Here are our picks for great events and activities for children and families this Halloween weekend. Find more events for the whole week in Marin and beyond in our Family Events Calendar.
Looking for a neighborhood to trick-or-treat in? Check out our list of places in Marin here.
Friday, October 28
The Amazing Maze
Bay Area Discovery Museum, Sausalito
Friday, 9 am–4 pm and Saturday–Sunday, 9 am– 5 pm
Children experience the joys and surprises of black light in this glow-in-the-dark hay maze. In this special exhibit, children are challenged to navigate a 150-bale hay maze—complete with tunnels, netting, and a slide—all under black light! In addition to the winding maze, there is a glow-in-the-dark dress-up station with white clothes and accessories for kids to try on, as well as a fluorescent Shoot-A-Hoop game. Admisson applies. Location: 557 McReynolds Road, Fort Baker, Sausalito. For more info, visit their website.
Peter Pumpkin Patch
Spring Hill Jersey Farm, Petaluma
Friday–Sunday, 9 am–6 pm
Pick your own organic pumpkin, dig for potatoes, take a tractor ride, visit farm animals, taste homemade ice cream and Spring Hill cheese, milk a cow, and get lost in the hay maze. Peter Pumpkin Patch also offers fresh fruits and vegetables and picnic baskets. Activities are free and so is the parking. This is a wonderful and fun pumpkin patch on a real working farm. Location: 4235 Spring Hill Road (off Bodega Ave.). For more info, call (707) 762-3446 or visit their website.
Nicasio Valley Farms Pumpkin Patch
Nicasio
Friday–Sunday, 10 am–6 pm
Nicasio Valley Farms Pumpkin Patch offers a wide variety of certified organic pumpkins spread out in an expansive meadow on the farm. Kids activities: jumpy houses, inflatable slide, hay rides, pony rides, a petting zoo, farm animals to visit, a climbing wall, and face painting. Some of these attractions have an admission fee, and some are available only on weekends and select days. Shaded seating area with picnic tables, so you can relax and take in the scenery, listen to some great live music, and even eat lunch. If you arrive hungry, Big Jim's BBQ is on hand on weekends. Tim Cain performs on Sunday from 11 am to noon. Location: 5300 Nicasio Valley Road, Nicasio. Read our review here. For more info, visit their website.
Godmothers Pumpkin Patch
St. Vincents, Marinwood
Friday–Sunday, 10 am–5 pm
This long-time favorite pumpkin patch at St. Vincent's near Marinwood offers a variety of pumpkins as well as attractions and activities like bounce houses, a hay pile, face painting, snack shack, and a picnic area. Groups welcome. Read our review of St. Vincent's Pumpkin Patch. For more info, visit their website.
Petaluma Pumpkin Patch
550 Stony Point Road
Friday & Saturday, 10 am–10 pm, Sunday, 10 am–6 pm
Over 50 varieties of pumpkins, squash, and gourds, as well as a 4-acre Amazing Corn Maze (admission $6, 5 and under free; $9 on Friday and Saturday nights 6–10 pm), farm animals, a zip line, weekend pony rides, face painting, jumpy houses and inflatables, food vendors, covered snack area, and more. Some of these attractions have an admission fee. For more info, visit their website.
Halloween Music and Magic Show
Mill Valley Community Center
Friday, 4–5 pm
Thrills and chills await us a s Timothy James amazes us with his Halloween magic show. Our magician combines comedy, audience participation and amazing magic to create a spooktacular 45 minutes show for goblins ages 3 to 103. Cost: $9 general, free for kids 3 and under. For more info, visit their website.
Trunk or Treat at the Center
Mill Valley Community Center
Friday, 4:30–6:30 pm
Bring your children to the Community Center Parking Lot for a fun, safe and community Halloween event! Enjoy face painting, food truck, games, and more! Free admission. Location: 180 Camino Alto, Mill Valley. For more info, visit their website.
Chess Night
Mathnasium of Mill Valley
Friday, 6–7 pm
Stop by Mathnasium on Friday night for an hour of free supervised play for K–8th graders. All skill levels are welcome. Free pizza! Location: 247 Shoreline Highway, Suite A3. For more info, visit their website.
It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown
Snoopy's Home Ice, Santa Rosa
Friday, 6–8:30 pm
Bring your blanket and pick a spot on the ball field for a night of ghoulish fun and Halloween festivities. Movie starts at dusk on the inflatable big screen. Meet Snoopy and the Peanuts gang, enjoy Halloween crafts and trivia games, and follow the trick-or-treat trail. Free popcorn and "witches brew". Costumes encouraged. At Schulz Complex Ball Field on Hardies Lane across from Snoopy's Home Ice. For more info, visit their website.
Novato Horsemen Haunted House
600 Bugeia Lane, Novato
Friday & Saturday, 7–10 pm
Bring the kids out for a night of scare and fun at the Novato Horseman Haunted House in Novato. Admission: $5 per person. For more info, visit their website.
Saturday, October 29
The Jungle Book & Costume Contest
Marin Theatre Company, Mill Valley
Saturday, 10 am, 12:30 & 3 pm and Sunday, 10 am & 12:30 pm
Bring the family too see The Jungle Book at the Marin Theatre Company. Dress up as their favorite jungle creature for the Halloween Costume Contest. Tickets: adults $22 and children $18. Purchase tickets here. Location: 397 Miller Avenue, Mill Valley. For more info, visit their website.
North Bay Science Discovery Day
Sonoma County Fairgrounds, Santa Rosa
Saturday, 10 am–4 pm
This event is designed to inspire children and raise awareness of the importance of STEM in everyday life. This free event features local organizations like Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Aquarium of the Bay, California State Parks, the Marin County Free Library, Kaiser Permanente, Marinovators, the Pacific Coast Air Museum, Play-Well TEKnologies, and many many more. Plan on staying all day to experience all the fun! Free admission and parking. Location: 1350 Bennett Valley Road, Santa Rosa. For more info, visit their website.
McClelland's Dairy Pumpkin Patch
Petaluma
Saturday & Sunday, 10 am–5 pm
Find the perfect pumpkin in McClelland's three-acre organic pumpkin field. Free admission includes pumpkin patch, petting farm animals (including cows, goats, and chickens), and watching cows being milked in the parlor. There's also a hay maze, kids' haunted hay house, hay rides, bounce houses, and u-pick squash, as well as a farm store and a food cart serving organic grilled cheese sandwiches, organic milkshakes, organic popcorn, and espresso drinks. Some of these attractions have an admission fee. Read our review here. For more info, visit their website.
Scream on the Green
Downtown Novato
Saturday, 10 am–4 pm
Bring the entire family for the Scream on the Green Halloween spectacular in Downtown Novato. Activities include safe trick-or-treating downtown on from 11 am–2 pm, a haunted house, games, and more. Location: Sherman Avenue and the Civic Green and Novato City Hall complex. For more info, visit their website.
Annual Pumpkin Patch & Train Festival
Western Railway Museum, Suisun City
Saturday & Sunday, 10 am–5 pm
Get your Halloween pumpkins and Jack-o-Lanterns, test your strength with the pumpkin launcher, explore our huge hay bale fortress, and enjoy a train ride too. Gather the family and begin at the Western Railway Museum. Doors open at 9:30 -- The first electric express train leaves at 10:00 AM with departures every half-hour until 4pm. Cost: adults $14, children (2–14 yrs) $10 and seniors $12. For more info, visit their website.
Boo at the Zoo
Oakland Zoo
Saturday & Sunday, 10 am–3 pm
Stroll the Oakland zoo in costume and collect yummy treats. Ride the spooky boo train and join the dance party. Plus, get your face painted, make treats for the animals, and see how the animals at Oakland Zoo celebrate Halloween. Kids in costumes receive a free ride ticket. Event included with regular zoo admission. For more info, visit their website.
Jack O’Lantern Jamboree at Children’s Fairyland
Children's Fairyland, Oakland
Saturday & Sunday, 10 am–5 pm
Come in costume and enjoy a spooktacular extravaganza with unlimited rides, a parade, goody bags for kids, arts and crafts, pirate school, clowns and magicians, and much more. Cost: $10 ($5 members). For more info, visit their website.
Samurai Pumpkin Patch
142 Redwood Avenue Parking Lot, Corte Madera
Saturday, 10 am–noon
Warm up with the pumpkin obstacle course and come test your sword skills. Split, slice, dice and have a mighty good time. All ages welcome. Kids get priority. The event will continue until pumpkins run out. For more info, call (415) 264-0157.
Happy Creepy Hall-oween
Lawrence Hall of Science, Berkeley
Saturday, 10 am–5 pm
Start your Halloween early and celebrate all weekend long during Happy Creepy Hall-oween. From pumpkin lifts in the Ingenuity Lab to giant trebuchet demonstrations with UC Berkeley’s Pioneers in Engineering program, you’re sure to find the perfect way to celebrate with science. Free with paid admission. For more info, visit their website.
Halloween Boos, Bones and Walking with the Dead
Safari West, Santa Rosa
Saturday, 10 am
Join us in celebrating Halloween at Safari West and trick-or-treat through our new skeletal exhibit designed by Safari West's osteology team! With tricks and treats, pumpkins and skulls, bats and bones, the Safari West Halloween Spectacular is an event the whole family can enjoy together! Includes all the Spirited Halloween fun plus a hauntingly tasty taco bar! Cost: $50 adults; $25 children 4–12. Reservations: (707) 566-3667 or reservations@safariwest.com. You can also book online here. For more info, visit their website.
Día de los Muertos Celebration
Mill Valley Community Center
Saturday, 10:30 am–1 pm
Mill Valley Recreation joins the joyful celebration of dearly departed family, friends, and pets during the Mexican festival Day of the Dead. Join in the celebration by participating in several free activities, decorating sugar skulls, getting your face painted, and creating memory boxes. All ages are welcome! Location: 180 Camino Alto, Mill Valley. For more info, visit their website.
Safe Trick-or-Treat Downtown Novato
Grant Avenue, Novato
Saturday, 11 am–2 pm
The Downtown Novato Business Association will host its annual Safe Trick-or-Treat event along Grant Avenue in downtown Novato. Every year this Halloween event is popular with kids and their parents. Businesses along Grant Avenue will give out candy and there will be a variety of other fun activities at various locations downtown. This is a fun event for the entire family. For more info, visit their website.
Bon Air's Halloween Bash
Bon Air Center, Greenbrae
Saturday, 11 am–3 pm
Bon Air’s Halloween Bash will offer center wide trick-or-treating at shops and restaurants, pumpkin decorating, face painting, balloon twisting, live music, sidewalk specials and more. Four-legged friends can get in on the fun as well by entering the pet parade and pet contest sponsored by Woodland Pets. A pet caricature artist will also be on hand to do sketches of pets. Families are encouraged to trick-or-treat so others can eat—bring non-perishable food donations to the Center in exchange for a trick-or-treat bag and help feed those less fortunate this holiday season. Bins will be set up around the center to collect the donations, which will be distributed through the Marin Food Bank. For more info, visit their website.
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