Sacramento Halloween Calendar

Haunted houses, pumpkin patches & corn mazes, family festivals, concerts & theater performances, bar crawls and ghost tours. See expanded calendar for details.

Short list for big screams:

Quick where-to-look:
For the most unique local haunted experiences, check Sacramento Top 10’s Halloween hub. For broad roundups, see KCRA’s annual haunted-house list and the statewide California Haunted Houses directory.

Sacramento’s “Big 3” haunts (speed-run descriptions):

Sacramento Scream Park — the city’s largest haunt: one ticket, four different houses plus a midway vibe with photo ops and add-ons. Updated sets each season.

Heartstoppers Haunted House (Rancho Cordova) — four themed haunts in one location, a Ghost Town scare zone, stage shows, and online time-slot tickets to keep waits short.
Heartstoppers Haunted House

Corbett’s House of Horror (Davis) — home of the cult-fave Zombie Paintball Attack that sells out nightly; plus haunted corn trail and more across a sprawling footprint. Arrive early.

You are at one right now – Sacramento Top 10 has the best Sacramento Halloween events calendar!

Three new original plays: Mary Shelley (about the author of Frankenstein), Dracula: a melodrama, and Sherlock Holmes vs. Dracula. See the expanded calendar for details.

You can get an up-to-date list of Sacramento area Halloween events tagged family friendly here.

Two additional lists of local family friendly Halloween events are available at Sactown Super Mom and Roseville Macaroni Kid.

Here’s a quick, parent-approved roundup of Sacramento’s sweetest Halloween fun. Zero nightmares, all smiles.

Family Friendly Halloween Hits Around Sacramento

Sacramento Zoo: Boo CluesOctober 11, 12, 17, 18, 19

A gentle, puzzle-style evening where kids follow clue cards, meet animal ambassadors, and collect treats without scary surprises. Expect limited capacity, timed entry, and lots of photo spots near the flamingos and big cats. Bring a tote, arrive with a full water bottle, and plan a quick snack stop before bedtime.

Fairytale Town: Safe & Super Halloween (Land Park)

Storybook sets, candy stations, and costumed characters turn this children’s park into a cozy Halloween neighborhood. It runs on October 11, 12, 17, 18, 19 with timed tickets every hour. Costumes are encouraged, strollers are common, and the park’s size makes it easy to keep your crew together. Pro tip: schedule one quiet “storybook break” on a bench so kids can reset before round two of candy.

Watermelon Music Haunted House October 24, 25, 26, 29 & 30 (Davis)

A community favorite that proves spooky can be creative and kind. Think hand-built sets, fun characters, and a playful route designed with younger visitors in mind. Check the age guidance for each time slot, since earlier sessions are usually gentler. Pair it with hot cocoa in downtown Davis and you have a full evening.

Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary: Wild Howl-O-Ween October 25, 2025

Animals get enrichment, kids get treats, and everyone learns something cool about local wildlife. Expect themed stations, costumed volunteers, and a friendly crowd. The sanctuary layout is easy for small legs, but plan a meet-up spot near the entrance just in case someone wanders off to see the tigers twice.

California State Railroad Museum: Spookomotive October 15, 16, 22, 23, 29 & 30

A delightful, not-frightful train ride along the levees with seasonal decor, a playful story on the outbound leg, and Halloween tunes on the return. The “skeleton crew” loves a good costume selfie and kids usually leave with a small treat. Book an earlier departure, then stroll Old Sacramento for caramel apples and boardwalk photos.

Quick planning tips

Buy tickets early since most of these use timed entry and popular windows go first.

Dress in layers because evenings cool down near the river and in the foothills.

Park smart by aiming for earlier start times or using garages near Old Sacramento or Land Park.

Photo first, candy second to capture clean outfits before chocolate does its thing.

Bishop’s Pumpkin Farm (Wheatland) and Cool Patch Pumpkins (Dixon) are classics with rides and mazes; smaller local patches keep it mellow.

As of October 1, yes—and plenty. Sacramento’s Halloween calendar is stacked with unique, cultural, and sophisticated options. If you want something special, you can float between cinematic classics, moody concerts, and live theater that bites back—sometimes literally.

At Sacramento Top 10, we’ve got an entire calendar of evening outings in the Sacramento area. Click thru to find something you’ll love.

Movies

Harry Potter™ in Concert at SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center
October 17 & 18. Big screen, bigger sound. The film plays while a live orchestra performs the score—pure goosebumps for wizards and Muggles alike. Family-friendly, spellbinding, and an easy “first Halloween event” for the month.

Movies Under the Stars (Old Sacramento Waterfront)
Thursday and Friday nights. Blankets, boardwalk vibes, and Halloween crowd-pleasers on a giant outdoor screen. Grab cocoa, snag a spot on the lawn, and let the river set the mood. It’s October magic without the jump scares.

Hitchcocktober (Crest Theatre)
Wednesday Nights. Neon marquee. Black-and-white suspense. A curated slate of Hitchcock thrillers that still crackle on the big screen. Dress a little vintage and make it a downtown date night.

Concerts

Toxic in Midtown
A high-energy Halloween concert night in the heart of Midtown—expect pop-dark bangers, costumes, and a crowd that shows up to sing. Think dance-floor catharsis with just enough spooky.

Candlelight: A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics
Hundreds of candles, a string ensemble, and themes from ghostly favorites to cinematic chills. It’s an atmospheric set that turns a concert into a mood—quietly dramatic and very Instagrammable.

Live Theatre

Sherlock Holmes vs. Dracula
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle meets Bram Stoker in a stage mash-up that’s brisk, witty, and fang-forward. Expect fog, deductive banter, and a showdown you didn’t know you needed.

Murder on the Delta King
A floating whodunit aboard Sacramento’s historic riverboat. You get river views, vintage ambiance, and an interactive mystery that keeps you guessing between laughs.

How to pick your perfect night

For families: Harry Potter in Concert or Movies Under the Stars.

For date night: Candlelight or Hitchcocktober, then dessert nearby.

For friend groups: Toxic in Midtown or the Delta King mystery.

For theater lovers: Holmes vs. Dracula for clever thrills.

Line up tickets early, layer up for evening breezes, and charge your phone—the photo ops this October are next-level.

Murals, neon signs, riverside boardwalks, historic alleys, and pumpkin-patch sunsets. Respect private property. We’d love to see your photos – tag @sacramentotop10 on Instagram.

If your best friend has four legs and an Instagram, Sacramento in October is your playground. Sacramento Top 10 is tracking Halloween dog events like dog costume parades, pup-friendly pop-ups, patio parties, and charity walks so you can pick events that match your dog’s vibe and your tolerance for tiny bat wings.

1) Sacramento’s Howl-o-Ween: A Fast Guide for Dog People

Start with Sacramento Top 10 for a curated list of dog costume parades, pup-friendly pop-ups, patios, and charity walks—no doom-scrolling required.

Easy wins

Photo strolls: Old Sac boardwalk, Historic Folsom’s Sutter St, riverfront paths

Day trips: Apple Hill (check dog policies), Cool Patch Pumpkins on weekdays

Know before you go

Many big night events are no pets. Recheck rules the week of.

Sound/light crowds can spook pups—favor daytime meetups.

Pro tips

Pack water, poop bags, towel, high-value treats

Add LED/reflective clip for dusk

Keep costumes brief and comfy

Bookmark Sacramento Top 10 for last-minute parade drops—those fill faster than a treat pouch.

2) Dog Halloween Costumes (and Where to Show Them Off)

Step one: open Sacramento Top 10 to find parades and themes so your pup’s look actually matches an event.

Shop smart

Local boutiques: like Paws and the Palette, great for try-on help, harness-friendly fits

Big box: Petco, PetSmart, Target, Spirit for quick sizes and add-ons

Online: Chewy/Amazon for speed; Etsy for handmade flair

Fit checklist

Two-finger room at neck/chest

D-ring accessible on the harness

No dangly bits near eyes/paws

10–15 min home test; if no go, switch to bandana or light cape

Make it Instagram-worthy with Top 10

Pick a theme, note parking and timing, pack a backup bandana

Shot ideas: before/after try-on, leafy walk-by, close-up tag, trick-for-treat at the parade

Recheck Sacramento Top 10 the week of—new pet events pop up fast.

3) A Dog-Friendly Halloween Day (Powered by Sacramento Top 10)

Let Sacramento Top 10 do the scouting for parades, patios, and chill meetups, then run this simple loop:

Morning
Dog-friendly pumpkin patch photos, coffee nearby (Top 10 lists good clusters)

Afternoon
Historic district stroll + treat stop at a pup-friendly café from the Top 10 list

Evening
Choose an outdoor, leashed Top 10 parade or fundraiser; celebrate on a nearby patio

Pack

Water/bowl, poop bags, extra leash, LED/reflective clip, towel, treats, backup bandana

End the night with one more peek at Sacramento Top 10 for tomorrow’s wag-worthy picks. 🐾🎃

Often yes—the Sacramento Children’s Museum and California Auto Museum have announced special events. See expanded calendar for details.