As darkness falls and the harvest moon rises, treat yourself to a spooktacular series of Halloween activities themed perfectly for a bewitching getaway to the Santa Barbara South Coast. From boo-tiful crafts and carnivals to haunted tours and tastes of the season, Santa Barbara has a full calendar of Halloween events taking place throughout October.
Make sure to keep this page handy, as more events are added on a weekly basis.
Pumpkin Patches & Corn Mazes
Big Wave Dave’s Pumpkin Patch, Oct. 1-31 from 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
Big Wave Dave’s is a great spot for picking that perfect pumpkin or festive gourd. Located at La Cumbre Plaza, this local patch offers a variety of kids activities, photo opportunities and an abundant selection of pumpkins to choose from. If you’re looking to add harvest décor to your home, pick from a variety of squash, ornamental gourds, corn stalks, hay bales and more.
Cost: Admission is free
Lane Farms Pumpkin Patch, Sept. 28-Oct. 31, Monday-Friday from 12-7 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m.-7 p.m. (12-5 p.m. Halloween Day)
Lane Farms has everything you need to get into the Halloween season with hayrides, farm animals, a corn maze, loads of pumpkins and the perfect backdrop for that festive, Instagrammable fall photo. This harvest season, embark on an afternoon of autumn activities that are safe and fun for the whole family.
Cost: Admission is free
Solvang Farmer Pumpkin Patch, End of September-Oct. 31 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Pumpkins, gourds, squash, oh my! The Solvang Farmer Pumpkin Patch returns for its annual autumn extravaganza with one-pound pumpkins and festivities galore, including corn stalks, hay bales, kids maze and a 10-acre corn maze.
Cost: Admission is free
Halloween Events & Activities
Spooky Tours with Santa Barbara Ghost Tours, Ongoing
Did you know that Santa Barbara is the city of friendly ghosts? For a fun, spooky scare, join Professor Julie Ann Brown as she tours you through the streets of Downtown Santa Barbara sharing the stories of the local resident ghosts. Santa Barbara Ghost Tours offers a variety of tours including the Downtown Paranormal Wine and Spirits Tour, Legends, Myths and Mayhem Tour, Dead of the Night Tour and more. For an elevated experience, the VIP Historical Dinner Tour provides exclusive access to a private, membership-only club for an elegant dinner with your guide. Storytelling begins over dinner and then continues with a historical walking tour.
Cost: Tours starting at $35 per person
Santa Ynez Scarecrow Fest, Oct. 1-31
Solvang is set to usher in the season with authentic autumn flair as it launches the 14th Annual Solvang Scarecrow Fest and Contest. Spanning the entire month and culminating on Halloween, local Solvang enterprises and groups will join the festivities, showcasing uniquely crafted scarecrows at their respective venues.
Cost: Admission is free
Spooky Movie Nights at Paseo Nuevo, Oct. 4-25 at 6:30 p.m.
Join Paseo Nuevo for free outdoor Spooky Movie Nights every Friday in October on the rooftop of the South Side parking garage. Enjoy a different spooky movie each week, with complimentary popcorn. Bring blankets, chairs and extra layers!
Cost: Admission is free
Day in the Country, Oct. 12 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Los Olivos’ beloved Day in the Country festival returns with a small-town parade, over 150 craft vendors, a wine festival, apple pie contest, pumpkin carving, beer garden, live music, food trucks and a scarecrow contest! This free, family-friendly event is a true celebration of the Los Olivos community.
Cost: Admission is free
Boo at the Zoo, Oct. 18-27 from 5-8 p.m.
Get ready for a fun and festive Halloween spell-ebration at the Santa Barbara Zoo. While visiting the animals, discover frightfully fun décor, photo ops and trick-or-treating. The ticket for this event includes a Zoo Train ride, mad science experiments, scare zone, dance party, creepy-crawly animal encounters and bounce houses. Additionally, no costume head or face masks will be permitted. Since this is a kid and family-friendly event, please keep costumes child-friendly and do not include gore or realistic weapons.
Cost: $25 per adult, $18 per child
Pride Movie Night: Rocky Horror Picture Show, Oct. 18 from 6-10 p.m.
Get ready for an evening of fun as Pacific Pride Foundation presents “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” at Elings Park! Bring a picnic or grab bites from El Camino Catering Food Truck, with refreshments available for purchase. Settle in with blankets, pillows or low-back chairs and enjoy this fan-favorite under the stars. Interactive “prop bags” for the film will be available for purchase. Ages 18+ only.
Cost: $15 per person, $7 for students
Mission Movie Night: “Coco,” Oct. 19 from 6-9 p.m.
In celebration of All Souls Day, All Saints Day and Dia de los Muertos, the Old Mission Santa Barbara invites you to a special free outdoor screening of the beloved film “Coco.” Gather your family and friends for an enchanting evening under the stars on the Mission’s front lawn. Bring a blanket, relax and enjoy the cozy atmosphere with food and refreshments available for purchase.
Cost: Admission is free
Free Family Day: Día de los Muertos-Inspired Art Activities, Oct. 20 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
For the 34th year, the Santa Barbara Museum of Art celebrates Día de los Muertos with altars created by students and local groups. Enjoy art activities for all ages on the Front Terrace and in the Family Resource Center. New this year, experience traditional dance and music from Oaxaca’s Mixtec and Zapotec regions.
Cost: Admission is free
Candlelight: A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics, Oct. 22 from 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Experience the magic of Candlelight concerts in Santa Barbara, where music inspired by Halloween comes to life under the glow of candlelight. Join the Listeso String Quartet at The New Vic for a performance featuring classics like “Thriller,” “The Addams Family” and “Night on Bald Mountain.” Tickets available now for ages eight and up; under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
Cost: $41 per person
Halloween Bash at Summerland Winery, Oct. 25 from 5-8 p.m.
Join Summerland Winery for a Halloween bash featuring pumpkin carving, painting and costume contests for everyone—including your dogs! Enjoy spooky small bites and refreshments with your ticket.
Cost: $25 per adult, children are free
Halloween Craft & Movie Night, Oct. 25 from 6:30-8 p.m.
Join Yellow Bird Music Inc. for a fun-filled Halloween event where you can hand-paint your own ghost to take home, watch “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” and enjoy Halloween games.
Cost: $50 per person
Boo Bash: Family Fall Festival, Oct. 26 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Join the Fall Family Fun Festival hosted by the Rotary Santa Barbara North Club for a spooktacular time! Enjoy a fun dog Halloween costume contest, a kids’ costume contest and more—all while supporting the local community.
Cost: Admission is free
Spook Paella Pop-up, Oct. 26 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Join Zaca Mesa Winery for a fang-tastic Spooky Paella pop-up! Enjoy live music by Cary Park, delicious food from Vin X Food & Wine Events, Zaca Mesa and TREAD wines, spooky-themed goods from Perfectly Weird Shop and tarot readings.
Cost: Varies by item
Thriller 2024, Oct. 26 at 2 p.m.
Join World Dance for Humanity at the Santa Barbara Courthouse Sunken Gardens for a free, family-friendly thrills and chills daytime dance fest. Come in costume and watch dance groups perform their own spooky choreographies. Leading up to the event, World Dance for Humanity invites you to learn a new Halloween dance medley. World Dance for Humanity has even organized a series of flash mobs in October to show off your new moves. No need to be a trained dancer, all ages and experience levels are invited to participate.
Cost: Admission is free
BOO-Cara, Oct. 26 from 5-7 p.m.
Join The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara for the annual Boo-Cara, a spooktacular family-friendly Halloween event! Enjoy property-wide trick-or-treating, family games, a pumpkin patch and a photo booth. Activities include coffin painting, DIY cork bats, Cauldron Dirt Cups, a spooky carnival, a haunted house and more. Adults receive a drink ticket for a festive Halloween beverage.
Cost: $65 per adult, $35 per child (ages five and under are free)
Trick-or-Treating in Downtown Santa Barbara, Oct. 26 from 3-6 p.m.
Join the eerie excitement with your young ghosts and goblins and explore downtown establishments adorned with orange “Trick-or-Treat” signs and lively balloons during the official Downtown Santa Barbara Trick-or-Treating event. Don’t forget to dress up in your spookiest costumes; they’re highly encouraged!
Cost: Admission is free
Spooky Skies Season at Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, Oct. 28-Nov. 1 from 2-2:30 p.m.
Prepare for a spine-chilling journey through the cosmos at Gladwin Planetarium’s Halloween special at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. Discover the eerie mysteries of the night sky, from vampire stars to dark nebulae, in this fascinating 30-minute presentation. Stick around afterward for a live Q&A session with the presenter to delve deeper into these cosmic curiosities. (Recommended for ages five and older.)
Cost: Included in the price of admission
Ghost Village Road, Oct. 31 from 3-6 p.m.
Get ready for a hauntingly good time as Halloween returns to Coast Village Road for this year’s Ghost Village Road event! Local storefronts will be handing out candy to all the little ghouls, goblins and spooky characters roaming the streets.
Cost: Free
Paddle Sports Center’s Witchy Paddle, (date and time TBA)
Enjoy a bewitching paddle tour with Paddle Sports Center this Halloween! Glide between boats and explore the Santa Barbara coastline with your spellbinding crew. Arrive in costume and receive 25% off your rental.
Cost: $35 per hour (before discount)
21+ Halloween Events & Activities
Harvest Season Wine Tours, Now-Oct. 31 from 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Let Santa Barbara Wine Country Tours whisk you away during one of the most enchanting times of year in the Santa Ynez Valley: harvest season. Enjoy wine tastings at three local wineries, lunch in the Santa Ynez Valley, door-to-door shuttle service and a knowledgeable guide for the day. At each stop, the winery staff will share information about different blends and what makes each varietal unique.
Cost: $195 per person
From Dusk Till Dawn: Halloween Drink Specials, Oct. 16-Nov. 3 from 3-10 p.m.
Join Drift Santa Barbara at Dusk Bar from for a Halloween pop-up featuring spooky-themed craft cocktails like Rest in Peach, Children of the Corn, Room 524, Nightmare on State St and From Dusk till Dawn. Don’t miss out on the eerie fun!
Cost: Varies by menu item
Halloween Pub Crawl, Oct. 25 from 7 p.m.-2 a.m.
Kick off Halloween at Santa Barbara’s Halloween Pub Crawl. Start at EOS Lounge in costume, then explore over 10 bars and nightclubs with an all-access pass. Your kit includes free shots, drink discounts and nightclub entry. Begin the night with a pre-party, then roam State Street for an unforgettable Halloween celebration.
Cost: $15-$35 per person
Fields of Funk, Oct. 26 from 12-10 p.m.
Moon-walk your way over to Elings Park, and get your groove on with Neil Frances, Mayor Hawthorne, OMNOM, Reggie Watts and more. Fields of Funk is a Halloween music festival, and what better than to don your favorite costume, lay out some lawn chairs and picnic blankets and dance the evening away? Don’t miss the silent disco, roller skating, art installations, food trucks and full bar.
Cost: Tickets start at $60 per person
Goddess Comedy Hour: Ghouls Night Out, Oct. 26 from 6-7:30 p.m.
Join La Lieff Wines for a spirited evening of laughs at this Comedy Coven event. A lineup of talented comedians will deliver plenty of humor with a spooky twist, sure to keep you howling with laughter. Don’t forget to come dressed in your best costume for a chance to win the contest!
Cost: $15 per person
Santa Barbara Zombie Crawl, Oct. 26 from 7 p.m.-2 a.m.
One pass to the Santa Barbara Zombie Crawl will get you access to over 10+ bars and nightclubs in downtown Santa Barbara. Beginning at EOS Lounge, your ticket to this all-night event includes a free welcome shot (at select venues), drink discount coupons, free nightclub entry passes and a crawl map to participating locations. Costumes are encouraged.
Cost: $15-$35 per person
Painting Class: Glowing Pumpkins, Oct. 27 at 1 p.m.
Join The Painted Cabernet this Halloween to paint “Glowing Pumpkins” under a skeleton moon. Local artists guide you step-by-step, making it perfect for all skill levels. Mimosas will be available for purchase!
Cost: $45 per person
Un-Happy Hour: Halloween-Themed Cocktails, Oct. 27-Nov. 2 from 4-6 p.m.
Kick off your Halloween at Kimpton Canary Hotel with a special cocktail at Finch & Fork, followed by bites to eat. Then, head to the rooftop for a night of dancing to sets from Jack Roy, Larry Dance Jr. and Phil Spank. Celebrate Halloween in style with drinks, grooves and stunning rooftop views!
Cost: Varies by menu item
Halloween Painting Class: Day of the Dead Dog, Oct. 31 at 6 p.m.
Celebrate Halloween at The Painted Cabernet by painting a skeleton dog for Dia de los Muertos. Local artists provide step-by-step guidance, perfect for all skill levels. Don’t forget to wear your best costume for a contest, and enjoy wine and beer available for purchase!
Cost: $45 per person
Haunted Taproom Party, Oct. 31 at 7 p.m.
Head to Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co. for a night of Halloween fun with a touch of flair. Enjoy a live set from ChrisDigital, sip on cleverly crafted cocktails and take part in a costume contest with a $100 prize up for grabs. Free tricks and treats will round out the evening, making it a night of spirited celebration.
Cost: Free to attend
Halloween Night at Carr Winery, Oct. 31 from 7-10 p.m.
Experience a chillingly fun night at Carr Winery, where spooky wines and haunting tunes set the mood in their atmospheric wine cave. Dress to impress for the costume contest, and enjoy a complimentary glass of their signature Pink Monster with every ticket. Costumes are required!
Cost: $35 per ticket purchased in advance, $45 per ticket purchased at the door
Comedy is a Drag: Halloween Show, Oct. 31 from 7:30-9 p.m.
Live comedy just got spookier: Join Bear Cave Comedy for a night of ghoulish giggles at The Wildcat Lounge, where the drinks and the jokes will be flowing all night long (well, until 9 p.m.).
Cost: Tickets start at $9.85 per person
Death at the Disco, Nov. 1 from 6-9:30 p.m.
Keep the spooky celebration going at Kimpton Canary Hotel with a special cocktail at Finch & Fork, followed by bites to eat. Then, head to the rooftop for a night of dancing to sets from Jack Roy, Larry Dance Jr., and Phil Spank. Celebrate Halloween in style with drinks, grooves, and stunning rooftop views.
Cost: $20-$30 per person
Masquerade Haunted Ball, Nov. 2 from 6-10 p.m.
Sip on wine, savor tasty morsels and groove to the beats of DJ Fess in the wine cave at Sunstone Winery for the annual Haunted Ball.
Cost: $50 per person
