Get Your Halloween Frights Early With These Spooky Events In Northern CA

Halloween is still more than a month away, but there are plenty of places around Northern California offering seasonal frights.

Our scary guide includes everything from spooky pirate ships to tours of historic haunted manors, some better experienced for adults and others suitable for children.

We’ve rounded up five spooky happenings in Northern California that are worth getting on the calendar. And speaking of calendars: Are you planning an event this fall? Feature it, so nearby readers see it all across Patch — including in roundups like this!

Tricks and Treats at Great America

Where: 4701 Great America Pkwy., Santa Clara
When: Sept. 20 – Oct. 26
Details: California's Great America is transformed for Halloween into a spooky, magical, family-friendly carnival. While haunted mazes are no longer offered, guests can explore the Land of Tricks, featuring two realms of all things slimy, sinister, and strange: Ickyville and Spooky Spires. Alternatively, wander through the charming boulevards of the Land of Treats, which offers the nostalgic appeal of a cozy fall festival with Everfall and Sweet Tooth Acres. The event also includes a Trick or Treat Trail, Halloween Costume Contest, a live show, roving characters, and the excitement of Great America’s most popular rides.

San Francisco Halloween Bar Crawl

Where: 1233 Polk St, San Francisco
When: Oct. 24-28
Details: Crawloween, San Francisco's largest Halloween pub crawl, is a four-night event drawing thousands of costumed locals and visitors to bars across the city. It's one of the biggest pub crawls nationwide, known for its festive atmosphere.

Terror Vault’s “Hexed” in SF’s Old 1874 Mint

Where: 88 Fifth St., San Francisco
When: Oct. 2– Nov. 1
Details: Experience "Hexed" at the Historic 1874 San Francisco Mint. Prepare for an hour-long, fully immersive, and terrifying theatrical experience. "Hexed" combines theater, 4D effects and haunted mazes across 15,000 square feet of 32 fully developed immersive sets. With 60 scare actors each night, this is your chance to explore the historic 1874 San Francisco Mint after dark. Before or after the show, visit the Fang Bang Vampire Bar, which is free to the public and offers character interaction and ambiance.

Oakland’s “Driveway Follies” Halloween Marionette Shows

Where: 3854 Greenwood Ave., Oakland
When: Oct. 30 – 31
Details: For a unique Halloween experience, Driveway Follies presents an intimate and continuous showcase of marionette puppetry. Enjoy professionally staged, family-friendly performances that delve into the historical and cultural significance of Halloween. Shows run from dusk until approximately 10 p.m.

Fright Fest at Six Flags

Where: 1001 Fairgrounds Dr., Vallejo
When: Sept. 20 - Nov.2
Details: Prepare for a scream-inducing Halloween with haunted mazes, terrifying scare zones, and hair-raising shows. Enjoy the park's rides in the dark for extra chills. Six Flags is overrun by zombies and ghouls, offering spooky family fun by day and chilling frights by night. Experience five scare zones, five haunted houses, two haunted trails, live performances, shows, and rides. A Haunted Attraction pass add-on may be required for haunted houses and trails.

Blind Scream Haunted House: Reflections of Terror

Where: 98 Santa Rosa Plaza, Santa Rosa
When: Oct. 10 - Nov. 1
Details: The Northbay’s largest haunted house boasts over 20,000 square feet of scares. Venture into the southern overgrown woods and discover a dilapidated old house. A profound sense of terror, like icy fingers, will grip your spine as you approach. Though you may hesitate, curiosity will compel you forward. The creaky floorboards of the porch will groan with each step, a warning echoing in the silence. Push open the ivy-covered door and confront the horrors within.

Pirates of Emerson

Where: Alameda County Fairgrounds
When: Sep. 27 – Nov. 2
Details: Pirates of Emerson returns for its 35th year of scares, hailed as one of America's Top 10 Haunted Houses by Scary Overload. This walk-through attraction, spanning a 6-acre compound, features four haunted attractions, strolling entertainment, music and more. Timed-entry tickets are exclusively available online.

Unhinged: Hotel at Winchester Mystery House

Where: 25 S Winchester Blvd., San Jose
When: Sept. 26 – Nov. 30
Details: Unhinged: Hotel offers a suspenseful, immersive indoor and outdoor haunting experience at the Winchester Mystery House. Guests navigate a disorienting, single-path journey through all four floors, including two basements, with special effects, actors and disturbing scenes. The experience also includes The Mist, which is an outdoor scare zone, a Halloween museum, interactive activities and themed food, drinks, and photo ops. The indoor walk-through is approximately 45 minutes.

Fear Overload Scream Park

Where: 15555 E 14th St., San Leandro
When: Sep. 21 – Nov. 2
Details: Fear Overload, a leading Bay Area haunted house, offers two intense walk-through experiences: Darkmoor Penitentiary and Slotch Sanatorium. Both are known for their elaborate staging, detailed props, and compelling character actors.