Halloween Events for East Bay Kids

Thanks to Berkeley’s Fourth Street for sponsoring our Halloween Activities Guide this year.

Are kids so pleased with their costumes that they want to wear them more than once? Here is a round-up of Halloween activities and outings where Jedi Knights and Cleopatra will be more than welcome. October has so many opportunities for children to wear costumes and collect treats before October 31!

East Bay Halloween Events | “Worth the Drive” Seasonal Activities | Calendar of Kid-Friendly Halloween Events | Pumpkin Patches | Trunk-or-Treat Events | Dia de Los Muertos Activities

Fourth Street Trick or Treat and Halloween Fest

Put on your masks and costumes and head to Delaware at Fourth Street on Halloween afternoon for an adorable tot-friendly family event with merchant trick-or-treating, wandering costumed characters, face painters, scary hair styling, an art booth, live music by PJay Smik Smak & the Cliffnottes, a bubble show, and the most fun happening before twilight. Lots more details >
Thursday, 10/31 from 3-5 pm

Calendar of Kid-Friendly East Bay Halloween Events

Halloween Events for East Bay Kids

These special celebrations happen throughout October. Pick a few favorites and make plans for more Halloween-y fun.

Kids Boo Fest or Fright Fest (Six Flags, Vallejo)

Select days from September 21 – November 3, 2024. Older kids can try out the haunted attractions, tricked-out rides, creepy shows, and scare zones after 6 pm and younger children can enjoy scare-free candy and characters by day at Boo Fest. About $45 per ticket plus fees. Tickets available here >

Goblin Jamboree (Bay Area Discovery Museum, Sausalito)

October 19-20, 25-27. Advanced tickets for Goblin Jamboree are required for a 2.5-hour time slot of spooky-but-not-scary delights and the usual hands-on play museum goodness. $21 per person, members $18. Reserve your spot >

Haunted Train Ride (Ardenwood Historic Farm, Fremont)

October 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, and 27, A spooky, not scary, train ride that goes through the park after dark is designed for kids (who will not be scared of costumes and dark).  Buy tickets in advance >

Halloween Jam (Children’s Fairyland, Oakland)

October 19-20 and October 25-27, 2024, kids can enjoy a seasonal boo-tiful Fairyland with decked-out sets and rides with a scavenger hunt and crafts. The event starts at 10 am and runs until 4 pm. No costume? No problem! $18-$21 admission. ($9 for Members) More about Fairyland Halloween Jam >

Tilden Merry-Go-Round Halloween Party (Berkeley)

October 19 and 27, 2024. Event includes a buffet breakfast and unlimited rides from 8.30 am to 10.30 am. Experience also offers a candy hunt, an animated Halloween movie playing, and character visits $55 for adults, $35 for children, $5 for infants. Website >

Boo at the Zoo (Oakland)

October 25-27. Enjoy the animal-themed costumes, decorations, and candy at the Oakland Zoo for one weekend only. Regular zoo admission rates apply. Members do not need reservations. All others can reserve a ticket beginning 28 days before the event. Learn More about Boo at the Zoo >

SuperNatural (San Francisco)

October 26. Head to Cal Academy for a STEM-filled night filled with mad scientists, silent disco dancing, and live animal demonstrations. Dress in your spookiest getup and trick-or-treat at stations throughout the museum. $45-$60 per person. Purchase tickets >

Halloween Carnival (Piedmont)

October 27. Catch the spooky spirit at Piedmont’s Halloween Spooktacular Carnival & Parade. Enjoy a costume parade (starting @ 2:05 PM) and trick-or-treating through Piedmont Park, plus face painting, story time and family-friendly games. Best for kids ages 2-8. Advance registration is strongly encouraged. Parent participation is required. $10 per child; kids under 2 year old are free. Register here >

Lake Chabot’s Spooky Pontoon Boat Rides (Castro Valley)

October 1-31. Rent an entire festively decorated spooky pontoon boat for your group for two hours with beverages and a goody bag. Thematic toys, treats, and food are available for extra. $239-$269 for a party of up to 8. Website >

Fear Overload Scream Park (San Leandro)

Various Days September 21 – November 2, 2024. Not recommended for children under 12, Fear Overload offers two over-the-top haunted house attractions at Bayfair Center. Tickets start at $20 to $35 and increase closer to the event. Website >

10+ East Bay-ish Trunk or Treat Events >

Animal Day (Berkeley)

October 27, 2024. Celebrate the animals at UC Botanic Garden (and dress up like one, too!). Families will enjoy visiting with live animals, crafts, tours and interactive displays. Included with garden admission ($8-$18); children 4 and under are free. More details >

Halloween Movie & STEM Night (USS Hornet, Alameda)

October 27, 2024. Join a spooktacular movie night aboard the USS Hornet Museum. There will be a showing of Casper and ghost hunting activity. Option to purchase a 30-minute a flashlight tour of the aircraft carrier’s 3rd deck. Free admission for members. $10 for kids, $15 for adults. Register >

Howl-ooo-ween (Lindsay Wildlife Experience, Walnut Creek)

October 29, 2024. Families are invited to dress up to meet the wildlife center’s not-so-spooky animal ambassadors. There will also be spooktacular crafts, games, a Mad Scientist and face painting. $13.50-$20 per person. Purchase tickets >

Floating Pumpkin Patches

In a fun way to take advantage of our mild East Bay climate, local swimming pools are transformed into pumpkin patches. Swim and splash your way to selecting a floating pumpkin that you can take home. Young children may need to be accompanied by a registered adult. Get the list of swimming pool pumpkin events >

Find more Halloween Activities on the {510} Families Calendar >>

Halloween Activities Worth the Drive for East Bay Families

Only you know whether you’ll get the joy from your journey if you go a little further afield, but here are some cool ideas for families that don’t mind a bit of a drive.

Best Bay Area Pumpkin Patches and Corn Mazes >

Brick-or-Treat (LEGOLAND Discovery Center, Milpitas)

September 27 – October 31, 2024. Join the Monster Party at LEGOLAND Discovery Center Bay Area for games, building, potion experiments, a 4D Movie called The Great Monster Chase, and a fun monster hunt. Ideal for the LEGO lover in your family. Website >

Thomas & Percy’s Halloween Party (Roaring Camp, Felton)

Weekends, October 12 – October 27. Take the Redwood Forest Steam Train to Bear Mountain. Dress up for Halloween with favorites, Thomas and Percy, for a 25-minute ride with entertainment, crafts, and photo ops. Includes a small pumpkin and costume contest. Website >

Mare Island Halloween Block Party (Vallejo)

October 26. Trick-or-treat down Officers Row, paint pumpkins, dance to spooky beats or enjoy treats from local food trucks. Four-legged friends are also invited to participate in the dog howloween costume contest. This is a free event, but organizers would appreciate an RSVP. Register here >

Haunted Hangar (Hiller Aviation Museum, San Carlos)

October 19 – October 31, 2024. Come in costume and explore the spookily decorated airplane hangar at the Hiller Aviation Museum (included with museum admission fees) while you tackle the Great Pumpkin scavenger hunt. On weekends there are special kids’ activities like a helicopter pumpkin drop and kids’ carnival at which you can paint the outside of an aircraft! Learn more >

More Things to Do With Kids in October >

Pumpkin Patch Express Train (River Fox Train, West Sacramento)

Weekends throughout October and Oct. 30, 2024. This 2-hour family-friendly experience includes a one-hour train ride through Yolo County plus a one-hour “festival” of trick-or-treating, crafts, and a pumpkin. Costumes are encouraged. Gem mining is available for an additional fee. Learn more >

Pirates of Emerson Haunted Theme Park (Pleasanton)

Thursday to Sunday, September 27 – November 3, 2024. This haunted theme park is too scary for sensitive young ones but might delight your teens. It runs at night using 6 acres of the Alameda County Fairgrounds. Enter through Gate 8. Tickets available here >

This Halloween Guide for Bay Area Kids was sponsored by the Fourth Street Shopping District in Berkeley, one of our favorite Halloween destinations for families.

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