Halloween Guide 2011

We here at funcheap have put together a big ol’ hairy list of free & cheap Halloween events in the Bay Area for 2011 that we think you’ll love.

But if that’s not enough, we have to recommend the best Halloween events website by far serving the Bay Area – www.hauntedbay.com. This site has over 300 Halloween events listed ranging from parties, haunts, pumpkin patches, festivals and more. Plus they’ve got lots of tips for throwing good halloween parties.

FuncheapSF’s Top Picks for Halloween 2011

Friday, October 28

 

Monsters of Rock: Halloween Fest | Speakeasy Brewery

Friday, October 28 – 4:00 pm | Cost: FREE | Speakeasy Ales & Lagers

People who like beer, people who like rock, people who appreciate the finer things of Halloween will gather at Speakeasy Ales and Lagers 1195 Evans Ave for cheap beer on a Friday night with free live music: rock and roar from Midnight Chaser, Hell Ship, and …

Berlin-Style Ping Pong Halloween Party | The Secret Alley

Friday, October 28 – 7:00 pm | Cost: $3* | The Secret Alley

Bring your paddle and fierce backhand for a night of Berlin-style ping pong at the Secret Alley on Friday, August 12.
Don’t expect your typical one-on-one matches, as this European version of table tennis involves multiple players moving around the table in a big circle.
Normally the …

Red Hot Burlesque: Halloween Show | Mission Dist.

Friday, October 28 – 7:30 pm | Cost: $5* | El Rio

Them curvy ladies of Red Hot Burlesque put on one of the city’s best bump and grind shows on Friday nights at El Rio. For this pre-Halloween show, expect some extra naughty costumes that you’ll get just a glimpse of before they’re torn off.  Special …

Halloween DJ Bash w/ Jack Daniels Tasting | Civic Center

Friday, October 28 – 9:00 pm | Cost: FREE | Fuel SF

Cleanse the soul with grimey bass when Bass Chakra provides the beats that will definitely bump in the night. DJs Blackheart, Dub Thug, Scott Brio, and Jai Soleil will get you dubsteppin’ to a eerily ear piercing bass.
Drink specials go on all night, and Jack Daniels will also be providing free …

The Spooky Art Show & Live Body Painting | Sub Mission

Friday, October 28 – 9:00 pm | Cost: FREE* | Sub Mission

Sub Mission hosts  “The Spooky Art  Show” – perfect for a pre-halloween party – with art, bands, DJs, live body painting with live abstract performance artist  Fabian Bolanos who combines the human body with canvas together as a sensual live art installation. 9pm.
LightSound Labs Performance …

“The Shining” Halloween Movie Night & $3 Beers | Park Chalet

Friday, October 28 – 9:00 pm | Cost: FREE | Park Chalet

During the summer,the Park Chalet hosts fun outdoor movies and bbqs. During the winter on Friday nights you can head indoors for free movies, popcorn with appetizer and drink specials.
Each month is a different theme – October 2011 is Cult Month with the super spooky …

Spooky Salem DJ Halloween Dance Party | SoMa

Friday, October 28 – 10:00 pm | Cost: FREE* | 103 Harriet

Halloween isn’t a day, its a month. 120 Minutes & Mishka present Salem, a free DJ set to kick start the weekend at one of the hottest multi-level venues in SF, 103 Harriet.
Salem, a mysterious group of four, will echo their ghoulish sounds similar to … 

Saturday, October 29

Alley Cat Halloween Bike Race & Costume Parade Ride | SF

Saturday, October 29 – 12:00 pm | Cost: FREE* | Civic Center Plaza

Come out for this annual Halloween bike race “Trickster Treat V: Zombies Rise”, with all proceeds benefiting Up On Top, a Tenderloin neighborhood afterschool program for low-income elementary school students.
The “Alley Cat”–an informal bike race–starts at noon. It’s $5 to race (and free to watch) …

Capture The Flag: Halloween Style | Golden Gate Park

Saturday, October 29 – 12:00 pm | Cost: FREE | AIDS Grove – Golden Gate Park

It’s the weekend before Halloween, so its time to get costumed up and do something goofy.
Costumes are so strongly encouraged that the game leaders will come up with silly rules to handicap those who don’t come dressed.
This game will run earlier than normal to …

Spooktacular Halloween Block Party | Japantown

Saturday, October 29 – 12:00 pm | Cost: FREE | Japantown Peace Plaza

Some good old-fashioned fun is in store when the Japan Center Malls hosts a Spooktacular Halloween Party complete with mall-wide trick or treating.
Children and adults are invited to dress in costume and stop by for some socializing, trick-or-treating and lots of activities from 12:00 p.m. …

Doggie Halloween Bash & Puppy Party | North Beach

Saturday, October 29 – 6:00 pm | Cost: FREE | Jeffrey’s Natural Pet Food

Bring your doggie Dracula or you puppy princess to North Beach for the 9th Annual Jeffrey Natural Pet Foods Halloween Party complete with costume contest, puppy show-off and author Edward Vilga (Upward Dog) with his chocolate lab co-author Belle.

Flashmob: Waldo Pub Crawl | SF

Saturday, October 29 – 7:00 pm | Cost: FREE | Various bars

Imagine hundreds of Waldos crawling to pubs located in the great city of San Francisco.
It’s Halloween so you can be creative but Must Haves are Waldo shirt (red & white strips), Waldo beanie (red & white stripped) either that or white shirt/beanie and red …

Shanghai Kelly’s Halloween Costume Contest | SF

Saturday, October 29 – 7:00 pm | Cost: FREE* | Shanghai Kelly’s

Ready to boos it up for Halloween?
Get in costume and stop by sister bars Shanghai Kellys (Russian Hill) or the Northstar (North Beach) for ghouly drinking and get your picture taken. Best Costume Award will be announced at 1 am and winners will win a …

Journey to the End of the Night: Halloween Street Game | SF

Saturday, October 29 – 7:00 pm | Cost: FREE | Cupid’s Span

Journey to the End of the Night is a free street game played across cities around the world, spreading from San Francisco to Chicago, Washington, DC, London, Berlin, Mexico City, and beyond.
The third Halloween edition of Journey to the End of the Night returns to the …

1920s Silent Movie Night & Halloween Party | East Bay

Saturday, October 29 – 7:30 pm | Cost: $5 | Essanay Silent Film Museum

Take a trip back nearly 90 years and get scared like your great grandparents did at the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum for their 2011 Halloween Movie Night with classic spooky silent films from the 1920s  along with live musical accompaniment on the Kurzeil keyboard
1920′s …

Ramones Tribute Night & Halloween Party | Riptide

Saturday, October 29 – 9:30 pm | Cost: FREE | The Riptide

Head all the way to the end of the line (the L Taraval, that is) to The Riptide in the Outer Sunset for some no-cover charge fun with Ramones tribute band “Remones” (9:30p) along with a late night costume contest (12:30am).

Sunday, October 30

Free Blockbuster’s Free Rent a Spooky Movie Night | SF

Sunday, October 30 – All Day | Cost: FREE* | Blockbuster Express Kiosk, Safeway

Whether you prefer “Freaky Friday” or Freddy Kruger, celebrate Halloween right with Blockbuster Express’s free movie night on Sunday, October 30.
Just find the kiosk nearest to you and use the promo code FURLTY to get any of Blockbuster Express’s $1 titles for a free one-night …

Yerba Buena Gardens | Halloween Costume Walk

Sunday, October 30 – 12:00 pm | Cost: FREE | Yerba Buena Gardens – Children’s Garden

Come join our 11th annual Halloween program, featuring interactive performances and games for kids. The Unique Derique hosts, The Venezuelan Music Project plays live music, eco-friendly Trash Mash-Up crafts, and Preston folds origami. Just before the Hoopla ends, children under ten and their adults are invited to …

Neighborhood Halloween Party | Richmond Dist.

Sunday, October 30 – 12:00 pm | Cost: FREE | Richmond District Neighborhood Center

Whether you’re dressing up as a ghost or Lady Gaga this Halloween, come mingle with other dressed-up revelers at the Richmond District Neighborhood Center’s Halloween Party on Sunday, October 30. Enjoy themed arts & crafts, a gypsy fortune-teller and a potion-mixing station, as well as ghoulish …

LastSundays: Telegraph’s Halloween Haunt | Berkeley

Sunday, October 30 – 12:00 pm | Cost: FREE | LastSundaysFest

Monsters, zombies, mummies and all are invited to Telegraph’s Halloween party.
Enter the costume contests at 3pm for a chance to win cash prizes. Enjoy the circus cabaret entertainment hosted by “Coventry and Kaluza” and diverse musical performances throughout the afternoon. The full schedule is here.
Free …

Halloween Haunted Wonderland | Outer Richmond.

Sunday, October 30 – 12:00 pm | Cost: FREE | RDNC

Gather ’round little children..Richmond District Neighborhood Center, is hosting a Haunted Wonderland. A haunted house filled with baked goods, arts and crafts and fortune telling awaits to spook your adorably dressed children.

Ghostly Gate Fields & $1 Horse Racing Day | Berkeley

Sunday, October 30 – 12:00 pm | Cost: $1 | Golden Gate Fields

On Sunday, October 30, Golden Gate Fields will become Ghostly Gate Fields, combining  horse racing with costumed revelry as part of Halloween Family Day with trick or treating, pony rides, face painters, bounce houses, and more.
All of the activities for the kids are free, and take …

A Donnie Darko Halloween ’80s Party | SF

Sunday, October 30 – 8:00 pm | Cost: FREE | 50 Mason Social House

’80s theme at 50 Mason Social House. Doors open at 7pm. MC Sergio Bajaras will host the evening with comedic timing. A live tribute to the Donnie Darko soundtrack, His Name Is Frank opens. The singer will be performing in a giant rabbit costume (Frank from …

Cocktails From the Crypt: Halloween Punch Party | Berkeley

Sunday, October 30 – 8:00 pm | Cost: FREE | Acme Bar & Company

Cocktails from the Crypt is a one-night pop-up bar and costume party that features Halloween-inspired cocktails. Highlights will include dry-ice cooled apple and rye punch with a Smith and Cross caramel apple, and house-made candy corn liquor.
The devilish drink creations ($10) are from startenders Morgan Schick (NOPA) …

Monday, October 31, 2011

Help Scare Kids: Volunteer at a Haunted House | Inner Richmond
Monday, October 31 – All Day | Cost: FREE | Frankenart Mart

This Halloween, Frankenart Mart, a quirky little art gallery in the Inner Richmond is having a haunted house, and as always, everyone is invited to come and help us scare the crap out of all the toddlers in the neighborhood.

Spooky Annual Halloween Piano Concert | SFSU
Monday, October 31 – 1:00 pm | Cost: FREE | San Francisco State University, Knuth Hall, Creative Arts Building

Faculty pianists Inara Morgenstern and Victoria Neve perform Halloween-themed music, an annual San Francisco State University tradition for more than 20 years.

Halloween Block Party | NOPA
Monday, October 31 – 5:00 pm | Cost: FREE | Grove & Lyon

The North of Panhandle Neighborhood Association celebrates Halloween in their hood with their annual block party (1500 and 1600 block of Grove) with a costume contest in the “Big tent” (intersection at Lyon & Grove) starting at 5:30pm and then followed by trick or treating.

Halloween Cocktail Crawl | SoMa
Monday, October 31 – 5:30 pm | Cost: $5* | Momo’s

Sip on some spooky cocktails at the SOMA Halloween Cocktail Crawl, where each participating venue will serve complimentary BLOOM Gin-inspired drinks for ticket-holders who RSVP in advance.

AAA Tipsy Tow: Free Car Tow Home | Halloween
Monday, October 31 – 6:00 pm | Cost: FREE

Had a bit too much to drink celebrating Halloween and now need a safe ride home? AAA’s Tipsy Tow Program offers a free tow for drinking drivers in Northern California – members and non-members alike – from 6pm on Halloween Night 2011 (Monday, October

Halloween Ghost Walk at City Hall | SF
Monday, October 31 – 6:30 pm | Cost: FREE | San Francisco City Hall

Disinterred remains, assassinations and other ghostly lore form the focus of this tour, plus little-known facts such as the cemetery that once covered Civic Center. Who (or what) might be walking alongside us?

Wawona Street Haunt | West Portal

Monday, October 31 – 6:30 pm | Cost: FREE | Wawona Haunted House

This is this home yard haunt’s 10th year haunting  Wawona Street just a few blocks from West Portal station in San Francisco. Drop by for some spooky fun. Halloween night only, 6:30p to 9:30p

Hell On Wheels: Halloween Night Haunted House | SF

Monday, October 31 – 7:00 pm | Cost: $4 | Fear Oaks

Come find out what lunatics have done to the asylum “Hell on Wheels” a small and spooky haunted house with 666 sq ft of terror for adults and older children. Animated and static props and live actors bring our darkest night fears

DIY Halloween Yard Haunt | Oakland
Monday, October 31 – 7:00 pm | Cost: FREE | The Haunted Yard

Larry Schmidt puts on a free “Soft Yard Haunt” puppet and marionette show on Halloween Night from 7pm to 9pm in Oakland (Oct 30-31, 2011) called “Driveway Follies.“

Yoshi’s 1st Annual Halloween Party | The Cheeseballs
Monday, October 31 – 7:00 pm | Cost: $5* | Yoshi’s SF

Yoshi’s may be the biggest name in Jazz in the Bay Area – but they’re going glam for Halloween with a special October 31st show with decorations, a costume party & contest, drink specials and hella fun party band The Cheeseballs

Free Halloween Radio Stations | All Spooky Music
Monday, October 31 – All Day | Cost: FREE

SomaFM, Pandora, Slacker, AOL and more… find your favorite spooky soundtrack for halloween night.

Extra Action Marching Band: Halloween Show | Bottom of the Hill
Monday, October 31 – 8:30 pm | Cost: $5* | Bottom of the Hill

One of the funkiest Halloween parties in recent memory, The Extra Action Marching Band brings their huge high energy band to the teeny tiny stage of the Bottom of the Hill to rock out on Halloween night in a fusion  Balkan brass and New Orleans …

Halloween Electro/Dubstep DJ Party | Haight
Monday, October 31 – 9:00 pm | Cost: FREE | Milk

DJ Scott Brio will be spinning house, electro and dubstep on Halloween night as Milk Bar and Battle MGMT presents “Breathe” Come in costume for this special Halloween edition. A great social atmosphere, kick back, have a drink, talk to some friends and get your ghoulish grind on.

Drunken Halloween Costume Contest & Free Candy | Riptide
Monday, October 31 – 9:00 pm | Cost: FREE | The Riptide

If you’re wearing a costume on Halloween, prepare to drink near the beach. Just head all the way to the end of the line (the L Taraval, that is) to The Riptide in the Outer Sunset for some no-cover-charge fun with prizes for Best costume

Fog & Laser Halloween Spectacular | Make-Out Room
Monday, October 31 – 9:00 pm | Cost: $7 | Make-Out Room

Make-Out Room presents Fog & Laser 3: “Halloween Spectacular” with music, dancing, and more. Visuals by Xavier with host DJs RamblinWorker & EmDee

Free Cab Rides on Halloween Night | SF & East Bay

Monday, October 31 – 10:00 pm | Cost: FREE

To help keep your drunken ass off the road, Halloween revelers in Alameda, Oakland, Berkeley, and San Francisco can get their cab rides home paid all Halloween night (until 4am)