Happy Friday Everyone! You've worked hard all week, and now it's time to have fun! Getting out and enjoying the beautiful Bay Area, as well as enjoying the company of friends old and new, is great for your mental health. So check out some of our favorite events from around the Bay that you can attend this weekend!
Click on any of the event titles for a link to the event.
Friday, October 27th
Center SF, San Francisco
7 PM, Ages: All
$35
Calling all curious souls and whimsical wanderers! It's time to embark on a journey down the rabbit hole and step into a world where fantasy and magic collide.
🎩 Mad Costume Contest: Don your most eccentric, outlandish, and spooktacular attire. Show off your maddest Halloween costume creations and compete for the title of "Maddest Hatter". Fantastic prizes await the most whimsical and imaginative costumes.
☕ Endless Tea and Elixirs: Sip on the finest teas and curious elixirs from the Mad Hatter's endless teapot. Taste a concoction of strange flavors and intriguing brews as you mingle with fellow guests.
🎶 Music and Dancing: Groove to beats spun by DJ Obscenic, who will keep the dance floor alive with an eclectic mix of Wonderland-inspired tunes.
🔮 Fortune Telling and Mystical Readings: Discover your fate with mystical readings and fortune-telling by the Cheshire Cat's seer. Uncover the secrets of your future as you navigate the peculiar world of Wonderland.
Dress Code: Mad Hatter's tea party attire or Halloween costume required. Be as whimsical and imaginative as you dare! Costume moodboard: https://pin.it/4e6cdfy
Tickets: Buy tickets in advance as we are expected to sell out for this event
Schedule:
6:45pm: Doors open, kava & cacao bar open
7pm-8pm: Kundalini with Liya Garber in the Bamboo Studio
8pm-9:45pm: Dance with DJ Obscenic
9:45pm-10:45pm: Closing set with DJ Solari
10:45pm-11pm: Sound Healing with Anwen
All night: Tarot readings & elixir tasting & bitters bar & magic show
Patio: Fire Dancing with Jake Ross
Children's Fairyland, Oakland
All Day, Ages: All
$8
Halloween Jam is back in a big way! This year we’ve conjured up a cauldron of 6 magically themed days to make sure your family has maximum fun at our most famous, most festive fall affair!
Join us October 20-22 and October 27-29, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day, for decked out sets, spook-tacular performances and activities at the Emerald City Stage, costumed characters, bouncy houses, and plenty of photo opportunities. This year, treat stations will hand out special goodies and host a fun, interactive activity that leads participants around the park as they follow the tale of a spider family.
2023 Halloween Jam at Children’s Fairyland!
October 20-29, 2023 | 10am-4pm
Children’s Fairyland, 699 Bellevue Ave., Oakland
Get Tickets – Fairyland members: $9, Guests age 1 to 100: $18
Friday, Oct. 20 – Magic Friday
Saturday, Oct. 21 – Wizard Day
Sunday, Oct. 22 – Creepy Crawly Sunday
Friday, Oct. 27 – Magic Friday
Saturday, Oct. 28 – Pirates! Argh!
Sunday, Oct. 29 – Silly Circus
Our “Monster Mash Parade” is your kiddos’ chance to show off their attire as this costume parade meanders around the park and ends with a fashion show on the red carpet, surrounded by bubbles for ultimate Halloween spirited fun! The Monster Mash Parade happens daily at 12:30 p.m. and again at 3 p.m. It’s going to be bubbling over with eerie-sistible cuteness!
This year’s Halloween Jam will definitely be pumpkin to talk about!
For more information and to buy tickets visit fairyland.org/halloween-jam
Saturday, October 28th
Stow Lake Boathouse, San Francisco
7:30 PM, Ages: All
$35
About Lakehouse Jazz
Indulge in a truly unique and immersive music experience at Lakehouse Jazz. Our intimate concert series, nestled within the iconic Golden Gate Park, offers the perfect setting to unwind and escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life. As Karl the Fog sets in and illuminates the lake, join us inside for an evening of influenced jazz music from the Bay Area's finest musicians, paired with a glass of wine or beer.
Not only will you enjoy an unforgettable night of live jazz, but your attendance also supports the local art scene and its musicians.
Experience the thrill of the unknown with our secret concert series, featuring new bands every Friday and Saturday. Discover a wide range of jazz styles, from 1920s swing to latin, funk, fusion, hip-hop, bossa, and original compositions. This concert series is produced by Mellow Sessions, ensuring a one-of-a-kind experience. Don't miss your chance to be a part of this exclusive and intimate concert, considered the best-reviewed worldwide. Secure your tickets now and elevate your music experience to new heights!
About the venue
Located in the heart of SF's famous Golden Gate Park, there’s a lovely boathouse known only by a few locals. Every Friday we transform this space into a non-conventional intimate music venue. Nearby you can start off your evening by visiting the best Gold Gate Park has to offer. Our top favorites are the De Young Museum, the Japanese Garden, the Academy of Science, and of course a cruise around the Stow Lake on a paddleboat, perfect for a group party or a date!
Experience a one-of-a-kind night of live music in a unique setting, and make lasting memories with friends and loved ones. Don't miss out on this local secret, purchase your tickets now and get ready to be transported to an unforgettable night of music and beauty in the heart of San Francisco.
Castro Street, San Francisco
1 PM, Ages: All
Free
Halloween is making a grand comeback in San Francisco’s colorful Castro neighborhood, and this time, it’s bringing a new, family-friendly vibe. After years of absence, the LGBTQ+ community in the Castro is gearing up for a revitalized Halloween celebration, combining community spirit with innovative ideas.
20+ activities
Face painting
Castro storefront activations
Costume Contest Hosted by Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence
$5 mostly kid-friendly movie marathon at the Castro
Castro Theatre Halloween Movie Marathon
The Castro Theatre, an iconic landmark, will play a central role in this year’s celebration. On October 28, 2023, it will host $5, mostly kid-friendly movies, starting at 1:30pm, a thrilling lineup of activations all around, and an outrageous costume contest organized by the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. The contest kicks off at 8 p.m., followed by a screening of the cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show at 10 p.m. Attendees in fabulous costumes might even score a free ticket, thanks to Sister Roma and her golden ticket giveaway.
Movie lineup
1:30p – Death Becomes Here
3:45p – Edward Scissorhands
6p – Hocus Pocus
8p – Costume Contest w/ Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence
10p – The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Unlike the wild block parties of the past, this year’s Halloween event, scheduled for Saturday, October 28 at 1pm, will take on a different flavor. The focus is on community engagement and a family-friendly atmosphere, a far cry from the chaotic street parties that once dominated the neighborhood.
The brainchild behind this revival is a dynamic team led by Manny Yekutiel, the owner of Manny’s cafe in the Mission, the Castro Neighborhood Merchants and The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. Together with the Castro Merchants Association, they’re spearheading a Halloween celebration that emphasizes creativity, camaraderie, and community engagement.
This year, local merchants are being encouraged to participate by activating their storefronts in innovative ways. Think face painting, and other imaginative displays. It’s all about infusing the neighborhood with a Halloween spirit that’s fun and inclusive for everyone.
Sunday, October 29th
37th Between Ortega and Pacheco, San Francisco
9 AM, Ages: All
Free
A weekly market featuring farmers, ranchers, food artisans, live music, children’s activities, vendors, makers, merchants, artists, and local organizations. Explore all the amazing local businesses surrounding the farmers market at sunsetstrong.com.
You can find us every Sunday 9am-2pm year round on 37th avenue/Ortega and every Wednesday 3pm-7pm (June to August)
Getting There
Muni: Lines 7, 29, 48
Unlike most of San Francisco, street parking is usually fairly easy surrounding the market.
Every Sunday
Typically 25+ vendors
Seasonal tastings
Live Music
Kids Storytelling
Weekly activities and fun
The Wednesday and Sunday Outer Sunset Farmers Market & Mercantile features ranchers, local farm fresh produce, unique artisan foods, delicious pop-up eateries, talented makers, local merchants, live music and an extensive Fun Zone for all ages.
Eat, drink, shop, play, connect and be local at our Wednesday and Sunday markets under the trees! www.sunsetmercantilesf.com for more details.
Ferry Building, San Francisco
1 PM, Ages: All
$15
Join in the Halloween fun and visit the Ferry Building on Sunday, October 29th from 11am - 1pm for Trick-or-Treating inside the Marketplace while supplies last!
Win a prize by completing our scavenger hunt, have your face painted, tarot cards read, make a seasonal craft with your family and watch a live pumpkin carving demonstration. Costumes encouraged!
Show your Eventbrite ticket at the Ferry Building tent in front of the building to get a trick-or-treating bag, then head inside the Marketplace. Participating shops will be marked with signage.
This event is perfect for kids and families. All activities are free and open to the public.