Thanks to Berkeley’s Fourth Street for sponsoring our Halloween Activities Guide this year.
Are kids so pleased with their costumes 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 welcomed. Calling all members of the PAW Patrol. October has so many opportunities for children to wear costumes and collect treats.
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
The 😱 denotes an event that is probably too scary for little ones but might work well for the older kids in the family.
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, face painters, scary hair styling, art booth, live music, a bubble show, and the most fun happening before twilight.
Halloween & Seasonal Events for East Bay Kids
These incredible, seasonal celebrations happen throughout October. Pick a few favorites and make reservations for more Halloween-y fun.
Boo at the Zoo (Oakland Zoo)
Fridays through Sundays from October 22 – October 31. From 10 am to 4 pm, enjoy a kid-friendly Halloween- and animal-themed event at Boo at the Zoo with a self-guided scavenger hunt and treats. Winners of a costume contest will receive tickets to Glowfari later this year. Website to buy advance tickets >
Halloween Jam (Children’s Fairyland)
October 21 – October 30, 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 for all people over age one. More about Fairyland Halloween Jam >
Spooktacular Lake Chabot Queen Tour (Oakland)
Oct. 1, Oct. 15, Oct. 23, and Oct 30. Narrated one-hour Lake Chabot tour with some spooky twists. $10 for adults, $6 for kids. Treat bags are available for an extra charge. Website >
😱 Fear Overload Scream Park (San Leandro)
Various Days September 30 – November 5. Not recommended for children under 12, Fear Overload offers two over-the-top haunted house attractions at Bayfair Center. Tickets are about $20 to $33 each. Website >
Five East Bay-ish Trunk or Treat Events >
Calendar of Kid-Friendly East Bay Halloween Events
Tuesday, October 4, 2022
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm: Halloween Crafternoons, BerkeleySaturday, October 8, 2022
2:30 pm - 3:15 pm: Not-So-Scary Halloween Magic, OaklandSunday, October 9, 2022
1:00 pm - 2:30 pm: Floating Pumpkin Patch (RSVP), Pleasant HillTuesday, October 11, 2022
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm: Halloween Crafternoons, BerkeleySaturday, October 15, 2022
11:00 am - 4:00 pm: Berkeley Harvest Festival, BerkeleyTuesday, October 18, 2022
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm: Halloween Crafternoons, BerkeleySaturday, October 22, 2022
11:00 am - 3:00 pm: EcoFest, Walnut Creek1:00 pm - 6:00 pm: Floating Pumpkin Patch (RSVP), Berkeley
Sunday, October 23, 2022
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm: Halloween Spooktacular, FremontTuesday, October 25, 2022
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm: Halloween Crafternoons, BerkeleyFriday, October 28, 2022
2:00 pm - 5:00 pm: Downtown WC Trick or Treat, Walnut Creek3:30 pm - 6:00 pm: Trunk-Or-Treat, Walnut Creek
4:00 pm - 4:30 pm: Ghost Stories @ Grove Street Park, Berkeley
5:00 pm - 9:00 pm: Teen Haunted House (5 years and up), Alameda
Saturday, October 29, 2022
11:00 am - 2:00 pm: Trick or Treat on the Farm, San Ramon1:00 pm - 4:00 pm: Halloween Family Fest, Alameda
1:30 pm - 2:30 pm: Family Fun Hour: Halloween Trash Monster, Alameda
3:00 pm - 8:00 pm: Teen Haunted House (5 years and up), Alameda
Sunday, October 30, 2022
11:00 am - 3:00 pm: Halloween Hijinks, Fremont11:00 am - 1:00 pm: Halloween Spooktacular, Piedmont
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.
Goblin Jamboree (Bay Area Discovery Museum, Sausalito)
October 22 – October 30 (closed Monday & Tuesday). Advanced tickets are required for a 2.5-hour time slot of spooky-but-not-scary delights and the usual hands-on play museum goodness. $25 per person, members $20. Reserve your spot >
Best Bay Area Pumpkin Patches and Corn Mazes >
Thomas & Percy’s Halloween Party (Roaring Camp, Felton)
Weekends, October 16 – October 30. Take the Redwood Forest Steam Train to Bear Mountain. Dress up for Halloween with favorites, Thomas and Percy, for a 20-minute ride with entertainment, crafts, and photo opps. Pick a pumpkin from the town pumpkin patch. Website >
Pumpkin Picking Festival (Rancho Siempre Verde, Pescadero)
Weekends, October 15 – October 30. Admission to the pumpkin festival admits up to six guests (one carload) for 5 pumpkins, 3.5 hours of farm fun activities (swings, slides, tractor rides, wreath-making), one bunch of sunflowers, and a bag of farm-grown apples. Tell ’em 510families sent you for another small pumpkin free. Website >
Orchard Days (Filoli, Woodside)
Weekends, September 24 – October 30. Orchard Days at Filoli is when this large scenic estate and garden celebrates the autumn harvest. Weave through apple trees and grapevines (but no picking, please!), listen to music, sip cider, and enjoy the 7-acre grounds. There’s lots of room to run for children, and Filoli makes a terrific mixed-age outing with grandparents. Website >
😱 Fright Fest 2021 (Six Flags, Vallejo)
Occasional days from September 24 – October 31. Haunted attractions, tricked-out rides, creepy shows, and scare zones make this event better for big kids, tweens, and teens who want to be thrilled. No costumes are allowed for guests so that you know the zombies sneaking up on you are professionals. About $40 per ticket plus fees. Tickets available here >
Pumpkin Patch Express Train (River Fox Train, West Sacramento)
Weekends throughout October. 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 >
More Things to Do With Kids in October >
😱 Pirates of Emerson Haunted Theme Park (Pleasanton)
Thursday to Sunday, September 30 – October 31. 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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