California will host a variety of Halloween events in 2025, offering options for families and thrill-seekers across the state. From haunted houses and pumpkin festivals to themed train rides and zoo celebrations, communities are preparing activities that extend from late summer through early November.
In San Jose, the Winchester Mystery House will present “Festival Fright Nights” from September 26 to November 1. The event features an immersive experience called “Unhinged Hotel,” set within the mansion’s unusual history. Guests can also visit a new Halloween Museum and relax at Café 13 after their tour.
Rancho Cordova’s Heartstoppers Haunted House returns on select dates in August with four themed scare zones inside a three-story building. Outside, attendees can enjoy carnival games, live performances, and photo opportunities with characters.
The San Diego Zoo will host HalGLOWeen from October 3 to 31 on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Activities include music, bubbles, acrobats under black lights, and free admission for children aged 11 and under as part of Kids Free San Diego during October.
Oakland Zoo’s Boo at the Zoo runs from October 1 to 29. Visitors can participate in a hay-bale maze, scavenger hunt, costume contest via social media tagging, and win tickets to Glowfari—the zoo’s nighttime holiday event running November through January. Tickets must be purchased online due to limited capacity.
Other family-friendly events include the Pumpkin Patch Express in West Sacramento (October 5–November 30) with vintage train rides and seasonal activities; Skunk Train’s Pumpkin Express in Mendocino County (October weekends); Casa de Pumpkin Patch in Hollister (September 29–October 31), which offers educational group activities about Native American culture; Boardwalk Fright Flicks at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk (Wednesdays in October); Headless Horseman Wagon Ride in Temecula Valley (Fridays and Saturdays in October); Carved at Descanso Gardens in Pasadena (October 3–30); Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival (October 18–19); Boo at the Zoo events at Santa Barbara Zoo (October weekends), Los Angeles Zoo (October weekends), San Francisco Zoo & Gardens (last two weekends of October); Dia de Los Muertos Festival on Olvera Street in Los Angeles (October 25–November 2) with additional festivities at Hollywood Forever Cemetery; Zombie Bike Parade Festival in Davis on October 26; Creepy Tour and Halloween Pub Crawl in Siskiyou County on October 31; Channel Islands Harbor Parade of Frights in Oxnard on October 25; Witches and Warlock Paddle event in Morro Bay also on October 25; Howl-O-Ween at The Living Desert Zoo & Gardens in Palm Desert over the weekend of October 25–26; West Hollywood’s Halloween Carnaval returns to Santa Monica Blvd. on October 31 for its first appearance since before the pandemic; Halloween celebrations continue along Monterey’s Old Fisherman’s Wharf with trick-or-treating and contests.
Hornitos hosts Dia de los Muertos commemorations on November 2 with a candlelight procession honoring ancestors. In San Francisco, ongoing ghost tours explore Chinatown and Jackson Square using equipment intended for paranormal detection.
These events reflect California’s diverse approach to celebrating Halloween—from historical reenactments to contemporary parties—offering both daytime fun for families and nighttime entertainment for adults.
