How to make the most out of Halloween in SF
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A home in San Francisco decorated for Halloween. Photo: Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images
It's no secret that San Francisco goes all out for Halloween — arguably our most highly anticipated holiday of the year.
The big picture: Get ready for outlandish costumes, eerie mansions and a whole host of neighborhood block parties.
👻 Travel back in time for an immersive psychological thriller experience in a 1930s haunted hotel.
- Multiple scheduled times at the Palace Theater through Nov. 1.
✂️ Catch an outdoor screening of "Edward Scissorhands," accompanied by a costume contest.
- 4:30pm Thursday, Oct. 23 at the Presidio Civil War Parade Ground. Free.
🍻 Enjoy a spirited pub crawl with live music, discounted drink specials and CrawlSF's signature Find the Gnome Contest.
- 2-10 Saturday, Oct. 25. Check-in locations include Mayes Oyster House, Rick & Roxy's and Union Street Ale House. Tickets start at $17.35.
🦴 Treat your pup to Howl-O-Ween Dog Fest, where there will be a costume contest, puppy parade, breed meet-ups and tons of pet-centered vendors.
- 11am-5pm Sunday, Oct. 26 at Spark Social SF. Free; RSVP required.
🚇 Take the BART to the transit agency's Trunk or Treat event, where police vehicles will be stocked full of candy. Other activities include carnival-style games, free caricatures and prizes.
- 4-7pm Tuesday, Oct. 28 at the Lake Merritt Station Plaza. Free.
👁️ Explore eerie artifacts, including 19th-century hand-blown glass eyeballs used to study infectious diseases, alongside specialty cocktails at an exhibition featuring the Ocular Oddities.
- 5:30-7:30pm Friday, Oct. 31 at the Truhlsen-Marmor Museum of the Eye. Free; RSVP required.
🍸 Check out all the activities at Nightmare on Front Street, a block party in downtown SF that will feature themed cocktails, live music and all kinds of costumes.
- 2-10pm on Friday, Oct. 31 at 254 Front St. Free.
🎃 Swing by one of the many neighborhood block parties celebrating Halloween for trick-or-treating, scary decor and more.
- Ocean Avenue: Noon-3pm Saturday, Oct. 25 at Unity Plaza. Free.
- Richmond: Friday, Oct 31 on Lake Street between 25th Avenue and Park Presidio Boulevard. Free.
- Castro Night Market: 5-10pm Friday, Oct. 31 on 18th Street between Hartford and Collingwood streets. Free.
- Cole Valley: 5pm Friday, Oct. 31 on Belvedere Street between Parnassus Avenue and 17th Street. Free.
- North of Panhandle Neighborhood Association: 5-8:30pm Friday, Oct. 31 on Grove Street between Central Avenue and Baker Street.
- Tenderloin Street Fair Diá de los Muertos Celebration: 2-8pm Saturday, Nov. 1 on Golden Gate Avenue between Larkin and Jones streets. Free.
🪦 Pay homage to ancestors at the Day of the Dead Festival of Altars, which will include poetry performances, dance, music and ritual ceremonies.
- Sunday, Nov. 2 at Potrero Del Sol Park. Free.
🕯️ Build your own altar and explore community ofrendas, live performances and interactive art at the Festival of Altars.
- 8am-9pm Sunday at Potrero Del Sol Park.
🧙♀️ Meet your neighbors and admire San Francisco's must-see Halloween houses.
- All through Halloween weekend!