In collaboration with Books & Barns, a volunteer-run organization that showcases writers in rural spaces, the Neon Raspberry art space is hosting a night of haunted readings from classic texts. These are no ordinary readers, however. “Undead mushrooms, very dead authors and beautiful monsters” will all take the podium, apparently.
After story time is over, attendees can participate in a lantern-lit procession to Two Trees Tea House where there will be snacks, more ghostly goings-on and, duh, tea.
Wondering why the event is called Ghosts in the Post? The organizers will send out curated ghost stories to everyone that requests one via the Books & Barns Instagram page. Just send them a private message with your address and prepare for mail that’ll make you pale.
‘Nightfall at Filoli.’ (Julia Rose Photography/Courtesy of Filoli Historic House and Garden)
Filoli Historic House & Garden, Woodside
Oct. 3—Nov. 10
If you haven’t yet paid a visit to the enchanting giant trolls that are currently hanging out on Filoli’s grounds, rejoice! Your slackness has paid off! Because now you get to see Thomas Dambo’s fascinating creatures by moonlight, surrounded by Children of the Corn-level creepy scarecrows, scores of jack-o’-lanterns and monster-sized banana slugs. (Just go with it…)
What’s more, Filoli’s historic house will be hauntingly decorated. There’s a hay maze to get lost in, and even “a blacklight mushroom forest” (whatever that might entail). If you need further enticement, there will also be tarot readings, live music, games and kid-friendly activities to freak out the whole family. Visitors are encouraged to attend in costume, so get your Miss Havisham gowns ready.
Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande in ‘Wicked.’ (Universal Pictures)
California Theatre, San Jose
Oct. 25 at 7:30 p.m. and Oct. 26 at 2:30 p.m.
Symphony San Jose conductor Peter Jaffe leads an evening of enchanting picks from Broadway’s most supernatural moments. Bookended by favorites from Wicked, the program will include highlights from Sweeney Todd, Dance of the Vampires, The Phantom of the Opera, Little Shop of Horrors and many more.
Jaffe has been known to conduct orchestras in full Halloween attire before, setting the perfect tone for the Bewitching Broadway audience costume contest. Participants in the under-18 category can win four tickets to Legoland, and the winner of the special judges’ prize will get two tickets to an upcoming Broadway San Jose show.
We’re not saying that everyone at Discoween is going to be dressed as Chappell Roan, but an awful lot of people at Discoween are probably going to be dressed as Chappell Roan.
El Rio, San Francisco
Oct. 31, 9 p.m.—2 a.m.
There is a portion of the population of San Francisco that is so perpetually ebullient, so utterly fueled by queer joy, that they’ll make even the darkest holiday on the calendar sparkle. That is what Discoween is for. (That is also, as we all know, what El Rio is for.)
Organized by All Your Stupid Friends, this Halloween night shindig promises “Sapphic, Spooky, Showgirl” fun, fueled by your favorite pop and dance tunes from across time. There will be a bunch of costume contests, at least 10 people dressed as Chappell Roan, probably at least one impromptu “Thriller” dance routine and, scariest of all, ABBA songs (*shudder*). It’s also only $5 to get in. Go nuts.
‘Calavera Oaxaquena,’ published by Antonio Vanegas Arroyo, circa 1903. (VCG Wilson/Corbis via Getty Images)
Oakland Public Library, Rockridge branch
Oct. 21, 6 p.m—7:30 p.m
The artisans of East Oakland tattoo studio and gallery Amor Eterno Arte will be hosting this celebration of Latine printmaking in the run-up to Día de los Muertos. This class will teach attendees (aged 10 and over) the basics of block printing, with all materials provided by Oakland’s Rockridge library.
Participants will make their own prints during the class but — even better — they’ll leave with the skills needed to make their own decorations in good time for Day of the Dead celebrations on Nov. 1 and 2.
Craving some competitive organized chaos this Halloween? Bay Area Derby has you covered. (Will Toft/Courtesy of Bay Area Derby)
Richmond Memorial Auditorium, Richmond
Oct. 25, 4 p.m—9 p.m.
Roller derby is wild on any given day of the year, but the Oakland Outlaws and San Francisco Rolling Dead will be upping the stakes this October in a raucous Halloween Bay Area Derby special. Come see relentless skaters named things like Barbarian Streisand, Sylvia Wrath and Lexistential Dead tearing up the track — and each other — while in costume.
First whistle is at 6 p.m., and there will be vendors, food offerings and a costume contest to keep you entertained and refreshed before and during. Given that the Rolling Dead consider themselves “vengeful for victory and hungry for brains” and the Outlaws’ motto is “skate fast, hit hard, and win a good-looking trophy,” this promises to be a rager.
Glynn Washington and friends are taking ‘Spooked’ live. (KQED/Snap Judgment)
Paramount Theater, Oakland
Oct. 25, 7 p.m.
For mysterious host Glynn Washington and the producers of KQED’s Spooked podcast, scary stories are for every week of the year, not just Halloween. And as any Spooked listener could tell you, the most frightening thing of all is that every spine-chilling story featured in the series is true.
Washington will be joined by three storytellers from the Spooked annals, Tiyi Schippers, Esther Squires and “Hawaii Ghost Guy” Lopaka Kapanui. Their tales from beyond the veil will be brought to life with the assistance of animations by Joe Presser and music by Clay Xavier. There’s no better venue for this than the historic Paramount Theatre — a location renowned for its secret trapdoors and passageways, ghostly lore and rumors of hauntings.
Attend in your spookiest Halloween attire for a chance to win the Spooked Live best-dressed prize.
Dr. Frank-N-Furter (Tim Curry) in all his glory, ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show.’ (Getty Images/United Archives)
Various venues, Petaluma, Berkeley, Modesto, San Francisco, San Jose
Throughout October
It’s been half a century since Brad and Janet happened upon the gender-bending Dr. Frank-N-Furter and his mansion of strange seduction in The Rocky Horror Picture Show. In that time, late night screenings of the lowbrow classic have become raucous parties where audience participation heightens all the saucy action.
Now, thanks to Rocky Horror fanatics Barely Legal, a run of anniversary screenings are taking over the Bay. Screenings will include an interactive pre-show by the Barely Legal performers, as well as a pack of props to utilize during the movie. Tickets are available at the following links: Phoenix Theater, Petaluma; UC Theater, Berkeley; State Theater, Modesto; The Curran Theater, San Francisco; 3Below Theater, San Jose.
Bat Witch Ghost are haunting YBCA in 2025. (Bat Witch Ghost)
YBCA, San Francisco
Oct. 25—Nov. 1
In 2024, Aaron Wojack turned the service entrance and garages of his apartment building into “The Corridor of Horror,” a mind-melting DIY haunted house that KQED Arts’ own Sarah Hotchkiss later described as “the most thrilling, scream-filled minutes of my 2024.”
The event was such a hit that, this year, Wojack’s vision is hitting the hallowed halls of YBCA, after an invitation from the art center’s CEO, Mari Robles. Ten artists will be presenting their own takes on the haunt’s theme, “Forest of the Eye.” An indoor labyrinth will dominate YBCA’s Forum room, while a graveyard featuring a bar, ambient DJs, psychic readers and face painters will be outside. Costumes are encouraged.
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