9 Bay Area Haunted Houses for 2020
2020 has been frightening enough, but if you’re craving some more traditional scares rather than, say, a maskless cougher elbowing you at the grocery store, then you might want to check out one of the Bay Area’s spookiest haunted houses.
Some of the big Halloween attractions have transformed their attractions for a Covid world, safe for social distancing. You’ll find outdoor haunts, drive-thru attractions, self-guided flashlight tours of creepy homes, over-the-top Halloween light shows, and more.
Haunted Attractions
Dead Time Dreams
San Jose
Open-air walk-through haunted fright walk for 2020 called “The Horror Alley” plus a bigger “Midway of Terror. Open October 16-31. Tickets $20. Free Parking.“Tunnel of Terror” Haunted Car Wash
San Jose
For the third year in a row, Extreme Express Car Wash gets taken over by creatures, ghouls and Freddy Kreuger – plus a fog-filled tunnel and spooky lights. $20 car wash + $5 goes to St. Judes. Oct. 28-31 / 5-8pm“Pirates of Emerson” Drive-Thru Haunted Theme Park
Pleasanton
Alameda County Fairgrounds is turned into a socially-distant drive-through haunted attraction with scare actors outside your car. October 2 to November 7. Open most Wednesdays through Sundays. $95 per car with scare actors. $75 for certain nights without scare actors.
Flashlight Tours
“Winchester Mystery House” Hallowe’en Flashlight Tours
San Jose
Bizarre Victorian mansion dating back to 1884 with 160+ rooms, 17 chimneys with doors and stairs that go nowhere. For 2020, you can take a self-guided tour of the building dark halls. Tickets $25-$55. Free Parking. Daytime tours also available.“Mayhem Mansion” Haunted Tours of 1886 Victorian
San Francisco
San Francisco’s historic 1886 Haas-Lilienthal House will once again be transformed into Mayhem Mansion. For 2020, it’s a self-guided flashlight tour with special downloadable audio tour. Tickets $23 ($2 off with code FUNCHEAP). Open October 23-24, October 29-31.
Kid-friendly Spooky Fun
Halloween Jam at Children’s Fairyland
Oakland
Fairyland has transformed many of their storybook sets into a fun Halloween-themed town that won’t frighten the little ones, along with daily socially-distant Monster Mash parades. October 28 to November 1. $8 tickets.Free Halloween Home Attractions
Alberston House
San Jose
The Alberston House decks out their home in a unique theme every year; this year they’re hosting a walk by/drive by display featuring many fun elements from The Nightmare Before Christmas. Free. Oct. 29 – Nov. 1 from 5-9pm.Rebel Yell Haunted
HouseYard
San Jose
Dubbed one of America’s scariest home haunt, this year they’re presenting a walk by/drive by yard haunt themed “Dead Man’s Party” with their best effects, animatronic props and (possibly) live actors. Free. Oct. 25 – Nov. 1 from 6-9pm.Epic Halloween Light Show Set to Metallica
Tracy
Not a haunted house, but an over-the-top socially-distant Halloween house that blasts “Enter Sandman” in sync to over 70,000 lights. Free. Runs Fridays to Sundays from October 8-31 from 7-9pm.
Halloween Creepy Night Sky (sort of…)
Rare Halloween “Blue Moon” for 2020
Everywhere – Just Look up after 6:35pm
For the first time since 2001, the Moon will be full on Halloween (October 31). And because this is the second Full Moon in October, it’s also considered a Blue Moon. (It won’t literally be blue, but it will be full on Halloween night). Moonrise is 6:35pm.
