Every September the East Bay gears up for spooky season with haunted houses, Halloween fairs, trunk-or-treats and costume contests. Some events are fun for kids, while others deliver scares for teens and adults. The paper will continue running the Boo Calendar of Halloween events through October.
Fear Overload Scream Park is back at NewPark Mall, with two attractions for 2024: Darkmoor Penitentiary and Slotch Sanitorium. Plus additional attractions like an emporium of sinister Halloween merch. You get one small flashlight to survive. This mega scary haunt is for ages 13 and up.
Fear Overload Scream Park
Saturday, Sept 21 – Saturday, Nov 2
7pm – 10pm (times vary based on night)
NewPark Mall
2086 NewPark Mall, Newark
www.fearoverload.com
Tickets: $24.99 – $28.99
Pirates of Emerson has been running for 34 years—including during the pandemic when it switched to an equally scary drive-thru haunt. It’s not only the pirates: In addition to the classic theme, this year also has Demented Dolls, Halloween Hell and Seesawz Circus. The scares are real and recommended for ages 13 and up.
Pirates of Emerson
Saturday, Sept 27 – Saturday, Nov 2
7:05pm – 10pm (12am special nights)
Alameda County Fairgrounds, Gate 8
Corner of Bernal & Valley Ave., Pleasanton
www.piratesofemerson.com
Tickets: $40 – $100
Fremont’s favorite ghost house will be back on October 12. Organized by The Candlelighters, the haunted house and game carnival raise money for local nonprofit groups and projects. The walk through the historical Chadbourne Carriage House is more spooky than scary, but Good Fairies will escort the more nervous. Plus, there’s a lights-on tour and costume contest in October.
Fremont Ghost House: House of Fears
Saturday, Oct 12 – Wednesday, Oct 30
Weekdays: 6pm – 9pm (10pm Fridays)
Sat: 3pm – 10pm
Sun: 3pm – 9pm
Admission: $5
Game tickets: $1
Summer’s over, but Fremont Street Eats with Food Truck Mafia will still be running on Friday nights, concluding on October 18 with a trick-or-treat themed night. Wear a costume!
Fremont Street Eats Trick-or-Treat
Friday, Oct 18
5pm – 9pm
Downtown Event Center
3500 Capitol Ave., Fremont
www.fremont.gov
The best spooky tales are the ones rooted in reality, and Hayward’s Historical buildings Meek Mansion and McConaghy House are home to many spirit sightings. Tours are recommended for ages 14 and up. For those who want to do some actual ghost hunting, join a paranormal investigation at Meek House on November 2 (Tickets $75, intended for ages 18 and up).
Beyond the Veil
Meek Mansion: Oct 18 & 19
McConaghy House: Oct 25 & 26
6:15pm, 7:30pm, 8:45pm
510.581.0223
www.haywardareahistory.org/beyond-the-veil
Tickets: $30 General, $25 Hayward Area Historical Society Members
The Haunted Train will come to Ardenwood Farm for two weekends in October (18-20 and 25-27). This spooky-not-scary nighttime adventure is designed for families with children under 12. The train will wind through Halloween displays, and the Witch of Ardenwood will make an appearance.
Haunted Train
Oct 18, 19, 20; Oct 25, 26, 27
7pm (trains run every 30 minutes)
Ardenwood Historic Farm
34600 Ardenwood Blvd, Fremont
510.544.2797
Tickets: $16
Union City will hold a 5K Run and Walk—with a twist. For spooky season, runners can take on the Zombie Challenge and try to make it through the course without “zombies” stealing their flags. After the race is over, join a raffle and costume contest.
The Running Dead 5K Fun Run and Walk
Saturday, Oct 19
9am
Civic Center/City Hall
34009 Alvarado Niles Road., Union City
www.runsignup.com (search Union City Running Dead)
Registration: $27.50 – $38.10
Newark’s Howl-o-Ween is the place to show off the fashionable or spooky dog costumes. The event includes giveaways, photo booth, resource fair and pet costume contest.
Howl-o-Ween
Saturday, Oct 19
10am – 12:30pm
NewBark Dog Park
35501 Cedar Blvd., Newark
Hayward will turn the Matt Jimenez Community Center into a spooky but safe family-friendly haunted house the last two weekends of October. Plus, join a carnival on October 25 for games and a costume contest.
Haunted House and Halloween Spooktacular
Haunted House: Oct 23 – 25 & Oct 27-30, 7:15pm – 9:15pm
Spooktacular Carnival: Saturday, Oct 25; 11am – 4pm
Matt Jimenez Community Center
28200 Ruus Road., Hayward
Haunted House Admission $5, Carnival FREE
Newark is having their second Floating Pumpkin Patch, where families can combine the traditional choosing of a pumpkin to carve with a day at the indoor swim center. Admission includes one pumpkin, two hours at the pool, goodie bag and pumpkin decorating.
Newark Floating Pumpkin Patch
Friday, Oct 25
5pm – 7pm
Silliman Family Aquatic Center
6800 Mowry Ave., Newark
Tickets: $10 Residents, $12 non-residents
Every year, Milpitas holds Pumpkins in the Park—and this year’s event will include bounce houses, trick-or-treating, a costume contest, rock climbing wall and even a petting zoo. Admission is free, but a pumpkin pass is required for premium activities.
Pumpkins in the Park
Saturday, Oct 26
10am – 2pm
Cardoza Park
Kennedy Drive and Park Victoria Drive, Milpitas
cityofmilpitas.simpletix.com
Pumpkin Pass: $17
Union City’s annual carnival will have games, a costume contest and old-fashioned fun with only a few ghouls lurking in the shadows. The event is open to kids ages 1-13, plus their parents.
Halloween Carnival
Sunday, Oct 27
1pm – 4pm
Ruggieri Senior Center
33997 Alvarado-Niles Rd., Union City
Admission: $10
Pacific Commons is holding their Halloween Spooktacular the day before Halloween. The event includes a face painter, balloon artist and free goodie bags while supplies last.
Halloween Spooktacular
Wednesday, Oct 30
4pm – 6pm
Pacific Commons
43440 Boscell Rd., Fremont
