From spirited teas to costumed cruises, the East Bay knows how to get spooky. Whether chasing jump scares, live music or just an excuse to wear something glittery and undead, there’s a Halloween happening for every kind of creature. Here’s where to trick, treat and dance with the dearly and weirdly departed this week.
Arts
RPSC Halloween Bash: Rock Paper Scissors Collective hosts a night of chilling ghost stories, ghastly zine making and ghoulish treats. Want to read a scary story or poem, sing a song, or lead a spooky craft? Email to**@***********ve.org with a brief bio, a link to your work or any questions. 6:30-9:30pm Thu, Oct. 30, at 2120 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Oakland. rpscollective.org
Halloween Magic & Mystery: An evening of magic, mentalism and mysterious feats with award-winning comedian and magician Sean Francisco and mind-reading sensation Jake Berg. $34. 7:30-10pm Fri, Oct. 31, at The Sound Room, 3022 Broadway. soundroom.org
Rocky Horror Picture Show 50th Anniversary: Relive this cult classic onscreen, complete with the Bay Area’s premier live cast, Barely Legal! Sweethearts Janet and Brad stumble upon the flirtatious mad scientist Dr. Frank-N-Furter’s bizarre abode during his annual Transylvanian science convention. Burlesque show included. $22 standing room only available. 8pm Fri, Oct. 31, at The UC Theatre, 2036 University Ave., Berkeley. theuctheatre.org
Family Fun
Driveway Follies features a crew of nine puppeteers performing a repertoire that celebrates and illustrates historic and cultural aspects of Halloween, some with an educational twist. Free. Dusk Thu, Oct. 30, and Fri, Oct. 31, at 3854 Greenwood Ave., Oakland. drivewayfollies.org
Celebrate Halloween on North Shattuck with face painting, lawn games, Polaroids, crafts, plus seasonal produce and artisan wares to help summon the Halloween spirit. Kids can pick up free reusable bags and then Trick-or-Treat at participating merchants, who’ll be offering special treats for all ages to enjoy. 3-6pm Thu, Oct. 30, at Shattuck Avenue and Vine Street, Berkeley.
10th Annual Haunted Howl-o-ween Party is a festive evening of dog- and family-friendly fun, with 100% of the proceeds to benefit The Animal Pad, a nonprofit focused on saving dogs from high-kill shelters and the streets of Mexico. Featuring a haunted hotel, photos with Cruella de Vil, a costume contest, a silent auction, goodie bags and more. 6:30-8pm Thu, Oct. 30, at Wag Hotels, 39 Fourth St., Oakland. waghotels.com/Haunted-Howloween-Party
Alameda Landing Annual Halloween Spooktacular is a free community celebration including a talented facepainter, an interactive balloon artist, festive music and free goodie bags for children (while supplies last). 4-6pm Fri, Oct.31, at Alameda Landing Shopping Center, 2700 Fifth St., Alameda.
Halleyween at Temescal Alley: Enjoy arts and crafts, trick or treating, exclusive sales and more. Free and all ages. 3-6pm Fri, Oct. 31, at Temescal Alley, 49th Street and Telegraph Avenue, Oakland.
Pumpkin Painting at Public Market Emeryville: This free, hands-on activity is perfect for all ages and includes up to 40 small pumpkins. Also happening: a Trick-or-Treat Trail with participating vendors throughout the day, and a Spooky Costume Contest in the evening. Free. 5-8pm Fri, Oct. 31, at Public Market Emeryville, 5959 Shellmound St., Emeryville.
Halloween Friday Nights at OMCA with Ritmos Tropicosmos 31st annual Día de los Muertos community celebration with live music, DJ China G and gallery chats. Hands-on art making and trick-or-treating throughout the Garden. Dress up as your favorite artwork or artist and enter our costume contest for a chance to win prizes. Be sure to leave full-face coverings and costume weapons at home. Free. 5-9pm Fri, Oct. 31, at OMCA, 1000 Oak St., Oakland. museumca.org
Live Music and/or Dancing
Halloween Gala: Roaring Twenties allows revelers to support women in construction and step back in time to the era of flappers and jazz music. Festivities include themed cocktails, live music and dancing, and a costume contest for a chance to win fabulous prizes. 6-10pm Thu, Oct. 30, at the Bridge Yard, 210 Burma Rd., Oakland. tradeswomen.org
Rock en Español Halloween Party with ANIMA, playing a tribute to Pedro Suárez-Vértiz, Arena Hash and the best rock hits. Plus special guest El Gran Rex, a tribute to Héroes del Silencio and Enrique Bunbury; and DJ X. Costumes welcome but not required. Thu, Oct. 30, at Retro Junkie, 2112 N. Main St., Walnut Creek. retrojunkiebar.com
Magnificent Chill live-music event and costume party extravaganza includes performances by Chano Tizon, B. Taylor, Kaitlyn Williams, Emerald, Kyle Capricorn, Maleli Raiyawa and Corrie Tizon. Costume contest. 7-10pm Thu, Oct. 30, at Oeste Bar, 722 Clay St., Oakland. oesteoakland.com
Wild Halloween at Gilman Brewery with live music by Dirty Cello and Shake it Booty. A night of wild rock and fun dance tunes, and of course beer! There will be room to dance and comfortable seats to sit on and watch. Costumes welcome. $25 in advance, $30 at the door. 7-9pm Fri, Oct. 31, at Gilman Brewing Company, 912 Gilman St., Berkeley. gilmanbrew.com
23rd Annual Starry Plough Murder Ballads Bash: Songs of murder, misery, death and despair in this dark Halloween revue with the Out of Town Couple, Happy Clams, Plonsey Scheme, Loretta Lynch, Nashville Honeymoon, Z-Trane Electric Band, Lisa and the Franks, Berge and Kennedy, and the Third Thursday Band. Costume contest. 8:30-11:59pm Fri, Oct. 31, at Starry Plough Pub, 3101 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley. thestarryplough.com
Bolloween Ball Cruise and A Bollywood Halloween Costume Party: Includes three-hour sailing aboard a luxury yacht with unlimited appetizers, wine and champagne; and DJ Eric spinning Bollywood beats and party anthems. Costume contest. $59-150. 8:30pm Fri, Oct.31, and Sat, Nov. 1, at 2394 Mariner Square Dr., Alameda. sulekha.com/cruise
Fiebre De Cumbia—‘Dia de los Muertos’: Playing 100% Cumbia Mexicana; full bar. $35-45. 9pm Fri, Oct. 31-1:45am Sat, Nov. 1, at Chalaca Annexo, 428 3rd St., Oakland. lafuriachalacaoakland.com
Wicked VBZ Halloween Party: Presented by GOOD VBZ, with sounds by DJ Ignacia and Fibonacci. Hip-hop, R&B, Bay slaps; more than a party, organizers “believe in unity, inclusion and good energy.” 21+, costumes encouraged. $12.51+. 10pm-2am Fri, Oct. 31, at 7th West, 1255 Seventh St., Oakland. instagram.com/goodvbzparty
Halloween Fright Night Costume Cruise: Sail beneath the shadow of the Bay Bridge, where ghosts are said to roam and the water whispers secrets of the deep. Two eerie dance floors await, with DJ Slappy and DJ Bullo spinning a wicked mix of Halloween anthems and hip-hop slappers guaranteed to keep your bones rattling all night long. Costume contest. 21+. $34+. Early cruise 7:30-9:30pm or late-night cruise 10:30pm-1:30am Fri, Oct. 31, at Jack London Square, 2 Broadway, Oakland. partylifepresents.com
Misc.
Beyond the Veil: Herbs for Connecting with the Unseen. In this heart-centered class, herbalists Lia and Tara will dive deep into how gentle herbs can guide us in connecting with ancestors, plant spirits and the more-than-human world. Explore the sacred qualities of herbal allies like reishi, rosemary, yarrow and more—each one a doorway to deeper perception and communication beyond the veil. $40-80. 6:30-8:30pm Fri, Oct. 31, at Fork In the Path, Berkeley. forkinthepath.org
Death Sangha: In Death Sangha we will play with the fantasies of both eternalism and nihilism, and experiment with the awakening that lies beyond both. $45 suggested donation. 7-9pm Fri, Oct. 31, at The Berkeley Alembic, 2820 Seventh St., Berkeley. berkeleyalembic.org
Dragula—A Halloween Dinner Show: A night of fruity performances, top-tier food and eerie ambiance. Talented Queens and Kings will mesmerize with their stunning costumes and captivating acts. Costumes encouraged for a costume contest. $0-7. 6:30pm Fri, Oct. 31, at Portal, 1611 Second Ave., Oakland. portaloakland.com
Departed Spirits: We will celebrate the past, renew the present and imbibe the spirits. Come dressed as a lost soul, a dead idea, a forgotten moment, an out-of-print book, an ancient zeitgeist or an empty bottle of booze. We will have special cocktails, uncanny tales, valuable prizes, wrapped gifts and hard candy. $29+. 8-11:59pm Fri, Oct. 31, at Clio’s, 353 Grand Ave., Oakland. eventbrite.com
Halloween Bay Bingo: A 21+ event featuring a DJ, interactive games, chances to win prizes and a costume contest. Hosted by BLHSS. VIP tables available. $49+. 8:30-11:30pm Fri, Oct. 31, at Ciel Creative Space, 2611 Eighth St., Berkeley. cielcreativespace.com
Oakland Haunted Hop Bar Crawl 2025: Throw on your wildest costume and get ready to crawl through the city with hundreds of partygoers. Crawl stops include Penelope, Elbo Room, Jack London District Oakland and Little Bird Bar. $18+. 7:30pm-2am Fri, Oct. 31, at 555 12th St., Oakland. halloweenbarcrawl.org
Tea with Spirits at The Claremont Resort & Club: Sip on alcohol-infused blends with a bewitching twist, paired with hauntingly delicious bites. Raise your glass to a celebration where refinement meets the supernatural; perfect for chills, thrills and toasts with the otherworldly. 21+. $135+. 8-10pm Fri, Oct. 31, at Hilary Tenzing Room, 41 Tunnel Rd., Berkeley. claremontresortandclub.com
See all local events in our online calendar at staging.eastbayexpress.com/events-calendar.
