Spooky season is in full swing.
Find clues at murder mystery dinners on the coast or onboard a train. Honor loved ones who have passed at Día de los Muertos celebrations in SoMa and Oakland. Then, start the party at Halloween events across the Bay complete with costume contests, adult elixirs, and all-ages trick or treating. Boo!
Jump ahead to this week's top events.
Dare to enter the Terror Vault at the SF Mint.
Hop aboard the Floating Museum for It’s Just a Shot Away in Alameda.
Experience the “SuperNatural” at Cal Academy’s Halloween party.
Remember loved ones at OMCA’s blowout Día de los Muertos celebration.
Have a good one.
Find a seat at the Black Lagoon, the haunted pop-up bar taking over Dogpatch’s Sea Star and serving up festive cocktails, collectible glassware, and immersive spooky vibes; through October 31st. // The Sea Star, 2289 3rd St. (Dogpatch); details at blacklagoonpopup.com
Earn some goodies for being a fan. Show up for Luma Hotel’s Purple Power Hour in Valkyries’ gear for complimentary treats and wine as you get ready to cheer them on; Monday, 3pm to 4pm. // Luma Hotel San Francisco, 100 Channel St. (Mission Bay); details on Instagram
Challenge squash pros to ping pong, Jenga, and cornhole, plus snap photos, collect autographs, and enjoy complimentary treats at FanFest; Tuesday, 4:30pm to 6:30pm. // Squash Zone, 3586 Haven Ave. (Redwood City); details at siliconvalleyopen.com
Learn your way around mushrooms, including which ones are edible, to prep for your next foraging adventure; Tuesday, 6pm to 7:30pm. // Mill Valley Library, 375 Throckmorton Ave. (Mill Valley); register at libcal.com
Raise a glass to young storytellers at 826 Valencia’s Writer’s Block Party, offering up free books, a silent auction, unlimited beer and wine, and activities to support their free writing and tutoring programs for SF youth; Tuesday, 6pm to 9pm. // Southern Pacific Brewing Co., 620 Treat Ave. (Mission); tickets at 826valencia.org
Watch writers shoot their shot at Pitchapalooza, a literary event where 20 randomly selected writers will pitch their books in just one minute. Come with your own idea or just for the beer and show; Tuesday, 7pm to 8:30pm. // Gilman Brewing Co., 912 Gilman St. (Berkeley); tickets at eventbrite.com
Sink your teeth into Dracula. Steven Dietz’s adaptation of the timeless classic seduces with elegance and suspense perfect for spooky season; Tuesday through Sunday. // Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St. (Mountain View); tickets at theatreworks.org
Indulge in Saga Wagyu, one of Japan’s most prized beef varieties, through a multi-course tasting experience orchestrated by Anzu executive chef Jason Francisco; Wednesday at 6pm. // Restaurant Anzu, Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. (Tenderloin); reservations at opentable.com
Sip afternoon tea with a Korean twist and enjoy kimchi pancakes, shrimp toast, and dalgona, matcha, and caramel apple sweets inspired by the RM x SFMOMA: Between You and Me exhibit; Thursdays through Sundays, 2pm to 4pm, through November 22nd. // Astra, The St. Regis San Francisco, 125 3rd St. (SoMa); reservations at opentable.com
Get an early taste of Good Morning 96, opening in February, when it pops up at Bacchus Wine Bar slinging sandwiches like prosciutto and Mt. Tam “ham and cheese” and fried shrimp and scallop toast in collaboration with Hensel West vineyards; Thursday, 5pm to 7pm. // Bacchus Wine Bar, 1954 Hyde St. (Russian Hill); details on Instagram
Forge something lasting at “Heavy Metal,” an industrial artisan fair of local makers selling forged creations and offering a workshop with a master maker; Thursday, 5pm to 9pm. // The Crucible, 1260 7th St. (Oakland); tickets at tixr.com
Dare to enter the Terror Vault. This year’s experience takes you into 1980s slasher territory with Hollywood-caliber sets, cinematic storytelling, live actors, and plenty of scares; Thursday and Friday at 6pm, and Saturday and Sunday at 5:30pm. // The San Francisco Mint, 88 5th St. (SoMa); tickets at terrorvault.com
Support emerging Bay Area artists at Root Division’s 25th annual art auction, with craft cocktails, gourmet bites, and live and silent bidding on works from more than 100 artists; Thursday, 6pm to 10pm. // Root Division, 1131 Mission St. (SoMa); details at rootdivision.org
Honor mothers, caregivers, and ancestors at the opening of SOMArts’ annual Día de los Muertos exhibition, In Their Name, with installations, altars, music, and a vendor market; Friday, 6pm to 9pm. // SOMArts Cultural Center, 934 Brannan St. (SoMa); details at humanitix.com
Have some grown-up Halloween fun at Fairyland’s adults-only Monsters' Ball. Dance under the stars to DJ beats, imbibe with adult elixirs, join a summoning ritual, have your tarot cards read, and experience a wickedly playful labyrinth; Friday, 6pm to 10pm. // Children’s Fairyland, 699 Bellevue Ave. (Oakland); tickets at fairyland.org
Saddle up for a weekend at the rodeo. Head to the foothills of Gold Country where Clements Stampede hosts the state’s top ropers and riders and country-themed fun; Friday through Sunday. // Clements Buckaroos Arena, 19813 E. Hwy. 88 (Clements); tickets at clementsstampede.com
Step into a world of passion, heartbreak, and myth as the San Francisco Symphony brings three captivating musical stories to life. Feel the intensity of Shakespeare's star-crossed lovers in Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet, journey into ancient Greek mythology with Augusta Holmès's Andromède, then let violinist Sayaka Shoji transport you through centuries of musical inspiration in Respighi's spellbinding Concerto Gregoriano; Friday, November 13th through Sunday, November 15th. // Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Ave. (Civic Center); tickets at sfsymphony.org
Thank you to our partners at the San Francisco Symphony.
Upgrade your carry-on. Bring in any wheeled suitcase and receive $100 toward the latest Away lineup; Friday through Sunday. // Away Hayes, 371 Hayes St. (Hayes Valley) and Away Santana Row, 378 Santana Row Apt. 1010 (San Jo); appointments at awaytravel.com
Root for the contenders in the Fisherman’s Wharf Chowder Fest. Enjoy live entertainment and activities all afternoon as local restaurants compete for the title of San Francisco’s best clam chowder; Saturday, 12pm to 5pm. // Little Embarcadero, 2860 Taylor St. (Fisherman’s Wharf); tickets at eventbrite.com
Hop aboard the Floating Museum for It’s Just a Shot Away, an exhibition where artists like Kara Walker and Mildred Howard explore the intersections of power, gender, and violence; opens Saturday at 4pm through January 16th. // Floating Museum, 2517 Blanding Ave. (Alameda); details at hallartandtechnologyfoundation.com
Spend your weekend breaking the case at a 1950s-inspired evening of dinner, drinks, intrigue, and murder on the coast; Saturday at 5pm. // The Grey Whale Inn, 615 N. Main St. (Fort Bragg); details on Instagram
Rev up for RADwood, a celebration of ’80s and ’90s car culture complete with cars, costumes, and food trucks; Saturday, 4pm to 8pm. // Gold Bar Hangar, 2505 Monarch St., Bldg. 22 (Alameda); details at radwood.com
Check out Undscvrd’s night market. In honor of the OG night market’s 10-year anniversary, join an evening of Filipino American food, art, music, and culture in the heart of the Filipino Cultural Corridor; Saturday, 4pm to 10pm. // 330 Ritch St. (SoMa); RSVP at luma.com
Walk through the Tunnel of Terror, a Halloween takeover of San José’s Sonic Runway with live opera, interactive art, costume contests, lowrider shows, and community trick-or-treating; Saturday, 5pm to 9pm. // San José City Hall Plaza, 200 E. Santa Clara St. (San José); details on Instagram
Experience the “SuperNatural” at Cal Academy’s Halloween party complete with a silent disco, stargazing, trick-or-treat stations, mad scientists, and more for all ages; Saturday, 6:30pm to 9pm. // California Academy of Sciences, 55 Music Concourse Dr. (Golden Gate Park); details at calacademy.org
Unmask a killer aboard the Napa Valley Wine Train. Play your part in a three-course murder mystery dinner where guests trade clues behind Venetian masks at the Billionaires’ Club masquerade ball; Saturday, 6:20pm to 8:50pm. // Napa Valley Wine Train, 1275 McKinstry St. (Napa); tickets at winetrain.com
Show off your best costume at Fright Night, an adults-only Halloween party with live DJ sets and music, plus a costume contest with cash prizes for individuals and groups; Saturday, 8pm to 12am. // Graton Resort and Casino, 288 Golf Course Dr. W. (Rohnert Park); details at graton.com
Create an everlasting bloom at a paper flower workshop where you’ll learn how to fold a delicate blossom that never needs watering; Sunday, 10am to 12pm. // Treehouse Hotel Silicon Valley, 1100 N. Mathilda Ave. (Sunnyvale); tickets at treehousehotels.com
Remember loved ones at OMCA’s blowout Día de los Muertos celebration with community ofrendas, dancing, music, ceremonies, and an artisan mercado; Sunday, 11am to 4pm. // Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak St. (Lake Merritt); tickets at museumca.org
Take to the streets for Wiggle Fest, a two-block party with fresh BBQ, live local music, arts and crafts, and free community fun; Sunday, 12pm to 4pm. // Wiggle Plaza, Steiner St. and Hermann St. (Duboce Triangle); details on Instagram
Strut your pup down the runway at Palm House’s Halloween Bark Bash, a dog brunch and costume fashion show for furry friends; Sunday, 2pm to 4pm. // Palm House, 2032 Union St. (Cow Hollow); details at palmhousesf.com
Spend your Sunday sculpting and sipping for a good cause at an outdoor pilates class at Bricoleur Vineyards that includes a glass of Brut Rosé and a goodie bag. All ticket sales benefit The V Foundation for Cancer Research; Sunday, 2pm to 4pm. // Bricoleur Vineyards, 7394 Starr Rd. (Windsor); details at bricoleurvineyards.com
