Halloween is upon us and Santa Cruz County has all the spooky fun this October! Trick-or-Treating on the Wharf, Halloween Parades, Pumpkin Patches, and so much more! Check out some of the best Halloween events throughout the county!
Pumpkin Patches
Throughout October
Whether you’re looking for pumpkin picking with ocean views or patches decked out with spooky decor, Santa Cruz County has plenty of spots to get you (and your home) in the fall spirit! Check our list here for the best places to pick your perfect pumpkin in Santa Cruz County this fall!
The Grove Ballroom: “Us” Fright Flick
October 1, 2025; 7:30pm – 10pm
In “Us”, the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk serves as the pivotal setting for the movie’s opening and climax, representing the place where the protagonist Adelaide first encountered her doppelganger in a flashback and where the final confrontation occurs. Will watching this movie in the place it was filmed increase the sense of unease and foreboding? Take your 21 and older friends with you to find out, and enjoy a signature drink!
Downtown Boulder Creek: Treat Walk
October 3, 2025; 5pm – 8pm
Head to Downtown Boulder Creek to enjoy the Annual Treat Walk where both artists and merchants will be handing out candy and treats to the kiddos. Although you are welcome to break out your Halloween costume early, it is not required.
Roaring Camp Railroads: Thomas and Percy’s Halloween Party
October 4 – 5; October 11 – 12; October 18 – 19; October 25 – 26, 2025
Little engineers won’t believe their eyes, or their ears! Percy will be joining Thomas the Tank Engine on the rails! Also, Thomas the Tank Engine™ will be able to talk to his fans! Dress up for Halloween with favorites Thomas™ and Percy™, for a 20 minute train ride, entertainment, and fun filled activities for the entire family. Activities include: face painting, story telling, train play tables, pick a pumpkin, cookie decorating, coloring, and more.
The Grove Ballroom: “Scream” Fright Flick
October 8, 2025; 7:30pm – 11:00pm
Bring your 21 and older friends for a night of fun and frights! Enjoy this fun movie blending scares, laughs and sharp wit upending classic horror cliches at the Boardwalk’s historic Grove ballroom. There will be themed giveaways for the first 50 attendees and a full bar with signature drinks and snacks available for purchase.
Tractor or Treat at the Agriculture History Project
October 11, 2025; 11am – 3pm
Come on out for some amazing fall fun! Second Saturday on the farm, Tractor or Treat! Kids and families will enjoy trick-or-treating around the farm, fall crafts, drive a tractor, enjoy a hay wagon ride around the fairgrounds and so much more!
Felton Farmer’s Market: Pumpkin Decorating Bonanza
October 14, 2025; 2pm – 5pm
Welcome the fall and its fading light with free pumpkin decorating! At this annual tradition, kids and adults alike will sit down to celebrate the harvest season, the coming holidays and the joy of playing with food. Rodoni pumpkins of all shapes and sizes will be dressed up with veggies, string, pipe cleaners, buttons, and googly eyes. Vendors take advantage of the theme – when you are done with the market hunt seek out some pumpkin ice cream and cardamom carrot pumpkin bread!
Festival of Monsters
October 15, 2025; 5:30pm – 7:30pm and October 18, 2025; 11:00am – 6:00pm
To go with the UCSC conference surrounding the academic research of monsters, public events around Santa Cruz will be taking place. See David Livingstone Smith, author of Making Monsters speak on The Uncanny Power of Dehumanization at 5:30pm on Wednesday, October 15 at 5:30pm at the MAH. Then, on Saturday, October 18, head to Bookshop Santa Cruz for a free panel discussion of horror writers at 11:00am. RSVP here. Then, walk from the panel discussion to Atlantis Fantasy World from 2-5pm to have Cole Lemke sign his latest graphic novel for you! Finally, just across the street, join a themed bluffing game overseen by a storyteller at 6pm at Game Santa Cruz. $20 tickets for the game only here.
The Grove Ballroom: “Nightmare on Elm Street” Fright Flick
October 15, 2025; 7:30pm – 10:30pm
Not to be confused with the Elm Street in Santa Cruz, where the Elm Street Mission encourages visitors to volunteer to help the needy, bring your 21 and older friends for a night of fun and frights! Enjoy this classic horror film and signature drinks from the full bar. Fun inflatable chairs are available on a first-come-first-served basis.
Actors Theatre: Misery
October 18 – November 1; Thursdays Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 2pm
Based on the novel by Stephen King, Misery keeps the audience on the edge of their seats as they witness the peril-fraught relationship between a novelist, Paul Sheldon, and his self-proclaimed “number one fan,” Annie Wilkes. This skillfully constructed play explores themes of obsession, captivity, and the sinister side of fandom, culminating in a horrific and dramatic struggle for survival. Master of Horror Miguel Reyna directs the frighteningly talented cast of Manirose Bobisuthi, Ian Dyer, and Brad Roades.
(For ages 16+ only, due to graphic depictions of violence.)
Heritage Harvest Festival at Wilder Ranch State Park
October 18, 2025; 11am – 4pm
It’s time to celebrate harvest time! Participate in historical activities and living history demonstrations including blacksmithing, the Pelton water wheel, and machine shop demonstrations. Enjoy live old-time music, baked goods, and hand-cranked pumpkin ice cream for sale. Enjoy kids’ crafts and games and partake in the apple cider press and heritage apple tasting!
Downtown Santa Cruz: Halloween Mask Making Festival
October 18, 2025; 12pm – 4pm
Enjoy the 26th annual Halloween Festival, including mask-making, creepy carnival games, All About Theatre Halloween performances and Thriller dance!
Simpkins Swim Center: Floating Pumpkin Patch
October 18, 2025; 1:00pm – 4:00pm
The Santa Cruz County Parks Department hosts an annual Floating Pumpkin Patch at Simkins Family Swim Center in Santa Cruz. The event allows people to swim and dive for pumpkins, which they can then decorate at a station with crafts. The event also includes games, prizes, and open swim time.
13 Days of Halloween on the Wharf
October 19 – 31, 2025
Join the Santa Cruz Wharf for 13 days of frightful fun! Take part in the Great Pumpkin BINGO Hunt, snap a photo at our scenic photo booth, and enjoy festive Wharf specials ALL 13 days! It all kicks off October 19. For the Great Pumpkin BINGO Hunt, take your Bingo Card to the Wharf any day during the 13 Days of Halloween on the Wharf. Find hidden pumpkins on the Wharf. Match their ghoulish image on your bingo card and stamp your card. There’s also a photo booth on the Wharf Stage for all 13 days: Snap a festive photo with your family with the scenic Monterey Bay and Lighthouse as your backdrop. Wharf Specials – all 13 days – enjoy fabulous, unique specials from restaurants and gift shops perfectly catered to the Halloween theme. And of course, Trick-o-Treating on the Wharf – October 31, 3:00 – 6:00 pm. Bring the family to show off your creative costumes and trick-o-treat at Wharf businesses.
Skypark: Halloween Food Trucks
October 24, 2025; 4:30pm – 7:30pm
There will be a great lineup of Food Trucks and an amazing local band playing your favorite rock songs – the Dad Beats! There will be beer and wine for the grownups and face panting and a pumpkin patch for the not-so-grown ups. Even Fido is invited for the howl-o-ween dog costume contest!
Chaminade Resort & Spa: Vampire Ball
October 24, 2025
(21+ event) Enjoy drinks (cash bar), a heavy bites station, a vampire DJ, dancing, a costume contest, photo ops and entertainment including fortune tellers & fire dancers!
County Sheriff’s Office: Trunk or Treat
October 24, 2025; 5pm – 8pm
Join the county Sheriff’s Department for their annual Trunk or Treat event! Decorated Trunks, candy, games, food vendors and more! Free parking and shuttle service will be provided at the Capitola Mall.
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Chili Cook-Off
October 25, 2025; see time details below
Bring your appetite and join the fun as both professional and amateur chefs work their culinary magic and compete for the title of Best Chili!
Cook-Off Schedule: 9:00 am – 10:00 am: Chef’s prep (no heat); 10:00 am – 1:00 pm: Chili cook time; 10:00 am: Tasting kits go on sale; 1:00 pm: Public tasting begins; 4:00 pm: Winners announced at the Colonnade Stage (front of Pirate Ship). Although not Halloween specific, there are plenty of folks dressed up, in great spirits, and serving up amazing chili!
West Cliff Drive: Day of the Dead Outdoor Market
October 25, 2025; 10:00am – 5:00pm
Just in time for Halloween, head to the outdoor market with unique artisans while taking in the spectacular view of the ocean. This one-of-a-kind market will be held in two parking lots along West Cliff Drive in Santa Cruz. This is always a popular spot for locals and tourists, as it overlooks the famous Steamer Lane surf spot. The market will feature hand-crafted gifts and admission is free!
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk: Trick-Or-Treating
October 26, 2025; 12:00pm – 7:00pm
Celebrate Halloween on Saturday, the 26th with trick-or-treating, a costume contest, and spooktacular Boardwalk fun! It is always free to enter the Boardwalk, but if you would like to receive a collectible Boardwalk bag with a punch card for trick-or-treating, follow the link above! Head to the Main Entrance photo op banner to take a costume photo to enter the costume contest. If you win, your prize will be mailed to you! Will you be brave enough to venture under the Boardwalk? Fright Walk has been upgraded with Additional scares and more square footage. There will be some high-tech surprises and some good old-fashioned frights.
Santa Cruz MAH: Dia De Los Muertos
October 26, 2025; 1pm – 4pm
This October look forward to another vibrant gathering as we collectively celebrate life and death. For the past 7 years, the team at the MAH has had the opportunity to experience, grow, and share Día de los Muertos with more and more of Santa Cruz County.
Downtown Watsonville: Candy Crawl
October 26, 2025; 2pm – 6pm
Enjoy a hauntingly good time as you trick-or-treat your way through downtown Watsonville businesses! Save the date and fill your bags with treats and memories that will last a lifetime! No pre-registration is required — just show up!
Witches Ball at the Brookdale Lodge
October 25, 2025
Fall is coming soon and so is the Witches Ball. Don your most fabulous frock for the best party of the year! Go to the Brookdale Lodge, the most haunted place in California …. if you dare! Vendors and multiple bars to tickle your fancy. Spellbinding witch hat and costume contest. Dance the night away. An exquisite time to be had by all! Lots of spooky vendors! Party will be held both inside and outside. For ages 21 and up.
The Grove Ballroom: “Halloween” Fright Flick
October 29, 2025; 7:30pm – 10:30pm
Bring your 21 and older friends for a night of fun and frights! Enjoy this classic horror and suspense film that pays homage to an earlier classic horror and suspense film in the Boardwalk’s historic Grove ballroom. Your ticket includes your first drink from the full bar featuring signature drinks. You are encouraged to come in costume, but leave that Michael Myers mask at home, as masks are not allowed for anyone not being projected on the screen.
Downtown Santa Cruz Halloween Bar Crawl
October 31,2025
Prepare to be spellbound by some atmosphere. Immerse yourself in the macabre ambiance, where haunted histories intertwine with contemporary charm. Savor the spine-chilling experience as you explore a selection of Santa Cruz’s most iconic bars and pubs, each offering exclusive food and drink specials tailored to tantalize your taste buds.
Aptos Village: Halloween Parade
October 31, 2025; 3pm – 4pm
Get ready for the spookiest, most thrilling event of the year! The Halloween Aptos Chamber Parade is creeping into town, and you won’t want to miss it! Enjoy a fang-tastic time in front of the New Leaf Community Markets in the Aptos Village as the ghouls and goblins take over the streets. Dress up in your most creative and spine-chilling costumes and bring your family and friends.
Trick-Or-Treat on the Santa Cruz Wharf
October 31, 2025; 3pm – 6pm
Little witches, goblins, ghosts, superheroes and their parents can enjoy trick-or-treating on the beautiful Santa Cruz Wharf. Stroll the Wharf and visit your favorite businesses for sweet surprises. The event is free!
Abbott Square: Dog Halloween Costume Contest
October 31, 2025; 5:00pm – 6:00pm
It’s your Fur Baby’s time to shine! Sign up your dog to model their costume on the Abbott Square Stage during the Halloween Dog Costume Contest. Prizes for best costumes. Follow the link above for more details as the date gets closer.
Catalyst: Halloween Costume Party
October 31, 2025; 8:30pm – 11:30pm
For ages 16 and up, head to the Catalyst for a costume party featuring Pacific Roots. Quickly becoming one of Santa Cruz’s next premier Reggae/Rock groups, Pacific Roots is building their popularity by shredding the stage with upbeat reggae jams mixed with punk rock swells and solos.
Hotel Paradox: Halloween Party
October 31, 2024; 7pm – 11:59pm
Big Queer Events invites all allies to a burlesque & drag show, plus a fully costumed DJ Dance Party lasting until the witching hour! Costume contest at 8pm, Drag and Burlesque show at 8:30 and DJ;s Mothership Connection from 10pm to midnight.
Joe’s Bar: Halloween Dance Party
October 31, 2025; 8:30pm – 11:30pm
Get ready to hit the dance floor with Jacks and Dogs, your new favorite Americana/rock and roll fusion crew, set to sweep you off your feet with their sweet tunes. Go hang out, grab a cold one, and let your feet move and your soul groove. If you haven’t been to Joe’s, you haven’t been to Boulder Creek!
Watsonville Plaza: Dia de los Muertos
November 1, 2025; 4:00pm – 9:00pm
See community altars and live/dead performances. There will be family activities and a market of the dead. Celebrate this beautiful tradition featuring altars, live music and dance and hands-on activities.
Passed Events
Kianti’s Pizza and Pasta Bar: Halloween Pizza and Drinks
Throughout October
Have Kianti cook up your Halloween nightmares! Drink the frightening Lucifer’s Lemon Drop or Put the Fright in the Coconut. Indulge in the kids Spider Pizza if you are dining in. If you need to feed a crowd at your haunted house, there are delivery and Halloween specials!
Roaring Camp Railroads Harvest Faire
October 5 – 6, 2024
Welcome Fall with the Harvest Faire at Roaring Camp! Take the Redwood Forest Steam Train to Bear Mountain. Pick a pumpkin from the town pumpkin patch. Activities include: Pick a Pumpkin, Harvest Themed Kids Crafts, Blacksmith, Gold Panning, Live Entertainment.
Museum of Natural History: Creepy Crawly Watercolor Class
October 8, 2024; 6pm – 8pm
Featuring chilling insect displays, and the rarely seen insect taxidermy collection, this program is perfect for aspiring artists and entomologists alike. Taught by a professional entomological illustrator, this workshop will begin with a scientific presentation on insects before transitioning to the painting portion.
Scarecrow Sip and Stroll in Downtown Felton
October 12, 2024; 12pm – 4pm
Sip apple cider as you stroll charming Downtown Felton and cast your votes at the shops with your favorite scarecrow display.
Scotts Valley: Family Halloween Fun Fest
October 19, 2024; 10am – 3pm
Shop from a variety of local artisans and business. Enjoy games, crafts, costume contests, and Halloween-themed activities for kids of all ages. Win exciting goodies from generous vendors!
Venus Spirits: Tiki Macabre
October 23, 2024
Embrace the dark and delightful world of Tiki Macabre with Lindsay Eshleman at Venus Spirits Tasting Room. Explore the spooky side of tiki cocktails in this thrilling and spooky class.
Bookshop Santa Cruz: Fang Fiction
October 24, 2024
Bookshop Santa Cruz welcomes bestselling author, Kate Styaman-London for a reading and signing of her fun new vampire romance, Fang Fiction. Stayman-London will be in conversation with Dr. Rebecca London, Professor of Sociology and Faculty Director of Campus and Community at UC Santa Cruz. The paperback is $19 but attendance is free.
Scotts Valley: Haunted House
October 24 – 26, 2024; 4pm – 8pm
Haunted Schmetterling Village is calling all young children to trick-or-treat at its doors. Costumes encouraged! The tour is designed for children and their parents. The outdoor festival has something for everyone, including coffee and other vendors, a 125-foot maze, and roaming Thriller zombies. Scary, but not gruesome or terrifying, the climbing and crawling features are not designed for teens and adults, but childlike parents are welcome to join in where they can!
Museum of Discovery: Halloween Wizarding Adventure
October 25 – 31, 2024; 10am – 5pm
Enter a world of spellbinding wonder where you can send letters via Owl Post, master the art of potion making, fly through a game of Quidditch, embark on a wizardly scavenger hunt, and craft your own magical creations all free with museum admission. Wizards, witches, and muggles welcome & costumes are encouraged!
Cabrillo College: Haunted Halloween Music
October 25, 2024
Go to Cabrillo College for some very spooky music of all genres in a collaborative effort of the entire music department! Costumes recommended.
Scotts Valley: Halloween Treasure Hunt
October 26 and 31, 2024, 10am – 9pm
Join the fifth annual Scotts Valley Halloween Treasure Hunt! Pickup your Treasure Map Saturday October 26th or Thursday October 31st from Togo’s Scotts Valley and begin your journey. They have expanded the treasure hunt to a second day to give more people the opportunity to participate. Event runs from 10am – 9pm on both days and participating businesses on the map will be sharing treasure.
Soquel: Howl-o-ween Doggie Date Night
October 26, 2025; 6pm – 9pm
Go to the dog parade and costume contest, then linger to watch Haunted Mansion with your pooch outside in the park. Don’t have a pet, but love dogs? Go anyway and cuddle with one that is up for adoption! Free and no registration needed.
Natural History Museum: Macabre Halloween Party
October 26, 2024; 6pm – 9pm
Come in costume and imbibe cauldron-concocted cocktails while exploring the chasms of the world beneath our feet. The seventh annual Museum of the Macabre will be bigger than ever with freakish festivities and special exhibits outdoors and inside the Museum’s galleries.
Candlelight: A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics at the Cabrillo College
October 26, 2024; 6:30pm & 9pm
Candlelight concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring locations like never seen before in Santa Cruz. Get your tickets now to discover Halloween-inspired music at Cabrillo College under the gentle glow of candlelight.
Santa Cruz Harbor Witches SUP
October 26-28, 2024; 10:00am – 12:00pm
Join the SUP Shack for their 13th annual Halloween Paddle, where they bewitch onlookers and have general shenanigans on this witchly day at Santa Cruz Harbor. There are three outings. They are all at10am to noon for both Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.
Capitola Village Halloween Parade and Trick or Treating
October 27, 2024; 1:30pm – 3:00pm
Ghosts, goblins, boys and ghouls… Don’t miss the annual Capitola Village Halloween Parade! Line up begins at 1:30 pm in the Beach & Village Parking Lot. Parade begins promptly at 2:00 pm. Parade will head down Capitola Avenue, wind through Capitola Village to the Esplanade, ending at Esplanade Park, where trick-or-treat bags and refreshments will be waiting. Trick-or-treating at Capitola Village shops following parade.
Watsonville Youth Center: Maze of Horror
October 30 and 31, 2024; 5pm – 6:30pm
The Youth Center Maze of Horror is BACK! Don’t get lost in the twists and turns of their annual Maze of Horror, where every corner may hold a spooky surprise… Can you make it all the way through?? Head over there to find out. 5pm – 6:30pm on both Wednesday and Thursday nights.
Museum of Natural History: Things That Go Bump in the Night
October 30, 2024; 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Go hear Dr. Jason Xavier Prochaska, with UCSC’s Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics, teach you how he uses sound to discover the edge of infinity. From listening to neutron stars, to the sound of an accelerating universe, it turns out there’s a lot of potential suspects when trying to uncover what things are going bump in the night!
Downtown Santa Cruz Trick or Treat
October 31, 2024; 2pm – 5pm
Every Halloween, the Santa Cruz Police Department and the City of Santa Cruz close down Pacific Avenue for kids to trick or treat! Watch for signs in the windows of participating businesses.
Boulder Creek Halloween Celebration
October 31, 2024; 5:00pm – 7:00pm
Put on your silliest, scariest or wackiest costume and join the Boulder Creek Downtown Trick or Treat on Halloween! This is one of the BCBA’s favorite events to host. There will be traffic control volunteers at the intersections and crosswalks from 5-7 ONLY! Please do not cross at Forest Street. Crossing the highway will be allowed at Lomond Street and at the 9/236 intersection. The highway will not be closed, so limiting the places to cross will keep you and your kids safer! Trick or treat!!
Boulder Creek Sawmill: Halloween
October 31, 2024; 7pm – 10pm
Head to the Sawmill Restaurant & Ale House for their first annual Halloween party! They are setting up an outdoor movie from 7-9pm where fido is welcome. Inside there will be Karaoke shenanigans from 7-10pm. They are offering $100 restaurant credit for the best costume in the house!
Oblò Cocktails & Kitchen: Yeobo Halloween
October 31, 2024; 8:30pm – 11:59pm
Get ready for a night of frights, delights, and everything in between. Dress up in your best costume and get ready to dance the night away with Yeobo, Cold Water Law Firm, Desert Rider, Encounters of the Funky Kind! There will be a costume contest with significant prizes, and the first 50 ticket purchasers will receive a free drink from the band.