SPOOKY EVENTS
At this time of year, there are plenty of things that go bump in the night in the Bay Area. Here’s just a sampling.
Winchester Mystery House: The mansion offers a full slate of events, including “Unhinged” tours ($44-$54) through Nov. 2, Sarah’s Spirited Supper ($259), a gourmet Halloween-themed dinner in the ballroom, on Oct. 19, and a free kids Trick-or-treat Trail in the gardens from noon to 4p.m. Oct. 26-27. 525S. Winchester Blvd., San Jose; www.winchesterunhinged.com; winchester mysteryhouse.com.
Sweets, Spirits & the Beyond Tour, Oakland: This spooky two-hour cemetery tour, held at 4p.m. Saturdays in October, leads brave guests to the final resting places of some of the Bay Area’s most famous and infamous residents at Oakland’s Mountain View Cemetery and the Chapel of the Chimes columbarium, designed by Julia Morgan (she’s buried in the cemetery too). But it’s not just a tour. There are treats and libations along the way including Ghirardelli chocolates at the mausoleum of Domingo Ghirardelli, and mai tais to toast the life — and death — of the drink’s creator, Victor J. “Trader Vic” Bergeron Jr. Tickets are $40; 21and older only. Meet at the Chapel of the Chimes, 4499 Piedmont Ave., Oakland; www.localfoodadventures.com. Terror Vault, San Francisco: This interactive and fully immersive haunted attraction ($62) weaves through the basement of the historic San Francisco Mint. This year, it will also debut “Apocalypse” ($35), a zombie-filled escape room experience. Plus, there will be themed cocktails and tasty treats at The Gold Bar and Madam Zola’s pop-up cafe, a haunted arcade with spooky vintage pinball games, an Instagram room, psychics and more. Shows run evenings Tuesdays through Sundays from Oct. 10to Nov. 10; www.intothedarksf.com.
Dead Time Dreams, San Jose: Expect two new frighteningly immersive haunted attractions, Demon House and Seven Deadly Sins, as well as a bigger and better Midway of Terror to entertain guests and get the blood flowing before and after the main attractions. Tickets are $20for select nights from Oct. 4 to Nov. 2; located at the corner of Tully Road and Capitol Expressway, next to the ABC Pumpkin Patch; www.deadtimedreams.com.
Halloween Haunt at Great America: The Santa Clara theme park’s annual Halloween event features haunted mazes like the Backwoods Hunting Resort and Spa, set deep in a creepy swamp, or the Chaos House with its dizzying maze of mirrors, glass walls and blindingly thick foggy haze. Plus, live shows, scare zones and hundreds of monsters at every turn. Tickets are $32online; weekends and select nights through Nov. 2; www.cagreatamerica. com.
Fright Fest at Six Flags: Zombies and ghouls take over the entire Vallejo theme park with family-friendly thrills during the day, and truly frightening fun after the sun goes down. Fright Fest offers several haunted houses and scare zones. New for 2019: Toxic Terror, a post-apocalyptic wasteland with glowing inhabitants, and the Darke Market, where you can find unique food, macabre merchandise and ghoulish games. Tickets start at $47. Select nights through Nov. 2; www.sixflags.com/ discoverykingdom.
Pirates of Emerson, Pleasanton: Get your Halloween “arrrr” on at five haunted attractions including Pirates of Emerson, Mystery Mansion, Hillbilly Holler, Dorm of Doom and Maze Haze on the 6-acre compound staged at the Alameda County Fairgrounds. Tickets $35. Oct. 4to Nov. 2; www.piratesofemerson.com.
Fear Overload Scream Park, San Leandro: You’ll find some of the scariest haunted attractions around at the Bayfair Center mall. New this year: Night Terrors, a haunted house where the previous owners were found months after their murders by a deranged killer, and The Tooth Collector — dental nightmares at the hands and torturing tools of Dr. Pearly. Tickets start at $26. Frights start at 7 p.m. select nights through Nov. 2; 15555 E. 14th St., San Leandro; www.fearoverload.com.