Today I want to bring you my guide to the best places to go for Halloween in California. From big cities to fun amusement parks and haunted houses, there are lots of popular spots to celebrate Halloween in the Golden State. Whether you’re looking for scary events, big parties, or places to go Trick-or-Treating, there’s a travel destination in California for you in the run-up to October 31st. Read on for my top picks. I’ve included a map, too.
Best Places to Go for Halloween in California
I grew up in California, and I’ve been celebrating Halloween here my whole life. From trick-or-treating in Silicon Valley to scary ghost tours in San Francisco and pumpkin patches in Half Moon Bay, I’ve spent the holiday in a number of places throughout my home state.
In doing so, I’ve discovered a lot of the best places to celebrate Halloween in California. The state offers everything one could want, including haunted mansions, thrilling rides, and fun parties. There are festive destinations to spend the holiday for people of all ages.
I’ve also learned a number of lessons over the years. The first is that it’s worth remembering that certain parts of California can be crowded on and around Halloween. This is particularly true of major cities, big amusement parks, and well-known coastal areas with famous pumpkin patches.
As a result, it’s wise to plan ahead and book things like hotels, flights, and rental cars in California well before you travel. You can often get better rates and have a wider selection to choose from. You can see hotels and book a room here.
It’s also good to have a plan in place for where and how you celebrate the holiday. If you want to attend Halloween events in California, booking tickets in advance is a good idea. A lot of the most popular ones sell out ahead of time.
From amusement parks to parties and ghost tours, you’ll have a better chance of getting tickets if you book as far in advance as you can.
1. Half Moon Bay
Half Moon Bay tops my list of the best places to go for Halloween in California. Widely recognized as the pumpkin capital of the world, Half Moon Bay and the wider area produce more than 3,000 tons of pumpkins each year.
This is a great place to visit in the run-up to October 31st because every fall it’s home to some of the best pumpkin patches in California. From Andreotti Family Farms Pumpkin Patch to Farmer John’s Pumpkin Farm, Pastorino’s Pumpkin Farm, and Arata’s Pumpkin Farm, there’s a range to choose from.
The pumpkin patches in Half Moon Bay are great places to pick out the perfect pumpkin to carve into a Halloween jack-o’-lantern. They also offer everything from mazes to tipis, family entertainment, food, and more.
Then there’s the annual Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival on historic Main Street. This free weekend event celebrates all things pumpkins, art, wine, and food. There’s even a fun run and a World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off.
If this sounds good to you, it’s a wise idea to stay overnight. Traffic getting into and out of Half Moon Bay in fall can be heavy on the weekends, so staying in town will not only allow you to avoid the worst of it, but also take advantage of all HMB has to offer.
You can book accommodation in Half Moon Bay here. There are plenty of options, from beautiful hotels to coastal apartment rentals and beyond. My top pick is the Beach House Hotel. This place is right on the coast in the heart of all the Halloween fun. I’ve stayed here before and I loved the location and views. You can book a room here.
2. Los Angeles
Los Angeles is next on my list of the best places to go for Halloween in California. With sunny weather, famous beaches, and lots of cultural attractions, the LA is a great place to visit at any time of year.
Halloween is no exception. There are plenty of celebrations and Halloween events in Los Angeles. These include events at the theme parks. From Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood to the Knott’s Berry Farm Halloween Haunt and Fright Fest at Six Flags Magic Mountain, there’s a lot going on.
Add to that events like Carved at Descanso Gardens and the West Hollywood Halloween Carnival, and there’s something for everyone here.
If this sounds good to you, you can book a place to stay in LA here. There are plenty of options for accommodation, from hip hotels to beachfront properties and more. My top pick is the STILE Hotel. I’ve had a great stay here, and I love the cool decor and rooftop bar. You can book a room here.
3. San Francisco
San Francisco is another of the top places to spend Halloween in California. The City by the Bay is a great place to spend the holiday, not least because there’s a lot going on.
First, there are San Francisco’s famous ghost tours. They’ll take you through Nob Hill and Union Square on a haunted walking tour where you’ll hear tragic stories and learn about notorious characters with a guide. They’re great ways to get into the spooky spirit and see some of SF’s haunted mansions and eerie spots. You can book one here.
Then there are the Halloween events in San Francisco. From the San Francisco Halloween Pub Crawl to Mayhem Mansion at the Haas-Lilienthal House, SuperNatural at the California Academy of Sciences, and big parties throughout the city, there’s a lot to get excited about.
If you’re interested in trick-or-treating, the best streets in the city include Belvedere Street between Parnassus Avenue and 17th, Fair Oaks Street between 21st and 26th, and Avila Street in the Marina.
If all that sounds good to you, you can book a place to stay in San Francisco here. There are plenty of options, from hotels on the waterfront to apartments with views and more. I love staying at Hotel Triton. It’s in a central location by Union Square and I love the decor. You can book a room here.
4. Disneyland
Disneyland is next on my list of the best places to go for Halloween in California. This place knows how to get into the spirit of a holiday, and the run-up to October 31st is no exception.
Halloween at Disneyland runs all throughout September and October. It features seasonal decor, treats, themed attractions, characters dressed in festive fall costumes, and special experiences for kids of all ages.
It’s a great time to get into the spirit of the celebrations, enjoy the Main Street Pumpkin Festival, and watch Halloween Screams, the nighttime spectacular.
Disneyland is always a popular place to visit, so you’ll want to book tickets and accommodation well in advance. There are lots of options for places to stay, from classic Disney hotels to local apartment rentals and more. You can see a range of options and book here.
My top pick is Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Spa. It’s worth it to stay here for the great amenities and special entrance with direct access to Disney California Adventure Park. Guests get early entry privileges to Disneyland Park and California Adventure, too. You can book a room at this iconic hotel here.
5. San Diego
San Diego is another of my top picks for places to spend Halloween in California. This beach city in SoCal is a great escape for sunny weather and fall festivities in the weeks leading up to October 31st.
There’s a lot going on in San Diego over Halloween, too. Whatever you’re interested in, you can find it in this part of Southern California. The San Diego Zombie Crawl, spooky ghost tours, Brick-or-Treat at LEGOLAND, and Trick-or-Treat on India Street are just a few of the highlights.
Add to that HalGLOWeen at the San Diego Zoo, the Goff Family Pumpkin Patch at Liberty Station, Howl-O-Scream at SeaWorld, The Haunted Trail of Balboa Park, The Scream Zone at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, The Haunted Hotel Disturbance Mission Valley, and the haunted Whaley House, and there’s entertainment for all ages.
If any of those events appeal to you, you can book a place to stay in San Diego here. There’s a range of options in the city, from landmark hotels on the coast to beachfront apartment rentals. My favorite is the Hotel del Coronado. This famous resort is hard to beat. You can book a room here.
6. Chico
Up north, Chico is another exciting place to go for Halloween in California. This place is known for its legendary celebrations on and around October 31st. It’s worth a special trip.
From big parties to trick-or-treating for kids, there’s a lot going on in Chico for Halloween. Highlights include ghost tours, haunted houses, family-friendly events, concerts, and Treat Street in downtown Chico.
If this sounds good to you, you can book accommodation in Chico here. There are lots of options throughout the area, from hotels to house and apartment rentals.
7. Santa Barbara
Next on my list of the best places to spend Halloween in California is Santa Barbara. There’s a lot to love about this city every fall as the end of October approaches.
There are plenty of Halloween events in Santa Barbara to get excited about, too. From the annual THRILLER flashmobs and family-friendly dance party to ghost tours, Boo at the Zoo, the Santa Barbara Halloween Bar Crawl, the Zombie Pub Crawl, and Fields of Funk, there are events for thrill-seekers of all ages.
If you want to spend Halloween on this part of the coast, you can book a place to stay in Santa Barbara here. There are lots of options throughout the area, from luxury hotels in Montecito to waterfront apartments and more. I love staying at El Encanto. This hilltop hotel is legendary. You can book a room here.
8. Bay Area
The Bay Area is another of the top places to go for Halloween in California. From Silicon Valley to the East Bay and Marin County, there’s a lot going on in this part of the Golden State.
From special events like ghost walks in San Jose to Tricks and Treats at Great America, there’s plenty to get excited about.
Add to that Halloween Spooktacular in Redwood City, Pirates of Emerson Haunted Themed Park in Pleasanton, and Fright Fest at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo, and there’s no shortage of Halloween events in the Bay Area.
If this sounds like your kind of thing, you can see a range of accommodation choices here and find one in the location you want to go to. There are plenty of options all around the Bay Area.
9. Sacramento
Sacramento is another of my top picks for where to go for Halloween in California. The state capital is a fun place to get into the spooky spirit, and there’s a lot going on here in October.
From the Haunted Monster Hotel Halloween Costume Ball at the Sheraton Grand to Heartstoppers Haunted House, Trick or Treat at the Sacramento Children’s Museum, Sacramento Scream Park, Sacramento Halloween Pub Crawl, Sinister Creature Con horror convention, and the Sacramento Zombie Walk & Halloween Faire, there’s no shortage of things to do here.
If this all sounds good to you, you can book a place to stay in Sacramento here. I’ve stayed at The Citizen Hotel, and I love its stylish decor and great views of the city. You can book a room here.
Halloween in California Map
As promised, I’ve created an interactive Google map of all the Halloween travel destinations in California on my list. You can see it here. If you click on the blue pins, you can find more information and my relevant blog posts about each one I’ve written about.
Places to Go for Halloween in California
I hope you’ve enjoyed this guide to where to spend Halloween in California, and that it’s inspired you to get out and discover more of the Golden State this fall. There are so many great places to go in the run-up to October 31st, and this time of year is a fun one to be here. Happy celebrating!
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