October Events and Activities for North Bay Families
Cozy fall activities and spooky fun is making it’s way to the North Bay! October happenings around the North Bay for your family! See our list below!
Marin County
Nicasio Valley Pumpkin Patch September 26th - November 2, 2025
Variety of fun activities, including Hank’s Pizza Oven, War Pigs Craft Kitchen BBQ, Silver Shaved Ice, hayrides, pony rides, inflatable bounce house, slide and obstacle course, face painting, petting zoo, children and adult live music, hay mazes, whole kernel corn sensory play pit, hay pit with bouncy animals, expansive shaded picnic tables along with seating, umbrellas and tents, and interactive agricultural educational signs and more! (Please check for specific dates) No charge for admission or parking. (Source + More Info)
Public Works Fair - October 4th, 2025
Kids love hands-on learning experiences, and on October 4, 2025, the Marin County Department of Public Works (DPW) will host a family-friendly Public Works Fair at the Marin County Fairgrounds. Families can climb aboard big trucks and explore heavy equipment up close.
This FREE event celebrates the 65th annual National Public Works Week. Presentations will highlight civil engineering projects and how they shape our community, while demonstrations will feature DPW equipment and the work crews do every day.
Along with the learning, there will be hands-on activities, games, face painting, balloons, music, and prizes. It’s a community celebration designed for all ages. Free! (Source + More Info)
Halloween Harvest Festival, Friday, October 10, 2025
Annual Halloween Harvest Festival for children 10 & under! Costumes encouraged!
Recommended for ages 3-10. Tickets are $25/child. Adults are free. $5 sibling discount. Purchase at event.
Festive Carnival Games with prizes
Pumpkin Decorating (1 pumpkin per child) Thank you to the Las Gallinas Lions Club(link is external) for pumpkin donations!
Face-Painting by the Sparklers(link is external)
Bounce House (weather dependent)
Drinks Bar ($)
Food Truck: Consuelos Kitchen(link is external) (Source + More info)
Annual San Rafael Treat Walk - Thursday, October 23, 2025
Join us at the San Rafael Community Center on Thursday, October 23, 2025, from 4–6 PM for a FREE family-friendly Halloween celebration! Explore the Lonatoese Garden while enjoying:
Treats for all ages
Pumpkin decorating
Face painting
Games and more
Show off your favorite costume!
This fun community event is hosted by San Rafael Library & Recreation, with participation from local city departments.
Questions? Call 415-485-3333 or email recreation@cityofsanrafael.orgMarin
Mill Valley Trunk or Treat - Friday, October 24, 2025
Get ready for a frightfully fun evening of costumes, treats, and creepy-cool surprises at our annual Halloween at the Center celebration!
Kick things off with Trunk or Treat in our transformed parking lot, where a fleet of festively decorated cars and booths await with games, goodies, and ghoulish delights! Come dressed in your Halloween best and explore each trunk for a new surprise, if you dare!
Craft up some spooky creations and discover fun Halloween-themed activities for all ages. When you've worked up an appetite, grab a bite from one of the on-site food trucks serving up tasty treats.
Stay for the grand finale! At 6:00pm, head indoors for a Spooktacular Magic Show that’ll leave you howling with delight! Spaces limited – grab your tickets here!(Source + More Info)
SAN FRANCISCO
San Francisco Fleet Week - October 5-13th, 2025
San Francisco Fleet Week's Air Show, Parade of Ships, Ship Tours, Concerts, and many more community events honors the men and women of the United States. Events throughout the week! (Source + More Info)
Treasure Island Harvest Festival - Sunday, October 5, 2025
Celebrate the SPOOKY season with us at the newly opened Cityside Park, complete with gorgeous views of the downtown San Francisco skyline and Bay. Bring the whole family for a day of fall fun featuring pumpkins for sale, hay bale pyramid, bounce houses, an adorable petting zoo, and plenty of family-friendly activities. Enjoy live music, snap fun photo opps, and capture picture-perfect moments among the pumpkins.
Cozy up with Silverwings Coffee (serving coffee, matcha, and hot chocolate), indulge in sweet treats, and savor a variety of food and festive nonalcoholic drinks. (Source, Tickets + More Info)
World of Dumplings Festival - Sunday, October 12, 2025
San Francisco’s beloved dumpling celebration returns bigger than ever during Fleet Week 2025. World of Dumplings brings together over 20+ restaurant vendors, live music, beer garden, cooking demos, trivia, eating contests, cultural performances, and family-friendly fun—all at the Ferry Building. Entry is free, but registration is required to access activities. (Source + More Info)
Clancy’s Pumpkin Patch - October 3rd - 31st, 2025
Visiting the patch in October, you will find pumpkins of all sizes and shapes. Gourds, corn stalks, and Indian corn are in abundance. Take home pumpkins for carving, decorating, and for baking into pies. The selection includes: Munchkin pumpkins, Sugar Pie pumpkins, Cinderella pumpkins, as well as blue, white, and striped pumpkins. Come see the ghosts in our trees, the scarecrows in our patch, visit with our live turkeys and run through the fun corn maze. You can even take a hay ride in the middle of San Francisco!
We love having schools visit us for a fall field trip! Teachers, please reach out to us by email at clancystrees@gmail.com or by using the form on the Field Trip page of the website (Source + More Info)
Sonoma county
Sonoma County Harvest Fair - October 11, 2025
Since its debut in 1975, Sonoma County’s Harvest Fair has highlighted the area’s vibrant culture of art, wine, food and agriculture. The coveted event includes the premier Professional Wine Competition, featuring more than 900 locally sourced wines, along with a food competition, world championship grape stomp, food and wine pairings at the tasting pavilion, a classic car show and an art show. From noon to 4 p.m. General admission is $75, VIP tickets are $150, combo tickets for the Harvest Fair and the Healdsburg Crush (the next day) are $200, and designated driver tickets (only available day of event) are $50. 1350 Bennett Valley Rd., Santa Rosa (Source, Tickets, + More Info)
FUNtazmagoria - Friday, October 24, 2025
Get ready for an unforgettable experience at the Children’s Museum’s annual FUNtazmagoria event! This one-of-a-kind seasonal celebration is perfect for families, offering a blend of spooky fun that’s spooky not scary. Step into our Mad Scientist Lab for a walk-through adventure filled with electrifying interactive experiments. Don’t forget to say hello to our resident Mad Scientists as you explore! (Source + More Info)
Art Sundays at Emmanuel Farm - Sunday, October 26, 2025
Meet, greet, commune and make art from the heart at Emmanuel Farmstead. Our uniquely curated family friendly crafts and activities nurture creativity and community, and can be completed in as little as 45 minutes or take your time and let the creative process unfold. ($15-$20)
Contact Erika with any questions. 925-683-5454 erika_steponic@hotmail.com (Source + More Info)