San Francisco Halloween events feature free outdoor films, museum activities, trick-or-treating and street celebrations through October 31. The schedule also includes a notable change: Chase Center has canceled its October 24 Thrill-O-Ween event. This guide details confirmed dates, locations, admission rules and activities for families and other residents.
Key Takeaways
- Sundown Cinema will screen “Beetlejuice” at Crane Cove Park on October 16, with free admission and a costume contest.
- Mission Bay Harvest Festival runs October 17 at SPARK Social SF, followed by an outdoor screening of “Hocus Pocus.”
- Chase Center’s October 24 Thrill-O-Ween celebration has been canceled, despite remaining on some older event calendars.
- The Ferry Building will host free trick-or-treating on October 29, while Front Street will hold a free Halloween block party on October 30.
- Chinatown Halloween Festival and Halloween Hoopla at Yerba Buena Gardens are scheduled for October 31.
San Francisco Halloween events are scheduled across the city through October 31, with free movie screenings, costume activities, neighborhood festivals and a downtown block party. One advertised event will not take place: Chase Center has marked its October 24 Thrill-O-Ween celebration at Thrive City as canceled.
The remaining events have separate organizers and admission policies, with some offering free entry but charging for food or individual activities. All times listed are Pacific Time.
Free Outdoor Movies Open San Francisco Halloween Events
Sundown Cinema is scheduled to close its 2026 outdoor film series Friday, October 16, with a screening of the 1988 movie “Beetlejuice” at Crane Cove Park. The gathering begins at 5 p.m., and organizers expect the film to start around 6:30 p.m., shortly after sunset. A costume contest is planned before the screening.
Admission is free. The organizer encourages RSVPs for a chance to access a reserved seating area, but registration is not necessary for general admission. Visitors are advised to arrive early because seating and viewing space are not assigned to everyone.
Crane Cove Park is located near 18th and Illinois streets in Dogpatch. Sundown Cinema advises guests to bring warm layered clothing and blankets for the evening screening. Low-profile chairs are permitted in the main viewing area, while taller chairs must stay toward the edges so other viewers can see the screen.
The next evening, Mission Bay Harvest Festival is scheduled Saturday, October 17, from 4 to 9 p.m. at SPARK Social SF, 601 Mission Bay Boulevard North. The program will end with an outdoor screening of “Hocus Pocus,” scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.
Organizers list a petting zoo, pumpkin patch, live band and neighborhood gathering area before the movie. Free s’mores will be available while supplies last, and the venue’s food trucks will sell meals and snacks. Pumpkins are also subject to availability. The festival is listed as free to attend, with an RSVP option.
Randall Museum and Chinatown Host Family Halloween Celebrations
The Randall Museum will host Family Halloween Day on Saturday, October 24, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 199 Museum Way. Its published program includes games, crafts, costume awards, live music and theater entertainment, with activities oriented toward children through age 12 and their families.
Museum admission is free, but not every activity is. The Randall Museum says some activities require low-cost tickets purchased on site. Children younger than eight must attend with an adult, and the museum warns that parking will be extremely limited.
The same date was originally set for Thrill-O-Ween at Thrive City near Chase Center. Although older announcements list trick-or-treat stations, a pumpkin patch and an outdoor showing of “E.T.,” Chase Center’s current event notice says the October 24 celebration is canceled. Thrive City’s ticketing page also displays a cancellation notice.
Families seeking free activities later in the month can visit the Ferry Building Marketplace on Thursday, October 29, from 4 to 6 p.m. Participating merchants will distribute Halloween candy at shops identified by festive signage. The building also lists crafts, music and games.
According to the Ferry Building, the activities are free and open to the public, but trick-or-treating and crafts continue only while supplies last. Organizers encourage RSVPs to help prepare enough candy for participants. The gathering takes place inside the Ferry Building Marketplace.
On Halloween itself, the Community Youth Center of San Francisco will hold the 12th annual Chinatown Halloween Festival. The free gathering runs Saturday, October 31, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Waverly Place between Sacramento and Washington streets.
The schedule includes a pumpkin patch, crafts, games, virtual reality activities and a lion dance performance. A costume contest covers children, teenagers, adults and groups. Organizers say the three top entrants in each category will receive $50 Chinatown restaurant gift certificates, with preregistration requested by October 28. Organizers list goodie bags for the first 50 preregistered contestants who check in and treats for the first 100 children at Trick-or-Treat Lane.
Chinatown also hosted a community cultural gathering in September, with family activities and performances at Willie “Woo Woo” Wong Playground.
Downtown Street Parties and Park Events Fill Halloween Weekend
Nightmare on Front Street will occupy the Front Street Entertainment Zone on Friday, October 30, from 2 to 10 p.m. The free block party is scheduled between California and Sacramento streets in downtown San Francisco, with DJs, live music, costumes and Halloween-themed activities.
The event is open to all ages. Alcoholic beverages will be sold to adults at least 21 years old who present identification, and food purchases are separate from admission. The organizer identifies Embarcadero BART and Muni stations as nearby transit connections.
San Francisco Recreation and Parks will also hold Scaregrove on Friday, October 30, from 3 to 9 p.m. at Sigmund Stern Grove, near 19th Avenue and Sloat Boulevard. Admission is free, with a haunted house, haunted maze, carnival rides, arts and crafts and live entertainment listed for the park.
On Saturday, October 31, Halloween Hoopla will take place from noon to 3 p.m. at the Children’s Garden in Yerba Buena Gardens, 799 Howard Street. The festival is geared toward children younger than 10 and accompanying adults.
The 26th annual event lists performances by Circus Bella, live music from the Circus Bella All-Star Trio, arts and crafts, a pumpkin patch and a costume parade. Organizers offer free RSVPs. The garden is near SoMa’s cultural destinations, including the area linked by the planned Minna Natoma Art Corridor, a separate public art project.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which San Francisco Halloween events offer free admission?
San Francisco Halloween events with free admission include Sundown Cinema, Mission Bay Harvest Festival, Randall Museum Family Halloween Day, Ferry Building trick-or-treating, Nightmare on Front Street, Scaregrove, Chinatown Halloween Festival and Halloween Hoopla. Some activities, food and other purchases may cost extra.
Is Thrill-O-Ween still scheduled for October 24?
No. Chase Center has marked the October 24 Thrill-O-Ween event at Thrive City as canceled, although older announcements may still display its original schedule and activities.
When are the free outdoor Halloween movie screenings?
“Beetlejuice” is scheduled for October 16 at Crane Cove Park, beginning around 6:30 p.m. “Hocus Pocus” is scheduled for October 17 at SPARK Social SF, beginning at 7 p.m.
Where can families go trick-or-treating before Halloween?
The Ferry Building Marketplace will host free trick-or-treating on Thursday, October 29, from 4 to 6 p.m. Participating shops will display festive signage, with candy and crafts available while supplies last.
What free Halloween activities are scheduled for October 31?
The Chinatown Halloween Festival will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Waverly Place, with games, crafts and costume activities. Halloween Hoopla will take place from noon to 3 p.m. at Yerba Buena Gardens, featuring performances, crafts and a costume parade.
