San Francisco does Halloween in layers: daytime candy events for the stroller set, one great museum night for school-age kids, a legendary trick-or-treat street on the 31st, and then — two days later — the Mission's moving Día de los Muertos, which is a cultural observance rather than a costume party but is genuinely welcoming to respectful families. The rhythm is predictable even before each year's dates drop. The zoo's Boo at the Zoo lands on the last weekend of October with a costume parade at noon. Ghirardelli Square's Spooky Square packs magic shows and merchant trick-or-treating into a Saturday afternoon. The California Academy of Sciences throws SuperNatural, a ticketed evening where kids trick-or-treat past the alligator swamp. And on Halloween night itself, Belvedere Street in Cole Valley closes to cars and turns into the city's unofficial Halloween capital — spectacular and extremely crowded. Skip the haunted houses downtown with young kids; Terror Vault at the Mint is deliberately terrifying and aimed at adults.
Belvedere Street between Parnassus and 17th has been SF's Halloween destination for over 50 years: the block closes to cars on October 31, houses go all-out with decorations, and thousands show up. Go at dusk for the full effect, but know that the crush peaks around 7–8pm — with kids under 5, arrive right when it starts and work one side of the street. It's free and unticketed. Ghirardelli Square's Spooky Square (typically the Saturday before Halloween, afternoon) is the calmer daytime alternative, with merchant trick-or-treating, a kids' costume parade, and a dog costume contest.
Boo at the Zoo at the SF Zoo runs the last weekend of October, 11am–3pm, with candy stations along the paths, crafts, and a noon costume parade — it has historically been included with regular zoo admission, making it the best-value option for the under-8 crowd. For older kids, the California Academy of Sciences' SuperNatural is a ticketed evening with a silent disco, trick-or-treat stations, and live animal demonstrations inside the museum — buy ahead, it's a popular night. Both sit in or near Golden Gate Park; the N-Judah and the 44 bus beat hunting for parking.
Two distinct free events share the evening of November 2. The Festival of Altars at Potrero del Sol Park opens in the afternoon with community altars honoring the dead — quiet, beautiful, and very kid-appropriate if you set expectations that it's remembrance, not Halloween. The candlelight procession steps off at 7pm from 22nd and Bryant along 24th Street. Bring marigolds or a photo of a loved one rather than costumes; face paint is traditional, superhero costumes are not.
Terror Vault at the old SF Mint is one of the country's best immersive haunts — and completely wrong for children (live actors, real scares, roughly $60–$80, recommended for mature teens and up). October NightLife events at Cal Academy on Thursdays are 21+; SuperNatural is the all-ages version.
Exact dates land here automatically once they hit our catalog — we refresh weekly from 550+ Bay Area sources. Check the official site above, or sign in for picks tuned to your family.
In past years, yes — the crafts, candy stations, and costume parade have been included with regular zoo admission. Confirm pricing on sfzoo.org when the year's October dates post.
Belvedere Street in Cole Valley — closed to cars every October 31 for decades, with wildly decorated houses. It's free but very crowded at peak; arrive at dusk with little kids.
Yes, if approached respectfully. The Festival of Altars at Potrero del Sol Park is contemplative and family-friendly; the 7pm procession on 24th Street is crowded but welcoming. It's a remembrance tradition, not a costume event.
Not really — the city's marquee haunt, Terror Vault at the Mint, is adult-oriented. For kid-level spooky, stick to SuperNatural at Cal Academy or Boo at the Zoo.