The quick answer: The best Silicon Valley Halloween events 2026 has for families are Mountain View's Monster Bash, Cupertino's Monster Mash and Santa Clara's SpooktaClara party (all Saturday, Oct 24), Trick-or-Treat the Row at Santana Row (Tuesday, Oct 27, free), trick-or-treating along Lincoln Avenue in Willow Glen (Friday, Oct 30) and Green Halloween at Happy Hollow Park & Zoo on Saturday, Oct 31. Everything here is built for kids and families.
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Every October, families ask me where the good Halloween fun is for little ones. So I went through city calendars and organizer pages across Santa Clara County and pulled together the family Halloween events in San Jose and nearby cities happening October 17 to 31. If you also want the grown-up and general event picks, my weekly weekend events roundup covers those every Thursday.
At a Glance: Best Kid-Friendly Halloween Events in the South Bay
Best for toddlers: Willow Glen's toddler trick-or-treat session (Fri, Oct 30) and the Los Gatos Library storytime parade for ages 0 to 5 (Thu, Oct 29).
Best city festival: Mountain View's Monster Bash (Sat, Oct 24).
Best free weekday option: Trick-or-Treat the Row at Santana Row (Tue, Oct 27).
Best for big kids: The Great Big BOO at Gilroy Gardens.
Best rainy-day pick: Brick or Treat at LEGOLAND Discovery Center Bay Area in Milpitas.
Best for kids and pets: the Los Gatos Kid & Pet PAWlooza (Sun, Oct 25).
Best on Halloween day: Green Halloween at Happy Hollow (Sat, Oct 31).
Saturday, October 24: The Big Halloween Festival Day
This is the busiest family Halloween Saturday in Silicon Valley, so pick one or two. "Farmer Mike" also carves giant pumpkins on stage at Santana Row's Park Valencia on Saturday (10 a.m. to 1 p.m.) and Sunday (noon to 2 p.m.), and if your family celebrates Diwali, the free San Jose Diwali Carnival is downtown the same day.
Monster Bash (Mountain View)
A festive, not-frightening Treat Trail, Halloween games, craft booths, inflatables, a Bike Circus and live animal exhibits. New this year, the Little Boos Nook is a cozy space for babies and crawling toddlers.
Where: Rengstorff Park, 201 S. Rengstorff Ave., Mountain View
When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Cost: No admission fee is listed; food and drinks are for purchase.
Ages: All ages; parking is limited, so walk or bike if you can.
Monster Mash (Cupertino)
An outdoor party with trick-or-treating, crafts, games and pumpkin decorating, rain or shine.
Where: Quinlan Community Center, 10185 N. Stelling Road, Cupertino
When: 5 to 8 p.m.
Cost: $18 resident or $23 nonresident by Oct 19; $23 or $28 after. Each registration covers one child with up to two adults.
Ages: 2 to 12; every child must be registered in advance.
Children's SpooktaClara Halloween Party (Santa Clara)
A Trick or Treat Row, Pumpkin Walk, carnival games, obstacle courses, crafts, story time and a magician.
Where: Central Park, 909 Kiely Blvd., Santa Clara
When: Noon to 4 p.m.
Cost: No admission price posted yet; parking is free.
Ages: Kids and families; no pets.
Children's Halloween Haunt (San Jose)
Crafts, activities and trick-or-treating at History Park's historic houses, ending with a 6 p.m. light show.
Where: History Park, 635 Phelan Ave., San Jose
When: 2 to 6:30 p.m.
Cost: Ticketed; check current prices before you go.
Ages: Kids and families.
Sunday, October 25
Goblins in the Garden (Saratoga)
Glow-in-the-dark slime and potions, face painting, a family costume contest and Fratello Marionettes shows. Bring a picnic.
Where: Montalvo Arts Center, 15400 Montalvo Road, Saratoga
When: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Cost: $20 adults, $14 children
Ages: Activities are designed for kids 0 to 10.
Halloween Harvest Kid & Pet PAWlooza (Los Gatos)
My pick for families with a dog: face painting, crafts, live music and a costume promenade for kids and pets, then downtown trick-or-treating at businesses marked with balloons.
Where: Town Plaza Park, Los Gatos
When: Park activities 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; trick-or-treating noon to 2 p.m.
Cost: Free, no registration; donations to The Street Dog Coalition encouraged.
Ages: The whole family; pets stay in the park.
Halloween Costume Party at Magical Bridge (Palo Alto)
An inclusive costume party with trick-or-treat bag making, live jazz, sensory-friendly science and a dance party.
Where: Magical Bridge Playground, 3700 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto
When: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Cost: No fee is listed on the event page.
Ages: All ages and abilities.
Creepy Crawly Halloween Trick-or-Treat (Campbell)
A two-hour costume party in the streets. Organizers say it's so popular you probably won't leave with a full bucket of candy.
Where: E. Campbell Ave. and N. First St., Campbell
When: 4 to 6 p.m.
Cost: Free
Ages: All ages, pets included; it gets very crowded.
Tuesday through Friday, October 27–30
Trick-or-Treat the Row (San Jose)
A weekday morning made for toddlers and preschoolers: live music, pumpkin decorating, stilt walkers, balloons and trick-or-treating along The Row.
Where: Santana Row, 377 Santana Row, San Jose
When: Tuesday, Oct 27, 10 a.m. to noon
Cost: Free and open to the public
Ages: All ages
Spooky StoryWalk (Sunnyvale)
Read Meowl-o-ween page by page as you walk the park, then make a craft while supplies last.
Where: Columbia Park, 789 Morse Ave., Sunnyvale
When: Wednesday, Oct 28, 4 to 6 p.m.
Cost: No registration required; supplies are limited.
Ages: Children of all ages.
Halloween Storytime & Trick-or-Treat Parade (Los Gatos)
A not-so-spooky outdoor storytime, then a trick-or-treat parade around the Civic Center fountain.
Where: Los Gatos Library, Civic Center front lawn
When: Thursday, Oct 29, 11 to 11:45 a.m.
Cost: No registration listed; just bring a bag or bucket.
Ages: 0 to 5
Trick-or-Treat Along Lincoln Avenue (Willow Glen, San Jose)
Businesses from Minnesota Avenue to Willow Street hand out candy, and Books for Treats gives each child a free book at the Garden Theater.
Where: Lincoln Avenue, Downtown Willow Glen
When: Friday, Oct 30. Toddler session 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; school-age session 3 to 4:30 p.m.
Cost: Open to the public
Ages: Toddlers in the morning, school-age kids in the afternoon
Halloween Saturday, October 31
Green Halloween at Happy Hollow Park & Zoo (San Jose)
A critter show, costume parade, crafts, games and animal encounters. Come in costume Oct 24 to 31 for $3 off admission (no full-face masks on adults).
Where: Happy Hollow Park & Zoo, San Jose (parking at 748 Story Road or 1300 Senter Road)
When: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Cost: Included with general admission ($22 for ages 2 to 59; under 2 free). Parking is $10.
Ages: All ages
Witchy Walk-A-Bout (Saratoga)
Games, crafts, scarecrows, a giant bubble booth, ukulele music and trick-or-treating at Village businesses.
Where: Big Basin Way, Historic Saratoga Village
When: 2 to 4 p.m.
Cost: Free
Ages: The whole family.
Safe Trick-or-Treat and Pumpkin Market (Morgan Hill)
Monterey Road closes to cars so little ones can trick-or-treat at downtown businesses.
Where: Downtown Morgan Hill, Monterey Road from Main Avenue to Fourth Street
When: The city lists the event from 3 to 7 p.m.; the trick-or-treat street closure is listed for 5 to 7 p.m.
Cost: Free
Ages: Kids under 12.
All Month: Halloween Fun You Can Do Any Day
The Great Big BOO at Gilroy Gardens (Gilroy)
My pick for big kids: themed rides, live musical shows, a BOO Trail for trick-or-treating and a light tunnel, all not-too-spooky.
Where: Gilroy Gardens, 3050 Hecker Pass Highway, Gilroy
When: Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Nov 1; trick-or-treating and shows start at 5 p.m.
Cost: Single-day tickets are $65 on select dates, plus parking; under 3 free.
Ages: The whole family.
Brick or Treat at LEGOLAND Discovery Center Bay Area (Milpitas)
Halloween LEGO builds, a glow-in-the-dark zone and a 4D monster movie, my go-to if it rains.
Where: LEGOLAND Discovery Center Bay Area, Milpitas
When: Daily through Oct 31 during attraction hours
Cost: Included with admission, from $24.99 online
Ages: Families with young builders.
Spina Farms Pumpkin Patch (Morgan Hill)
Spina Farms has moved to Morgan Hill and stays open past Halloween, with trains, a corn maze, pumpkin blasters and a hayride with a dino walk.
Where: Laguna Ave. and Santa Teresa Blvd., Morgan Hill
When: Open daily (weather permitting) through Nov 2
Cost: Free patch entry; attractions $8 to $10, or a $45 Park Pass. Weekend parking is $30 cash.
Ages: All ages
For more options, see my list of the best pumpkin patches in the Bay Area and my guide to the best fall activities in the South Bay.
Where to Trick-or-Treat in San Jose and the South Bay
Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, so expect an earlier start. The best streets are quiet, well-lit blocks with sidewalks and lots of porch lights.
Willow Glen: tree-lined streets near Lincoln Avenue.
Rose Garden: classic older homes, and parents tell me they love the foot traffic.
Almaden: family-heavy neighborhoods with lots of decorated houses.
Downtowns: Campbell, Los Gatos, Saratoga and Morgan Hill's business trick-or-treats are easy for younger kids.
New to the area? Click here for my full guide on the best neighborhoods for trick or treating in the South Bay Area!
Family Halloween Safety and Planning Tips
Go early with little ones: daytime events are calmer for kids under 5.
Register now: Cupertino's Monster Mash price goes up after Oct 19.
Pack a layer: October evenings cool off fast.
Add light: glow sticks, reflective tape or a small flashlight help drivers see kids at dusk.
Keep costumes event-friendly: Happy Hollow and Gilroy Gardens ban full-face masks on adults and prop weapons.
Plan parking: bring cash for weekend patch parking.
Check candy at home: set aside anything unwrapped.
Pick a meeting spot: crowded events are easier with a plan.
What Halloween Says About Raising a Family in the South Bay
Almost every family moving to Silicon Valley asks me if it's a good place to raise kids. October is one of my favorite answers: in one week you can do a library storytime in Los Gatos, a city festival in Mountain View and a toddler trick-or-treat in Willow Glen, mostly for free.
These events are also a great way to try a neighborhood on. Walk the street on Halloween, count the porch lights and talk to the parents you meet. If you're thinking about buying, my list of the best neighborhoods for first-time home buyers is a good place to start.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best Silicon Valley Halloween events for families in 2026?
Top picks include Monster Bash in Mountain View, Monster Mash in Cupertino and SpooktaClara in Santa Clara (all Oct 24), Trick-or-Treat the Row (Oct 27), Willow Glen's Lincoln Avenue trick-or-treat (Oct 30) and Green Halloween at Happy Hollow (Oct 31).
Are there toddler Halloween events in San Jose?
Yes. Try Trick-or-Treat the Row (Oct 27, 10 a.m. to noon), the Los Gatos Library storytime parade for ages 0 to 5 (Oct 29) and Willow Glen's toddler session (Oct 30, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.).
What free trick-or-treat events are in Santa Clara County?
Free options include Campbell's Creepy Crawly and the Los Gatos PAWlooza (both Oct 25), Trick-or-Treat the Row (Oct 27), and Saratoga's Witchy Walk-A-Bout and Morgan Hill's Safe Trick-or-Treat (both Oct 31).
What day is Halloween 2026?
Saturday, October 31, 2026, so you can pair a daytime event with neighborhood trick-or-treating.
Are there pet-friendly Halloween events in the South Bay?
Yes. The Los Gatos PAWlooza (Oct 25) has a costume promenade for kids and pets, and Campbell's Creepy Crawly welcomes four-legged trick-or-treaters too.
Your Next Step
Pick one event for next weekend and one for Halloween week, and put them on the calendar today. If a neighborhood catches your eye while you're trick-or-treating, I'd love to show you around. Just reach out!
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Event dates, times, prices and age ranges come from city and organizer pages as of October 16, 2026, and can change. Please confirm details with the organizer before you go.
