With Halloween right around the corner, we put together a blog post on family fun activities you can do with kids around the East Bay!

 

 

(Image courtesy of City of Albany Recreation & Community Services)

 

Bring the whole family down to the Albany Community Center for a free Halloween carnival! Activities include "spooky arts & crafts," "creepy cookie decoration," "ghoulish games," and a paranormal photo booth.

 

Where: Albany Community Center

 

When: October 27th

 

 

(Image courtesy of the Solano Avenue Association)

 

Organized by the same association responsible for the wonderful Solano Stroll, Halloween on Solano is a spooky, trick-or-treat filled event for the whole family! Stores on Solano will be passing out sugar-free candies from 3 to 5PM, and at 6PM, there is a costume contest with cash prizes!

 

Where: 1319 Solano Ave, Albany CA

 

When: October 31st

 

 

(Photo Credit: Anda Chu, Bay Area News Group)

 

Come to the El Cerrito Community Center on Saturday, October 28th for the Halloween Carnival & Haunted House! The Carnival will feature carnival games and a bounce house. Very young children can visit the “Lights On” Haunted experience if the Haunted House is too spooky!

 

Where: El Cerrito Community Center

 

When: October 28th

 

 

 

(Photo Credit: mthoodterritory.com)

 

Join the City of Berkeley for youth track races and a Halloween carnival for all in grades Pre-K through 8th with games, prizes, and face painting!

 

Where: MLK Middle School Track

 

When: October 28th

 

 

Ready to explore the largest haunted house in Berkeley? The House of Screams will be open on Halloween from 6 to 9PM. Get your best Halloween outfit ready for an evening of music, cotton candy, photo booth, fright and jumpers for the little goblins.

 

Where: 1730 Oregon Street, Berkeley, CA

 

When: October 31st

 

 

 

(Image courtesy of Habitot)

 

If you’re looking for something to do with the little ones, come check out the “Not-Too-Spooky” Halloween celebration presented by Habitot Children’s Museum. This event is perfect for infants and toddlers! The museum is transformed into a Halloween-themed playground, complete with miniature pumpkin painting. Costumes are encouraged!

 

Where: Habitot, Berkeley

 

When: October 28th and 29th

 

 

Explore the Oakland Zoo in costume and trick-or-treat at the same time! Your kids will see how zoo animals celebrate Halloween in style with face painting, free treats, and a free ride on the Spooky Boo train. Costumes are encouraged!

 

Where: Oakland Zoo

 

When: October 28th and 29th

 

 

(Image courtesy of Children's Fairyland)

 

Situated at the top of Lake Merritt, Children’s Fairyland is a popular attraction for young Oakland families, and Halloween is no exception. Come enjoy unlimited rides, treat stations for trick-or-treating (goodie bags provided!), arts and crafts, a pirate school, and special performances by the Children’s Theater Program and Storybook Puppet Theater.

 

Where: Children’s Fairyland, Lake Merrit

 

When: October 28th and 29th

 

Feeling adventurous? Here are a few haunted destinations open to the public all year round!

 

 

This 6,000 acre park was once home to California’s largest coal mining operations from 1850 to 1906. At its peak, there were 12 coal mines open, but when domestic coal fell out of favor to cheaper imports and petroleum, the surrounding towns fell into disrepair. Today, the derelict area is open to the public for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. Best of all, there are still reports of ghosts roaming the mines! (Although most underground sections are closed for safety, some mine entrances are well-preserved and open to the public.)

 

Where: Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve (South of Antioch, CA)

 

 

 

(Image courtesy of the USS Hornet)

 

Come explore the USS Hornet, a national floating landmark moored in Alameda, for their “History Mystery Night” tours. In this guided tour, you’ll experience first-hand if the USS Hornet is truly haunted as you explore areas of the aircraft carrier not open to the public during daylight hours.

 

Where: 707 W Hornet Ave, Pier 3, Alameda CA

 

 

(Photo Credit: Alison Taggart-Barone, NPS)

 

Explore the infamous prison island with a special night tour! The self-guided tour will take you through parts of Alcatraz not open to the public during normal daylight hours. During the award-winning “Doing Time: The Alcatraz Cellhouse Tour” audio presentation, you’ll hear the stories of life inside Alcatraz from real prisoners, learn about life inside solitary confinement, and witness breakout and riot stories from correctional officers present during the chaos. Alcatraz Night Tours sell out fast, so it’s best to plan a month or two in advance!

 

Departures for Alcatraz Island: Pier 33, San Francisco, CA