Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, and the Bay Area's spooky calendar runs from Friday, Oct. 23, through Saturday, Oct. 31. Here are dated picks for kids, dogs and grown-ups. Check each organizer's page for tickets and prices before you go.
Quick picks: free family fun at Mountain View's Monster Bash (Oct. 24); late-night costumes at Zombie Prom (Oct. 23); trunk-or-treat at Fillmore After Dark (Oct. 31).
This weekend: Oct. 23-25
- Zombie Prom, The Great Northern, SF: Fri., Oct. 23, 9 p.m.-3 a.m. Prom portraits, DJs and costume contests (The Standard).
- Monster Bash, Rengstorff Park, Mountain View: Sat., Oct. 24, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Treat Trail, 10 games, 10 craft booths, inflatables, "Thriller" dancers and a toddler nook. Food is for sale; the city urges walking or biking (City of Mountain View).
- SuperNatural, California Academy of Sciences: Sat., Oct. 24, 6:30-9 p.m. Family-friendly silent disco and trick-or-treat stations.
- Bark at Spark Howl-O-Ween, SPARK Social SF: Sun., Oct. 25, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Dog costume contest and pack parade.
Halloween week: Oct. 29-31
- After Dark: Creepatorium, Exploratorium: Thu., Oct. 29, 6-10 p.m.
- Fright Nightlife, Cal Academy: Thu., Oct. 29, 6 p.m., with Peaches Christ.
- The Haunt, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts: Oct. 29-31; free for kids under 12.
- Late Night Editions: Halloween Eve, de Young Museum: Fri., Oct. 30, 6-10 p.m.
- Nightmare on Front Street, 240 Front St.: Fri., Oct. 30, 4-10 p.m.
- SFMOMAween, SFMOMA: Sat., Oct. 31, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Costume contest, puppet show, crafts.
- Fillmore After Dark, 1500 Fillmore St.: Sat., Oct. 31, 4-9 p.m. Trunk-or-treat and a block party.
- The Rocky Horror Picture Show with a live shadow cast, Balboa Theater: Sat., Oct. 31, 7 and 11 p.m.
Still running: Slashed: Return to Hellville, Peaches Christ's haunted house at the San Francisco Mint, through Nov. 8.
Rain is in the forecast midweek, so check before heading out. More ideas on our What's On page; we also covered the Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Festival.