What do you wish for?

Do you base our choices on what you want, or what you think you're supposed to want? Let yourself feel what you feel and want what you want, THEN engage your mind in the process. The best wishes are born from your heart.

Thursday, October 2, 2014

Molly Blue Dawn's List of Samhain-ish Events for 2014

The Samhain season is so rich with witchy, magic-y, fun, spooky (and sacred) events that I have created a list of all the ones I know about for this year.  Some are scary, some are not - if it includes costumes or pumpkins or honouring the Beloved Dead, I've probably included it!

Please let me know ( mollmac@gmail.com ) if there are any fabulous ones I've missed!  

All of these events, and many more, can be found on the Pantheon Foundation website’s calendar:
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Halloween on Lemos Farm
October 1-31 (closed October 6)
Lemos Farm, 12320 San Mateo Road (Hwy 92), Half Moon Bay, 650-726-2342
see website for detailed schedule and prices

“Getting your Halloween Pumpkin is more fun at Lemos Farm!  We have large pumpkin patches with hundreds of beautiful pumpkins for you to choose from.

In the Halloween Season (September and October), our Choo-Choo Train turns into a spooky Ghost Train (not too spooky, fun for the whole family).  Don't forget to visit our Scare Zone!  One Haunted House is for little kids.  The other Haunted House is for kids of all ages, where we'll scare the yell out of you!”

All the 3-6 year olds I know love this place!
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Arata Pumpkin Farm
October 1-31
Arata Pumpkin Farm, 185 Verde Road, Half Moon Bay, 650-726-7548
see website for schedule, list of attractions and prices

“You can lose yourself in our 6 acre corn field and pumpkin river. Try to challenge yourself intellectually and physically in our 2 acre world famous Minotaur's Labyrinth Hay Maze. Take a walk on the wild side and adventure into our Haunted Barn. Relax and enjoy yourself on our Hay Ride. Step back in time while you watch our Gladiators do battle in our coliseum built out of hay bales. Or you can let the kid's play in our Play Land playground with Miniature Hay Maze, on the Children's Train Ride or have fun with our animals in the Petting Zoo. We also have many picnic areas throughout the farm, at Arata Pumpkin Farm we have something for everybody.

We also have dozens of varieties of pumpkins and sizes. We have a special pumpkin for everyone in your family! Feel free to give us a call, send us an email or just come to the farm. We would love to see you.”
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Cornfield Maze in Livermore
October 1-31
G&M Farms, 487 E Airway Boulevard, Livermore, 925-447-3276
see website for detailed schedule and prices

It twists, it turns, it dead-ends - it’s six green acres of good old-fashioned family fun!

It’s the G&M Farms Cornfield Maze and Pumpkin Patch in Livermore, the farm that is so fun it has been featured TWICE on the David Letterman Show! Bring the whole family - there’s harvest fun for all ages at G&M Farms, and it’s easy to find, right off I-580 at Isabel Avenue in Livermore.

Find your way through the maze, then enjoy G&M Farms’ huge Pumpkin Patch with pumpkins of all sizes - the kids can pick their own! For Mom, there’s fresh produce, decorative gourds and Indian corn. Your little ones will love G&M’s farm animals and the free straw bale maze and corn box. Weekends feature Pony Rides, Pedal Carts, and our new attraction The Barnyard Blasters! plus don’t forget to ride G&M Farms’ famous Cow Train!

G&M Farms Cornfield Maze and Pumpkin Patch was voted Best Seasonal Attraction in the East Bay by Diablo Magazine, and when you see it, you’ll believe it!”
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Santa Rosa Pumpkin Patch
October 1-31,
see website for detailed schedule
Santa Rosa Pumpkin Patch, 5157 Stony Point Road, Santa Rosa, 707-331-6653
Free admission, $2 for most activities, $6 for select activities

“Get lost in Sonoma County’s largest corn maze! The Patch is family owned and offers a unique experience to the Northern Bay area. Our family looks forward to seeing you and your family this fall season. Our award-winning pumpkin patch offers 8 acres of pumpkins to choose from, a huge 8 acre corn maze (with a long and short route) and a variety of fun family activities.

We offer a wide range of activities for all ages! The whole family will have fun.
General $2 wristband includes the following:
Hay ride around our family  farm (runs every 40 minutes).
10 hay bale high pyramid - can you make it to the top?
Let your child get lost in our sunflower maze.
Corn play box - come jump in!
Challenge one another to a game of tether ball.
Touch the sky in our country tire swing set.
Giant hay bale maze.
Pedal tractor races - new this year!!!! Who will win?
Check out our Land of the Giants pumpkins weighing over 200 pounds!
Take a stroll through the pumpkin patch with one of our wagons.
Super $10 wristband includes everything in general plus the following:
Unlimited jumping on our huge Jumpy pillow
unlimited flying down our Giant blow up Slide
Pet and Love our darling petting zoo animals as many times as you like. Provided by Fairytale Animal Rescue, baby bunnies, goats, chickens, ducks and more!
Ala Carte activities:
Pony rides $6 (Saturdays and Sundays only)
Our 8 acre corn maze $6 (Sonoma County’s largest)
Face Painting, power jump, and rock wall vendors will be accepting cash only.

Hungry? Grab a hot dog, warm up with a bowl of chili or cheesy nachos. Quench your thirst with apple cider, hot chocolate, coffee, juice box, Coke, 7-Up or bottled water. Satisfy your sweet tooth with a caramel apple or bag of kettle corn!  Enjoy lunch at our shaded tables under the big white tent!”
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Uesugi Farms Pumpkin Park
October 1-31,
see website for detailed schedule
Uesugi Farms, 14485 Monterey Road, San Martin, 408-778-7225
Free admission, $3 parking on weekends

“Train
Take a nostalgic ride aboard our Allan Herschell Iron Horse or our blue and yellow Arrow Streamliner trains. Visit Morgania, where our scarecrows live.

Pumpkin Pete’s Enchanted Hayride
Meet Pumpkin Pete and travel through some of the most beautiful and awe-inspiring lands of Uesugi Farms. Visit Pumpkinland, our gorgeous Sunflower Gallery, and the spectacular Marigoldland, filled with over 100,000 hand-sown flowers. This one of a kind hayride is completely narrated and complemented with charming music. It’s a must see!

Corn Maze
Take a stroll through this 2 acre corn maze
and try to find your way out. Interactive trivia cards will help you navigate through this aMAIZEing Corn Maze. Fun for the whole family. Children under the age of 10 need to be accompanied by an adult.
The Cow Train
This may be the silliest fun you have all year!
A favorite with the kids!

Butterfly Valley
Take a stroll along this path and learn about the fascinating lives of butterflies through interactive storyboards.

Bootsie The Bee
Follow the corn path to discover all of Bootsie’s colorful, textured friends, and learn fascinating ‘bee-facts’ too. Be sure to visit Bootsie at night. All the storyboards are lit up with blacklights.

Carousel
Everyone can remember riding a carousel as a youngster, and this one rivals the best.

Pumpkin Blasters
Come and shoot targets with mini pumpkins out of this gun… at 90mph.
What a blast!! Safe for all ages.

Bootsie’s Honey Hut
Bee sure to stop by Bootsie’s Honey Hut. You can see live bees in their hive working away. You can purchase all kinds of bee-made goodies such as jars of honey, honey sticks, candy and candles. Get your honey all year long by visiting http://www.allhoneystore.com.

Pony Rides
Our sweet ponies will bring joy to everyone’s faces. Stop for a photo to cherish this memory forever.

Petting Corral
Don’t forget to visit our friendly farm animals. Featuring goats, chickens, rabbits, ducks and our favorite, Henry the miniature donkey!

Pumpkin Pyramid
It takes over 4000 pumpkins to cover our pyramid. A splendiferous site of epic proportions. Have your picture taken while sitting in our king or queen thrones.

Hay Jump
Have the kids jump on this ginormous jumper made of giant haybales. What a great way for the kids to burn some energy!”
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Exploratorium After Dark: When Tricks Are Treats
Thursday, October 2, 6:00-10:00PM, and the first Thursday of each month
Exploratorium, Pier 15, San Francisco, 415-528-4444
$15, 18 and over

“After Dark: When Tricks Are Treats

Delve into the science behind deception at After Dark: When Tricks Are Treats. Find out how expert wine detective Maureen Downey exposes costly counterfeits - without uncorking a bottle. Follow elements of illusion in European paintings with Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco curator Melissa Buron, and reframe yourself in a virtual mirror staged by Exploratorium physicist Paul Doherty. Encounter the uncanny in the mischievous mentalism of Brad Barton, Reality Thief, and let magician and Exploratorium scientist Luigi Anzivino show you how the odds can be stacked against you in a seemingly innocent game of chance.

Not a theater, cabaret, or gallery, Exploratorium's After Dark contains aspects of all three. Each evening showcases a different topic - from music to sex to electricity - but all include a cash bar and film screenings, plus an opportunity to play with our hundreds of hands-on exhibits.”
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Downtown Benicia Ghost Walk
Friday, October 3 and 17, 8:00PM, and the first and third Friday of each month
meet at 90 First Street, Benicia
$25, reservations required.
Ages 10-16 must be accompanied by adult.
For more information, please call 707-745-9791

“Paranormal history of Downtown Benicia are revealed on this exciting, interactive and fun Ghost Walk led by paranormal investigator Devin Sisk. Each tour is limited to 20 people and lasts approximately 2 hours, depending on what entity you encounter along the way! Walking shoes and flashlight recommended. No children under ten years of age permitted on tours. Ages 10-16 must be accompanied by adult. $25 per person. Prepaid reservations required by calling 707-745-9791.”
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Shrouded Tales
presented by the Hayward Area Historical Society
Fridays-Saturdays, October 3-18, 7:00PM and 9:00PM
see locations below
$15
Tickets must be purchased in advance.  Please call 510-581-0223 xt131 for reservations.

San Lorenzo Pioneer Cemetery, Hesperian Boulevard and College Street, San Lorenzo
Friday-Saturday, October 3-4, 7:00PM and 9:00PM

Meek Mansion, 17365 Boston Road, Hayward
Friday-Saturday, October 10-11, 7:00PM and 9:00PM

McConaghy House, 18701 Hesperian Boulevard, Hayward
Friday-Saturday, October 17-18, 7:00PM and 9:00PM

“Join the Undertaker throughout the month of October for fascinating tours of suspense, tragedy and death at three of our historic locations - San Lorenzo Pioneer Cemetery, Meek Mansion, and McConaghy House.

Learn about true tales of tragic ends, Victorian death traditions and superstitions all sprinkled with a touch of the paranormal.  Tours are site-specific.  Advance registration is required.”
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Goblyn's Glen
Fridays-Sundays, October 3-31, 7:00-10:00PM
Oak Meadow Park, 233 Blossom Hill Road, Los Gatos
see website for admission details
For more information, please e-mail SkeletonCoastProductions@gmail.com
or call  408-459-8509

“Located in the lovely and picturesque Oak Meadow Park in Los Gatos, California, Goblyn’s Glen is a fully interactive fun and creepy experience for children of ALL ages, but especially for the young ones, 12 and under.

At Goblyn’s Glen, guests will enter a world of enchantment, wonder, and spooky thrills as they trick or treat their way through this magical place that only appears for those that truly believe in the wonder of Halloween.

Different characters await as you take in marvelous Halloween displays and oddities. The Monster Safari continues this year with our Master of Ceremonies, Sir Amiss Higglesbottom. Our Outfitters will prepare you as you continue to observe and report on your favorite Monsters while Trick or Treating through the Glen. We know you are up to the challenge.

There will be vendors, food, and fun for the entire family. Be sure to visit us on Saturday, October 25 for Festival Night for extra special surprises, featuring Patrick the Magician, balloon twisters and a special V.I.P. dinner (additional cost for dinner).”
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Pirates of Emerson Haunted Adventure
various dates October 3-November 1,
see website for detailed schedule
Alameda County Fairgrounds, 4501 Pleasanton Avenue, Pleasanton
http://www.piratesofemerson.com  (Warning - website is noisy!)

“6 thrilling haunted attractions plus dead entertainment nightly!  

One price admission includes these 6 attractions:
Pirates of Emerson
Mental Maze
Fear Beneath the Pier
ClownEvil
Hotel Hell
Bumpkin Patch

In addition to our 6 Haunted attractions, other events include:
Frightmare Slideshow
Bone Ball
Misfortune Teller
Emerson’s Oddities
Nightly Entertainment
...and more!”

Scary fun for adults who like to be scared!  Beware!
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Halloween Candy Can
with Holly Snyder
Saturday, October 4, 10:00AM
Tiny Tots Baby Boutique, 138 Railway Avenue, Campbell
$20 per family

“Join us in making fun and spooky Halloween crafts! These crafts are fun for the whole family! This Halloween event is early in the month so you can display all your spooktacular crafts all month long.

Featured project: Halloween Candy Can - You can fill up the can with candy to hand out to trick-or-treaters, or your child can use it for trick-or-treating. Fun!

Bring the family and make as many crafts as you like! Recommended for toddlers and up.

Instructor: Holly Snyder.  For more details, email her at BlueDolphinCreations10@gmail.com.”
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Halloween Costume Workshop
with Maria Chenut
a three part workshop
Saturday, October 4, 2:00-5:00PM,
and October 18 and 25
Autobody Fine Art Gallery, 1517 Park Street, Alameda, 510-865-2608
$120

“Stop buying a pre-made costume or stapling things together! What better moment to learn how to sew than preparing for Halloween. Make something special or something wild without the pressure of it having to look perfect! Invent a pattern, work with different and unusual materials. Get inspired and geared up as a group!”
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Sebastopol Zombie Run
Saturday, October 4, 5:00PM
starting at The Barlow, 6770 McKinley Street, Sebastopol
see website for registration information

“5K Fun Run, most authentic zombie contest, raffle, Health Fair and guest speakers!

Organized by Kaia F.I.T. Santa Rosa and Sebastopol

Registration and packet pick up starts at 5:00PM, 5K starts at about 7:00PM.

The women of Kaia FIT believe that health begins with family. Our family here in Sebastopol is our community. As a community we need to watch out for one another. Kaia FIT has teamed up with the OPEN OUR HOSPITAL CAMPAIGN, which is being sponsored by the Palm Drive Health Care Foundation. The goal of the Campaign is to raise money to reopen our hospital! By purchasing a raffle ticket or a walking/running spot in the Zombie Run you will be gaining strength and health and helping support the community in many ways. Please do yourself and your community a favor by grabbing a family member or neighbor and joining in the fun!”
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Vampires, Werewolves, and Zombies Weekend at Playland
Saturday-Sunday, October 4-5, 10:00AM-5:00PM
Playland-Not-At-The-Beach, 10979 San Pablo Avenue, El Cerrito
see website for admission details

“Little vampires, werewolves, and zombies will have the times of their lives enjoying a safe, fun practice for Halloween. Dress as a vampire, werewolf or zombie and win 50 free tickets for the carnival prizes!

Over 30+ pinball machines spanning seven decades, video games, Penny Arcade machines, challenging carnival games of skill, interactive displays and exhibits, miniature circuses, sideshow exhibits, baffling magic shows - they are all here waiting to entertain and amuse you!

Revisit Whitney's Playland and the Sutro Baths as well as the 1939 World's Fair on Treasure Island.  There is always fun at Playland-Not-at-the-Beach! “

Playland at the Beach is a fun part of San Francisco history, now being kept alive by people in El Cerrito who are obsessed with fun and history! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Playland_(San_Francisco)
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Harvest Faire and Steam Festival
Saturday-Sunday, October 4-5, 11:00AM-7:00PM
Roaring Camp Railroads, 5401 Graham Hill Road, Felton, 831-335-4484
Free admission, see website for Steam Train tickets

“Step into the incredible world of steam power at the Harvest Faire and Steam Festival presented by Kinetic Steam Works and Roaring Camp Railroads. Welcome Fall with heritage children's activities like scarecrow making, pumpkin patch picking, candle making and gold panning. Behold steam-powered line shafts, player pianos, letterpresses, printing presses and more! Admission is FREE for the whole family October 4-5, and children with a Steam Train ticket get to pick out a free pumpkin from our Harvest Pumpkin Patch on Bear Mountain.

Harvest and Steam themed activities include 'Make and Take' Scarecrows, Blacksmith and Print Shop demonstrations, gold panning, candle making, hand car racing, and much more.”
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CALABASH: A Festival of Gourds, Art, and the Garden
Sunday, October 5, 1:00-5:00PM
Food For Thought, 6550 Railroad Avenue, Forestville
$45 in advance, $50 at the door

“Food For Thought, in collaboration with the Occidental Arts and Ecology Center, present the 14th annual Calabash - Sonoma County’s most colorful and inspiring harvest event. Calabash, named Best Fundraiser by readers of the North Bay Bohemian in 2013 and 2014, features a silent auction of fine gourd art, along with tours of Food For Thought’s beautiful organic gardens, which will be at their peak.

Guests at Calabash enjoy a sumptuous array of fine food and wine from Sonoma County’s bountiful harvest, and live music played on hand-made gourd instruments. The event will also feature a sale of select garden art and an exclusive selection from Food For Thought Antiques.

Tickets are $45 before the event or $50 day-of-event. Please call 707-887-1647 for tickets or click here to purchase tickets online (make sure to put ‘Calabash tickets’ in the comment field).

Monies raised at Calabash will benefit Food For Thought - Sonoma County AIDS Food Bank, which provides comprehensive nutrition and other services - free of charge - to 700 men, women, and children affected by HIV/AIDS in Sonoma County.”
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Halloween Concert with Octopretzel
Sunday, October 5, 3:00PM
Ashkenaz, 1317 San Pablo Avenue, Berkeley, 510-525-5054
Adults $6, Children $4

“Kids of all ages are in for a treat as Octopretzel takes over the stage with music, puppets and theatrics in our perennially popular Silly Sundays series of kids’ shows. A wide array of top family-oriented artists provides engaging entertainment for young children and parents every Sunday afternoon through October, playing music from around the world for dancing, jumping, and spinning on the best dance floor in the East Bay!

Featured on the Live at Ashkenaz, Volume 2: Kids! CD, and a longtime Silly Sundays favorite, the wildly imaginative Octopretzel returns to delight a young audience with its colorful and inspired performance. An Octopretzel show features handmade puppets, bubbles of all sizes, and at times hula-hooping kindergartners. The band, four of whose members are parents, has been known to inspire spontaneous kiddie mosh-pits while still maintaining focus and interactive participation. The songwriting presents imagery of things such as spinning tops, roly-polies, and whimsical imaginary creatures.

Lead singer and guitarist Melita Silberstein is Octopretzel’s creator, a former preschool teacher who is now a music specialist for youngsters. She has performed in a number of bands and recorded solo albums. Singer David Doostan is an East Bay emergency room doctor. Lead singer and guitarist Jen Miriam Kantor, a former member of the Sippy Cups and founder of the Puppet Players, sings and plays percussion (by day she’s a doula, artist, and puppeteer). Mandolinist and fiddler David Rosenfeld has worked with the Oakland Symphony and plays in klezmer band Kugelplex. Today’s special guest is Vir McCoy, from Ashkenaz favorites Dogon Lights and Hamsa Lila.”
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Ceramic Jack O’Lantern Workshop
The Art Beat, 68 E. Campbell Avenue, Campbell, 408-370-5002
$32 includes materials, registration required

two Sundays, October 5 (create) and October 12 (paint), 5:00-6:30PM

or two Mondays, October 6 (create) and October 13 (paint), 3:30-5:00PM

“Join us at The Art Beat for this special two-part workshop!  Carve a unique Jack O’Lantern face out of clay.  After the pumpkins have been fired, you will come back and glaze your pumpkin!  All clay pumpkins will be ready by Halloween!”
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Great Glass Pumpkin Patch
Tuesday-Sunday, October 7-12
see website for schedule details
Palo Alto Art Center, 1313 Newell Road, Palo Alto
Free

“Celebrating its 19th anniversary, the Great Glass Pumpkin Patch is the largest glass pumpkin patch in California. Featuring roughly 10,000 hand-blown glass pumpkins crafted by more than 20 prominent glass artisans, this beloved fall event returns to the newly renovated Palo Alto Art Center. Wander through a dazzling array of one-of-a kind glass pumpkins and other unique glass art objects designed to reflect nature’s brilliance in a variety of colors, shapes and sizes. From bold, contemporary designs, to earthy tones, to delicate and ornate with iridescent accents, these glass art pumpkins are perfect for Halloween or Thanksgiving, yet beautiful enough to display year-round.

The public sale runs Saturday through Sunday, October 11-12, from 10:00AM-5:00PM. Proceeds support the three presenting organizations: the Bay Area Glass Institute (BAGI), Palo Alto Art Center (PAAC), Palo Alto Art Center Foundation (PAACF), as well as participating artists. Both BAGI and PAACF are 501(c)(3) nonprofit art education organizations.

All of the pumpkins will be available for purchase during the weekend sale only. By purchasing glass pumpkins from the Great Glass Pumpkin Patch you will:
Own a beautiful and unique piece of glass art
Show support for local artists
Assist the hosting organizations in their efforts to  promote local community art and education programs and initiatives.”
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Day of the Dead Community Gallery Exhibit
Opening Reception Thursday, October 9, 5:00-7:00PM
Exhibit runs October 8-November 9
HAHS Center for History and Culture, 22380 Foothill Boulevard, Hayward
Free

“Join us in a cultural celebration of our ancestors.  See the traditional ways the Day of the Dead has been observed and how those rituals have influenced modern celebrations, art and culture.

Join us for a free exhibit reception to celebrate Day of the Dead exhibit opening.  Admission to the museum is free between the hours of 5:00-7:00PM.  No-host bar and food will be available.”
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The Invisible Man
Thursday, October 9, 7:00PM
The Cerrito Theater, 10070 San Pablo Avenue, El Cerrito
$8

“Don’t miss this shocking movie!

Claude Rains delivers a remarkable performance in his screen debut as a mysterious doctor who discovers a serum that makes him invisible. Covered by bandages and dark glasses, Rains arrives at a small English village and attempts to hide his amazing discovery. But the same drug which renders him invisible slowly drives him to commit acts of unspeakable terror. Based on H.G. Wells’ classic novel and directed by the master of macabre James Whale, The Invisible Man not only fueled a host of sequels but features some special effects that are still imitated today.

The Invisible Man plays only once on Thursday, October 9 at 7:00PM. All seats are $8. Moviegoers are advised to get advance tickets at the box office or online, as shows may sell out. Arriving early is a good idea, in order to choose your seat and also order delicious food and wine or beer.”
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Rhythmix Superhero Bingo
Thursday, October 9, 7:30PM
Rhythmix Cultural Works, 2513 Blanding Avenue, Alameda
$25 for 10 games
18+

“If you need to get up, up and away, join us for a sensational evening at Rhythmix Cultural Works featuring mortals, superpowers, Mr. Entertainment and the daring Yay Girls in 10 rounds of Superhero Bingo.  

Avengers assemble! Calling all caped crusaders and high flying brainiacs in the universe to come dressed as your favorite DC, Marvel or made up superhero for a night of bingo that will test your game-winning powers. Only $25 kryptons to play, plus the chance to win a $200 cash prize sponsored by Bank of the Orient. Make sure you buy your tickets in advance as this will sell out! Don't delay, you won't like us when we're angry. Ages 18 and up.

You've never played like this!”
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Wicked Woods
Thursdays, October 9-26, 7:00PM-10:00PM
Oak Meadow Park, 233 Blossom Hill Road, Los Gatos
see website for admission details
For more information, please e-mail SkeletonCoastProductions@gmail.com
or call  408-459-8509

“At Wicked Woods, guests embark upon an interactive, Halloween hunt that promises plenty of tricks and treats. Visitors venture into the spooky foliage and stop at checkpoints along the route, where they must perform various undead deeds, such as retrieving an item or face the wrath of a working guillotine. From Frankenstein's electric chair to the Phantom's masquerade ball, tricks abound and monsters lurk around every wooded turn. When attendees emerge from darkness, a swag bag of goodies awaits.

Wicked Woods is NOT recommended for children or the faint of heart. Groups will be limited to 4 people, thereby guaranteeing a more intimate, intense experience for those brave enough.

Join us for Thursday Night Frights at Wicked Woods, if you dare!”
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Shocktoberfest 15: The Bloody Debutante
presented by the Thrillpeddlers
October 9-November 22, see website for detailed schedule
The Hypnodrome, 575 10th Street, San Francisco
$30

“15 Years of Thrilling Terror!

Our latest extravaganza of terror and titillation includes:

An Edgar Allan Poe classic from Le Theatre du Grand Guignol - The System Of Dr. Tarr And Professor Fether - by Andre de Lorde, freely adapted by Paulo Biscaia Filho.

Isabel’s Zombie Holocaust - A world-premiere puppet show by Nick Knave.

The Bloody Debutante - A musical ritual one-act by Scrumbly Koldewyn.

Deathwrite - A world-premiere black comedy by Andy Wenger and Damien Chacona.

Contortionist Michael Curran and a Lights-Out Spook-Show Finale.

Tickets always sell fast, so don’t delay… buy yours today.”

"Spooky" is not quite the word for Grand Guignol Theatre - it's more like "horrifying".  Possibly even “grossenating”.  If you like that sort of thing, you’ll love Shocktoberfest!
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Opening Artist Ritual for Songs and Sorrows: Días de los Muertos
Friday, October 10, 7:00-8:00PM
Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak Street, Oakland
Included with Museum admission

“Kick off this year’s Días de los Muertos festivities by joining participating artists from the past two decades of the Days of the Dead exhibition at OMCA, as well as new artists represented for the first time in 2014, for this informal ceremony in Oak Street Plaza. Participate in a traditional blessing of this year’s exhibition Songs and Sorrows: Días de los Muertos 20th Anniversary. Before and after, check out Friday Nights at OMCA, with food trucks, live music, and more.”
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Mysteries of Samhain 2014: Eurydice and Orpheus a Wild Requiem
a Reclaiming Retreat
Friday-Monday, October 10-13
Mendocino Woodlands, Campsite 3, 39350 Little Lake Road, Mendocino
see website for registration details

“Share in four days of Reclaiming style, Earth-based spirituality, magic, and community!

Bay Area Reclaiming ritual planners invite you to join us in the redwoods at Mendocino Woodlands as we weave a web that crosses the generations.

2014 theme - Eurydice and Orpheus: a Wild Requiem

Mysteries of Samhain is a do-it-ourselves, community-style camp. This is a magical intensive, not a festival or a drop-in camp. We ask that people plan to attend the entire event (unless advance arrangements are made) and be committed to creating camp culture.

Reclaiming is an inclusive tradition. Folks new to Reclaiming are welcome.  This is a community retreat, not a festival or a drop-in camp. We ask that people plan to attend the entire event (unless advance arrangements are made) and be committed to creating camp culture.

All adults, as well as teens with parent or guardian, are welcome! We also welcome younger kids with parent - however, this camp will not be offering separate kids' activities. You do not need prior magical classes or Reclaiming training. We ask that all participants agree to work within Reclaiming's Principles of Unity. Reclaiming events are drug- and alcohol-free except for legal and prescription medications.

The Mendocino Woodlands are a state park operated by a local non-profit. The site is located just far enough inland from the town of Mendocino to avoid coastal fog. The camp is set among a mature Redwood/Douglas Fir forest, creating a beautiful, peaceful setting. A small creek runs alongside the camp.”
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Ghost Tours of Old Sacramento
Fridays and Saturdays, October 10-25, tours leave every 30 minutes 6:30-9:00PM
meet at Sacramento History Museum, 101 I Street, Old Sacramento
$15 adults, $10 youth ages 6-17. Children under 6 years old not permitted.
Advanced ticket reservation is required.

“Our Old Sacramento Living History Program will once again present a series of the ever-popular Ghost Tours in October 2014. Walk the streets of Old Sacramento on an eerie journey back in time. Venture through centuries of history and hear ghost stories dating to the Gold Rush era. Guides (and ghosts!) will relate tantalizing tales of how folks lived and died in our fair city. Visit with murder victims and other colorful characters from Sacramento history's spookier side.”
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Death Salon: San Francisco
Saturday, October 11, Day Session 9:00AM-4:00PM, Night Session 6:00-9:00PM
Fleet Room, Fort Mason Center, 2 Marina Boulevard, San Francisco
Day Session $30, Night Session $30, Both Sessions $45

“In the spirit of the eighteenth-century salon - informal gatherings of intellectuals - Death Salon encourages conversations on mortality and mourning and their resonating effects on our culture and history. We hold public events and provide an online community (through both Death Salon and our sister organization, The Order of the Good Death) to increase discussion on this often-ignored subject, focusing more on ideas and the broader cultural impacts of death than one’s personal interactions with mortality.

Who we are: We are historians, writers, artists, musicians, death professionals, and armchair researchers shining a light on the culture of death denial by engaging with mortality via various media. We are academics and non-academics. We encourage the sharing of ideas in a respectful, collegial environment. We aim for collaboration and innovation. We are out to change the way society looks at death by helping people engage with the phenomenon in meaningful ways.

We’re bringing our first ever one-day Death Salon event to San Francisco October 11, 2014. Deathlings will be taking over the Fleet Room at the Fort Mason Center. Just like our other Death Salon events, we’ll have speakers and performers from various disciplines informing and entertaining you all day and evening on diverse topics related to the culture of mortality and mourning.

Day Session emceed by Death Salon co-founder, mortician Caitlin Doughty of The Order of the Good Death.

Night Session emceed by Death Salon: SF Curators Annetta Black (Odd Salon) and Death Salon director Megan Rosenbloom.

See website for full line up of presentations.”
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Pumpkins in the Park
Saturday, October 11, 10:00AM-4:00PM
Guadalupe River Park / Discovery Meadow, 180 Woz Way, San Jose
Free

"Pumpkins in the Park is a harvest fair for families with a strong environmental education component. It is designed to promote awareness of the Guadalupe River Park and celebrate the fall season. Pumpkins in the Park is held to raise funds and enlist supporters for Guadalupe River Park Conservancy. But, just as importantly, its purpose is to create awareness of the park and gardens and to bring families into the park for a day of learning and fun.

Giant Pumpkin Patch
Costume Swap with Children’s Discovery Museum
Costume Parade
Carnival Games
Kid-Sized Straw Bale Maze
Great Food
Fresh Apple Cider
Guadalupe River Education
Lots of Free Kid’s Activities
Fire Prevention Week with SJFD
Children’s Concert”
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History for Half Pints: Day of the Dead
Saturday, October 11, 11:00AM-4:00PM
HAHS Center for History and Culture, 22380 Foothill Boulevard, Hayward
Free

“Everybody is invited to make craft projects inspired by the Day of the Dead celebration and our 2014 Day of the Dead exhibit.  Decorate sugar skulls, get your face painted, and do many other crafts!”
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Sugar Skulls Workshop
Saturday, October 11,
Session 1: 1:00-2:30PM
Session 2: 3:00-4:30PM
Museum of Art and History at the McPherson Center, 705 Front Street, Santa Cruz
$10
Space is limited, please register at the website below

“Celebrate Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) with a workshop of festive fun here at the MAH! Create sugary sweet tokens with family and friends in remembrance of those who have passed. In this traditional Mexican Folk Art workshop, participants will have the opportunity to make and decorate sugar skulls to bring home or leave on display upon our community altar. Bring your friends and family to craft this traditional Mexican folk art that sweetly honors the lives of those who have deceased.”
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Thirteen for Halloween
Edgar Allan Poe Inspired Art Show and Sale
Saturday-Sunday, October 11-12, 7:00-9:00PM
Alexandra von Burg Studio, 2525 8th Street, #13C, Berkeley
Free admission

“Thirteen for Halloween is a group show organized by fiber artist Alexandra Von Burg. Alexandra is personally dedicated to having fun making art and encouraging the celebration of the most hallowed of holidays. She invites like-minded artists who create art that is creepy, gothic, ghoulish, ridiculous, wickedly funny, and sometimes utilitarian.”
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Tolay Fall Festival
Saturday-Sunday, October 11-12 and 18-19, 11:00AM-5:00PM
Tolay Lake Regional Park, 5869 Cannon Lane, Petaluma
Adults $4, Children 12 and under $1, parking $7 per car

“The Tolay Fall Festival offers two weeks of old-time, nature-based fun each October at Tolay Lake Regional Park east of Petaluma. The public is invited to the 2014 Tolay Fall Festival on the weekends of October 11-12 and 18-19.

More than just a pumpkin patch, the Tolay Fall Festival is a seasonal celebration  connecting visitors with the beauty and history of this special park. Fall Festival activities and displays are low-key, hands-on and educational by design.

Explore the Nighttime Creatures Barn with its exhibits of native and exotic snakes, birds of prey, tide pool animals, and taxidermied wildlife.

Venture into the Creepy Crawly Room, where tarantulas and scorpions glow under black lights.

Take a hayride to a pumpkin patch in the park’s back 40 and find the perfect Halloween pumpkin.

Visit a replica of a Native American village and try farm activities like wool carding and candle dipping.

Enter the World-Record Pumpkin-Seed Spitting Contest for a chance to win an exclusive title and a year of bragging rights.

Join experts in archery, fly fishing, and astronomy for hands-on demonstrations.

Participate in gunnysack races, find your way through a straw maze, and pet barnyard animals.

Enjoy food and desserts from local vendors or bring a picnic to enjoy at the park.”
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Candle Lighters' Ghost House
October 11- 30
see website for detailed schedule
Chadbourne Carriage House,  39169 Fremont Boulevard, Fremont

It is better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness.  I don't know who said that first; I learned it from Linus van Pelt*.
But it's even better to have fun with the spooky darkness, so the Candle Lighters organization raises money for several Bay Area charities with their annual Ghost House.

"Candle Lighters is a non-profit organization of nearly 130 women volunteers dedicated to raising funds for non-profit groups and community-based projects in the Tri-City Community. (Fremont, Newark and Union City). We consider ourselves a service and a social organization.

Candle Lighters raises donatable dollars solely through our annual Ghost House. Open during the last two weeks of October and based in a historical 19th century Carriage House, the Ghost House is an evolving family-oriented event.

Using a different theme each year, Candle Lighter members, families, sponsors and friends transform the site into an arena of goblins, ghosts, witches and warlocks, providing fun for the community.

In addition to the Ghost House itself, a midway of games, caramel apples, a country store and delightful food treats is created, again geared to entertainment for the entire family."

*My sweet baboo, of course.  He has the sincerest pumpkin patch!
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Dia de los Muertos Community Ofrenda
October 11-November 30, 8:00AM-5:00PM
Museum of Art and History at the McPherson Center, 705 Front Street, Santa Cruz
Museum admission $5, $3 Students, Teens and Seniors (62 and older)
Children under 12 Free
Free admission days are the first Friday of each month

“Visit the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History’s Annual Community Ofrenda in the Museum Atrium. Each year community members are asked to remember and honor loved ones who have passed on by bringing a photograph, memento or special object to place on the altar.”
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Tales from the Steppes
with Diana Shmiana and Dana Sherry
Sunday, October 12, 1:00-3:00PM
Silk Road House, 1944 University Avenue, Berkeley, 510-981-0700
http://www.silkroadhouse.org
http://www.dianashmiana.net

“Tales from the Steppes: An hour of stories from Central Asia for families performed by storytellers Diana Shmiana and Dana Sherry.

Our guests will bring you and your children on an imaginary journey to the Central Asia of folk tales, where friendship can transform mere gold into a true treasure, rascally boys can trick their elders, and pumpkins can have extraordinary adventures.

Diana Shmiana grew up in a very funny family in Berkeley, California. From a young age, she loved to sing, dance, dress up in costumes, and act very, very silly. Diana always dreamed of entertaining children, and in 1997 she finally made that dream a reality by becoming Diana Shmiana. Diana plays several musical instruments, and her dance background has run the gamut from Ballet to Jazz to Modern to Flamenco. She has studied Clowning and Theatre at Dell'Arte International, Clown School of San Francisco, the San Francisco Circus Center, and the Phil Bennett Theatre Lab. She has studied Storytelling at San Francisco State University and the Traveling Jewish Theatre, Improvisation with Bay Area TheatreSports, and Voice with several master teachers.

Dana Sherry was once simply a respectable historian of the Caucasus and Central Asia. She received her Ph.D. from the University of California, Davis, and has taught at U.C. Davis, Stanford University, and St. Mary’s College. However, she has developed a second life as a storyteller, where she crafts adult stories that transform historical events into tales of wonder and horror. She also tells traditional and literary tales to young audiences. In her school-age programs, stories become a way for children to experience empathy, community, creativity, and joy.

Silk Road House events are sponsored by the Silkroad Foundation.”
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Skeleton Voodoo Pincushion
with Ulla Milbrath
Sunday, October 12, 11:00AM–5:00PM
Castle in the Air, 1805 Fourth Street, Berkeley, 510-204-9801
$110 includes materials, limited to 10 students

“Ulla invokes the spirit of New Orleans’ voodoo legend Marie Laveau in this new spin on her popular pincushion class. Do you plan to tickle a lover or tame a rival (all in good fun, of course)? This voodoo doll will be a keepsake worthy of a sacred place in your home. Working from several examples, you’ll choose patterns provided by Ulla to make your doll’s form, add batting to plump it up, and sew it together. Then the fun begins as you personalize and embellish your figure with embroidery pins.

Fee: $110; includes materials. Bring fabric scissors, and feel free to bring favorite scraps of fabric, lace, trim, sequins, and other ephemera to use.”
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FEAR.
part of Un-Scripted’s Sunday Revival Series
Sunday, October 12, 7:00PM
Un-Scripted Theater Company, 2nd Floor, 533 Sutter Street, San Francisco
$20

“There are few things scarier than the unknown.  This October, the stars align for ONE NIGHT of improvised horror as the master storytellers of Un-Scripted Theater Company spin audience suggestions into tales of the uncanny and the macabre.  Experience first-hand the excitement and terror of a horror story that only live theater can create.”
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Halloween Peg Dolls Craft for Preteens
Thursday, October 16, 3:30-5:00PM
Campbell Library, 77 Harrison Avenue, Campbell, 408-866-1991
Free
Ages 10-13, sign up at the children's information desk

“Get in the Halloween spirit by making a Witch, Cat, and Ghost peg doll, or anything else you can dream up! This event is for grades 5 to 8.”
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Sugar Skull Decorating
with Lou Florez
Friday, October 17, 6:00-8:00PM
The Sacred Well, 536 Grand Avenue, Oakland, 510-444-9355
$25 includes supplies, please call 510-444-9355 to register

“In honor of Samhain and Day of the Dead we are commemorating the season by making and decorating sugar skulls! Learn about the tradition and come party with the dead!”
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History Mystery Overnight Investigation
on board the USS Hornet
Friday, October 17, 6:00PM-Saturday, October 18, 9:00AM
USS Hornet Museum, 707 W Hornet Avenue, Pier 3, Alameda, 510-521-8448
18+
$100, must book in advance at the website below

“Are the late night stories about the USS Hornet really true? Come spend the night on the Hornet and find out!

The Hornet would like to invite you to join us in an evening of after hours investigations onboard the ship. During this event, you will learn about the history of Hornet while investigating the ship with a Hornet crew member during the midnight hour.

This is your chance to tour the ship after hours exclusively in small groups while investigating our well known paranormal hot-spots.

Scheduled Tour Dates
Friday, October 17, 2014
Friday, February 27, 2015
Friday, May 15, 2015
Friday, July 24, 2015

Highlights include:
Combat Information Center (CIC)
Mess Deck
Sidewinder Missile Assembly Room
Brig
Catapult Machinery Room
Sick Bay
Captain and Admiral’s In Port State Rooms
Focsle and Secondary Con

Your Experience includes:
Sleep in original crew bunks!
Berth in the ship’s hospital or Torpedo compartment!
Dinner in Crew’s mess
Special Activities
Personalized Tour Groups”
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Curiosities Of The Attic: Behind The Scenes Tour
Friday and Saturday, October 17-18, 7:00-8:30PM
Ardenwood Historic Farm, 34600 Ardenwood Boulevard, Fremont
$7 in advance, $8 at the door

“Ever wonder what is up in the attic? Or what lurks behind closed doors in the Patterson House at night? Now is your chance to find out! Participants must be able to climb stairs and walk on uneven terrain. Tours last about 45 minutes.”
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Flashlight Safari at Happy Hollow
Friday-Saturday, October 17-18 and 24-25, 7:30-9:00PM
Happy Hollow Park and Zoo, 1300 Senter Road, San Jose
$25 for two participants, $10 each additional participant
Ages 4 and up

“Have you ever wondered what happens at the zoo after dark? Grab your flashlight and join us on an adventure through the zoo to learn about the nocturnal habits of the animals and even meet live nocturnal animals up close! Class fee is for 2 participants. Each additional participant is an additional fee. Please respect age restrictions and do not bring younger siblings to class.

Myths and Legends
Many cultures have wonderful traditions and folklore about animals. Hear some of these myths and legends while discovering the natural adaptations which may have inspired these tales.”
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Halloween Train
at the Ardenwood Railroad Museum
presented by Society for the Preservation of Carter Railroad Resources
Fridays-Sundays, October 17-26, 7:00-9:00PM
Ardenwood Historic Farm, 34600 Ardenwood Boulevard, Fremont
$6, Children 3-12 $4

“Climb aboard the narrow gauge railroad for a frightfully fun ride through the dark forests of Ardenwood Historic Farm.  The entire family will enjoy the ghoulishly grand ride to nowhere and back on the haunted rails of the Ghost Train.”
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Haunted Depot
Fridays-Sundays, October 17-31
see website for detailed schedule
The Historic Southern Pacific Railroad Depot, 90 First Street, Benicia
Adults $6; Children under 6, $4.
With donation of canned good: Adults $3; Children under 6, $2.

“The normally mild-mannered Southern Pacific Railroad Depot has been mysteriously transformed into a frightful depository of ghosts, goblins and spirits daring you and your family to pay a visit.”
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Flashlight Tours of the Winchester Mystery House
various dates, October 17-31, tours start every 10 minutes, 6:30-11:30PM
see website for schedule and ticket details
Winchester Mystery House, 525 South Winchester Boulevard, San Jose, 408-247-2101
$49 - may sell out!

“Special 65 minute Flashlight Tours of the Winchester Mansion are given every Friday the 13th and select evenings in October. You'll tour the rambling, mysterious mansion at night with only the moonlight, a souvenir flashlight, and your imagination to provide illumination through the bewildering maze of rooms and stairways. But watch your back, Sarah could be waiting around any turn. This is one open house you’ll never forget. Due to the popularity of the Flashlight Tours, we highly recommend you purchase your tickets ahead of time. This event WILL sell out and when it does, tickets will not be available at Box Office on the night of the event.”
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The Addams Family Musical
presented by Bay Area Stage
Fridays-Sundays, October 17-November 2
Friday and Saturday 8:00PM, Sunday 2:00PM
Martinez Campbell Theatre, 636 Ward Street, Martinez
$22

“The weird and wonderful family comes to devilishly delightful life in The Addams Family Musical. This magnificently macabre new musical comedy is created by Jersey Boys authors Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, Drama Desk Award winner Andrew Lippa (The Wild Party), choreographer Sergio Trujillo (Jersey Boys), and Olivier Award-winning original directors and designers Phelim McDermott and Julian Crouch (Shockheaded Peter) with direction by four-time Tony Award winner Jerry Zaks.

The Addams Family Musical features an original story, and it’s every father’s nightmare. Wednesday Addams, the ultimate princess of darkness, has grown up and fallen in love with a sweet, smart young man from a respectable family. A man her parents have never met. And if that weren’t upsetting enough, she confides in her father and begs him not to tell her mother. Now, Gomez Addams must do something he’s never done before - keep a secret from his beloved wife, Morticia. Everything will change for the whole family on the fateful night they host a dinner for Wednesday’s ‘normal’ boyfriend and his parents.

Come meet the family. We'll leave the lights off for you.”
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REDWOLF
presented by Ragged Wing Ensemble
Friday-Sunday, October 17-November 8,
Friday 8:00PM, Saturday 2:00PM and 8:00PM, Sunday 7:00PM,
The Flight Deck, 1540 Broadway, Oakland
$25-$40

“REDWOLF
Co-written by Amy Sass and Anthony Clarvoe
Directed by Amy Sass

A girl is ripening on the edge of town, uncontrolled, chaotic, voracious. This is an orderly place. Everything is on the map: the last scrap of woods, the old house on the outskirts. You can see the line where the big new road will go. Right through Red’s room.

Everyone thinks the predators are gone. But what if they’ve just gone… inside?

Inspired by Little Red Riding Hood, the most sexually charged of folk tales, REDWOLF is a world-premiere, full-length play co-written by Ragged Wing Artistic Director Amy Sass and nationally recognized playwright Anthony Clarvoe.  Ripe with hunger, sexuality, and the conflict between the paved and the wild, REDWOLF follows a young woman’s journey from girlhood to wolfhood.

This show marks the culmination of Ragged Wing’s JUST RIPE season and our first full-length show in our new home, The Flight Deck.”
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Floating Pumpkin Patch
Saturday, October 18, 2:00-6:00PM
Ridgway Swim Center, 455 Ridgway Avenue, Santa Rosa
$5 admission, $10 admission and pumpkin

“Tired of searching those dusty fields for your perfect pumpkin to carve or decorate? We are too! So we've put a fun spin on the tradition by creating a patch in the pool just for you! In addition to pumpkins, we've got plenty of other fun activities planned for the day - so bring your suit, towel and friends and make a day of it!

Hunt for your perfect pumpkin in the pool and then deck it out at our decorating station with all sorts of fun crafts! Plus, the pool will be open for pumpkin-splashing fun and we'll be playing games and handing out prizes all afternoon! This is a family event suitable for participants of all ages - so bring your buddies too!”
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Zombie Brew Crawl!
Saturday, October 18, 2:30-5:30PM
Downtown Martinez
$25 in advance, $35 on the day
21+

“The undead are coming to Downtown Martinez and they are thirsty for craft beer!

The third annual Zombie Beer Crawl on the streets of Martinez and everyone is encouraged to join the crowd. Zombies will be walking around the downtown corridor of Martinez, sampling beers from over 25 great craft breweries stationed at various small businesses along Main Street.   

Zombie costumes are optional, however there will be prizes awarded for the best individual costume as well as the best group costume.  After the Beer Crawl, visit one of the downtown restaurants for dinner!

Free Shuttles to and from the North Concord BART station will be available.”
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Half Moon Bay Art and Pumpkin Festival
Saturday-Sunday, October 18-19, 9:00AM-5:00PM
see website for detailed schedule of events, entertainers and vendors
Historic Main Street, Half Moon Bay
Free

“Every year when autumn rolls around, picturesque Half Moon Bay bursts into a brilliant sea of orange and buzzes with excitement and activity to celebrate its bountiful fall harvest. The dazzling journey is its own reward - the tunnel through Devils Slide is a sight to behold, plus the breath-taking views of seaside farm country dotted with vast, rolling fields of orange, scarecrows, barns, and pick-your-own pumpkin patches. It's the perfect time of year and the perfect place to celebrate the beauty and bounty of the fall season, and Half Moon Bay does it like nobody else. The world-famous Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival is the season’s signature event, drawing hordes of visitors to the World Pumpkin Capital for an epic festival on historic Main Street. This year’s 44th annual festival will be held on October 18-19 from 9:00AM-5:00PM. Admission is free.

Humongous, mind-bending, Volkswagen-sized weigh-off champion pumpkins on display, the mesmerizing and remarkably talented ‘Picasso of pumpkin carvers’ sculpting and shaping a monster 1,200+ pound pumpkin into a one-of-a-kind masterpiece, harvest-inspired crafts by America’s top artists, the return of the Sunday-only Made on the Coast, an expanded Locals’ Artists Block featuring fine art and live music, the richest/creamiest/tastiest pumpkin pie on the planet, three stages of blockbuster entertainment, everyone’s favorite home-spun parade, the world’s largest mosaic pumpkin sculpture that measures 12-feet long, 11-feet high and weighs 10,000 pounds by artist Peter Hazel, the Comcast Take 5 Lounge with giant screen TV, an awesome zip-line and bungee jump, enchanting events and contests for the whole family, the debut of  the never-ending search for the Great Pumpkin, and a bumper crop of 3,000+ tons of the beloved orange orb waiting to be picked from one of the many rustic pumpkin patches around town are among the extraordinary, not-to-be forgotten attractions.

Festival organizers like to add a few fresh wrinkles each year - new this year are photos and fun with the delightfully rotund, playful, and mischievous new Pumpkin Festival mascot Gourdy, deelish artisanal cocktails - pumpkin-flavored Jack-o-tinis, classic Cosmos and traditional Bloody Marys from Half Moon Bay Distillery, the iconic Wells Fargo Stagecoach on display, and a special screening of Rise of Giants, a documentary about giant pumpkins growers.”
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Goblin Jamboree
Saturday-Sunday, October 18-19, 10:00AM-4:00PM
see website for detailed schedule
Bay Area Discovery Museum, 557 McReynolds Road, Sausalito, 415-339-3900
$16

“Bring the whole family in costume to explore all the fun at the Bay Area Discovery Museum’s Goblin Jamboree Family Fundraiser. Experience the Museum as it is transformed into a spooktacular Halloween wonderland complete with Witches and Wizards school, pony rides, petting zoo, live entertainment, and much more.

Visit Lookout Cove transformed into the spooky-but-not-scary Haunted Cove. Favorite exhibits like The Shipwreck and Peekaboo Palace will get a Halloween makeover that is sure to entertain all. Stop by Bay Hall to play with Goblin Jamboree’s new glowing train table.

Proceeds from Goblin Jamboree Fundraiser support the Bay Area Discovery Museum’s mission to ignite and advance creative thinking for all children. Thank you for your generosity and participation.

General admission: $16 (children younger than six months are free.)

We accept cash, checks, Visa and MasterCard. All activities are included in the cost of admission. The event takes place rain or shine.

Fly-by Lane
Look for our Fly-by Lane for quick access through the main entrances with your pre-purchased Eventbrite ticket. Tickets will also be available at the Museum's front desk.”
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Witches and Wizards Weekend at Playland
Saturday-Sunday, October 18-19, 10:00AM-5:00PM
Playland-Not-At-The-Beach, 10979 San Pablo Avenue, El Cerrito
see website for admission details

“As Halloween creeps closer, Playland-Not-at-the-Beach becomes a bit more haunted and bewitched. This weekend, wizards and witches of all kinds can discover hidden magic potions, mysterious spells and mystical enchantments. Come in costume for special prizes!

Over 30+ pinball machines spanning seven decades, video games, Penny Arcade machines, challenging carnival games of skill, interactive displays and exhibits, miniature circuses, sideshow exhibits, baffling magic shows - they are all here waiting to entertain and amuse you!

Revisit Whitney's Playland and the Sutro Baths as well as the 1939 World's Fair on Treasure Island.  There is always fun at Playland-Not-at-the-Beach! “

Playland at the Beach is a fun part of San Francisco history, now being kept alive by people in El Cerrito who are obsessed with fun and history! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Playland_(San_Francisco)
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Thomas and Percy's Halloween Party
Saturday-Sunday, October 18-19, 11:00AM-7:00PM,
and two more weekends, October 25-26 and November 1-2
Roaring Camp Railroads, 5401 Graham Hill Road, Felton, 831-335-4484
Free admission, see website for Steam Train tickets

“Dress up for Halloween with favorites Thomas and Percy, for a 20 minute train ride, entertainment, and fun filled activities for the entire family.”
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Samhain with San Francisco Pagan Society
Thursday, October 23, 5:00PM
Noe Valley Courts, Douglass Street and Elizabeth Street, San Francisco
Free

“Welcome Samhain; summer’s end, and the new year. The veil between the living and dead is the thinnest, and we give blessings to our ladies and lords of Summerland.

Our altar will be a pine cone, candle, and a bowl of candy. I will bring a flashlight. All meetups and holidays of this group are free, and this is an open circle. All paths of Pagan are welcome, including new-comers, and those who are more seasoned to the earth-based path.”
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History Mystery Tour
on board the USS Hornet
Thursday, October 23, 7:00-10:00PM
USS Hornet Museum, 707 W Hornet Avenue, Pier 3, Alameda, 510-521-8448
must be age 12+
$35, must book in advance at the website below

“Is the USS Hornet really haunted? Come and see for yourself! Do you dare explore Hornet after hours?

Beat the crowds and receive a special tour of areas onboard Hornet that have not yet been opened to the public or have been reported to host unseen visitors:
Combat Information Center (CIC)
Message Center (Radio Central)
Mess Deck
Sidewinder Missile Assembly Room
Brig
Catapult Machinery Room
Sick Bay
Captain and Admiral’s In Port State Rooms
Flight Deck and Island
Focsle and Secondary Con

Upcoming dates:
Friday, November 28, 2014
Friday, December 12, 2014
Thursday, January 8, 2015
Thursday, February 12, 2015
Friday, March 20, 2015
Friday, April 10, 2015
Thursday, May 14, 2015
Thursday, June 11, 2015
Thursday, July 9, 2015

The three-hour guided tour is 7:00-10:00PM.
Everybody must bring their own flashlight. Hornet does not supply individual lights.
Cameras are welcome, but must have a neck strap.
Tour participants must wear comfortable shoes. Heels and open-toed shoes are not allowed.

Tour participants must be in good physical health as there will be lots of walking and climbing.

Due to safety reasons, children 12 and under are not allowed on History Mystery Tours.

The USS Hornet reserves the right to cancel a tour if less than 8 people sign up. Tours may be rescheduled or a refund will be issued.”
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The Woman In Black
presented by Marin Onstage
October 23-November 8,
see website for detailed schedule
The Belrose Theatre, 1415 5th Avenue, San Rafael
$22

“A gripping ghost stage play by Susan Hill (1983), adapted by Stephen Mallatratt.  The production opened in London's West End in 1989 and is still there after 25 years.

The story follows Arthur Kipps, a junior solicitor, as he journeys to the small town of Crythin Gifford to attend the funeral of a client, Mrs. Alice Drablow.  There, he sees a young woman, dressed all in black, standing in the churchyard.

Arthur goes to the client's house, Eel Marsh, to work through Mrs. Drablow's papers, and ultimately discovers the dreadful secret of the Woman in Black - at his own terrible cost.

Enjoy the Halloween season as never before with this tale designed for a haunting theatrical experience showing.

Make this show even more exciting... come to the performance in costume!
The Belrose Costume Shop, downstairs in the Belrose Theatre, is giving a 20% discount on any full costume rental for one person for every paid ticket to see The Woman in Black.  Good for any show of the run.
Dress in costume for the show and enjoy the show in the true spirit of Halloween.
For pre-paid tickets only; proof of ticket purchase must be presented at the costume shop.  Costumes must be rented the week prior to the show (and not on the date of the show), and returned by the Wednesday of the week following the show.  Offer valid from October 20 through November 7 only.”
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Scaregrove
Friday, October 24, 3:00-9:00PM
Stern Grove, 2750 19th Avenue, San Francisco
$8

“Join us for a family friendly Halloween themed event at Stern Grove. A Haunted House, Carnival Rides, Inflatables, Hay Rides, Art and Entertainment are all part of this ghoulishly special event.”
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SuperNatural Halloween at the Academy of Sciences
Friday, October 24, 6:30-9:00PM
California Academy of Sciences,  55 Music Concourse Drive, San Francisco, 415-379-8000
Adults $50, Children $35

“Grab your costume and have yourself a ghoulishly great time trick-or-treating your way through the Academy at night, among spooky skulls and spine-tingling specimens!

Come enjoy!

Trick-or-Treating, Dancing, Face Painting, Magic Shows, Scientists and Specimens, Live Animal Shows, Giant Pumpkin Carving, Crafts, Photo Booths, Food and Drink

Proceeds support Academy programs including school field trips for 150,000 students annually.”
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Women’s Spiral Dance
Honoring the Ancestors and the Crones
with Daughters of the Goddess
Friday, October 24, Marketplace opens at 6:30PM, Ritual begins at 7:30PM
Orinda Masonic Temple, 9 Altarinda Road, Orinda
This Event is for Cisgender Women
Adults $29, Teens 14-19 $5, Girls 13 and under Free

“Craftswomen, Drumming, Chanting, Dancing in Community and Sisterhood.

Bring your drums, rattles, and a picture of an Ancestor for the Ancestor Altar.

For more information call 925-787-9739 or 925-787-9247 or e-mail Leilani at Leilani@DaughtersoftheGoddess.com
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Witches Ball and Samhain Celebration
presented by the Sonoma County Pagan Network
Friday, October 24, 7:00PM
Luther Burbank Art and Garden Center, 2050 Yulupa Avenue, Santa Rosa
$5-$10 suggested donation, no one turned away for lack of funds

“For 11 years, it has been our privilege to hold our annual Witches' Ball and Samhain Celebration for the Pagan community of Sonoma County. Once again we invite you to come and celebrate and feast with us.

The doors open at 7:00PM. Costume or ritual garb is encouraged.

This years evenings festivities include:

Ceremony and Ritual - Our Samhain ritual will be facilitated by members of the SCPN.

Dinner with the Dead
Samhain is not only a time to honor our dead, but we also mark the New Year and celebrate our abundant harvest. Let's enjoy a bountiful meal together in the midst of our dearly departed. Why not make one of Nonna's favorite recipes? We ask that you bring a potluck dish to share that serves 4-6 people and/or a non-alcoholic brew. Please bring your own place setting. There will be hot water available for tea.

We ask non-members to make a donation of $5-$10 to help us cover operating costs. No one turned away for lack of funds.”
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Ship of Spirits
on board the USS Hornet
Friday, October 24, 7:00PM-Midnight
USS Hornet Museum, 707 W Hornet Avenue, Pier 3, Alameda, 510-521-8448
$45, must book in advance at the website below

“Paranormal Lecture 7:00-8:30PM
Special visual presentation followed by Q and A

Special Guest Speaker
Radio Host and Paranormal Investigator Spencer Hughes of The Spencer Hughes Show

Spencer Hughes was born and raised in San Francisco. Although his early passions were radio and photography, he found himself interested in the unexplained at an early age.

The haunting of his home propelled him to become a paranormal investigator as a hobby. He does everything he can to try to understand the spirit world and the interactions between the living and the so-called dead. Spencer has investigated the USS Hornet on several occasions.

This year, the USS Hornet Museum welcomes aboard two paranormal teams, Alameda Paranormal Researches and Pacific Coast Spirit Watch, to share their Haunted Hornet Evidence.

Alameda Paranormal Researchers is the official paranormal team of the USS Hornet and have conducted countless investigations onboard the historic aircraft carrier. Headquartered in Alameda, APR is an organization committed to finding answers to questions on the paranormal.

Based in Sacramento, Pacific Coast Spirit Watch is another California team that has also investigated the ship numerous times and assists with Hornet’s History Mystery Tours. The group was formed in January 2012 and started out as a few friends but has grown into a team of 11 enthusiasts.

Paranormal Hot Spot Tour  9:00PM-Midnight
Following the lecture session, a flashlight tour will be taken of areas reported to be home to spirits that never left the ship (as well as areas not yet open to the general public).

Special Guest Natalie Owen
Founder of Psychic Paranormal Research Investigations

Natalie Owen will be conducting seances during the Ship of Spirits tour. Since the age of five, she has possessed unique psychic abilities. She is a psychic medium and can communicate with the dead from the spirit world.

In addition, Natalie is also a psychic paranormal/UFO investigator. She is fascinated by the world of ghosts and hauntings, strange creatures, psychic phenomena, lost worlds, other dimensions, and the unexplained.

Ghost Tour Guide tickets will be issued - do not lose yours as this is your confirmation number.

Please bring a flashlight. We suggest you wear comfortable shoes and also bring a light jacket.

Ages 17 and Under must be accompanied by a paying Adult.”
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Halloween Ghost Train
Friday-Saturday, October 24-25, trains departing at 6:15PM, 6:30PM, and 8:00PM
Roaring Camp Railroads, 5401 Graham Hill Road, Felton, 831-335-4484
Free admission, see website for Steam Train tickets

“MWHAHAHA! Do you dare enter the wood of the Headless Horseman?

Sleepy Hollow has overtaken Roaring Camp and a headless spirit haunts the mist. Can Ichabod run faster than the Headless Horseman's beast? Can youuuu?

Ride the Ghost Train and see how Ichabod fares as Roaring Camp re-enacts the Legend of Sleepy Hollow in our haunted forest. Trick or Treating, a haunted house and games add to the Halloween fun for all ages.”
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Voices from the Past:
Paranormal Investigations at Meek Mansion and McConaghy House
Friday-Saturday, October 24-25, 6:30PM-3:30AM
Meek Mansion, 17365 Boston Road, Hayward
and McConaghy House, 18701 Hesperian Boulevard
$75 per night, $100 for both nights
Tickets must be purchased in advance.  
For more information or to make reservations, please call Heather at 510-581-2516

“Each night includes an hour-long tour, a presentation of previous findings by the American Paranormal Research Association, and a chance to investigate for yourself.  Refreshments will be included both nights.  Dinner is provided on Friday night. Proceeds support the ongoing restoration at both properties.”
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Fall Candle Light Tours at Ardenwood
Friday and Saturday, October 24-25, 7:00-8:30PM
Ardenwood Historic Farm, 34600 Ardenwood Boulevard, Fremont
$7 in advance, $8 at the door

“Strange things are happening at the Patterson House… come and see for yourself on these special tours. Lit by only the light of candles and kerosene lanterns our docents will take you on an eerie tour of the house as it appeared in the late 1800s. Tours last approximately 45 minutes.”
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Where History Meets Haunting at Rengstorff House
Friday- Saturday, October 24-25, 7:00-10:00PM,
Tours leave every 20 minutes
The Rengstorff House, 3070 N. Shoreline Boulevard, Mountain View
$10 in advance
for more information, call 650-903-6392 or e-mail friends@r-house.org

“Join the Friends of ‘R’ House as we present our annual Halloween event.  Once again, the Rengstorff House is home to the eerie, odd and dark side of the 19th century.  When the moon comes up, enter if you dare. Living historians and costumed docents create a bone chilling and unforgettable, interactive haunted house experience, once you cross the Rengstorff House threshold.

Tour space is limited, so it is advisable to purchase tickets in advance.

Not recommended for children under eight.”
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Hangtown Halloween Ball
Friday-Sunday, October 24-26
El Dorado County Fairgrounds, 100 Placerville Drive, Placerville
see website for ticket details

“Railroad Earth's Hangtown Halloween Ball will take place October 23-26, 2014 at the El Dorado County Fairgrounds in Placerville, CA. The superbly maintained fairgrounds featuring ample open lawns, plenty of permanent bathrooms and showers, and a very large late night hall.

All Ages

Vending and Beer Gardens

SupernaturALL (VIP) Experience Packages available.

Children 4 and under free!”
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Alameda Teen Haunted House
presented by Alameda Teens
Friday-Sunday, October 24-26,
Friday 5:00-9:00PM, Saturday 3:00-8:00PM, Sunday 3:00-7:00PM
South Shore Center, Park Street and Otis Drive, Alameda
Ages 5-17 $5, Age 18 and up $7, additional donations accepted

“Proceeds raised will benefit the Alameda Youth Committee.”
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Halloween ComicFest
Saturday, October 25
your local comic book store - see website for participating shops in your area

“Celebrate Halloween at Comic Book Shops!
Your local comic book specialty shop is a great destination for the latest Halloween and horror pop-culture products and merchandise: from comics and graphic novels to costumes, toys and more! Plus, each shop has great Halloween events planned, so make sure you find your closest destination and come in and see what haunts your local comic book shop!”
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Halloween Costume Contest and Sidewalk Stroll
Saturday, October 25, 10:00AM
City Park, 1st Street and Military W, Benicia
Free

“Benicia Main Street offers a great time for kids of all ages during the popular Halloween costume contest and sidewalk stroll. The local merchants on First Street get into the spirit of the holiday for all to shop and enjoy. At noon there will be a Canine and Critter Costume Contest on the First Street Green with awards and treats.”
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Spooky Times at Deer Hollow Farm
Saturday, October 25, 10:00AM-3:00PM
Deer Hollow Farm in Rancho San Antonio County Park, Cristo Rey Drive, Los Altos
$7 (in costume $5)

“Grab your costumes and cameras and head for Deer Holloween Farm on Saturday, October 25, 2014 between 10:00AM-3:00PM.

Have fun following the story of Suzie Scarecrow as you visit animals in their pens, play games, follow the maze, walk among the ghosts, create crafts, explore the garden, and pose for pictures.

This fundraiser, put on by Farm staff, raises money for animal feed and care.”
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Halloween at Howarth Park
Saturday, October 25, 11:30AM-1:00PM or 1:30-3:00PM
Howarth Park, 630 Summerfield Road, Santa Rosa
$6 Pass: includes trick-or-treating, train and carousel ride.
$10 Pass: includes same as above plus pony ride and ice cream treat

“Join us for the 9th annual Halloween at Howarth! Dress in your best costume and come trick-or-treat throughout one of Santa Rosa's most popular parks! Plus, hop on Howarth Park's train and carousel with your costumed friends and catch a pony ride too!

Children ages 12 and under will trick-or-treat through the park at treat stations hosted by local Santa Rosa businesses and organizations and can then enjoy Howarth Park's many other attractions. In the event of rainy weather, call 707-543-3425 the morning of the event for a status update.

Cost
$6 Pass: includes trick-or-treating, train and carousel ride.
$10 Pass: includes same as above plus pony ride and ice cream treat
Passes include one adult rider to accompany child on the train and carousel. Additional adult riders will need to purchase a ticket ($2) per ride.

How to Purchase Event Passes
Passes go on sale Monday, October 6 and may be purchased at Finley Community Center (2060 West College Avenue) or through our Online Registration. It is highly anticipated that this event will sell out, so don't delay on securing your pass!

Additional Questions
Email howarthpark@srcity.org or call 707-543-3737.”
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A Family Celebration at Rengstorff House
Saturday, October 25, 12:00-4:00PM
The Rengstorff House, 3070 N. Shoreline Boulevard, Mountain View
$3
for more information, call 650-903-6392 or e-mail friends@r-house.org

“A Halloween celebration for all ages; with a costume parade at 2:00PM, seasonal crafts, lawn games and trick or treating in the rooms of  the ‘haunted’  Rengstorff House.”
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Downtown Livermore Halloween Carnival
Saturday, October 25, 1:00-5:00PM
Historic Downtown Livermore, McLeod Street between First and Second Street, Livermore
Free

“Join us for the 6th Annual Downtown Halloween Carnival!

Activities for families with children in the 5th grade and younger! Kids will enjoy the Costume Contest, Carnival Games, Activities and some Surprise Entertainment!

Mcleod Street between First and Second Street will be transformed into a Fall Harvest Arts and Crafts Fair!”
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Pumpkins on Pikes
Saturday, October 25, 2:00-10:00PM
Tara Firma Farms, 3796 I Street, Petaluma, 707-765-1202
$15 includes a pumpkin

“Pumpkins on Pikes is one of those very special events where magic is created and experienced by all who attend.

The festivities start in the afternoon with great food, music and pumpkin carving. Everyone will get the chance to display their Jack-O-Lantern on a pike in the corn field. When the sun goes down the pumpkins are lit. It is a truly heart warming feeling looking over the glowing corn field to see the individual creations of all who attended.

FREE pumpkin included with admission.

$10 BBQ plate will be available for dinner.

Bring your favorite plate of food if you would like to take part in the potluck.

Bring:
Special carving tools
Blanket (if staying after dark)
Favorite plate of food (If participating in potluck)”
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Halloween Twilight Hike at Coyote Hills
Saturday, October 25, 5:30-8:30PM
Coyote Hills Regional Park, 8000 Patterson Ranch Road, Fremont
$4, Ages 5 and up

“Spend a SPOOKtacular evening as we hike the hills looking for hobgoblins, witches and ghosts during sunset. Find out the ancient origins and modern traditions of Halloween. Don your costume to seek out wandering souls along the trail. Return for treats and a campfire story. Parent Participation Required. Parking fees apply where charged. Registration required.

Bring a flashlight. We will have a plastic tarp to sit on for the campfire story, but if you prefer your own blanket to sit on or a low lawn chair, please bring it. Dress for the weather, especially the cool (or cold) temperature after the sun goes down. Also wear clothing that will protect you from the wind, if it picks up. Wear a Halloween costume (optional). There will be treats after the hike.”
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Spirits and Shadows at History Park
Co-sponsored by the Greater Bay Area Costumers Guild
Saturday, October 25, 6:00-11:00PM
History Park, 1650 Senter Road (Entrance at 635 Phelan Avenue), San Jose
$35 in advance, $40 at the door
21+

“We invite you to join us for a wonderfully spooky evening at History Park. Join the mad scientists, Victorians, Steampunk time travelers, grave diggers, ghosts, ghouls, and vampires as we wander through the park where the veil between this life and the next is stretched thin for an adult-only evening of dance and fun!

Bangers and Mash will provide live music beneath our Electric Light Tower for the evening ball.

Come dressed to the nines - the Ball will culminate in a costume contest. Enjoy tours of ‘haunted’ homes in the park.

Food, drinks, and adult beverages will be available for purchase at O’Brien’s Candy Parlor. Parking is included in the ticket price.

A professional photographer on site will capture you in your finest attire!”
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Gaskell Halloween Ball
Saturday, October 25, 7:30PM-Midnight
Oakland Scottish Rite Center, 1547 Lakeside Drive, Oakland
$20

"Ye Gaskell Occasional Dance Society has been sponsoring Victorian Ballroom dances for over 20 years. We currently sponsor 6 balls a year at the Scottish Rite Temple in Oakland.
We have live music played by the Brassworks of San Francisco, a group of 5 brass horns and a drummer led by Frank Davis. The dances feature Victorian Waltzes, Polkas, Schottisches, Mazurkas, and set dances such as the Sir Roger de Coverley and the Congress of Vienna.

The general format of the dance is three 40 minute and one 30 minute sessions of live music, with three 20 minute breaks. We also occasionally have other entertainment during the breaks such as Morris dancing. The first set starts at 8:30 PM, with the last set ending at Midnight. Starting at 7:45 PM is a dance workshop where members of the Society quickly cover the basics of waltzing, polkas and the schottische.

Our next ball is our Halloween ball, our largest and most spectacular event of the year. While you can come in semi-formal attire, Halloween is a chance to shine, so start finding/making your costume now. And bring your camera, as there we be all sorts of interesting costumes to be seen.

Now is the time for cosplay, historical costumes, future costumes, steampunk, and an array of other costumes.

Of course, do bear in mind that the goal is to dance in the costumes, so make sure you can move and turn without tripping! And no sharp, pointy parts that might damage the other dancers will be allowed!

Of course, the usual 19th, 20th and 21st century formal wear is always welcome.
Admission may be refused for those inappropriately dressed.

Refreshments are potluck finger food with the Society providing both fruit punch and ice water.”
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South Bay Circles Samhain
Saturday, October 25, 7:30PM
Palo Alto Unitarian-Universalist Church, 505 E Charleston Road, Palo Alto
16+
$10 suggested donation

“The Veil is very thin. Let's go to visit it, shall we? It's a very Witchy Samhain Ritual and a journey to the Summerlands to reunite with the souls of our beloved dead. Ritual presented by Jason and Ari Mankey and the Oak Court through South Bay Circles. If you wish (and it's encouraged), bring a copy of a picture of a loved one (or some other reminder) who has passed on. We will be creating a portal through which the Spirits of the Dead may come across and visit for a time. Small offerings will be available for you to bless your photos and trinkets. PLEASE do not bring original photos or irreplaceable artifacts - this is a public ritual and we cannot guarantee the safety of your offerings. If possible, please label your offering with a name and phone number.

Sixteen and up only please, ritual will be too intense for children. We will be in the main sanctuary of the Palo Alto UU Church. Please bring a donation of $10 to help cover room expenses (no one will be turned away for lack of funds). Gather starts at 7:30PM, and the ritual promptly at 8:00PM. There will be a dessert and snack bar after the ritual, so please bring a dessert item, so fruit, or a snack.”
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Monsters Ball
on board the USS Hornet
Saturday, October 25, 7:30PM-Midnight
USS Hornet Museum, 707 W Hornet Avenue, Pier 3, Alameda, 510-521-8448
Adults $30 in advance, $35 at the door, Ages 5-17 $10

“Kick off your Halloween onboard the Haunted USS Hornet!

8:00PM: Live Music by RockSkool (Classic Rock Experience)

10:00PM: Live Music by The Cocktail Monkeys (70’s, 80’s, 90’s Dance Music)

$500 cash prize from 107.7 The Bone to the winner of the Costume Contest

GHOULISH Entertainment and Haunted Sick Bay tours!

Children’s Zone with Magician and Children’s Costume Contest!

NEW! Paranormal Investigations of the Fo’c’sle - the areas with some of the most paranormal activity!!! Tickets are $10 and available the night of the event. Spaces will be limited.

Full Cash Bar and Food Concessions available

Children are welcome with adult accompaniment - but please keep in mind that this is an adult themed party.”
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Boo at the Zoo
Saturday-Sunday, October 25-26, 10:00AM-3:00PM
Oakland Zoo, 9777 Golf Links Road, Oakland
included with Zoo admission

“Visit Oakland Zoo for our annual Halloween event, Boo at the Zoo! Stroll the Zoo in costume and collect yummy treats.

Ride the spooky boo train and join the costume parade. Plus, get your face painted, make treats for the animals, and see how the animals at Oakland Zoo celebrate Halloween.

Kids in costumes receive a free ride ticket!

Bay Area Science Festival Teams Up with Oakland Zoo
For the second year in a row, the Bay Area Science Festival has helped make this Halloween event a science-themed weekend - featuring a scavenger hunt-style trick or treating adventure, a costume parade, up-close animal encounters, spooky interactive stations, and a Wildlife Theater presentation focused on creepy crawly animals.

Child friendly activities will take place throughout the Zoo, including a treat table where families can create Halloween goodies for the Zoo’s animals.

Boo at the Zoo is a day-time opportunity for families to bring out their noble Ninja Turtles, tiny Tinker Bells, precious Princesses, and spectacular Superheroes to an outdoor adventure filled with spooktacular fun!”
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Jack O'Lantern Jamboree
Saturday and Sunday, October 25-26, 10:00AM-4:00PM
Children's Fairyland, on the shore of Lake Merritt at Grand Avenue and Bellevue, Oakland
$10

“Join us the weekend of Halloween as we celebrate the holiday with fun and games that are much more delightful than frightful!

Come in costume and enjoy a spooktacular extravaganza with:
Unlimited rides
Parades
Goody bags and treat stations for kids*
Two jumpers, one for little kids and one for bigger kids
Arts and crafts
Pirate school
Balloon twisting
Special performances
Costumed fairy-tale characters
Shows by our Children’s Theater Program and Storybook Puppet Theater
*While supplies last”
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All Hallows Fantasy Faire
Saturday-Sunday, October 25-26,
Saturday 12:00PM-Midnight, Sunday 12:00PM-6:00PM
Mother Lode Fairgrounds, 220 Southgate Drive, Sonora
Adults $16 Saturday, $15 Sunday, Children 6-12 $5, Under 6 Free

“The Original 6th Annual All Hallows Fantasy Faire is a two day, all-inclusive costume play event! Keeping the All-Hallows tradition this year, the dead will be celebrated like never before! Hundreds of visiting creatures and characters from your favorite fairy tales and Hollywood movies will come to life over this fun-filled family weekend! The faire offers many exciting venues to hear live music, enjoy themed food and drink, buy unique items, and marvel at jugglers and magicians. Wear your new or old costume and get into the fun and thrills of the faire!

If you are really into Cosplay, dust off your sewing machine and get your creativity out and make a special Costume and enter our Contest.

Music is always one of the favorites at the faire, and this year will be more crazy and eclectic!! Wicked Tinkers will headline this year Saturday and Sunday with some Tribal Celtic sounds. Sonora's own Black Irish Band will be making an appearance at the faire with their famous pirate shanties and celebrating 25 years of performing. 1916 will blow your mind with their great pub sounds of Celtic Rock.

The centerpiece for the faire is the Village Marketplace. You will find there many interesting streets and a town center where many activities take place. Highlights of the village include over fifty vendors and craftsmen showcasing their work. You can find a great variety of items for yourself or holiday gifts.

A Food Court with many varieties of traditional and modern food will also be available in the village. The village will also offer the Slaughtered Lamb Tavern, featuring ales, beers, and frightful adult beverages!

Warrior Encampments will again be featured at this year's faire. The faire will present the Dark Boar Vikings.

Throughout the day, hundreds of strange creatures will also be visiting the faire. Some will be alive, and, others, not so much. Many will be fantasy characters from your childhood dreams, but some will be from your childhood nightmares! Creatures include: dragons, Minotaur, ghost pirates, skeletons, witches, furry animals, vampires, and lots of zombies!

Featured venues this year will showcase The Royal Court Queen Alura, M'Alice in Wonderland, Zombie Pocahantas, Mad Hatter's Tea Party, Vampire Hunters, Zombie Hunters, Fairies, Trolls, 501st Legion (Star Wars), Beetle Juice, and more. The group Danse Macabre will be on parade throughout the weekend performing their own brand of Dance of the Dead. The ever-famous Eclectic Caravan Gypsy Voodoo Tribe and Burning Sky Musicians will combine both music and dance to their high-energy show that will entrance you into the spirit realm. Adamantine will bring you back to the 80s retro dance. Watch out for Flash Mobs of Thriller headed by SolLuna.

So much to see and do for the entire family, with day-long activities to enjoy and take part in, such as: Bronze Medalist Jugglers Mountain Motion, ghost stories by Carpathian, Witches Row, Fairyland, the Pumpkin Patch, and the world famous Professor Algernon, Steampunk Illusionist, Pirate Skool and more. Don't miss trick-or-treating with the vendors and encampments for the kids and all new Kids Costume Contest. The faire also offers a fire-breathing dragon and a large Saturday evening costume contest with prizes, fire show and burning of the Stickman!!”
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Halloween Trunk-or-Treat Spooktacular
Sunday, October 26, 10:00AM-2:00PM
along Main Street,  Martinez
Free

“We're teaming up with local businesses to provide a safe place for you to enjoy Halloween festivities. Instead of walking house to house, visit creatively themed and decorated car trunks and shops lining downtown Martinez to collect candy and treats.

The Trunk or Treat and Store to Store event will happen on a Sunday, in conjunction with the Farmers Market. The Market will be on the 600 and 700 blocks of Main Street and the 500, 800, and 900 blocks will be filled with Trunk or Treat cars. Many stores throughout the downtown area will also be open and handing out treats.

Treat bags and maps will be handed out to Trunk or Treaters in the Main Street Plaza, adjacent to Starbucks on Main Street.

Face painting in the plaza will be provided by the City of Martinez Parks and Recreation Department.”
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Voodoo Pincushion
Saturday, October 26, 10:30AM-4:30PM
Castle in the Air 1805 Fourth Street, Berkeley
$110 includes materials

“Ulla invokes the spirit of New Orleans’ voodoo legend Marie Leveau in this new spin on her popular pincushion class. Whether you plan to tickle a lover or tame a rival (all in good fun, of course), this voodoo doll will be a keepsake worthy of a sacred place in your home. Working from several examples, Ulla has created a pattern and collected special materials and embellishments for you to make your very own doll.

Fee: $110; includes materials. Bring fabric scissors, and feel free to bring favorite scraps of fabric, lace, trim, sequins, and other ephemera to use.
Instructor: Ulla Milbrath - Limit: 10 students”
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Halloween Hoopla at Yerba Buena Gardens
Sunday, October 26, 12:00-1:30PM
Children's Garden, Yerba Buena Gardens,
799 Howard Street, San Francisco, 415-543-1718
Free

“Music, crafts, and costume parade for kids! Unique Derique is the master of ceremonies and will lead numerous games for families to play.”
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Community Celebration for the Days of the Dead
Sunday, October 26, 12:00-4:30PM
Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak Street, Oakland
$10

“20th Anniversary Days of the Dead Community Celebration

Join us as OMCA marks two decades of the annual Days of the Dead Community Celebration. Craft activities, tasty food, dance and music groups, colorful ofrendas, and ceremonia bring the community together for this healing tradition. Watch demonstrations of traditional Mesoamerican arts and cooking, and browse Days of the Dead merchandise by local artisans for your home altar from our mercado. Visit the special exhibition Songs and Sorrows: Días de los Muertos 20th Anniversary, and revisit highlights from the past two decades the OMCA exhibition, as well as new works by local artists, on view in the Gallery of California Art.

Visitors will enjoy:
Performances from Mariachi Los Halcones de Oakland (Traditional Mariachi),
Los Cenzontles Juvenil (Balet Folklorico),
Marimba Ixim Tinamit (Marimba Ensemble),
and La Misa Negra (Cumbia)
Family-friendly calavera (skull) face painting and Mexican tin art
Tortilla and sugar skull-making demonstrations
Festive chalk art from Clínica de la Raza's Youth Brigade on the sidewalks around the Museum
Artisanal mercado in Museum garden featuring local arts and crafts vendors
A gourmet food truck market from Off the Grid highlighting the best in local Latin and fusion cuisine (stay tuned for the full list)
Free valet bicycle parking, provided courtesy of Bike East Bay (formerly known as East Bay Bike Coalition)

Skip the line! This year, OMCA's offering a discount on advance ticket purchases for the Days of the Dead Community Celebration. Discounts include $5 off regular adult admission, and $2 off Senior, Student, and Youth tickets (ID required at will call). Advance tickets are available online through Friday, October 24, or buy discounted tickets on-site at OMCA through Saturday, October 25.”
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Haunt the History Park
Sunday, October 26, 1:00-4:00PM
History Park, 1650 Senter Road (Entrance at 635 Phelan Avenue), San Jose
$5 admission includes 12 game tickets. Additional game tickets are 50 cents each.

“Halloween doesn’t have to be scary! Join us for some family-friendly Halloween festivities for kids!

Children will be able to trick-or-treat throughout San Jose’s History Park at Kelley Park in a fun, safe, family-friendly environment. This scare-free annual event has become a tradition, with trick-or-treating, family-friendly events and arts and crafts activities.

We will offer fun games for children age 3 to 11, a celebratory costume parade, and a Wrap-a-Mummy Contest, complete with prizes for best costumes and best wrapped Mummy!

Take a ride on our trolley and see printing press demonstrations at the Print Shop. Be sure to visit the Fruit Barn, One Room School House, Chiechi House, and Umbarger House during your visit, and take in our two exhibits at the McKay Gallery at the Pasetta House, and the Arbuckle Gallery at the Pacific Hotel.

Sonia Hot Dogs will be on hand for snacks, and ice cream will also be available for purchase from O’Brien’s Candy and Ice Cream Parlor.”
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Gamble Mansion Haunted House
Sunday, October 26, 5:00-6:30PM
Gamble Mansion at Elizabeth Gamble Garden, 1431 Waverley Street, Palo Alto
$25, reservations required

“Spin me a shadow, tell me a tale.

Discover the magical world of shadow puppetry! Learn about the traditional art of shadow puppets from educator/performer, Daniel Barash. Daniel will perform puppetry versions of best-loved stories from around the world, including a classic Halloween nail-biter and a Chinese gardening folktale. Audience volunteers are invited to help perform the shows. He will also teach children how to make their own shadow puppets at an arts and crafts station prior to the performance. Your children can then try out their shadow puppets after the show. See you in the land of shadows!

Daniel Barash holds a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education from New York University. He is one of 43 teaching artists from across the United States selected to participate in the John F. Kennedy Center’s National Teaching Artist Roster.

Ages 2 and above.”
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Herbs of the Ancestors
with Yeshe Rabbit
Tuesday, October 28, 6:00-7:30PM
Homestead Apothecary, 486 49th Street,  #C, Oakland, 510-495-6549
$25

“The Ancestors are thick in the air of October, reminding us that what is remembered, lives. In this workshop, Yeshe Rabbit will offer a catalogue of herbal funerary practices and methods of marking someone's passing, and together we will create an incense offering and perform a ceremony to connect with ancient spirits of the land, our blood ancestors, or the exemplars and heroes who have influenced us positively. Please bring a photo, item, or other significant representation of an ancestor who is important to you.

Yeshe Rabbit is an herbalist, local business owner, and holy woman. Her Witch's Garden herbal classes at her Oakland shop, The Sacred Well, as well as classes she teaches at events like the Northern California Women's Herbal Symposium, are rooted in ancient lore and modern experience. She brings magic to her medicine and medicine into the magical community through the healing power of the plants, stories, and practices of reverence.”
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A Murder Most Un-Scripted
presented by Un-Scripted Theatre
Wednesday-Sunday, October 29-November 1, 8:00PM
Un-Scripted Theater Company, 2nd Floor, 533 Sutter Street, San Francisco
$20

“A Murder Most Un-Scripted - An idyllic small town. A dinner party hosted by the mysterious gentleman who recently purchased the mansion up the hill. A missing brooch. A secret to kill for.

This Halloween, join Un-Scripted Theater Company improvised murder mysteries, done in the style and world of Agatha Christie. Everyone has something to hide, but only one is responsible for the murder.”
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Playland After Dark: Halloween Edition
Thursday, October 30, 6:00-10:00PM
Playland-Not-At-The-Beach, 10979 San Pablo Avenue, El Cerrito
$10
18+

“All Hallow's Eve eve is the perfect night to put on that costume and join fellow adult revelers at Playland-Not-at-the-Beach's after dark Halloween party. Get ready for spooky magic, mystery, treats and games, with no kids allowed. Awoooo! Adults only (18 years and older), no babies or children please.

Over 30+ pinball machines spanning seven decades, video games, Penny Arcade machines, challenging carnival games of skill, interactive displays and exhibits, miniature circuses, sideshow exhibits, baffling magic shows - they are all here waiting to entertain and amuse you!

Revisit Whitney's Playland and the Sutro Baths as well as the 1939 World's Fair on Treasure Island.  There is always fun at Playland-Not-at-the-Beach! “

Playland at the Beach is a fun part of San Francisco history, now being kept alive by people in El Cerrito who is obsessed with fun and history! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Playland_(San_Francisco)
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Wisdom of Our Ancestors Meditation
with Jan and Marystella of Vortex Journeys
Thursday, October 30, 6:30-8:30PM
The Crossroads, private land in Santa Rosa, RSVP for address
No Fee, Donations Appreciated
RSVP  to 707-542-4928 or beyondbeliefs@vortexjourneys.com

“Halloween, the mid point between Autumn Equinox and Winter Solstice, is a Celtic holy day celebrated the evening before All Saints Day.  The thinned veil between worlds provides easy access for dead souls to visit their living relatives.  It is also a day for the living to honor their elders who are still in body.

We circle the evening before to invoke our Ancestors, ask for their assistance as we release our burdens and reclaim our wisdom to walk more gently upon this Earth.  When we connect with our Ancestors, and our Oneness with All, we awaken the remembering to keep our promise and fulfill our purpose in this lifetime.  We invite you to join us.  Perhaps you are the ‘Hundredth Monkey’ needed to achieve the critical mass that will restore Heaven on Earth.”
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RiffTrax Live presents Anaconda!
Thursday, October 30, 8:00PM
and re-broadcast on Tuesday, November 4, 7:30PM
see website for local event details

“Just in time for Halloween, RiffTrax Live is back with a riff that will take your breath away… If you can’t breathe, you can’t laugh!

We're really excited to partner once again with Fathom Events to bring indisputably the best digital snake movie of 1997, Anaconda, back to the big screen for a LIVE riff on Thursday, October 30 at 8:00PM Pacific Time, followed by a special re-broadcast on Tuesday, November 4 at 7:30PM.

This special two-night event will be your only chance to see the guys riff this reptilian gem on the big screen (it will not be coming out on VOD!), so get your tickets now!”
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Murder, Tragedy and Bad Stuff
Guided Walking Tour
Thursday and Friday, October 30 and 31, 7:00PM
Meets at HAHS Center for History and Culture, 22380 Foothill Boulevard, Hayward
$15, please call 510-581-0223 xt161 to make a reservation

“Get into the Halloween mood by learning about deadly and tragic events that happened right here in Hayward!  Space is limited and tickets must be purchased in advance.”
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All Hallows Read
Friday, October 31
wherever you please!

“All Hallow’s Read is a Hallowe’en tradition. It’s simply that in the week of Hallowe’en, or on the night itself, you give someone a scary book.
Scholars have traced its origins as far back as this blog post. http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2010/10/modest-proposal-that-doesnt-actually.html

Neil Gaiman says (well, said, in the aforementioned blog post):
“I propose that, on Hallowe'en or during the week of Hallowe'en, we give each other scary books. Give children scary books they'll like and can handle. Give adults scary books they'll enjoy.

I propose that stories by authors like John Bellairs and Stephen King and Arthur Machen and Ramsey Campbell and M R James and Lisa Tuttle and Peter Straub and Daphne Du Maurier and Clive Barker and a hundred hundred others change hands - new books or old or second-hand, beloved books or unknown. Give someone a scary book for Hallowe'en. Make their flesh creep...

Give a scary book.

If you don't know what kinds of books there are, or what would be appropriate for the person you're giving a book to, talk to a bookseller. They love to help, most of them. (The ones that don't tend not to be booksellers for long.) Talk to librarians. (Do not plan to give away their books though, unless they are having a library sale.)

That's it. That's my idea.

Scary book. Hallowe'en.

Who's with me?

Neil”
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Annual Spooky Night at Campbell Historical Museum
Friday, October 31, 2:00-6:00PM
Campbell Historical Museum, 51 N Central Avenue, Campbell, 408-866-2119
Free admission, $5 for crafts

“10th Annual Spooky Night at the Campbell Historical Museum!
Calling all Ghosts and Witches come enjoy Halloween themed kids crafts, trick or treating, and some (not so) Spooky Night fun!”
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Trick-or-Treat in Downtown Campbell
Friday, October 31, 5:00-7:30PM
Historic Downtown Campbell
(along E Campbell Avenue between Harrison Avenue and Winchester Boulevard, Campbell)
Free

“Come to Downtown Campbell for our annual Halloween trick-or-treat to be held, for the first time, on Halloween itself! We'll carry on rain or shine.

Trick-or-Treat, 5:00-7:00PM: Downtown restaurants, shops, and boutiques will be open and will welcome little goblins with sweet treats! Books for Treats: the Campbell Rotary Club will be giving away free books as treats to kids in front of Palazzi Salon.

Costume Contest, 7:00-7:30PM: Bring your kids (ages 0-12), yourself, and your pets (dogs, cats, frogs?) dressed in their finest. The contest, featuring multiple categories and fun prizes for children and pets, is free of charge and everyone is welcome to participate.

Enjoy Downtown Campbell while having a fun and safe Halloween with the kids!”
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Trick Or Treat At Ploughshares
Friday, October 31, 6:00PM
Ploughshares Nursery, 2701 Main Street, Alameda
Free

“Bring the kids by for a visit to the most sincere pumpkin patch in Alameda.  Something got inside our pumpkins this year and they are trying to get out!

Ploughshares Nursery is a social enterprise of the Alameda Point Collaborative supportive housing community. 100% of our sales support housing for formerly homeless families.”
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Dr. Kergan's Creature Caravan
Friday, October 31, 6:00PM-Midnight
private home, 9585 Broadmoor Drive, San Ramon

“The ultimate Steam punk Halloween display!”
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A Zombie Embarcadero/Pier 39 Apocalypse
organized by MMTB - Movie Making Throughout the Bay!
Friday, October 31, 6:00PM-Saturday, November 1, 3:00AM
meet at Vaillancourt Fountain, Justin Herman Plaza, San Francisco
Free, Donations accepted.  Please register in advance.

“Zombies Marching For Filmmaking - Taking Over The Embarcadero To Pier 39 For Halloween!!

We hope to gain Media Attention to the Filmmaker Community here in the Bay Area and Fight For Change in the Tax Laws, bring investors here, show them how united we can be.

Halloween Evening:
6:00PM: MEET at the Vaillancourt Fountain in San Francisco, DRESS & MAKEUP CHECK (if you didn't make yourself up, please arrive early and get makeup. Make sure to bring clothes that you can dirty up and preferably rip up.

NOTE- Please bring yourself a water bottle to keep hydrated and make sure you have used the restroom. THIS IS AN OPEN MEETING to ALL GENERAL PUBLIC so please bring all your needs along and hopefully something to cover up purses, bags, etc with black plastic bags or something ZOMBIE-ISH to keep from getting any blood or distracting from our cause.

7:00PM: We Begin Our Crawl Towards Pier 39
Once we reach pier 39, we will break up in a variety of groups...
Those that want to:
1. Zombie Bar Hop (Dance Hop for interested in less Drink or More Dance)
2. Crawl Through Fishermans Wharf
3. Network with Fellow Filmmakers, Writers, Actors, Producers and More!!

GET ATTENTION from filmmaking advocates across the entire Bay Area to Join forces to help us create a tighter network... we want to bring information to industry professionals and indie budget filmmakers that will build a bond and help us all reach the ultimate goal of bringing financing to the Bay Area Filmmaking Scene.”
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Howl-O-Ween Family Sleepover
Friday, October 31, 6:00PM-Saturday, November 1, 10:00AM
Happy Hollow Park and Zoo, 1300 Senter Road, San Jose
$60 per person
Ages 5 and up with an adult

“Be our overnight guest for a howling good time and enjoy the thrill of the zoo after dark. During your adventure, learn the truth about ‘scary’ animals through Halloween-themed activities, games, live animal encounters, and a flashlight tour. You'll even get a chance to trick-or-treat along the way with the animals. Your adventure includes a late-night snack and a hot breakfast (eggs, pancakes, sausage, bacon, etc.) the next morning.

Bring your own tent and sleeping gear to tent camp in the Crooked House Meadow, or sleep indoors in the Learning LODGE Classroom. Indoor sleeping is limited and must be requested by contacting the Education Department before the event. Class fee is for each participant. A parent or guardian must accompany their own child. Please contact the Education Department if you have any questions regarding registration for this event.

General Schedule:
6:00PM: Gates Open! Enjoy your picnic dinner (reminder: no alcohol)
and set up tents/sleeping gear
7:00-9:50PM: Animal encounters, hands-on activities, games,
a flashlight tour, and bedtime story
10:00PM: Bed Time

7:00-8:15AM: Wake up call, pack up tents, load cars, and enjoy our new hot breakfast
8:15-10:00AM: Behind-the-scenes tour and more animal encounters!
10:00AM: Stay-and-Play or head back home

Please note: The rides and playgrounds will not be open. Instead we have a fun-filled night of special activities, games and animal encounters prepared for you.”
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Zombie Ball
A benefit for Palm Drive Health Care Foundation
Friday, October 31, 7:00PM-Midnight
Main Hall, Sebastopol Community Cultural Center, 390 Morris Street, Sebastopol
$25 in advance, $35 at the door

“Return of the Creature from the Black Laguna - The Creature wants his hospital back!

Music by Gator Nation and Rhythm Rangers.

Costume contest for:
Best Zombie
Best Doctor
Best Nurse
Best Patient
Best Creature

Cold Beer, Fine Wine, Food Trucks, and Fun!”
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Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
accompanied live on the Ruffatti organ
Friday, October 31, 8:00PM
Davies Symphony Hall, Van Ness Avenue between Grove and Hayes, San Francisco
see website for ticket prices

“Spend a spine-tingling Halloween at Davies Symphony Hall (if you dare!), as the Ruffatti organ accompanies this restored version of the 1920 silent classic Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Starring legendary leading man John Barrymore in the notorious title roles, this eerie screen adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic tale is a perfectly ghoulish way to spend the spookiest night of the year.”
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Sharon and Winter Knight’s Halloween Show
Friday, October 31, 8:00-11:00PM
BFUU, 1924 Cedar Street, Berkeley, 510 841-4824

“San Francisco songstress Sharon Knight is a Celtic folk singer in leather armbands. Joined by her longtime collaborator Winter, they tour nationally several months out of the year, performing at festivals, masquerades, conventions, cafes, shops and house concerts.

Their penchant for combining fierce and gutsy bravado with ethereal beauty, a hearty dose of fantastical lyrics, and an obvious love of storytelling has inspired their own Celtic-hybrid style, Neofolk Romantique. This often sounds less Celtic and more ‘Folktales that ran away with the Faeries at the turn of the century and took cover in an old trunk bound for the circus, which was then commandeered by pirates.’ This suits them fine.

For this Hallows Eve show, they draw from their witchiest collection of songs (including a Pandemonaeon unplugged set) to weave a spell of mystery and enchantment over all who attend. Well known for their ability to evoke an otherworldly feel with their music, this evening will surely be a good way to touch the magic of Hallows while doing something a little different.

Intimate, acoustic, and candlelit, this will be a concert with a ritual feel. Wear your blackest finery, and prepare to step between worlds.”
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Haul-o-ween 2014: Haul of Illusions
Friday-Saturday, October 31-November 1, 4:00-7:00PM
Obtainium Works, 510 Pennsylvania Street, Vallejo
Adults $5, 12 and Under Free

“Come visit Obtainium Works Haul of Illusions on Friday, October 31 and Saturday, November 1 to see some classic Victorian Halloween illusions done with real smoke and mirrors and stay for the trick or treats! Children must be accompanied by an adult and it is safe for all ages.”
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Cocktails, Dinner, And Death!
Friday-Saturday, October 31-November 1, Cocktails 7:30PM, Dinner 8:00PM, Show 9:00PM
Obtainium Works, 510 Pennsylvania Street, Vallejo
$25 Dinner and Show, $10 Show only, $5 Drinks

“Another Who-Done-It performed by our own troupe of Victorian usual suspects and you get to have fun figuring out the culprit.”
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Annual Office of the Dead Concert: Victoria's Requiem
presented by San Francisco Renaissance Voices

Friday, October 31, 7:30PM
Seventh Avenue Presbyterian Church, 1329 Seventh Avenue, San Francisco
$30

Sunday, November 2, 4:00PM
St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 2300 Bancroft Way, Berkeley
$30

“On Friday night, October 31, 2004 (yes, Hallowe’en night!), the very first San Francisco Renaissance Voices concert was presented at Seventh Avenue Presbyterian Church in San Francisco.  Ten years to the day, we’ll celebrate our birthday in that church which has become our artistic home by performing the same work that started it all - Tomas Luis de Victoria’s magnificent Officium Defunctorum, written for the funeral of his royal patron the Dowager Empress Maria - which also began our group's tradition of performing the Office of the Dead each year at this time.  

This program will also include elegies written by Ockeghem, Josquin, Byrd, and Morley for composers who inspired and nurtured them.  

For those of you coming to the concert on Hallowe'en, we invite you to enjoy another San Francisco Renaissance Voices tradition and come in costume!”
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Barry and Maya Spector's Day of the Dead Ritual
Saturday, November 1, 9:00AM-6:00PM
Hillside Church, 1422 Navellier Street, El Cerrito
$30 if paid in advance, $50 if paid at the door.
Pre-registration required. No one refused.  Work scholarships available.
Contact Barry Spector at 650-329-1415 or shmoover@comcast.net for more information

"Whether or not we have recently lost loved ones, we all carry a heavy load of grief and stress simply by living in these times. When we can’t find ways to drop the weight of this emotional burden, we can become hopeless, bitter or numb. Letting it go makes room for a new kind of imagination to enter. The release of these emotions requires a safe space and a caring community.

We will take a full day to help each other remember our ancestors and our personal and collective losses. In some traditions, this is the time of year when the veil between our world and the unseen world is thin; it is an opportune time to complete any unfinished business that prevents us from fully participating in life.  This will be a day of mourning and remembrance, but also of great beauty and celebration. There will be poetry, storytelling, drumming, altar-building and chanting from African, Celtic, Mexican and other traditions."
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Institute of Urban Homesteading Day of the Dead
Saturday, November 1, 3:00-7:00PM
Dover Street Park, 5707 Dover Street, Oakland
Free

“Dover Park Mandala, Altars, Kid’s Activities, Procession, and a meal.”
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Dia de los Muertos Community Festival
Saturday, November 1, 3:00-700PM
Museum of Art and History at the McPherson Center, 705 Front Street, Santa Cruz
Free

“Celebrate Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) with FREE  festive fun kicking off at the MAH at 3:00PM and continuing to Evergreen Cemetery!

Bring your friends and family to create traditional Mexican crafts such as tissue paper flowers, dance to live music, and enjoy colorful dance performances. From 3:00-4:45PM, come get your face painted by Mariposa’s Art, followed by a procession to Evergreen Cemetery kicking off at 4:45PM.

At the Museum
3:00-4:45PM: Face painting and crafts
3:30-4:00PM: Dance performance
4:45-5:00PM: Gather in Abbott Square to proceed to Evergreen Cemetery

At the Evergreen Cemetery
6:00-7:00PM: Food (more details soon to come)
6:00-6:45PM: Musical performance”
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Reclaiming's Spiral Dance
A ritual to honor our beloved dead and dance the spiral of rebirth
Saturday, November 1, doors open at 6:00PM, Ritual begins at 7:30PM
Come early to view the altars, for pre-ritual music,
and to hear the names of the Beloved Dead
Kezar Pavilion, 755 Stanyan Street, San Francisco (in Golden Gate Park)
see website for admission details

“35th Annual Reclaiming Spiral Dance Ritual - Nov 1 - San Francisco We are already setting sail for the Spiral Dance ritual, the time where we come together to visit with our ancestors.

A ritual to honor our beloved dead and dance the spiral of rebirth
The holiday popularly known as Halloween is the time of year known to witches as Samhain, when the veil is thin between the worlds of the living and the dead. We gather to remember and honor our ancestors, our Beloved Dead, and all those who have crossed over. As we mourn for those we love who have died this year, we also mourn the losses and pain suffered by the Earth, our Mother. Yet even as we grieve we also remember and honor the sacred cycle of life, death, rebirth and regeneration, celebrating the births of our children born this year, and our own vital connections to the Earth and each other, in which we ground our hope.

The first Spiral Dance ritual was held in 1979 to celebrate the publication of Starhawk’s book, The Spiral Dance (Harper and Row) Starhawk, a founding member of the Reclaiming Collective, wrote the original script which remains the heart of the ritual, though it has been altered and embellished over the years by her and many other people. Traditionally, the Spiral Dance calls upon the energy and talents of musicians, artists, poets, dancers, craftspeople, singers, technicians, priests and priestesses from the Reclaiming Community and beyond, and we are grateful to everyone who helps to create this magical experience we all share.

This is a participatory ritual and pageant which has become a central event in the Wheel of the Year for many in the Reclaiming Community and beyond. Over 1,200 people join in this observance of the Witches’ New year, and the event raises funds which support the work of Reclaiming throughout the year.

When we dance the Spiral, young and old together, we remember and honor our own past at that same time that we renew our vision and embrace the future. Let it begin now!

Beloved Babies and Beloved Dead
Honor the cycle of death and rebirth by sending us the names of those born and those who have died during the past year:

Children are welcome - childcare not provided. Wheelchair Accessible. This is a drug- and alcohol-free, family-oriented ritual. Please honor us and the sacred by keeping it so.“
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Le Bal des Vampires
presented by PEERS
Saturday, November 1, 6:30PM-Midnight
Alameda Elks Lodge, 2255 Santa Clara Avenue, Alameda
Tickets must be purchased in advance - see website for details
$30 before October 13, $35 after
pictures from previous years’ events:

“Waltz the night away in a beautiful candlelit ballroom with the San Francisco Bay Area's most glamorous Undead at the 21st Annual Le Bal des Vampires.

Suggested costume is evening dress of the century and country of your ‘rebirth’. This may include dress uniform, period costume (authentic or fantasy) or vintage or modern evening dress. There is no dress code for the ball (We certainly don't expect Spike to attend in black tie!), but you will see some of the most gorgeous and creative costumes of the social season at Le Bal des Vampires.

This year there will once again be simultaneous dancing on two separate floors:

Our band in the elegant upstairs ballroom is the stylish but always dashing chamber ensemble Bangers and Mash. As usual, haunting waltzes dominate the program, but the evening will feature a variety of dance music from across the centuries - from 18th century Baroque contredanses to 19th century Victorian rotary and Viennese waltzes, polkas, and mazurkas; to elegant early 20th century tangos, blues, and fox trots and even some classic rock and roll Swing. Please note that the band's first dance set will start at 7:45PM sharp - 15 minutes earlier than usual. The dance sets will be unusually long, even by Bangers and Mash's high standards, so if you do plan to dance, please be certain to wear shoes or boots you can actually dance in.

For those preferring a more modern style of dance music and free-style dancing as well as partner dancing, join us downstairs at the Nightfall Club (located in the hall's atmospheric Ratskeller) for a wonderfully varied repertoire of dark music to stir the blood and spirit from 6:30PM to Midnight. Hosted by our remarkable DJs, Dark Moon and Persephone, Nightfall also features a no-host (cash) bar and light refreshments for our mortal guests. Since only snacks are provided at the ball, we strongly suggest dining before the ball. For those interested in dining out, there are a variety of restaurants within easy walking distance of the Lodge, especially on nearby Park Street.

Our half-time show in the ballroom is a performance by the celebrated Theater of the Vampires. Not recommended for the faint of heart or for those who take the genre too seriously, but highly recommended for fans of the adventures of Sherlock Holmes! You may also enjoy quiet conversation, Tarot readings, and photography opportunities in the Victorian Parlor.

Our 21st Le Bal des Vampires will be a night to remember. We suggest ordering your tickets early!”
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Halloween Costume Party at Playland
Saturday-Sunday, November 1-2, 10:00AM-5:00PM
Playland-Not-At-The-Beach, 10979 San Pablo Avenue, El Cerrito
see website for admission details

“Keep that costume on! Playland-Not-at-the-Beach's Halloween Costume Party weekend gives trick-or-treaters chances to win prizes and more. Don't forget to explore the Dark Mystery exhibition and check out our spooky 5000-year-old mummy!

Over 30+ pinball machines spanning seven decades, video games, Penny Arcade machines, challenging carnival games of skill, interactive displays and exhibits, miniature circuses, sideshow exhibits, baffling magic shows - they are all here waiting to entertain and amuse you!

Revisit Whitney's Playland and the Sutro Baths as well as the 1939 World's Fair on Treasure Island.  There is always fun at Playland-Not-at-the-Beach! “

Playland at the Beach is a fun part of San Francisco history, now being kept alive by people in El Cerrito who are obsessed with fun and history! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Playland_(San_Francisco)
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Fruitvale Dia de los Muertos
Sunday, November 2, 10:00AM-5:00PM
along East 12th Street between 33rd Avenue and 37th Avenue
and in Fruitvale Village, Oakland

“Join us as we celebrate our 19th year of  Día de los Muertos, put on each year by The Unity Council in partnership with our many fantastic sponsors.

Professional and aspiring artists, families and community groups come together to create the altars that are the heart and soul of the event! The altars will be featured at 12th Street and Avenida De La Fuente. We invite you to be a part of the celebration! As a student, artists or community member, you may have a special someone or group of people or cause that you would like to commemorate in this traditional festival with an altar. More than 20 altars will be created on the day of the event.”
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Nosferatu
co-presented by Jeff Giordano
Sunday, November 2, 3:00PM
The New Parkway Theater, 474 24th Street, Oakland
$10

“Nosferatu - with live musical accompaniment by Jeff Giordano!

Vampire Count Orlok expresses interest in a new residence and real estate agent Hutter's wife. Silent classic based on the story Dracula.

This showing of this silent classic will feature live musical accompaniment.

The New Parkway Theater is a community-centered cinema and pub located in Oakland's Uptown district. Sit back and relax in our cozy couches while watching our new releases, cult classics, and fabulous special programming. Plus, enjoy yummy food and local beer and wine in our café or even delivered right to your theater seat all at affordable prices!

Every week we have something for everyone... from Doc Night to Baby Brigade and Nerd Nite to Party at the Parkway, and everything in between. Also, join us on the mezzanine for free, non-film events like Open Mic Mondays, Tasty Tuesdays, Pop-Up Art Wednesdays, Trivia Thursdays, and First Fridays.

The New Parkway = Film. Friends. Food. Fun on Tap.”
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South Bay Pagan Kids Samhain
Saturday, November 2, 3:00-6:00PM
private residence in San Jose, address given upon RSVP
suggested donation $5-$10 dollars per person or $10-$20 dollars per family

Organizer Taffy Dugan says:
“We are a cross-tradition gathering of Pagan families with children who meet monthly to celebrate the Esbats and Sabbats; to share food and music, traditions and knowledge, crafts and dancing. We are eclectic Wicca, Druid, Dianic, British Traditionalists, and are open to and looking for more varieties. We seek to share and learn from each other while providing support in a fun and nurturing environment.  We'll do crafts, play games, sing songs, and have fun!

Please join our Samhain ritual.  We'll learn a fun and new way to do circle (bring noise makers like shakers and such!).  Please bring a picture or memento of your loved one(s) who have passed on to the Summerlands as we'll be honoring them.

What else to bring: A potluck dish to share. Please consider bringing a suggested donation of $5-$10 dollars per person and/or $10-$20 dollars per family.  No one will be turned away for lack of funds.

Blessed Be,
Taffy”
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Dia de los Muertos Berkeley
Tuesday, November 2, 5:00-9:00PM
1400 block of Shattuck Avenue, North Berkeley
Free

“Community Altar 5:00-7:30PM
Candle Light Procession 7:45-9:00PM

DIY Art Projects - Free Face Painting - Food Trucks - Beer and Wine Garden

Celebrate and remember those who have passed on at a time of year when the veil between the living and dead is thought to be at its most diaphanous. At the sixth annual Dìa de los Muertos Celebration, gather on Shattuck Avenue between Rose and Vine Streets in Berkeley on Sunday, November 2, 5:00-9:00PM.

The event hosts food booths and trucks, a wine and beer garden, free skeletal face painting, and art and craft vendors. DIY art projects for kids and adults include ceramic or sugar skull painting, paper stamping and more. Fire dancers and music by Incendio make the evening magical. Costumes and traditional Dìa de los Muertos papier maché giant heads are encouraged.

Help create an altar, or ofrenda, by bringing photos or stories of loved ones, candles, breads, or flowers to add to the altar. Dancers will bless the altar with drums and dancing then lead a sidewalk candle light procession through the district for about an hour following along a path of strewn marigold petals. Day of the Dead window displays appear in businesses throughout the district.

Sponsored by the North Shattuck Association, Saul’s, East Bay Loop and East Bay Express. The Gourmet Ghetto is six blocks north of Downtown Berkeley BART. Free admission.”
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Community Seed Samhain
Sunday, November 2, gather at 5:00PM, Ritual begins at 6:00PM
Masonic Temple, 828 North Branciforte Avenue, Santa Cruz
suggested donation of $8-$20, no one turned away for lack of funds
for more information, call 831-469-0336 or e-mail info@communityseed.org

“Your sacrifice - Their sacrifice

Come journey with us as we find the links between you and the Goddess and Horned God, between their story of the Wheel of the Year, and your life story as you unfold it. Come take that first big step that leads to everything you desire.

What do you need to do?

You know, the big thing - the REALLY big thing that’s holding you back - Where is the help that you need to be rid of it?

This ritual is not designed for young people. Some parts may be too talky, other parts - too scary!

Potluck to follow after the ritual. Please bring a dish to share and label the ingredients.
Earth signs - Greens, Air Signs - Main Dish Meat,
Fire Signs - Main Dish Vegetable, Water Signs - Dessert
Drinks will be provided

This is a child friendly event.  All CS events are Clean and Sober.”
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Dia de los Muertos San Francisco
Sunday, November 2, 7:00PM
Parade starts at 22nd Street and Bryant Street, San Francisco
and leads to 26th Street and Harrison Street
ending at the Festival of Altars in Garfield Park, 6:30-10:30PM

“Festival of Altars organized by Marigold Project
Festival of Altars, 6:00-11:00PM, Garfield Park, 26th and Harrison Streets

We welcome you to make an altar for a loved one that has passed away. Making a Day of the Dead altar is a way for us to honor the life of someone who is no longer with us and to remember our ancestors. Each year, hundreds of personal altars line the perimeter of Garfield Park.

All candles must be in GLASS containers, no open flame candles are allowed at the park.

Procession organized and led by Rescue Culture Collective

Ritual assembles at 22nd and Bryant 6:00-7:00PM
STARTS at 22nd and Bryant at exactly 7:00PM, and moves along Bryant to 24th Street
CONTINUES along 24th Street to the corner of 24th Street and Mission
CONTINUES along Mission Street to 22nd Street and turns on 22nd Street
CONTINUES along 22nd Street to Bryant Street
CONCLUDES at the corner of 22nd and Bryant Street

Help keep Day of the Dead Alive!
Let's ensure that Day of the Dead SF remains a true community supported event. Please consider making a donation via our chip-in page. Every dollar counts and no donation is too small. All proceeds go to securing park permits and artistic expression at Garfield Park.

About Day of the Dead:
Dia de los Muertos is a traditional Meso-American holiday dedicated to the ancestors; it honors both death and the cycle of life. In Mexico, neighbors gather in local cemeteries to share food, music, and fun with their extended community, both living and departed. The celebration acknowledges that we still have a relationship with our ancestors and loved ones that have passed away.

In San Francisco, Day of the Dead has been celebrated in the Mission district since the early 70s with art, music, performances and a walking procession, which help us contemplate our existence and mortality - a moment to remember deceased friends and family, and our connections beyond our immediate concerns.

Day of the Dead is an alcohol-free event with no vendors or booths of any type. Please honor this tradition and do not attempt to sell goods on the premises of Garfield Park.”
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Adam Ant's Birthday
Monday, November 3
Wherever truth, beauty, art and sex are appreciated

Do something appropriately Plutonic/Scorpionic.
Gaze deeply into the darkest corners of your own soul.  Re-invent yourself and rise, Phoenix-like, from the ashes of your previous life.  Or perhaps take a bath in really good, really dark, molten chocolate.

Just don't you ever lower yourself, forgetting all your standards.
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North Bay Reclaiming’s Samhain and Annual Fundraiser
Saturday, October 25, 7:00PM
Sebastopol Grange, 6000 Sebastopol Avenue, Sebastopol
Suggested donations of $10-$30, no one turned away for lack of funds
for more information, please call 707-484-7786 or e-mail northbayreclaiming@yahoo.com

“Intention: Standing in the darkness with our beloved dead we grieve, we celebrate, and we remember.

As the wheel of the year turns once again, we are excited to share the sacred ritual of Samhain with our community.

Each event is uniquely crafted by our members.
This includes each of you!

Your contributions are vital to the rich community we have assembled. We are honored by your generosity and willingness to support our gatherings by the personal touches you bring - flowers, food, friends and family.

As our spiritual community expands, our need for your financial support also increases. We are asking for your thoughtful donations to help us cover the site rental, costs for supplies and insurance, and special items for our shared experience - scholarships, training fees, meeting supplies - to name a few.

Reclaiming respects healthy relationships with traditional medicines, but out of respect for those in recovery, all Reclaiming rituals are clean and sober - so please, no recreational drugs or alcohol at or prior to the event.”
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Samhain Celebration at Annwfn
Friday-Sunday, November 7-9,
see website for detailed schedule
Annwfn Pagan Sanctuary, Mendocino, directions given upon registration
suggested donation $25-$35

“Come be a part of the spectacle that is transformation! John Barleycorn MUST die!

Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.

Care and Bright Blessings!

Come celebrate the turning of the Wheel! Be part of the ritual of the transformation of the land. The King and Queen welcome you to partake of a Dumb Supper with our beloved departed and those recently so. Ritual will begin on the Friday of November 7 due to the alignment of the Moon, so take the Friday off and come early to witness the ritual, which we promise will ROCK! It is a potluck, so bring your most perfect Autumn dish.

This weekend will be a sight to behold of magick, mystery, and marvel of the passing of the King into the Underworld.

Remember to bring clothing and equipment for a two night camp-out as well as a personal supply of water for drinking and use. Dress appropriately for the weather then, which will be announced the week of.

Fraternally,
King Theo
Queen Linda”
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The Addams Family Musical
presented by Bay Area Stage
Friday-Sunday, November 7-9
Friday and Saturday 8:00PM, Sunday 2:00PM
Empress Theatre, 330 Virginia Street, Vallejo
$25

“The weird and wonderful family comes to devilishly delightful life in The Addams Family Musical. This magnificently macabre new musical comedy is created by Jersey Boys authors Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, Drama Desk Award winner Andrew Lippa (The Wild Party), choreographer Sergio Trujillo (Jersey Boys), and Olivier Award-winning original directors and designers Phelim McDermott and Julian Crouch (Shockheaded Peter) with direction by four-time Tony Award winner Jerry Zaks.

The Addams Family Musical features an original story, and it’s every father’s nightmare. Wednesday Addams, the ultimate princess of darkness, has grown up and fallen in love with a sweet, smart young man from a respectable family. A man her parents have never met. And if that weren’t upsetting enough, she confides in her father and begs him not to tell her mother. Now, Gomez Addams must do something he’s never done before - keep a secret from his beloved wife, Morticia. Everything will change for the whole family on the fateful night they host a dinner for Wednesday’s ‘normal’ boyfriend and his parents.

Come meet the family. We'll leave the lights off for you.”
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ShadowDance
Saturday, November 8, 8:00PM-2:00AM
Oakland Metro Opera House, 630 3rd Street, Oakland
$20 in advance, $25 at the door
21+

“Welcome Lovely Creatures!

Join us for an evening of DARKNESSSSS…….

Our 8th year promises to bring you out of your seat and into darker realms…

Our 2014 line up hopes to tear at your heart's strings, give you a feast for the senses and promises to reach inside and rip your heart from its chest!

Formal, creative, unique, individualistic, and gothic attire welcomed and quite frankly, requested.

Allow The Dark Side Of The Moon And All Her Loveliness And Glory Fully Enrapture You… Envelope You… Soothe And Comfort You…”
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If you are looking for a spooky or splendid costume, here are a few places to seek what your heart desires:

Adira Dance and Costumes
2038 Lincoln Avenue, San Jose, 408-269-0110

Assistance League of Los Altos Costume Bank
169 State Street, Los Altos, 650-941-2610

The Belrose Costume Shoppe
1415 5th Avenue, San Rafael, 415-454-6422

Closet Capers
1211 Soquel Avenue, Santa Cruz, 831-425-7685

Costume Corner
3820A San Pablo Dam Road, El Sobrante, 510-222-9200

Costumes On Haight
735 Haight Street, San Francisco, 415-621-1356

Debbie Lyn’s Costumes
408-245-8720

Disguise The Limit
129 4th Street, Santa Rosa, 707-575-1477
http://www.disguisethelimit.com

Fantasy Clothing Company
1275 Folsom Street, Suite 100, San Francisco, 415-556-9900

Fun House Theatrical
120 East Fremont Avenue, Sunnyvale, 408-446-1755

The Magic Wardrobe
133 Estudillo Avenue, #202, San Leandro, 510-282-7764

Masque Arrayed
510-548-8252

Natasha’s Attic
1238 S. Bascom Avenue, San Jose, 408-286-7368

Penny’s Costume Rental
650-361-1127
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And because I don't want to exhaust myself, I'll end by referring you to these exhaustive lists of spooky events in the Bay Area:
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Have fun and revel in the spooky and the sacred during this, the height of the Pagan social season!  Just remember to look both ways before crossing the street, wear reflective tape on your Skeleton Ninja costume (unless you have a sufficiently shiny aura), and have a grown up Priestess check all your candy to make sure it's not possessed by evil spirits.  She may have to confiscate some of it - it's for your own good!

Honour the Ancestors!  Respect the Otherworld Deities!  And leave treats out for the Fey!

Molly, the Blue Horror of Dawn*

*Yes, it's a quote from Edward Gorey's The Unstrung Harp.  

Anyone who recognized it gets a treat... let's see... how about some forced greengages?

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