Marin County Halloween Events

Marin may not have the big selection of nightclub events and huge pub crawls that San Francisco and Oakland have, but there are still a lot of great Halloween events in the area. Here are some of the best things to do in Marin for Halloween 2026.

Marin County Halloween Events

Goblin Jamboree

Dates: October 3–4, 10–11, 17–18, 24–25 and 31, 2026
Time: 9AM to 4PM

Goblin Jamboree transforms the museum into a Halloween playground filled with giant spiders, creative activities and just enough spooky fun for younger children. Kids can mix fizzing brews in Goblin Village, make creepy creatures, dig for pretend bugs and meet real insects during Beetlelady presentations. A toddler-sized harvest play area gives smaller children their own place to explore. Costumes are encouraged, and special-event tickets are required, including for museum members.

Location:
Bay Area Discovery Museum
557 McReynolds Road
Sausalito, CA 94965

Halloween Harvest Festival

Date: Friday, October 9, 2026
Time: 5PM to 6:30PM

Marinwood’s Halloween Harvest Festival offers a manageable evening outing for families with younger children. Activities include carnival games with prizes, pumpkin decorating and a bounce house, weather permitting. The event is recommended for ages 3–10, and costumes are encouraged. Tickets are purchased at the event and cost $25 per child, with a $5 sibling discount and free admission for adults.

Location:
Marinwood Park
775 Miller Creek Road
San Rafael, CA 94903

Not-So-Scary Halloween Magic Show

Date: Saturday, October 17, 2026
Times: Performances at 10AM and 11:30AM

Novato’s free Halloween magic show is a good option for children who enjoy holiday festivities but aren’t ready for haunted houses. Presented by the city’s Parks, Recreation & Community Services Department, the show offers a kid-friendly morning of magic and Halloween fun. Families can choose between two performances, and reservations are not required. Arriving when doors open gives you time to find seats before the show begins.

Location:
Novato City Hall
901 Sherman Avenue
Novato, CA 94945

Goblins’ BOOtacular

Date: Friday, October 23, 2026
Time: 5PM to 7PM

San Anselmo’s annual BOOtacular brings costumed children and families downtown for an evening of trick-or-treating along San Anselmo Avenue. Local businesses, recreation staff and volunteers help make the route a welcoming place to collect treats and celebrate with neighbors. It is a particularly good choice for families who enjoy a small-town Halloween atmosphere. The event section of San Anselmo Avenue will be closed to vehicles, so plan to park outside the closure and walk in.

Location:
Downtown San Anselmo
San Anselmo Avenue between Tunstead Avenue and Tamalpais Avenue
San Anselmo, CA 94960

Novato Horsemen Haunted House

Dates: Friday, October 23, Saturday, October 24, and Friday, October 30, 2026
Time: 7PM to 10PM

This community haunted house offers dark corridors and Halloween scares while raising money for the Novato Horsemen club. It is a good pick for visitors who want an actual haunted attraction close to home in Marin. Admission is listed at $8, making it an affordable addition to a Halloween evening. Families with children who are sensitive to scares should check with the organizer about the attraction’s intensity before attending.

Location:
Novato Horsemen clubhouse and grounds
600 Bugeia Lane
Novato, CA 94945

Trick or Treat on Fourth Street and Pet Costume Contest

Date: Saturday, October 24, 2026
Time: 1PM to 3PM

Downtown San Rafael’s Halloween afternoon combines merchant trick-or-treating with activities for families and their pets. Look for signs identifying participating businesses, then stop at City Plaza for the pet costume contest, a police-sponsored trunk-or-treat station and a prize wheel. Dress up the kids, bring a treat bag and consider a costume for your dog, too. The event takes place rain or shine.

Location:
Downtown San Rafael
City Plaza
1000 Fourth Street
San Rafael, CA 94901

Halloween at the Center

Date: Friday, October 30, 2026
Times: Trunk or Treat: 4PM to 6PM and Brian Scott Magic show: 6:15PM to 7PM

Mill Valley’s community celebration fills the center’s parking lot with decorated vehicles and booths offering treats, games and Halloween surprises. Families can enjoy crafts and activities, grab food from on-site trucks and then head inside for a magic show by Brian Scott. The magic performance takes place in the Cascade Room and requires advance tickets because space is limited. Parking at the community center will be limited or unavailable during the event, so allow extra time to arrive.

Location:
Mill Valley Community Center
180 Camino Alto
Mill Valley, CA 94941

Monster Bash DJ Halloween Party at Pixels Arcade Taproom

Date: Friday, October 30, 2026
Time: 9PM

Pixels’ Monster Bash brings together costumes, a DJ, dancing and arcade games for an adults-only Halloween night. Superheroes, villains, anime characters and video game costumes fit the theme, though guests can bring their own Halloween ideas. The combination of music and games makes this a good option for groups who want several things to do throughout the evening. The party is for ages 21 and older, with ticket information available through the venue.

Location:
Pixels Arcade Taproom
1137 Fourth Street
San Rafael, CA 94901

Halloween Spectacular at Marin Country Mart

Date: Saturday, October 31, 2026
Time: 11PM to 2PM

Marin Country Mart’s Halloween Spectacular offers daytime trick-or-treating and a costume contest in its outdoor shopping courtyard. Arrive at 11 a.m. if you want to enter the contest, then visit participating shops for treats through 2 p.m. The celebration also includes the announcement of the giant pumpkin weight contest winner, with guesses accepted beginning October 3. Its daytime schedule leaves plenty of time for neighborhood trick-or-treating later that evening.

Location:
Marin Country Mart
2257 Larkspur Landing Circle
Larkspur, CA 94939

Halloween Sausalito: Parade, Trick or Treat Lane and Dog Costume Contest

Date: Saturday, October 31, 2026
Times: Parade lineup at 5:45PM, parade at 6PM, Trick or Treat Lane around 6:15PM, and dog costume contest at 6:30PM

Sausalito’s Halloween celebration combines a costume parade, trick-or-treating and a dog costume contest in one walkable evening. Families line up at the Johnson Street firehouse before following the parade along Caledonia Street toward treat tables at Robin Sweeny Park. The Howl’O’Ween contest is free to enter and includes categories for different dog sizes and human-and-dog costume pairs. Caledonia Street closures begin before the parade, so arrive early and leave time to walk to the starting point.

Location:
Caledonia Street and Robin Sweeny Park
Parade starts at Fire Station One
333 Johnson Street
Sausalito, CA 94965

‍