Happy October, San Francisco! We’re rolling right into Halloween season, which means we have a very exciting batch of activities to enjoy, including haunted houses and the beginnings of some fall foliage.
There are plenty of festivals and fairs to check out as we welcome a new month, so make sure you plan ahead for these events and things to do in San Francisco in October 2026.
Fleet Week
San Francisco Fleet Week is one of the most highly anticipated events on the city’s cultural calendar featuring a heart-racing Air Show heard and seen for miles in every direction. The Blue Angels put on an unbelievable spectacle above iconic SF landmarks like Alcatraz Island and the Golden Gate Bridge.
🌐 Learn more: San Francisco Fleet Week
Italian Heritage Festival
San Francisco’s vibrant Italian community will come out in droves this October to celebrate the Italian Heritage Festival. Festivities include a bazaar all weekend long, and of course, the Italian Heritage Parade with Fernet pit stops along the route. You don’t want to miss this giant party lifting up the contributions of Italian-Americans in San Francisco.
🌐 Learn more: Italian Heritage Festival
AURA at Grace Cathedral continues to be one of San Francisco’s most stunning experiences, blending cutting-edge projections, music, and the cathedral’s architecture. This 45-minute show transforms the iconic Gothic space into a living artwork, filling it with dazzling visuals and symphonic sound. Internationally acclaimed and experienced by over two million visitors worldwide, AURA now invites San Francisco audiences to see the cathedral’s historic arches come alive with light, color, and modern artistry.
Leap Sandcastle Classic
The 44th Leap Sandcastle Classic is back at Ocean Beach for 2026! The free event brings out thousands of people for the ultimate sandcastle contest. You can watch teams build absolutely enormous sand sculptures while enjoying live music, performances, and local food trucks. The event is hosted by Leap Arts in Education as their main fundraising effort to support arts education in Bay Area schools.
🌐 Learn more: Leap Sandcastle Classic
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass
SF’s iconic free music festival is the first week of October, and we couldn’t be more excited. As usual, the free festival has a lineup full of bluegrass favorites. You can expect multiple stages in Golden Gate Park, along with a variety of food vendors. Bring a picnic blanket and enjoy a weekend of music in the park.
🌐 Learn more: Hardly Strictly Bluegrass
Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Festival
The Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Festival is back! This year is its 54th annual event on historic Main Street in Half Moon Bay. Get ready for a day of picturesque coastal views, live music and dancing, masterful pumpkin carvers, harvest-inspired crafts, endless pumpkin pie and other festive food, and of course, thousands and thousands of pumpkins.
🌐 Learn more: Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Festival
The extremely popular concert series known as Candlelight is hosting some gorgeous Halloween-themed concerts in an intimate environment surrounded by hundreds of luminous candles.
Guests can expect classical versions of “Thriller,” the Stranger Things theme, the Psycho theme, the Ghostbusters theme, “This is Halloween” from The Nightmare Before Christmas, and many more performed by a string quartet of talented musicians. The concerts are in iconic San Francisco venues, including St. Ignatius Church.
Off the Grid Treasure Island at Cityside Park
Fall outings just got more fun with Off the Grid Treasure Island. Taking place every Saturday in September and October, the new family-friendly adventure celebrates community, coastal cuisine, and live music.
Come for the 15-plus food trucks and curated bar program, stay for the lawn games and sweeping views. Furry friends are welcome, too!
🌐 Learn more: Off the Grid Treasure Island
Oktoberfest is here, and there are plenty of opportunities in the Bay Area to enjoy beer-fueled parties right up until Halloween. Although many of the events began in September, you can still enjoy some events such as Parktoberfest at Park Chalet on Oct. 9 and Oaktoberfest in Oakland on Oct. 3-4.
Autumn Lights Festival
Oakland’s 15th annual Autumn Lights Festival is back this year at the Gardens at Lake Merritt! Take a trip across the Bay to a glimmering oasis of light installations distributed throughout these lovely lakeside gardens, which have been a beloved feature of the city for over 50 years. The festival is a major fundraiser for the Gardens that helps to keep them thriving all year round, so that the public may continue to enjoy them for free.
🌐 Learn more: Autumn Lights Festival
SF Open Studios
SF Open Studios gives the public a rare opportunity to visit over 400 local artists in their personal studios. The annual event started in 1975 as a way for local artists to increase the accessibility of their work by collectively opening their studios to the public.
🌐 Learn more: SF Open Studios
Nightfall at Filoli
Filoli is known for its historic orchard, which they take full advantage of during the fall, but the immersive Nightfall event is a great opportunity to explore the estate and gardens in all their spooky autumnal splendor. Visit for a seasonal-themed bar and plenty of spirited decorations.
🌐 Learn more: Nightfall at Filoli
Enjoy live jazz from talented musicians, playing classic songs this October. You can expect to hear saxophone and trumpets among other instruments during the performance, located in an intimate bar perfect for date night.
We’re thrilled to bring you an epic round of activities to make this your best Halloween yet. There’s something for everyone at our list linked below, whether you’re looking for a party, a haunted house, kids’ activities, or a little of everything.
Pumpkin spice lattes are all good and well, but if you’re looking for something a bit more spooky, you’re in the right place. We’ve rounded up some of the best haunted houses in the Bay, plus some ghost tours for those wanting a tamer experience.
We’re lucky to live right near Half Moon Bay, the pumpkin capital of the world! Whether you’re looking for family activities with kids or getting ahead of your Halloween decorating, these excellent Bay Area farms and pumpkin patches have got you covered.
🌐 Learn more: Read the full list of Bay Area pumpkin patches here.
Apple season peaks in the Bay Area in September and October, so many local orchards will soon open their doors for “U Pick,” when people can visit and pick their own apples, sip freshly-squeezed apple juice, and enjoy the bounty of a California harvest.
After Dark at the Exploratorium
The Exploratorium at Pier 15 in San Francisco is an exciting place for discovery any time of the day, but these 18+ After Dark events are a must for some epic kid-free fun at their exhibits. After Dark happens each Thursday from 6-10 pm with a different theme every week, featuring guest speakers, films, great music, and more.
🌐 Learn more: See the schedule and get tickets for After Dark at the Exploratorium
It’s hard to deny that the fall season brings some of the best flavors on the calendar. We’re talking pumpkin spice, nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, and every scent that you want wafting through your kitchen. Well, that fact is certainly not lost on San Francisco’s bakeries, cafes, and ice cream shops, because they are busy churning out an epic lineup of delicious treats.
San Francisco museums turn over a handful of temporary exhibitions every single month, and we’re looking forward to some exciting ones this October. From Treasures of the Pharaohs at the de Young to Forever Grateful in Golden Gate Park, you don’t want to miss these.
Even the boldest visitors can’t help but shiver on San Francisco’s eerie ghost tours, inspired by chilling tales from the Gold Rush and Barbary Coast eras. Grab your ghost-hunting gear and prepare to see the city’s familiar landmarks in a haunting new light.
NightLife at the California Academy of Sciences
NightLife at the California Academy of Sciences is one of our favorite ongoing events. The popular Thursday night festivities feature live DJs, outdoor bars, ambience lighting, and more alongside the Academy’s nearly 40,000 animal residents.
🌐 Learn more: NightLife at the CA Academy of Sciences
SF residents love any excuse to throw on a costume and hit the streets, so it’s no surprise that we also have a treasure trove of vintage, thrift, and costume shops where you can find the perfect Halloween look. The list ranges from high-quality rentals to affordable vintage looks and even some DIY options if you’re feeling crafty. Whatever you have planned for Halloween, these spots will help you look your best.
The Lift Every Voice series is still cranking out dozens of free concerts courtesy of Illuminate, SF Rec & Parks, and the SF Parks Alliance. All performances are free and family-friendly, with the impressive Golden Gate Bandshell as the backdrop. The Bandshell, which is 120 years old, added new lighting, a state-of-the-art sound system, and a new stage during the pandemic.