Halloween falls on a Monday this year, but don't think that's going to stop the Bay Area from partying harder than ever. We've rounded up some of the best parties, family events and even cruises going down this weekend. Hope you have your costume ready!
FAMILY FUN
Pets and their humans are invited to celebrate Halloween on the Oakland waterfront with tricks, treats, frights and delights for humans and four-legged friends alike. The Jack London Square festivities include paw painting for pups, pet pampering, a pet psychic, pooch photo booths, doggy treats and more! // Saturday, Oct. 29, 11am-4pm, Jack London Square (Oakland), jacklondonsquare.com
Costume Dash 5K 2015(Courtesy of Costume Dash)
Costume Dash 5K
Hoards of costumed runners will take part in a 5K in Golden Gate Park this month. Will you be one of them? Once you cross the finish line, the fun continues with an after party at the park, featuring a costume contest and free gifts from this year's sponsors. Some of last year's best costumes included a California sushi roll and Oscar the Grouch from Sesame Street (with his garbage can and garbage man in tow). // Sunday, Oct. 30, Golden Gate Park, costumedash.com
Halloween Haunt at Great America
Since 2007, Great America's Halloween Haunt has produced a variety of rides and shows that are as entertaining as they are terrifying. This year, take a spin on the Delirium, a powerful pendulum that promises to send you whirling into the night or check out the CornSTALKERS maze, where you'll need to weave your way through hay bales and cornstalks while being chased by a cult of evil scarecrows. // Oct. 14 - 29, 7pm - 1am, 4701 Great American Parkway (Santa Clara), cagreatamerica.com/haunt
PARTIES
Phantasm: Behind the Funhouse Door @ The Armory
Phantasm is welcoming night-crawlers back into the haunted castle at the San Francisco Armory. Take a peek behind the Funhouse Door and witness mind-bending performances by the Vau de Vire Society – an avant-cabaret collective of dancers, contortionists and circus acts. Costumes aren't required for entry, but are highly encouraged – why wouldn't you want to dress up on the Saturday before Halloween? This year, you can also dance the night away to DJ sets by electro-funk legends Chromeo and The Crystal Method. // Saturday, Oct. 29, doors open at 9pm, 1800 Mission St. (Mission), phantasmsf.com
Ready to celebrate Halloween with a few drinks? What about a few drinks three nights in a row? The Halloween Pub Crawl will start at Bar None on Union Street and continue all through the night. If you can't make it on Friday or want to keep the fun going, the pub crawl will take place again on both the 29th and the 31st, stopping at half a dozen of San Francisco's hottest bars. Domestic drafts will be as cheap as $2, well drinks will be $3 and shots will be $4. Costumes are encouraged! // Oct. 28 - 31, 1980 Union Street (Cow Hollow), pubcrawls.com
Halloween International Ball @ the Westin St. Francis Hotel
There's almost something spooky about spending the night in a historic hotel like the Westin St. Francis, the site of the infamous Fatty Arbuckle manslaughter scandal of the 1920s and President Ford's attempted assassination in 1975. On October 29, the St. Francis is opening its doors to costumed partiers who can dance their way through four separate rooms, each with its own musical vibe. With DJs spinning everything from '80s and '90s throwbacks to Latin grooves, there's bound to be something for every witch, astronaut, and Donald Trump imitator. // Saturday, Oct. 29, 9pm - 2am, 335 Powell Street (Union Square), eventbrite.com
Thunderdome at Ghost Ship 2015(Courtesy of Ghost Ship via Facebook)
Ghost Ship Atlantis @ Pier 70
Pier 70 is gearing up for this year's massive, two-day Halloween warehouse rager. The party at this year's Ghost Ship will take place on three separate mezzanine levels, originally constructed for Super Bowl 50. The event will include large-scale community-sourced art works installed throughout the venue, and DJ sets from Dirtybird, Justin Martin, The Orb, and DJ Dan. // Oct. 28 - 29, 9pm - 4am, 420 22nd Street (Dogpatch), ghostshiphalloween.com
Clift Horror Story Hotel
The famouslyseductive Redwood Room at the Clift Hotel will be transformed into a shadowy netherworld in celebration of Halloween. Moving portraits and mysterious characters will lure you in and tunes by musical duoJ Boogie & Deejay Theory will make you want to hang around. You know, like ghosts do. // Saturday, Oct. 29, 9pm - 2am, 495 Geary St. (Union Square), backofhouse.morganshotelgroup.com
YACHT PARTIES
Daybreaker SF Halloween Boat Cruise
If you can't wait for sundown to get the party started, Daybreak SF is kicking off the Halloween festivities at sunrise on October 28. At 6am, start your day off with some Vinyasa flow yoga led by an Ashtanga-style trainer from Va Za Yoga. Then at 7:10am, the Hornblower Belle will sail into the bay for an early morning dance party. Breakfast will be provided by Free Califia Farms, who will be serving cold brew, healthy juices, and breakfast treats. // Friday, Oct. 28, 6am - 9:30am, Pier 3 (Embarcadero), facebook.com/events/1643593899271721
Titanic Masquerade Halloween Party Cruise
Get naughty and nautical this Halloween aboard the Fume Blanc Commodore vessel for a masquerade party cruise. Enjoy views of Treasure Island, the Bay Bridge, the Golden Gate Bridge, and San Francisco's skyline while enjoying unlimited drinks from bars on all three deck levels. DJs will be spinning hits to keep up the energy on two separate dance floors, and VIP guests also have access to a bottle and table service option. It is a masquerade, so masks and semi-formal clothing are required for entry! // Saturday, Oct. 29, 7:30pm - 12am, 8 The Embarcadero, Pier 40 (SoMa), eventbrite.com/e/titanic-masquerade
Black Pearl Halloween Yacht Party
Not looking to hide behind a mask all night and need another seafaring Halloween option? Presented by Pier Pressure, the Black Pearl Halloween Yacht Party will also be taking off from Pier 40. For one night only, the Cabernet Sauvignon Commodore will be transformed into the Black Pearl ship from Pirates of the Caribbean. There will be four decks, three DJs playing house music and Top 40 hits on the dance floor, and an open bar. Costumes are required! // Saturday, Oct. 29, 7:45pm - 12am, 8 The Embarcadero, Pier 40 (SoMa), sfhalloween.com/event/39163
