There’s no shortage of Halloween happenings in the neighborhood this year, including screenings of the original “Halloween” film from 1978 at the Balboa, and plenty of family-friendly parties and festivals. Have a spooktacular Halloween!
Sarah B.
YMCA Medieval Adventure Halloween Festival | October 26, 5:30-8pm
360 18th Avenue
The Richmond District YMCA will take you back to medieval times with princes, princesses, dragons, and castles. Featuring activities for toddlers through middle school like bouncy castles, S’mores, palm reading, healthy halloween treats, pumpkin carving and more. Entry is $5 per child which includes a pumpkin. View event flyer
Supernatural Halloween Party at the Academy of Sciences | October 27, 6:30-9:30pm
The Academy’s annual Halloween party is full of haunted treats including live animal demonstrations, musical performances, arts and crafts, trick or treating, pumpkin carving demonstrations, face-painting, “A Haunted Tour of the Night Sky” in the planetarium and more. $50 for adults, $35 for children; children under age 1 are free. Tickets available online
Helluva Halloween 5K Costume Run | October 27, 9:30am
Polo Fields, Golden Gate Park
Throw on a costume and race in the first annual halloween 5k presented by MadDash. There will be plenty of entertainment after the race ends, including a costume contest, beer & wine garden, local eats, live music and DJ, cash raffle, kid zone with spooktacular activites for children 12 and under, and more. Advance registration is $30 or $35 the day of race. All ages, runner and walkers are welcome.
Scary Story Night at the Bazaar Cafe | October 27, 7pm
5927 California Street
For many years radio journalist/playwright Peter Finch and his wife Alice hosted a Scary Story Party at their San Francisco home. Last year they brought it to the Bazaar Cafe. Everyone is invited to show up and share a story, song, or performance piece, as long as it is original, and it’s not too long (3-10 minutes). Costumes are optional. All are welcome, even if they don’t bring a story.
Many Haunts of the Richmond District Neighborhood Center | October 28, 12:30-3:30pm
RDNC, 741 30th Avenue near Cabrillo
Children and their families are invited to come in costume and explore the Richmond District Neighborhood Center, transformed into a haunted wonderland complete with games, attractions, baked sale and fortune tellers. Visit the spooky-but-not-scary Building B, make experiments with different potions in the witches’ and wizard’s school, and enjoy a full brew of games, activities and fun. FREE! View event flyer
Really Freakin’ Scary Stories” at the Library | October 30, 5pm
351 9th Avenue
The Richmond District Branch Library is haunted! Come hear gruesome stories to give you nightmares. For children and teens ages 10 and up, no exceptions.
HALLOWEEN NIGHT EVENTS
“Halloween” the original movie at the Balboa Theater | October 30 & 31, 10pm
The 1978 classic “Halloween” is back in theaters for two nights only at the Balboa. A psychotic murderer institutionalized since childhood for the murder of his sister, escapes and stalks a bookish teenage girl and her friends while his doctor chases him through the streets. Starring Jamie Lee Curtis (and that creepy theme music!!!). Purchase advance tickets online ($10, $7.50 for children and seniors)
22nd & California Haunted House | October 31, starts at 6pm (be in line by 9pm to get in)
Don’t miss this neighborhood tradition when the basement of Appel & Dietrich market is transformed into a haunted house. Start your adventure with a slide ride that descends you into the depths of scary! This year’s theme is under the sea, so be on the lookout for nasty sea creatures, haunted sea caves and other ghoulish delights. And whatever you do, don’t try to steal the treasure… Free admission, all ages welcome.
Trick-or-Treat Thing at Frankenart Mart | October 31, 5:30-9pm
This funky, hands-on art gallery/experiment at 515 Balboa always has something cookin’ for Halloween. “This year’s theme is the theft of our electoral system – pretty scary. We will also be collecting signatures for a presidential petition to push the end of Daylight Savings Time back a week or two (blame Bush), so it’s actually frackin dark on Halloween. Trick-or-treating in broad daylight is wimpifying our nation. Candy available to SuperPACs.” They also welcome zombie participants – “Come dressed as a corporate zombie anytime to join our fright fest.”
I talked to some people who tried to go to the 22nd Ave haunted house last year – they said the lines were too long and they couldn’t stick around long enough to get in!