Things to do with kids in the Bay Area this week

6 PM – 7 PM·Castro Valley Library, Chabot Canyon, Castro Valley

The Puppet Company presents a Halloween‑themed adaptation of Washington Irving’s Legend of Sleepy Hollow with happier ending, performed by puppeteer Randal Metz at Castro Valley Library, all ages.

3 PM – 8 PM·Lindsay Wildlife (calendar) · Walnut Creek

Guests enjoy not‑so‑spooky animal encounters, crafts, games, a Mad Scientist, face painting, and food from Rosie’s Mexican Food Truck, Kona Shaved Ice, Market on Larkey at Lindsay Wildlife.

4 PM – 4:45 PM·Danville Library, Danville

Costumed Halloween variety show at Danville Library features happy ghosts, Frankenstein, Purple People Eater, a not‑scary witch, spider, and activity bags, for ages 3–9.

4 PM·Chan Zuckerberg Community Space, 801 Jefferson Ave., Suite 100 Redwood City, California 94063

Spooktacular showcase with banjo sing‑along, shadow theater, costume parade led by a webbed friend, shadow puppetry, cookie decorating ($5), slimes, pumpkin toss and photo booth ($5) all ages.

6 PM·Fox Theater Oakland, 1807 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland, CA 94612

Lenny Pearce delivers a toddler techno rave, spinning children’s favorite songs remixed into modern hits at the Fox Theater Oakland, for ages 1–4.

3:30 PM – 5 PM·Richmond, San Francisco Public Library

Mission Science Workshop's Tinkering Truck brings hands‑on tinkering, traveling exhibits and live animals to the Richmond San Francisco Public Library, for ages 5–10.

6 PM·San Jose Civic, San Jose

Blippi and Meekah perform a high‑energy interactive show at San Jose Civic, featuring fan‑favorite songs such as “The Excavator Song,” “Monster Truck,” “Dino Dance,” and “Curious Like Me.”

4 PM – 6 PM·Ferry Building Marketplace, One Ferry Building, San Francisco, CA 94111

Trick-or-treat inside the Ferry Building Marketplace with festive shop signage, Halloween crafts, spooky music and games; RSVP on Eventbrite helps candy supply, free for all ages.

5 PM – 7 PM·Hiller Aviation Museum, 601 Skyway Rd., San Carlos

Trunk or Treat at Hiller Aviation Museum offers aviation‑themed decorations, candy, and Halloween fun in the Haunted Hangar.

3:30 PM – 4:30 PM·San Carlos Library, Teen Corner, San Carlos

Paint a hand‑carved copal wood alebrije at San Carlos Library’s Teen Corner, guided by artists Carolina Argote and Jose Virelas, for ages 6–18.

5 PM – 6 PM·UC Botanical Garden Berkeley

Director Corky Quirk presents live native bats for viewing and discussion at UC Botanical Garden, highlighting ecological role; Adult $20, youth $10, ages 3 and up.

3 PM·Sigmund Stern Grove, 19th Avenue and Sloat Boulevard, San Francisco

Scaregrove Halloween Event at Sigmund Stern Grove — free Halloween fun for all ages.

6:30 PM – 9 PM·Robert Ferguson Observatory (Sugarloaf · Kenwood

Astronomers narrate eerie nebulae and vampire stars while telescopes reveal the Moon, planets and distant galaxies at Robert Ferguson Observatory, costumes and treats included, all ages.

7:30 PM – 9 PM·Dinkelspiel Auditorium, 471 Lagunita Drive, Stanford, CA 94305 · Palo Alto

Stanford Symphony and Wind Symphony perform Strauss, Holst, Goldsmith and Williams for Halloween in Dinkelspiel Auditorium, featuring a costume contest; tickets $32, $27 seniors/non‑Stanford, free for Stanford students.

12 PM – 7 PM·Children's Fairyland · Oakland

Halloween trick‑or‑treating at Fairyland features performances, DJs, food trucks, candy stations, arts & crafts, games, prizes, STEM activities, and a Mad Science Fairy Fun House.

10 AM – 3 PM·San Francisco Zoo & Gardens, Sloat Blvd at The Great Highway, San Francisco, CA 94132

Costume parade and spooktacular contest with toddler, family/group, animal, and judge’s favorite categories at San Francisco Zoo, for ages 1–4.

10 AM – 2 PM·The Tech Interactive · San Jose

Scientific chills and tech‑tastic thrills with Halloween twists on favorite exhibits at The Tech Interactive, all ages.

11 AM·Richmond Memorial Auditorium and Convention Center, 403 Civic Center Plaza, Richmond

Día de los Muertos celebration at Richmond Memorial Auditorium features lively music, festive costumes, and energetic activities honoring tradition, $15 pre‑register or $20 at gate, all ages.

10 AM – 5 PM·Chabot Space & Science Center · Oakland

Spooky Science at Chabot Space & Science Center offers a lab with gooey experiments, a pumpkin elevator challenge, a rooftop pumpkin drop, and a dark‑matter film premiere panel.

5 PM – 10 PM·School of Arts and Culture at MHP (1700 Alum Rock Ave San Jose United States)

Avenida de Altares celebrates its 10th anniversary free with vibrant altars, live entertainment, and local vendors at the Mexican Heritage Plaza, for all ages.

10 AM·San Jose Center for the Performing Arts, 255 Almaden Blvd., San Jose

Bluey's Big Play (San Jose Center for the Performing Arts) — theatrical adaptation of Emmy‑winning series featuring original story, new music, and puppets bringing Bluey to life.

10 AM – 12 PM·Hiller Aviation Museum, 601 Skyway Rd., San Carlos

A witch drops a doomed pumpkin from a high‑flying helicopter at the Hiller Aviation Museum.

5:30 PM – 9 PM·La Peña Cultural Center, 3105 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley, CA

Dia de Muertos celebration at La Peña Cultural Center features altar ceremony, bilingual storytime, craftmaking, Son Jarocho concert and community fandango, free, all ages.

2 PM·Saratoga High School courtyard, 20300 Herriman Ave, Saratoga

Student-built machines smash pumpkins for composting while over 40 maker, club, and robotics booths provide hands‑on science in the Saratoga High School courtyard, free, all ages.

10 AM – 5 PM·International Blvd between Fruitvale Avenue and 42nd Avenue, Oakland

The Lawrence Hall of Science presents a altar with an ancestral milpa, honoring ancestors, Indigenous knowledge keepers, and immigrant organizers at the Oakland Dia de los Muertos Festival.

12 PM·Rincon Library, 725 Rincon Avenue Livermore, California 94551

Día de los Muertos Community Celebration at Rincon Library features music, dance, and crafts. Free for all ages.

Santana Row, San Jose

Santana Row hosts a Día de Los Muertos tribute with face painting, Catrina meet‑and‑greets, mariachi performances, crafts and a cultural pop‑up market, free.

3 PM·San Jose Civic, 135 San Carlos St., San Jose

Dog Man – The Musical (San Jose Civic) — Hilarious crime‑fighting dog policeman battles cyborg fish Flippy and cloned cat Petey in a family adventure.

10 AM – 4 PM·Children's Fairyland · Oakland

Día de los Muertos at Fairyland features a student art exhibit, live mariachi, Brazilian drumming lessons, a book reading, and a Spanish-language program.

10 AM · 2 PM·San Jose Center for the Performing Arts, 255 Almaden Blvd., San Jose

Bluey's Big Play (San Jose Center for the Performing Arts) — theatrical adaptation of Emmy‑winning series featuring original story, new music, and puppets bringing Bluey to life.

4 PM – 6 PM·San Lorenzo Library, Cafe Area, San Lorenzo

Dia De Los Muertos Extravaganza (San Lorenzo Library, Cafe Area) — Face painting by Diego Flores Art, marshmallow sugar‑skull decorating, and DIY marigold hair accessories, all ages.

10:30 AM – 11:15 AM·Millbrae Library, Millbrae

Dance and sing with Cascada de Flores in a Día de Muertos journey, sending messages on kites, learning sugar skulls, building an ofrenda for ages 11 and under.

8 AM – 10 PM·Potrero del Sol Park (La Raza Park), 2827 Cesar Chavez St, San Francisco, CA

Public altar building begins at 8 a.m., followed by a noon ceremony, evening performances, and a Mission night procession at Potrero del Sol Park — all ages.

5:30 PM – 6:30 PM·Crockett Library, Crockett

Sugar skull decorating workshop with artist Chris Granillo at Crockett Library, teaching Día de los Muertos history and symbolism, all materials provided, registration required, for all ages.