I've been to many different cities around the world for Halloween. From DaNang, Vietnam, Austin, Texas, Boston, Massachusetts and Chiang Mai, Thailand, we've showed up and out around the world for the most wonderful time of the year (Halloween, not Christmas, in my opinion haha). BUT I have to admit, no city that we've visited has had as many or as varied events throughout the month of October as San Francisco! We arrived in SanFran on October 22nd and every day that we were there we saw people dressed up on their way to a Halloween event or party, even during the week! We were lucky to participate in just a few of the fabulous events held in SF for this holiday. In this blog, I'll describe the venues, events and activities that captured our hearts, imaginations and are yearly events that you can frequent on your next San Francisco trip!
Nightmare Elixir - A Nightmare Before Christmas Pop Up Bar
The Summer Place Bar (801 Bush Street, San Francisco, CA 94108) hosted a pop up bar that embraced the iconic movie Nightmare Before Christmas. From a giant Jack Skellington hanging from the ceiling, an Oogie Boogie lifesize blow up, to themed drinks, this pop up was really something special! It was hosted from mid October to November 3rd. They even had a costume contest on October 21st. This bar often creates themed immersive pop up experiences. Two of their previous bar themes were "Moe’z Tavern" a Simpsons-themed cocktail bar and "Christmas in the Summer" where they did the classic Christmas in July theme! Definitely save this bar to your travel list for Halloween or any time of year that you visit SF because chances are they will have a fun themed pop-up experience that you'll love!
Frankenstein's Bar - Held in multiple cities
Frankenstein's Bar hosts events in cities all over the U.S., including Austin, Boston, Chicago, DC, Houston, LA, Miami, NYC, Philly, San Diego, SF. This year they were held in these locations from Sept 18-Nov 7th. Their events will also be occurring next Halloween season in the same cities so mark your calendars! These Frankenstein bars pop up in local bars in those cities. The San Francisco one was held at the Westwood Bar in their private event area. Every location has their own different twist on the experience but this one included spooky decor, tarot card reading (for an additional cost) and interactive cocktails (smoking, glowing and jello shot syringes!). I feel this experience is best with a group of friends. My husband and I went together and although the decor was cool, there wasn't really much dancing or partying past that. However, if you go with a gaggle of friends and make a night out of it, I'm sure it's a riot!
Terror Vault - Hexed
This was our favorite event by far! This venue and company Terror Vault hosts various drag and horror events! We attended their "Fang Bang Bar" and their unique "Hexed" haunted house. The Fang Bang Bar was complete with themed drinks, drag performances and spooky drag horror actors that scared people throughout the night. I was setting up my cell phone camera for a photo and one snuck up right behind me and gave me a fright! The Fang Bang Bar is a Halloween event that you can visit every year! The exciting, theatrical, storyline haunted walk through called Hexed was just for this year, but next year they will host a new immersive haunted play experience! Cedric and I have never done anything like Hexed! I've been to many a haunted house, usually you just walk through and the horror actors pop out at you, not this haunted house! It was a whole two hour show! Complete with a story line, multiple "stages" or rooms that you as the audience walked through. No phones are allowed during this experience so you really get in the moment. Cedric and I believed it was more of a theater experience rather than a scary one. But if you love renaissance fairs, musicals, plays, witchcraft, D&D, or anything creative and other-worldly, then this event is for you! However, side note, if you are claustrophobic or can't quickly run up and down stairs then unfortunately you'll have to skip this event because the spaces are tight and the quick moving stair-scaling is a must!
Rocky Horror Picture Show Live
The fabulous venue Oasis is a San Francisco LGBTQ and Drag nightclub and cabaret, programmed by @oasisartsinc, a nonprofit arts organization. They host a variety of themed events! This year is their last run of this specific Rocky Horror Picture Show Performance BUT all year they host a variety of events, so their next Halloween season is sure to impress. I've always wanted to see Rocky Horror Picture Show live! I've heard you have the fun of throwing rice at the married couple, hiding your heads with newspapers in the rain and throwing toilet paper for the famous line "Great Scott!". The movie and stories of this event prepared me for the time of my life and I was not disappointed! We had standing room tickets but that didn't mean we were still! We danced, we laughed and we were totally immersed in this Halloween cult classic event 🎃 - Even if you don't see Rocky Horror in SF I would recommend everyone put this live show (held in multiple cities) on their bucket list!
Castro Night Market
On the actual date of Halloween, the 31st, we got dressed up in Dorothy and Scarecrow outfits and headed to San Francisco's most popular Halloween party area, the Castro Night Market! Usually The Castro Night Market features queer local food vendors, merchants, and live entertainment on the 3rd Friday of every month. However they always host their market on Halloween no matter if it's the 3rd Friday or not! This year their Halloween themed night market included a spooky creature drag show, a singer/songwriter showcase, a dj and a "glow in the streets" costume contest as well as candy for trick or treating. We had a blast to say the least! Everyone loved our costumes and the entertainment was top notch! I highly recommend spending your Halloween night at Castro in SF!
Dance-o-ween
After all that Halloween fun, could you believe we snuck in one more activity? YES! After the Castro Night Market we made our way to 16th street in the Mission District for the best dance party ever. We got a tip from a local that at around 7:30pm every Halloween night, thousands of locals and tourists alike all meet and dance the night away. What they didn't mention was that this was part dance party and part parade. Everyone gathered and then followed elaborate floats down blocks in the Mission District while dancing to the custom music set up on each float. Didn't like the dubstep music on one float? You could just make your way to the next float featuring live saxophone and vocals! It was really cool to customize our music and dancing experience. But boy were our feet tired after walking, dancing and making new friends for three hours! It was the coolest Halloween event I've ever been too!
SF is Truly Spooky!
These are only a FEW of the events held throughout October in San Francisco! Do you know of any more? Comment your favorite Halloween San Francisco activity on my YouTube video! Or let me know of another city that captures the spirit of Halloween as fabulously as San Francisco!
