good for: Families and younger children
Fall photography sessions
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Best Pumpkin Patches around San Francisco (Day Trips)
- Arata’s Pumpkin Farm (Half Moon Bay) – hay maze, mini zoo, classic HMB fall vibes.
- Lemos Farm (Half Moon Bay) – train + pony rides, haunted house (kid-friendly), great for photos.
- Nicasio Valley Pumpkin Patch (Marin) – wide open fields, hay rides, and scenic West Marin backdrop.
- Perry Farms Pumpkin Patch (Fremont) – corn maze, U-pick style fun near Ardenwood area.
- Petaluma Pumpkin Patch & Corn Maze (Sonoma County) – huge maze and family activities on a working farm.
Pro Tips for Halloween in San Francisco
- Transit > parking: Most venues are Muni/BART accessible (The Mint is near Powell St. BART).
- Dress warm: Evening fog is real – bring layers for lines and ferries.
- Book early: Terror Vault, SuperNatural, and the Alcatraz Night Tour sell out quickly.
Note: Dates and details can change. Always check the official event pages before you go.
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