Cute Ghouls & Halloween Horrors: We Scared Up This List of East Bay Halloween Fun

Whether you are searching for a good scare, pumpkin pickings, zombie pub crawls or the best neighborhoods for trick-or-treating, we have the skinny on Halloween fun in Alameda and Contra Costa counties.

Let’s start with the free candy:

The best ‘hoods for East Bay trick-or-treating and spooky sightseeing, according to our insiders, include Berkeley’s Mariposa Avenue and Russell Street (between College Avenue and Claremont Avenue); Oakland’s Cleveland Heights/Haddon Hill and Trestle Glen Street (off Lakeshore); Lafayette’s Victoria Court and the loop along Merriewood Drive and Silverado (near Burton Valley Elementary); and Alameda’s Haight Street (the 300 block).

Our families are always on the hunt for favorite trick-or-treating streets, so if we missed yours, leave a comment here or contact us at Abio!

For more spook-tacular Halloween happenings in the East Bay, check out this city-by-city list:

ALAMEDA

Teen Haunted House: Oct. 27, 28, 29 at the South Shore Center. $5-$7. Times and details

“Dark Side of the Grimm” Black Light Art Show: Oct. 28, 7-10 p.m. at Studio 23 Gallery. Have your eyeballs UltraViolated by 15 local artists. Details

USS Hornet: Sea and sailor spirits will visit the Hornet on Alameda’s Pier 3 for several events:

• Halloween-Lite Live Aboard Overnight: Oct. 21, 5 pm. A not-too-spooky event, where you can experience a night in the life of a WWII sailor and enjoy trick-or-treating, scavenger hunts, optional ghost stories and a Halloween-themed movie. Must be 6 or older. Costumes encouraged. $75-$100. Tickets
• Ship of Spirits: Oct. 27, 6:30 p.m.-midnight. Paranormal tour and dinner with author Jeff Dwyer and Loyd Auerbach. $65. Tickets
• Monster Bash: Oct. 28, 7:30 p.m-1 a.m. Swing horror and 60’s Frights featuring Zombie Sick Bay Crawl and Haunted Fo’ c’ sle Tour, costume contest, dancing, food, no-host bar, live music. $35-$55. Tickets

 

 

ALAMO

Trick-or-Treat at Alamo Plaza: Oct. 31, 3-5 p.m. Free Halloween pencils and toys, plus face painting, balloon arts, and crafts. Details

ALBANY

Halloween Carnival: Oct. 27, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Albany Community Center. Games, creepy cookie decorating, paranormal photo booth, and prizes. Details

BENICIA

Scarecrow Contest: Wander along First Street to view the artfully created scarecrows on display all month. Vote for your fav here.

Ghost Walk: Oct. 20 and 21, at 8 p.m. Start at the Historic Railroad Depot and hear paranormal experts tell terrifying tales about Benicia’s history. Bring a flashlight. $25. Prepaid reservations are required by calling 707-745-9791.

Haunted Depot: Oct. 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29, 31. The mild-mannered Southern Pacific Railroad Depot gets spooky this month. $2-$3. Times and details

Costume Contest & Sidewalk Stroll: Oct. 28, 10 a.m., starting at City Park. Trick-or-treat the First Street merchants. Stay for the Canine & Critter Costume Contest at noon on the First Street Green.

 

BERKELEY

Pumpkin Patch Dash: Oct. 28, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. at the MLK Middle School Track and Field. The city presents youth (pre-K through 8th) track races and a Halloween carnival with games, prizes, and face painting. T-shirts and goodie bags on first-come, first-served basis. Kids must bring an adult. Pre-register and details

House of Screams: Oct. 31, 3-6 p.m. at Martin Luther King Jr. Youth Center. Haunted house, music, cotton candy, photo booth, special dance performance to Thriller by the YAP Dance Team. Details

Halloween Community Parade: Oct. 31, 3-6 p.m. Kids and parents can parade around San Pablo Park, starting at the Frances Albrier Community Center. Stay for freeze dance, food and goodies. Details

Dia de los Muertos Celebration: Nov. 2, 5-10 p.m. in downtown at Kittredge Street and Harold Way. Experience building a community altar, a candle-light procession (9 p.m.), face painting, food trucks and more. Details

CASTRO VALLEY

Barks and Boos Costume Contest & Food Trucks: Oct. 24, 5-9 p.m. at the Adobe Art Center. Brews, food and costume contests. Details

CLAYTON

Clayton Valley Pumpkin Farm Costume Party: Oct. 20, 21, 27, 28 in the Greenhouse. Decorate a cannonball-sized pumpkin, enjoy treats and drinks, play the Mystery Box game and color your Plumpkin coloring page to be entered to win two wheelbarrows full of pumpkins. $36. Advance tickets only.

CONCORD

Trick-or-Treating at Sunvalley Shopping Center: Oct. 31, 5-7 p.m. Costumed kids can come collect treats from participating stores. Details

SpiritsFest: Oct. 28, 2-8 p.m. at Galindo House and Gardens. Join the Rotary for local craft “spirits” and enjoy artists, live entertainment, foods and Concord history. $45-$60. Tickets

DANVILLE

FallFest: Oct. 21-22, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. in downtown. Costume parade, art, music and dance, classic car show, food and drink. Details

Spooktacular Celebration – Superhero Style: Oct. 26, 4-7:30 p.m. in the Danville Community Center. Epic crafts, face painting, games, trick-or-treating and more for ages 1-9. $6-$7. Pre-registration required online here or call 925-314-3400.

DUBLIN

Ghosts of Dublin: Oct. 27 and Oct. 28 at the Dublin Heritage Park and Museums. A flashlight tour through Dublin Pioneer Cemetery. $7. See times and register here.

EL CERRITO

Halloween Carnival & Haunted House: Oct. 31, 1-4 p.m. at El Cerrito Community Center. Games, bounce house and safe hauntings for all ages. $5. Details

Monster Mash Bash: Oct. 31, 4:30-8 p.m. at El Cerrito Community Center. Halloween dance for all, with a scary haunted house until 8 p.m. Details

FREMONT

Perry Family Pumpkin Patch: Grab your gourd and play in the Kids’ Maze and Hay Pyramid at 34600 Ardenwood Blvd. Hours and details

Haunted Railroad: Oct. 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29, 7-9 p.m. at the Railroad Museum. “Not-so-scary” ghost train. $7 for ages 3 and up. Details

Downtown Trick or Treat: Oct. 20, 4:30-9 p.m. Kids ages-10 can trick-or-treat at miniature “houses” along Capitol Avenue and Liberty Street. $10. Details

Halloween Twilight Hike At Coyote Hills: Oct. 28, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Meet at Visitor Center for a costumed hike, treats and campfire stories. $4. Register

HAYWARD

Sulphur Creek’s Unhaunted House & Carnival: Oct. 20 at 6-9 p.m. and Oct. 21 at 4-8 p.m. at the Suphur Creek Nature Center. Travel “Through the Looking Glass” into the world of Alice’s Wonderland and meet some special Halloween creatures there. Carnival, crafts, games, storytelling, campfire and treats. $8-$10. Details

LAFAYETTE

Fall on the Farm: Every weekend through Oct. 29, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at Orchard Nursery and Florist. Chat with garden experts while the kids enjoy crafts, live music, farm animals, scarecrow displays and pumpkin patch. Details

Downtown Trick or Treat Street: Oct. 27, 4-6 p.m. Collect treats from participating businesses on Mt. Diablo Boulevard, from Oak Hill Road to Dewing Avenue, and in La Fiesta Square. Details

Haunted House “Not So Scary” & “Very Scary”: Oct. 28-29 at the Lafayette Community Center. Proceeds benefit Lafayette Youth Commission Projects. $3-$5. Times and details 

LIVERMORE

G&M Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze: Voted Best Seasonal Attraction in the East Bay by Diablo Magazine. Hours and details

Kidz Town Halloween Hay Day: Oct. 28, 1-5 p.m. Toddlers and elementary-age kids are invited to downtown Livermore for trick-or-treating, costume contests, games and entertainment on 2nd Street. Details

“Hocus Pocus” Downtown Movie Night & Witches Flash Mob: Oct. 19, 7 p.m. at Carnegie Park.

“Young Frankenstein” Movie at Vine Cinema & Alehouse: Oct. 26, 7 p.m. Details

Trick-or-Treat Trail at the Police Station: Oct. 30, 5 p.m. Follow the trick-or-treat trail through the department. Ages 12 and under. Details

MARTINEZ

Zombie Brew Crawl: Oct. 21, 2:30-5:30 p.m. Limp and moan your way to Main Street in downtown Martinez. Sample craft brews at various businesses and enter the costume contest. Free shuttles to and from North Concord BART. $30-$35. Tickets

Dia de los Muertos Martinez: Oct. 28, 4-8 p.m. in the Main Street Plaza. Honor those who have passed away through art, music, food and community altars. Details

Halloween Trunk-or-Treat Spooktacular: Oct. 29, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at downtown Main Street. Visit creatively decorated car trunks and shops for candy and treats.

OAKLAND

Piedmont Avenue Pumpkin Patch & Haunted Houses: They call it “Oakland’s Oldest and Cutest Pumpkin Patch.” Open daily 8 a.m.-8 p.m. $8 ($1 discount if you like them on Facebook.) Details

Autumn Lights Festival at Lake Merritt: Oct. 19-21, 6-11 p.m. A unique, glowing Oakland tradition of art and light in the Gardens at Lake Merritt in Lakeside Park. $7-$25. Tickets and details 

 

“Deranged” Haunted House by Oakland School for the Arts: Oct. 27-29, 7-9 p.m. at the Black Box Theater. Visit the spirits of the mentally unstable patients who once suffered in this “institution.” $5-$8. Details

Boo! Bark, Brews + Bites: Oct. 28, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at Jack London Square. Paw painting for pups, pet pampering, a pet psychic, pooch photo booths, crafts, doggy treats, pet tricks and canine costume contest. Proceeds benefit Canine Companions for Independence. Details

Terrifying Halloween Tour at Dunsmuir Estate: Oct. 26-28, 6:30-9 p.m. Not for kids under 7. $7-10. Details

“Boo at the Zoo”: Oct. 28-29, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Come see how the animals at Oakland Zoo celebrate Halloween. Kids in costumes receive a free ride ticket. Details

Howloweenie Roast - Campfire, Stories & S'Mores: Oct. 28, 7-9:30 p.m. at Redwood Regional Park. Meet at Canyon Meadow Staging Area. Bring your own hot dogs for roasting or a bag dinner. Reservations required.

OAKLEY

Harvest Festival: Oct. 21, 12-4 p.m. at Civic Center Plaza. Pie eating contest, costume parade, canine costume parade, pumpkin decorating contest and more. Details

ORINDA

Halloween Parade for Tots: Oct. 26, 1 p.m. at Orinda Community Center Park & Tennis Courts.

PITTSBURG

Halloween 5K Fun Run: Oct. 28 starting at 8 a.m. at John Buckley Square/Old Town Plaza. Walk or run – in a costume! All ages. $25-$35. Pre-register 

Halloween Spooktacular: Oct. 28, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Century Plaza. Family fun with goody bags, face painting, costume contest, prizes and more. Free pumpkins and Maya Cinema movie showing for first 300 guests. Details

Trunk or Treat: Oct. 31, 6-8 p.m. at John Buckley Square. Trick-or-treaters go from decorated trunk to trunk for candy from volunteers. Pumpkin decorating, carnival games, face painting, candy, raffle. Free. Details

PLEASANTON

Pirates of Emerson: Through Oct. 31 at the Alameda County Fairgrounds. Six haunted attractions, including Farmageddon (zombie sheep?). Times and ticket info

Ghost Stories Live On Stage: Oct. 24-28 at The Firehouse. $5-$10.

Harvest Festival Original Art and Craft Show: Oct. 27-29 at the Alameda County Fairgrounds. Visit hundreds of booths filled with original art, blown glass, jewelry, specialty foods, clothing, home decor, daily live music, entertainment and Kidzone. Free-$9. Hours and details

Halloween Brew Crawl: Oct. 28, 5-8 p.m. Adult trick-or-treating with craft brews, ciders, mead and tasty bites at 30+ downtown locations. $40-45. Details and tickets 

SAN LEANDRO

Fear Overload Scream Park: Through Nov. 11. Spend an evening lost in two horrifying haunted houses. $25-$50. Tickets

Halloween Costume Swap & Craft-ernoon: Oct. 21, 1-4 p.m. at San Leandro Main Library. Details

Pumpkin Splash: Oct. 27, 6-8:30 at Boys and Girls Club Pool. Jump into the city pool and pick the perfect pumpkin. Ages 5-17. $12. Details

SAN RAMON

Trick-or-Treat at Forest Home Farms Historic Park: Oct. 28, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Come in costume and travel around the farm to different activity and treat stations.

UNION CITY

Running Dead 5K & 10K Fun Run & Walk: Oct. 22, 8-11 a.m. When the zombie apocalypse is here, there is only one thing you can do: Run! Starts at Union City Civic Center. $20-$35. Register

WALNUT CREEK

“Z is for...Zombie!” An Improvised Zombie Apocalypse: Oct. 19-22 at the Lesher Center. Hysterical improvised comedy from Synergy Theater. Tickets and details 

Trick or Treat Downtown: Oct. 27, 2-5 p.m. Creep through downtown and collect candy from participating businesses. Start at the Lesher Center. Details

Broadway Plaza Trick or Treat: Oct. 31, 5:30-7 p.m. Collect treats from businesses while supplies last. Details

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Don't be too scared to contact us at Abio Properties about all your real estate buying, selling and investing needs at 888-400-ABIO (2246) or [email protected].