Halloween Events in Santa Cruz 2015

Welcome to Santa Cruz, where everyday is Halloween and October is just Halloween-appreciation month.

All kidding aside, Santa Cruz has frightful fun in store for everyone, so gather your ghoul friends and let the Halloween festivities begin!

Here’s a day by day listing of all the Halloween events this month:

Oct. 14, 21 & 28

Brew Cruz Haunted Tours

Ghosts and beer…need we say more? Hop aboard the “Boo Cruz” for an hour-long tour of the most haunted spots in Santa Cruz. Costumes encouraged, BYO seasonal beers, and enjoy an adrenaline-filled pint post tour. Must be 21+
You can purchase tickets here.

Westside Haunted Tour: 10/14
Eastside Haunted Tour: 10/21
Westside Haunted Tour: 10/28
Cost: $25

Thursday, October 15

Halloween Party and Fashion Show at Camouflage

Camouflage’s biggest party of the year will feature soul-sucking sips, naughty nibbles, prizes every 15 minutes, and models showcasing several different Halloween looks to inspire your holiday.
Get more info here.

Camouflage
Thursday, October 15th
6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Midnight Movies at the Del Mar

• Shaun of the Dead Oct. 16
• The Exorcist Oct. 17
• Rocky Horror Picture Show Oct. 23 &24
• Psycho Oct. 30
• The Shining Oct. 31

Oct. 17-18, 24-25, 31 & Nov. 1 

Thomas and Percy’s Halloween Party

Straight from the Island of Sodor, Thomas the Tank Engine and his buddy Percy are hosting a Halloween Party that includes a 25-minute train ride, storytelling and video viewing, temporary tattoos, arts and crafts, a pumpkin patch, and the opportunity to meet Sir Topham Hatt!

Roaring Camp Railroads
10/17, 10/18, 10/24, 10/25, 10/31, 11/1
Cost: $24

Saturday, October 17

Santa Cruz Derby Girls

Get spooky with the Santa Cruz Derby Girls and don your finest vampire or zombie attire for their last bout of the year. Forget the walking dead and come cheer for the rolling dead!

Get more info here.

Civic Auditorium
Saturday, October 17th
Doors open at 5:45 pm. Bout begins at 6:30 pm.
Cost: $10

Thriller Dance Lessons

You know you’ve always wanted to cross “Learn Michael Jackson’s Thriller dance moves” off your bucket list—here’s your chance!

Bonus: You’ll have two flash mob opportunities to show off your moves in zombie costume—Thrill the World on October 24th and Halloween night on Pacific Avenue!

Get more info here.

Louden Nelson Community Center
Saturday, October 17th
10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Sunday, October 18

Spooky or Not Spooky

A special Halloween-themed walk geared for children- it’s 1 hour and easy! Explore the forest and help decide if something is spooky or not spooky.

More info here.

Big Basin Redwoods State Park
Sunday, October 18th
1:00 pm

Wednesday, October 21

A Literary Halloween: Chilling Tales from Classic Authors

Local theater troupe Willing Suspension Armchair Theater performs reader’s theater with a seasonal selection of creepy classics by Mark Twain, Edgar Allen Poe, and F. Marion Crawford. Suitable for ages 10 and up.
Get more info here.

Downtown Library
Wednesday, October 21st
7:00 pm

Thursday, October 22

Day of the Dead Family Craft in Watsonville

Watch the White Hawk Indian Council dancers and then decorate sugar skulls and make other crafts.

More info here.

Watsonville Civic Center Community Room, 4th Floor
Thursday, October 22nd
6pm

Oct. 22-24

13th Annual Scotts Valley Haunted House

Scream for a good cause! Scotts Valley High School will raise the hair on the back of your neck while raising money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. With a Santa’s Workshop theme, this truly will be a nightmare before Christmas.
Learn more here.

555 Glenwood Drive, Scotts Valley
10/22 – 10/24
Cost: $9

Saturday, October 24

Louden Nelson’s Halloween Festival & Mask-Making Workshop

The Louden Nelson Halloween Festival is a free annual event full of Halloween fun.  Kids can create decorative masks, walk through the haunted house, and take home a pic from the phantom photo booth.  Don’t miss the Thrill the World flash mob performance at 3:00 pm.

Louden Nelson Community Center
Saturday, October 24th
12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Cost: Free

The Missing Arm of William Waddell in Big Basin

Bring a flashlight for this spooky and slightly silly tall tale performed on a short guided walk through the redwoods at night. Afterwards, enjoy ranger apples cooked around the campfire and more storytelling fun.
Get more info here.

Big Basin Redwood State Park
Saturday, October 24th
6:30 pm

Annual Halloween Monster Bash at Palomar Ballroom

You can expect plenty of bumps in the night at Palomar’s Annual Monster Bash, including Cha Cha lessons, dance performances, social dancing, and a monster mash. Get your costumes ready for the contest!
Get more info here.

Palomar Ballroom
Saturday, October 24th
8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Cost: $15 in advance, $20 at the door

Also on Saturday, October 24

• Annual Cosplay Contest at Level Up
• Boulder Creek Library Pumpkin Carving
• Pumpkin Carving at Mythic Games
• Thrill the World Flash Mob

 

Sunday, October 25

Capitola Village Children’s Halloween Parade

The Capitola Village Halloween parade begins near the Capitola Police Department, and works its way down Capitola Ave., to the Esplanade.  Enjoy trick or treating at the Capitola Village merchants after the parade.

Capitola Village
Sunday, October 25th
Line-up begins at 1:30. Parade starts at 2:00 pm
Parade begins at Pacific Cove parking lot, behind the Capitola City Hall & Police Dept.

Photo Credit: Soultravelers3.com

Friday, October 30

Woofpack’s Costume Puppy Parade on West Cliff Drive

Woofpack is hosting their very first Halloween Puppy Parade! Come see the pups dressed in their devilishly delightful Halloween get-ups. You might even see some humans in costume, too. If you would like to join in the fun, meet at the Natural Bridges entrance on Delaware at 10:15 a.m. Parade departs toward West Cliff around 10:30 a.m.

Get more info here.

Woofpack Halloween Puppy Parade
Friday, October 30
10:15-noon

Marine Masquerade at the Seymour Center

Head over to everyone’s favorite marine center Friday evening for a costume contest, scavenger hunts, creature crafts, and a flashlight tour to the whale skeleton.

Seymour Marine Discovery Center
Friday, October 30th
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Public: $8 adults, $6 kids
Members: Free
Children 2 and under: FREE

Sugar Skulls Workshop

Making and decorating sugar skulls is a festive way to honor the spirits of those who have passed away. In time for Dia de los Muertos on November 1, the MAH is offering a family workshop and drop-in workshop for this traditional Mexican folk art.

Get more info here.

MAH
Friday, October 30th
4:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Halloween Party with Antsy and The Troubs

Local favorite Antsy McClain and the Troubs will bring the fun on Halloween-eve with a new album, a whole bunch of new songs, and a new stage show!
Get more info here.

Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Friday, October 30th
8:00 pm
Cost: $25 in advance, $30 at the door

Also on Friday, October 30

Spooktacular “Paint This” Workshop at Palace Art & Office
Costume and dance party (Hall Pass) at The Crow’s Nest
Spooky Brews Halloween Party at New Bohemia Brewing Company

October 30, 31, Nov. 1 and Nov. 6-8

The Addams Family presented by Christian Youth Theater

The whole family will enjoy this musical comedy featuring the creepy, kooky, mysterious, spooky, and all together ooky Addams Family. Two weekends, eight shows, and one special Halloween day performance at noon.

Get more info here.

Louden Nelson Community Center
Oct. 30, 31, Nov. 1, 6-8
Cost: $12-$16

Halloween: Saturday, October 31

Gault Elementary School’s 67th Annual Community Halloween Parade and Carnival

The Gault Elementary Halloween Parade & Carnival has been a favorite community event since 1948.  All of Santa Cruz is invited to this fun family friendly event.  The day begins with a costume parade on Soquel Ave. followed by the carnival at Gault Elementary.

Gault Elementary School
Saturday, October 31st
9:00 am – 2:00 pm

Trick-or-Treat Downtown

Head to Downtown Santa Cruz between 2:00 – 5:00 with your little ghosts and goblins for trick or treating at local businesses on Pacific Ave.

Even if you don’t go for the candy, the people/costume watching is well worth a mid-afternoon trip to downtown.

Downtown Santa Cruz
Saturday, October 31st
2:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Berdels Halloween Bowl Bash at Mike Fox Skate Park (This event has been cancelled.)

Dress up, sign up, and come shred the park at Berdel’s Halloween non-test. Free entry, free food & drinks, music, and prizes!

Mike Fox Skate Park
Saturday, October 31st
2:00 pm

Halloween on the Santa Cruz Wharf

Enjoy safe and sane trick-or-treating on the wharf and meet some costumed characters while you’re at it. Businesses will be handing out candy between 4:00 – 6:00 pm on Halloween.

Santa Cruz Wharf
Saturday, October 31st
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm

21st Annual FREAKER’S BALL

The 21st Annual Freaker’s Ball at the Catalyst is sure to be a rocking way to celebrate Halloween. Costumes required, so dress to impress!

This is a 21 + event, so you’ll need to leave the little ones at home.

More information and tickets are available here.

Catalyst
Saturday, October 31st
7:00 pm
Cost: $20-$45

Boulder Creek Trick or Treat Halloween Party and Haunted House

Trick or Treat at the shops in downtown Boulder Creek from 5:00 – 7:00, followed by a Halloween party and haunted house at the Boulder Creek Recreation Hall.  You can get more info here.

Trick or Treating from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm in Downtown Boulder Creek
Thriller Performance at 5:30 in Downtown Boulder Creek
Halloween Party from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm at the Boulder Creek Recreation Hall
Thriller Performance at 7:30 at Rec Hall

Also on Saturday, October 31

Costume and dance party (Room 9) at The Crow’s Nest, $10 cover
Pleasure Point Community Halloween Costume Party & Shredfest 3PM

Sunday, November 1

Dia de los Muertos Community Festival

Keep the Halloween spirit alive into November with the Dia de los Muertos Community Festival at the MAH and Evergreen Cemetery on Sunday, November 1st.

This Day of the Dead festival features traditional Mexican craft-making, facepainting, and dance performances at the MAH.  The festivities then continue at Evergreen Cemetery.

MAH / Evergreen Cemetery
Sunday, November 1st
2:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Cost: Free