Oakland Halloween Events

Oakland has a lot of fun things to do for Halloween 2026 including family trick-or-treating, live music, outdoor dancing, ballet, puppet theater and late night parties.

Halloween falls on Saturday, October 31, 2026, which makes this a particularly good year for planning a full weekend in Oakland. Some events are designed for young children, while others are strictly for adults or older teens. There is a huge list of events, some which haven't been announced yet, but the list below includes my recommendations for Halloween events that are worth going to.

Oakland Halloween Events

Jack O’ London Pup Crawl — Halloween Edition

Date: Saturday, October 17, 2026
Time: 2–7 p.m.

Dress up with your dog for a Halloween afternoon visiting participating bars, breweries and restaurants around the Jack London District. The crawl features food and drink specials for people and treats for their dogs, with optional donations benefiting Oakland Animal Services. Registration is free for adults 21 and older, but food and drinks cost extra. Check in to receive the wristband needed for specials, and bring well-behaved dogs on leashes.

Check-in Location:

333 Broadway
Oakland, CA 94607

Boo at the Zoo

Dates: October 17–18, October 24–25, October 31 and November 1, 2026
Time: 9:30AM to 4PM

Oakland Zoo’s Boo at the Zoo adds Halloween activities to a regular day at the zoo. It is a good fit for families who want a seasonal outing but do not want a haunted attraction or a loud nighttime party.

The 2026 program includes creepy-crawler encounters, limited-edition animal trading cards and special Halloween activities throughout the grounds. Guests can meet some of the zoo’s insects at the House of Bugs on Saturdays at 1PM Sunday visitors can see reptiles and amphibians in the Reptile & Amphibian Discovery Room at 1PM.

The zoo also holds an in-person costume contest on Saturdays, October 17, 24 and 31, at noon in the Wildlife Theater. One important rule is that inflatable costumes are not allowed because they can frighten the animals. Boo at the Zoo is easy to combine with other East Oakland activities, but the zoo is a large property with hills and walking paths. Wear shoes that can handle a full day outside and allow extra time for parking and admission.

Location:

Oakland Zoo
9777 Golf Links Road
Oakland, CA 94605

Monsters’ Ball at Children’s Fairyland

Date: Friday, October 23, 2026
Time: 6PM to 10PM

Fairyland becomes an adults-only Halloween playground for an evening inspired by the darker side of childhood fairy tales. The event includes dancing with DJ heyLove, drinks, tarot and strange encounters throughout the storybook park. It is a particularly fun option for adults who want a costume party in an unusual Oakland setting. Admission is restricted to guests 21 and older with valid identification.

Location:

Children’s Fairyland
699 Bellevue Avenue
Oakland, CA 94610

Piedmont Avenue’s 39th Annual Halloween Celebration

Date: Saturday, October 24, 2026
Time: 11AM to 1PM
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This free neighborhood celebration brings families to Piedmont Avenue for costumes, trick-or-treating at participating businesses and live music. The event listing also highlights haunted houses and pumpkin patches along the celebration route. Activities begin at Pet Food Express, and Piedmont Avenue is scheduled to close to traffic between Yosemite and Linda avenues during the event. It is a convenient choice for families who prefer a daytime neighborhood outing.

Location:

Piedmont Avenue (Start at Pet Food Express)
4135 Piedmont Avenue
Oakland, CA 94611

Halloween Hike & Sip

Date: Saturday, October 24, 2026
Time: 5–7 p.m., the published event window

This adults-only outing pairs a guided redwood forest hike with spooky stories, followed by drinks and refreshments at Chabot’s observation deck. Costumes are encouraged, and telescope viewing adds another reason to linger if weather permits. Tickets include two drinks, with beer, wine and nonalcoholic options available. Guests must be 21 or older, and sturdy shoes, layers and a flashlight are recommended for the evening walk.

Location:

Chabot Space & Science Center
10000 Skyline Boulevard
Oakland, CA 94619

34th Annual Rockridge Halloween Parade

Date: Sunday, October 25, 2026
Time: 11AM to 2PM

Rockridge’s annual celebration offers free trick-or-treating at more than 40 businesses along College Avenue, plus entertainment and activities at neighborhood hubs. Families can enjoy crafts, live performances and costume contests for children and dogs while strolling through the shopping district. The library parking lot serves as one main gathering point, with another hub at College Avenue Presbyterian Church. This is a strong choice for a relaxed afternoon of costumes and neighborhood trick-or-treating.

Location:

College Avenue in Rockridge
5366 College Avenue
Oakland, CA 94618

Sci-Fi Night: Little Shop of Horrors

Date: Friday, October 30, 2026
Time: 7PM to 9:30PM

Chabot presents the director’s cut of Little Shop of Horrors for a Halloween weekend evening of creepy comedy, music and a very hungry plant. The main screening takes place on the center’s 70-foot planetarium dome, with food, drinks and themed cocktails available for purchase. This event is for ages 18 and older. Select planetarium tickets if you want the dome experience, since overflow tickets may place guests in a different theater.

Location:

Chabot Space & Science Center
10000 Skyline Boulevard
Oakland, CA 94619

Spooky Science

Date: Saturday, October 31, 2026
Time: 10AM to 5PM

Chabot’s Halloween daytime event combines trick-or-treating with spooky science activities for families. The space-themed setting makes it a good option for children who enjoy science and want something to do before evening neighborhood festivities. Activities are included with general admission, and admission is free for members. The organizer has announced the overall program, though a detailed activity schedule has not yet been posted on the event page.

Location:

Chabot Space & Science Center
10000 Skyline Boulevard
Oakland, CA 94619

Mad Magic at Children’s Fairyland

Date: Saturday, October 31, 2026
Time: 12PM to 7PM

Mad Magic fills Fairyland with family Halloween activities, including trick-or-treat stations, mad-science activities, bounce houses, sensory games, crafts and live performances. Children are encouraged to wear costumes as they explore the park’s storybook settings. Its afternoon-to-evening schedule makes it a useful option for families who want to celebrate Halloween without staying out late. Check the event page for tickets and the latest performance details.

Location:

Children’s Fairyland
699 Bellevue Avenue
Oakland, CA 94610

Shpongle at the Fox Theater

Dates: Friday, October 30 and Saturday, October 31, 2026
Doors: 7PM
Show: 8PM

Electronic music act Shpongle has two Halloween weekend shows at Oakland’s Fox Theater. The concert is a strong pick for people who want a large live music experience rather than a traditional costume party.

The Fox is one of Oakland’s most recognizable concert venues, with a 2,800-person capacity and an elaborate former movie-palace interior. Shpongle’s psychedelic electronic sound is a natural match for a Halloween weekend show, even though the event is listed as a concert rather than a formal costume party.

Both dates are currently listed as all ages. The October 31 show may be the better choice for visitors who want their main Halloween activity to be a concert, while the October 30 performance gives local residents another chance to see the same production without competing with Saturday night plans.

Check the venue’s ticket page for current prices, resale warnings and accessibility information. The Fox is in Uptown Oakland, close to BART, restaurants and other downtown nightlife.

Location:

Fox Theater Oakland
1807 Telegraph Avenue
Oakland CA 94612

Hell Comes to Oakland IV at Thee Stork Club

Dates: Friday, October 30 and Saturday, October 31, 2026

Hell Comes to Oakland IV is a Halloween tribute-band night at Thee Stork Club in Uptown. The event is scheduled for both October 30 and October 31, making it one of the better Oakland choices for people who want loud live music and a smaller club setting.

The Stork Club is known for punk, alternative, metal and DJ nights. This event should appeal to guests who would rather hear recognizable horror and hard-rock songs than dance to a conventional Halloween playlist.

The current listing shows a 9PM show time and a low ticket price, though the lineup and door policy should be checked before attending. The venue is close to the Fox Theater, so it may be possible to pair the show with dinner or another Uptown activity. Do not assume that a Fox Theater ticket also covers the Stork Club event. They are separate venues with separate tickets.

Location:

Thee Stork Club
2330 Telegraph Ave
Oakland, CA 94612

Demon Time Halloween Rave at the Continental Club

Date: Saturday, October 31, 2026
Time: 10PM

For an actual late-night Halloween rave, Demon Time takes over the Continental Club in West Oakland. The event is described as a night of techno and house music, with costumes encouraged and an 18-and-over age limit.

The Continental Club is a large event venue with a main stage, lounge, rooftop and indoor-outdoor spaces. That makes it better suited to a big dance crowd than a small bar party.

Because the event begins late, it is worth planning transportation before the night starts. Use a designated driver, rideshare or public transit where practical, and check the event page for the final schedule, ticket price and entry rules. Guests should also confirm whether the venue allows masks, props or large costume accessories.

Location:

Continental Club
1658 12th Street
West Oakland, CA 94607

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