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 2025.
1. Oktoberfest events
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. 3 and Oaktoberfest in Oakland on Oct. 4-5.
🌐 Learn more: Read our full list of 2025 Oktoberfest events in SF
2. 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.
📅 Dates: Fleet Week is Oct. 5-13, 2025. The Air Show is scheduled for Oct. 10-12, 2025.
🌐 Learn more: San Francisco Fleet Week
3. AURA: An Immersive Odyssey of Breathtaking Proportions
AURA at Grace Cathedral promises 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.
📅 Dates: Select days in October and November 2025
4. Candlelight Halloween concerts
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. The limited-edition shows are selling fast, so we recommend you get your tickets as soon as you can.
🌐 Learn more: Purchase tickets for Candlelight Halloween here.
5. Late Night Editions Legion of Honor
The Legion of Honor is hosting its first Late Night Editions party, and it has a special Halloween theme. The after-hours party at the iconic SF museum is on October 30, featuring cocktails and a lively DJ. Guests can explore the museum after dark, and creative costumes are encouraged to get you in the Halloween spirit.
📅 Dates: Oct. 30, 2025
🌐 Learn more: Late Night Editions: Halloween
6. 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 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!
📅 Dates: Oct. 4, 11, 18 & 25 (And Nov. 1!)
🌐 Learn more: Off the Grid Treasure Island
7. 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.
📅 Dates: Oct. 12, 2025
🌐 Learn more: Italian Heritage Festival
8. 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.
📅 Dates: Oct. 3-5, 2025
🌐 Learn more: Hardly Strictly Bluegrass
9. Fleet Week on Front Street
Fridays on Front Street is back for its final event of the year this October. The free block party will occur on Friday, October 10, during Fleet Week from 4 to 9 pm, featuring a screening of Top Gun, lawn games, DJs, and live music.
📅 Date: Oct. 10, 2025
10. A Nightmare on Strip Street
From the producers of The Empire Strips Back comes another hilariously raunchy burlesque show, this time inspired by classic horror characters, including Pinhead, the Bride of Chucky, and Michael Myers. Check it out at SF’s Great Star Theatre starting this October.
🌐 Learn more: Get tickets for A Nightmare on Strip Street here
11. Stuff Saturday in the Mission
An outdoor market featuring artists and designer craftpeople is coming to the Mission District on Saturday, October 4. The market is a collaboration between West Coast Craft, Stuff by Lux, and Off the Grid. The market will be open from 11 am to 4 pm at 1830 Harrison Street.
📅 Date: October 4, 2025
12. Autumn Lights Festival
Oakland’s 14th 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.
📅 Dates: Oct. 16-18, 2025
🌐 Learn more: Autumn Lights Festival
13. Breakaway Music Festival
The Breakaway Music Festival has moved to Sacramento’s Cal Expo this year, bringing with it exciting artists including Martin Garrix, Tiësto, Elderbrook, Louis The Child, Austin Millz, Chyl, D.O.D., Jon Casey, and more. Enjoy a chance to see the nation’s largest touring festival before it heads to the Midwest.
📅 Dates: Oct. 11-12, 2025
🌐 Learn more: Breakaway Music Festival
14. Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Festival
The Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Festival is back! This year is its 52nd 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.
📅 Dates: Oct. 18-19, 2025
🌐 Learn more: Read our article about the Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Festival
15. 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.
📅 Dates: Sept. 19 – Oct. 19, 2025
🌐 Learn more: SF Open Studios
16. Leap Sandcastle Classic
The 43rd Leap Sandcastle Classic is back at Ocean Beach for 2025! 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.
📅 Dates: Oct. 25, 2025
🌐 Learn more: Leap Sandcastle Classic
17. 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.
📅 Dates: Oct. 3 – Nov. 10, 2025
🌐 Learn more: Fall at Filoli
18. 200 Channels: Dollhouse
Enjoy a horror-themed cabaret perfect for Halloween. 200 Channel’s new show, Dollhouse, blends immersive horror with cute-core cabaret, complete with aerialists and other talented performers. You can expect specialty cocktails and food along with the immersive show. purchase tickets here.
19. More SF Halloween events
We’re thrilled to bring you an epic round of activities to make this your best Halloween yet. There’s something for everyone here, whether you’re looking for a party, a haunted house, kids’ activities, or a little of everything.
🌐 Learn more: Read our full list of Halloween events here.
20. Bay Area haunted houses
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.
🌐 Learn more: Read the full list of Bay Area haunted houses here.
21. Bay Area pumpkin patches
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.
22. U-Pick apple orchards
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.
🌐 Learn more: See the full list of Bay Area apple orchards here.
23. The Jazz Room: A Journey to the Heart of New Orleans
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.
24. Spooky Halloween treats
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.
🌐 Learn more: See the full list of local Halloween treats here.
25. SF museum exhibitions
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 the free Black Gold exhibition at Fort Point to Art of Manga at the de Young, you don’t want to miss these.
🌐 Learn more: Read our list of SF museum exhibitions here.
26. SF ghost tours
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.
27. 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
28. 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
29. Fort Mason Center events
When’s the last time you visited San Francisco’s amazing Fort Mason Center? The popular art center hosts numerous exhibitions and events, including the Guardsmen Fleet Week Party and the SF Fall Show.
🌐 Learn more: Read our article about Fort Mason Center events
30. Ferry Building events
San Francisco’s Ferry Building is one of the city’s most iconic buildings, serving as a hotspot for tourists and locals alike. It’s a center for events, pop-ups, a farmers’ market, and countless excellent merchants who sell their wares daily in the building’s many stalls. Check out the Mushroom Masquerade on Oct. 2 and the Foodwise Sunday Supper on Oct. 19 this October.
🌐 Learn more: Read our article about Ferry Building events
31. SF costume shops to visit before Halloween
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.
🌐 Learn more: See our list of SF costume shops
32. Free concerts at Golden Gate Park Bandshell
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.
🌐 Learn more: See the full lineup of Bandshell concerts here