San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
When and how to get spooked this year.
Pirates of Emerson Haunted Theme Park: The DriveThrough: The Alameda County Fairgrounds will play host to a frightening drivethrough experience, featuring costumed actors, largescale sets and scenes with plenty of heartpounding scares.
7:0511 p.m. Thurs days Sundays ;7:05 p.m. midnight. Through Nov. 1 $ 94.99 per vehicle. piratesofemerson.com
City of Mountain View’s October Monster Bash: Mountain View plans to offer a variety of free, virtual and social distance friendly events and activities throughout the month of October. Included in the offerings are spooky displays and bootiful photo stops at “Plaza Haunt,” featuring outdoor displays located throughout Pioneer Park and Civic Center Plaza, available to visit from Oct. 19Nov. 2.
The city also unveiled plans for a virtual concert featuring children’s singersongwriter Andy Z at 7 p.m. Oct .30, activity kits for purchase, a Halloween house decorating contest and more.
For more information, go to mountainview. gov.
CuriOdyssey’s Autumn Nights Glowing Harvest Festival: Dance to spooky music, explore an outdoor jacko’ lantern exhibition, meet animals up close and see them enjoy Halloweenthemed enrichment treats. Guests can also pick out a pumpkin to purchase from the pumpkin patch.
5: 30 and 7 p. m. FridaySaturday. Through October. $ 15.95$ 18.95. CuriOdyssey, 1651 Coyote Point Drive, San Mateo. 6503427755. curiodyssey. org
Fear Overload Scream Park Museum of Horrors: There will not be any live actors this year, but rooms at the popular San Leandro attraction are interactive with audio storylines and staff present to enforce social distancing and use of face coverings. New, frightening attractions include the “House of Undead,” a psychological ride that explores why basements are “the epitome of fear,” and “Midnight Asylum,” where guests must face Jungler, a demon taking the form of a small child haunting the supernatural realm.
710 p. m. TuesdayThursday and Sunday; 7 p. m. midnight FridaySaturday. $ 20$ 40. Through Nov. 7. Bayfair Center, 15555 E. 14th St., San Leandro. fearoverload. com
S. F. Virtual Ghost Tour’s “Halloween Fireside Stories” and “Sortilegios” Magic Show: Take a Zoom tour through San Francisco’s haunted histories like the 100year haunting of Stow Lake, with ghost guide and magician Christian Cagigal. Get a chill from tales of ghost ships and wayward souls with unfinished worldly business.
San Francisco Ghost Hunt: 7 p.m. Friday Saturday. Through Oct. 31. $ 25 per device. sfghost hunt. com. Sortilegios Magic Show :7 p.m. Thursdays. Through Oct. 22. $ 25. christiancagigal.com
Winchester Mystery House Hallowe’en Flashlight Tour: A new evening experience explores the San Jose estate’s supernatural lore. Guests, with only a flashlight to guide them, roam alone through the dark halls of the fabled Victorian mansion while hearing tales of its former and possibly current inhabitants. Tour hosts will be stationed throughout the house to ensure safety and social distancing.
Flashlight tours will be offered on select nights in October. The estate also offers regular seasonal daytime selfguided mansion and garden tours. $ 24.99$ 54.99, timedentry admission. Winchester Mystery House, 525 S. Winchester Blvd., San Jose. 4082472000. winchestermysteryhouse.com
Pumpkin patches and corn mazes
Here are a few handpicked patches open to visit for a great pumpkin quest:
San Francisco
Clancy’s Pumpkin Patch: Make a day of it by visiting the San Francisco Zoo, which is open from 10 a. m. to 4 p. m. daily, and the Sloat Boulevard patch, located near the zoo entrance. 9 a. m. 9 p. m. daily through Oct. 30; 9 a. m. 5 p. m. Oct. 31. Free admission. 2101 Sloat Blvd, S. F., and 1620 Seventh Ave., S. F. clancystrees. com
East Bay
Piedmont Avenue Pumpkin Patch: Pumpkins and Halloween gear available for purchase. Shop at the patch or online with pickup and delivery options. 8 a. m. 8 p. m. MondaySaturday; 9 a. m. 8 p. m. Sunday. Through Oct. 31. Free admission. 4414 Piedmont Ave., Oakland. 5109679363. fpe. cc
Uptown Oakland Pumpkin Patch: Featuring kids activities, pumpkin patch, an interactive pumpkin shooter game and more .10 a.m .9 p.m. daily. Through Oct. 31. Free admission. 1911 Telegraph Ave., Oakland. speerfamilyfarms.com
North Bay
Great Peter Pumpkin Patch: Pick your own pumpkins, eat homemade ice cream, enjoy hay wagon rides, and corn and hay mazes daily. Live music, barbecue and cowmilking demonstrations offered on weekends. 9 a. m. 4 p. m. MondayFriday; 9 a. m. 5 p. m. SaturdaySunday. Through Oct 31. Free admission. 4235 Spring Hill Road, Petaluma. 7077751179. spring hillcheese. com
Nicasio Valley Pumpkin Patch: With distanced tables for family picnics, no interactive activities, 12acre field with pumpkins daily. Lunch offered on weekends. 10 a. m. 4 p. m. MondayFriday; 10 a. m. 6 p. m. SaturdaySunday. Through Oct 31. Free admission. 5300 Nicasio Valley Road, Nicasio. 4156629100. nicasiovalley pumpkinpatch. net
Santa Rosa Pumpkin Patch: This patch charges a general admission fee, but some activities are included with it. 9 a. m. 7 p. m. MondayThursday; 9 a. m. 10 p. m. FridaySaturday; 9 a. m. 8 p. m. Sunday. Through Oct. 31. $ 2$ 21. 5157 Stony Point Road, Santa Rosa. 7073316653. santa rosapumpkinpatch. com Petaluma Pumpkin Patch: Pumpkins and other gourds, an “A’Mazing Corn Maze” with wide paths to ensure social distancing daily, and night maze on weekends, a mini corn maze, farm animals, pony rides and more. 10 a. m. 6 p. m. Sunday— Thursday; 10 a. m. 10 p. m. FridaySaturday. Through Oct. 31. Free admission, $ 7$ 10 for corn maze. 550 Stony Point Road, Petaluma. 7077813132. petaluma pumpkinpatch. com
Pronzini Pumpkin Patch: With spooky outdoor plays. Barbecue lunch and kettle corn available for purchase. 11 a. m. 6 p. m. MondayThursday; 10 a. m. 6: 30 p. m. FridaySunday; 11 a. m. 4 p. m. on Oct. 31. Free admission. 3795 Adobe Road, Petaluma. 7077783871. pronzinifarms. com