The Hometown Halloween Guide 2026
Halloween around Santa Barbara is more than one night of trick-or-treating. Here are the experiences worth choosing between, from gentle storybook adventures for little kids to a proper parents’ night out. Ideal for is Hometown’s age recommendation, separate from official admission rules.
Santa Barbara Zoo: Boo at the Zoo | October 16–31 | Ideal for: 2+. Daytime Boo runs Oct. 16–31, 10 AM–3 PM, included with Zoo admission/membership. Admission is $39.95 for ages 13+, $29.95 for ages 2–12 and free under 2, with $2 off each ticket online; parking is $11. Halloween day itself brings a costume contest at noon, a parade at 12:30 PM, spooky story time at 1 PM and an animal encounter at 1:30 PM.
https://www.sbzoo.org/boo-at-the-zoo
BOOcara at The Ritz-Carlton Bacara | Friday, October 30, 5–7 PM | Ideal for: 3+. This is a substantial family Halloween experience, not simply a hotel costume party: three themed destinations across the resort, including a Vampire Lair, Spooky Forest and Haunted Mansion, with interactive games, seasonal crafts, entertainment and trick-or-treating. Tickets are $71.21 per adult and $39.19 per child age 5+, verified on the organizer’s Eventbrite; tickets are nonrefundable and self-parking is included. The listing does not state pricing for children under 5, so check before paying if you are bringing a younger child. The event is advertised to the wider community, not just overnight guests. BOOK NOW: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-ritz-carlton-bacara-santa-barbaras-annual-boo-cara-tickets-1997985920673
Candlelight: Tribute to Adele (6:15 PM) and The Best of Hans Zimmer (8:30 PM) | Friday, October 30 | First United Methodist Church, 305 E. Anapamu St | 60-minute string quartet concerts by candlelight. Ages 8+ recommended; under 16 with an adult. From $41.04 on Fever.
https://feverup.com/en/santa-barbara-ca-us/candlelight
Lane Farms Pumpkin Patch | Santa Barbara | Ideal for: 2+. The classic local afternoon: pumpkins, hayrides, farm animals and a corn maze. Season ends Sat Oct 31 (last day). Hours Mon-Fri 12-7 PM, Sat-Sun 10 AM-7 PM; Oct 31 closes early, 10 AM-5 PM (corn maze 4:45 PM). https://www.lanefarmssb.com/pumpkin-patch/
Solvang Farmer Pumpkin Patch | Ideal for: 3+. A big corn maze and pumpkin selection, easily paired with lunch in Solvang. Open through Saturday, October 31, 10 AM–6 PM, with last maze entry at 5:15 PM; admission to the patch is free. https://solvangusa.com/whats-happening-in-solvang/
Worth the drive: Underwood Family Farms | Moorpark | Ideal for: 2+. A larger fall-festival experience. Fall Harvest Festival final day Sat Oct 31, 9 AM-6 PM; weekend tickets online-only, $34 advance / $38 day-of if spots remain; under 2 and parking free.
https://underwoodfamilyfarms.com/antique-tractor-weekend/
10th Annual Witchy Paddle | Saturday, October 31, 10:30 AM–12 PM | Paddle Sports Center, 117 Harbor Way, Santa Barbara Harbor | Ideal for: all ages. The costumed harbor paddle, $35 per person with watercraft, paddle and life jacket included in registration, plus costume prizes and giveaways. BOOK NOW: https://santabarbaraca.com/itinerary/halloween-events/
Dress Wild | Saturday, October 31, 10 AM–5 PM | Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, 2559 Puesta del Sol, and the Sea Center, 211 Stearns Wharf | Ideal for: 2+. Come in an animal costume. The Witch’s Ride planetarium show runs at noon and 3 PM (recommended ages 7+); planetarium tickets are included with admission, handed out first come, first served 20 minutes before showtime, with no late entry. Museum admission $20 adults, $17 teens and seniors, $15 ages 2–12; Sea Center is a separate ticket at 17/15/$13; under 2 and members free. BOOK NOW (admission): https://www.sbnature.org/visit/calendar/9312/dress-wild and https://www.sbnature.org/visit/calendar/9393/halloween-planetarium-show-witchs-ride
Milpas Street Trick or Treat | Saturday, October 31, from 2 PM | N. Milpas Street, near La Super-Rica Taqueria, 622 N. Milpas Street | Ideal for: 2+. The Eastside’s big free neighborhood trick-or-treat, with Library on the Go on site. SAVE THE DATE.
https://calendar.library.santabarbaraca.gov/event/lotg-milpas-trick-or-treat-33733
Mask-Making and the Art of Self-Expression | Saturday, October 31, 1:30–4:30 PM | Yoga Soup, Santa Barbara | Teens and adults. A mask-making workshop with all supplies provided and ceremonial cacao to start, $55 per person. BOOK NOW: https://santabarbaraca.com/itinerary/halloween-events/
Midnight Mansion Unscripted | Saturday, October 31, 8–9:30 PM | SB Improv at Jefferson Hall, Santa Barbara | Ideal for: 14+. A Halloween improv show for $10, costumes encouraged, seating limited. BOOK NOW: https://www.sbimprov.com/new-events
Noche de los Muertos | Saturday, October 31, 8–11:30 PM | Foundation Press, 38 Depot Road, Goleta | Teens and adults. A late-night cumbia and goth costume dance party, $17.85, nonrefundable. Listed as all ages; best for teens and adults. BOOK NOW: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/noche-de-los-muertos-tickets-1999806584327
Santa Ynez Valley Scarecrow Fest, final day | Saturday, October 31, all day | Ballard, Buellton, Los Alamos, Los Olivos, Santa Ynez and Solvang | Ideal for: 2+. The last day of the free, self-guided valley-wide scarecrow contest (runs Oct 1–31). SAVE THE DATE.
https://syvscarecrows.com
Ghost Village Road + the Great Pumpkin Challenge | Saturday, October 31, 3–6 PM | Coast Village Road, Montecito | Ideal for: 2+. One of the essential community Halloween traditions: dress up and trick-or-treat along Coast Village Road, with the Great Pumpkin weight-guessing challenge outside Renaud’s. Sunstone Montecito separately confirms family trick-or-treating at its Coast Village Road wine lounge during the same window. SAVE THE DATE; no ticket requirement is listed by the organizer. Official Coast Village Association event · Sunstone participation
Montecito Country Mart Halloween Spectacular | Saturday, October 31, 11 AM–2 PM | Ideal for: 2+. Costume contest at 11 AM at the Trading Post, followed by trick-or-treating around the Mart until 2 PM. A natural same-day pairing with Ghost Village Road, which begins at 3 PM nearby. The Mart’s honor-system pumpkin patch is open the same day, 10 AM–6 PM, its last day of the season: https://www.montecitocountrymart.com/events-listed/2026/10/1/montecito-country-mart-pumpkin-patch
Dia de los Muertos Market & Craft Day | Sunday, November 1 | El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park, 123 E. Canon Perdido St | Mujeres Makers Market vendors 10 AM-4 PM; free arts & crafts and family activities in the Presidio Orchard 12-4 PM; face painting, dance performances, DJ, Loteria, Catrina Contest, and a community ofrenda (bring a photo or memento). Free. Presented by the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation.
https://www.sbthp.org/diadelosmuertos
Downtown Ventura Día de los Muertos Festival | Sunday, November 1, 11 AM–6 PM | Seven blocks of Downtown Ventura | Ideal for: 2+. Free: 200-plus lowriders, four music areas, mariachi and cultural dance, community altars, a Catrina contest, an artisan market and face painting. SAVE THE DATE.
https://downtownventura.org/events/dia-de-los-muertos-festival/
City of Santa Barbara Trunk or Treat | Thursday, October 29, 5–7:30 PM | Spencer Adams Parking Lot, 1235 Chapala Street | Ideal for: 2+. Free community trunk-or-treat with decorated vehicles and a family costume atmosphere. SAVE THE DATE. Official City event
Montecito YMCA Trunk or Treat | Friday, October 30, 3–6 PM | Montecito Family YMCA, 591 Santa Rosa Lane, Montecito | Ideal for: 0+ (ages 0 through high school). A free community trunk-or-treat with Library on the Go on site, plus face painting, music, games and candy, open to non-members. This is separate from the City of Santa Barbara Trunk or Treat on Thursday, which is already in the guide. SAVE THE DATE; free, no ticket listed.
https://calendar.library.santabarbaraca.gov/events/week/2026/10/31
Wiggly Storytime at Oak Park | Friday, October 30, 10:30–11 AM | Oak Park, Santa Barbara | Ideal for: 0–5. A short outdoor movement storytime from Library on the Go, built for toddlers and preschoolers. No fee listed. SAVE THE DATE.
https://calendar.library.santabarbaraca.gov/events/week/2026/10/31
Big Wave Dave’s Pumpkin Patch | Friday, October 30 through Saturday, October 31 (last weekend) | La Cumbre Plaza, Santa Barbara | Ideal for: 2+. Free-admission pumpkin patch in the La Cumbre Plaza lot; Friday hours 10 AM–9 PM per the Visit Santa Barbara Halloween roundup. SAVE THE DATE.
https://santabarbaraca.com/itinerary/halloween-events/
Halloween Paint Night | Friday, October 30, 3–6 PM | Samsara Wine Co., Santa Barbara | Adults. Decorate a pumpkin or a wine bottle with fairy lights; the $25 ticket includes a glass of wine or Halloween punch, and costumes are welcome. BOOK NOW: https://santabarbaraca.com/itinerary/halloween-events/
Family Movie Night at Eastside Library | Friday, October 30, 3–5 PM | Eastside Library, MLK Jr. Room, 1102 E. Montecito Street | Ideal for: kids up to 6th grade. A free bilingual after-school movie with popcorn. SAVE THE DATE.
https://calendar.library.santabarbaraca.gov/events/week/2026/10/31
Coco Movie Night | Friday, October 30, 6–7:30 PM | Montecito Country Mart courtyard, 1016 Coast Village Road, Montecito | Ideal for: 2+. A free courtyard screening of Coco with popcorn for kids; mention Movie Night at Rori’s and a single scoop becomes a double. Not the same event as the Halloweentown rooftop screening at Paseo Nuevo the same night, which is already in the guide. SAVE THE DATE.
https://www.montecitocountrymart.com/events-listed/2026/10/30/coco-movie-night
Sunstone Haunted Ball: La Saignée, The Vampire’s Masquerade | Friday, October 30, 7–11 PM | Sunstone Winery, 125 N. Refugio Road, Santa Ynez | Parents’ Night Out (adults). A vampire masquerade ball at the winery, $35 per person or $25 for members. BOOK NOW: https://sunstonewinery.com/event/haunted-ball-la-saignee-the-vampires-masquerade/
Séance in the Cellar | Friday, October 30, 7–9 PM | Marisella | Adults. A medium-led séance in the cellar with medium Mandy Wilde, with a welcome cocktail and light bites included in the $60 ticket, and 20% off dining at Marisella around the event. Single evening, intimate setting. BOOK NOW: https://santabarbaraca.com/itinerary/halloween-events/
Spookeasy | Evenings through Saturday, October 31 (runs Oct 26–31) | The Speakeasy, San Ysidro Ranch, Montecito | Adults. Halloween cocktails and bites in the Ranch’s speakeasy hideaway; cost varies by menu item. SAVE THE DATE.
https://santabarbaraca.com/itinerary/halloween-events/
Moreno Manor | Friday, October 30 through Sunday, November 1, 7–9:30 PM, with a 6 PM opening for little ones on Halloween night | Private home, Ojai | Ideal for: 4+. A free, long-running walk-through yard haunt, more whimsical than gory but still spooky for small kids. The owners ask visitors to walk or carpool and drive slowly. SAVE THE DATE.
https://ojaihaunt.com/
Spooky Movie Nights (season finale) | Friday, October 30, 7 PM | Paseo Nuevo, Southside Parking Garage rooftop, 651 Paseo Nuevo | Free outdoor family movie night; the Oct 30 title was not listed on the venue calendar.
https://www.paseonuevosb.com/events
Poison Garden Murder Mystery Dinner Party | Friday, October 30, 6:30–9 PM | The Steward, Goleta | Parents’ Night Out. An interactive murder mystery with They Improv, set around the hotel’s Victorian garden, with a prix-fixe buffet dinner (“The Last Supper”) and a cash bar. Tickets $103.22 on the organizer’s Eventbrite (verified Oct 21); no refunds. BOOK NOW: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/poison-garden-murder-mystery-dinner-party-at-the-steward-tickets-2002719269246
Hotel Californian — Mystic Nights | Saturday, Oct. 31, 5–9 PM | Mirador Rooftop | 21+. BOOK NOW. A Moroccan-inspired rooftop Halloween party with cocktails, DJ energy and a costume contest. Ticketed, open to locals; limited parking and rideshare encouraged. General Admission $35; Day-Of/At-the-Door $45; all sales final.
State Street Ballet: Dracula, a dark shadow | October 30–31 | Granada Theatre. A Halloween cultural night rather than another costume party, with Philip Glass music performed live by Kronos Quartet. Fri Oct 30 at 7:30 PM and Sat Oct 31 at 2:00 PM (Saturday is a matinee). Tickets from $25. Official Granada Theatre
Rosewood Miramar: The Grimm Manor | October 30–31 | Parents’ Night Out. A Brothers Grimm-inspired seasonal bar takeover. Costumes welcome; no reservations required. Hours and age policy were not confirmed on a Rosewood page at press time, so check with the hotel before going. Official Rosewood Miramar
The Witch’s Ball | Saturday, October 31, 7 PM-2 AM | Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort, 633 E. Cabrillo Blvd | 21+. Immersive circus-themed Halloween party: aerialists, fire dancers, magicians, psychics; circus show 10 PM; after-party to 2 AM. Ticket prices not published on the organizer page; buy via the site.
https://www.thewitchsball.com/eventinfo
Our shortlist: For little kids, Daytime Boo at the Zoo. For Halloween itself, Country Mart Halloween Spectacular followed by Ghost Village Road. For a classic pumpkin day, Lane Farms. For a destination farm, Underwood. For a larger ticketed family Halloween event, BOOcara. For adults, Mystic Nights at Hotel Californian. For a parents’ night out the Friday before Halloween, Poison Garden.
Bass to the Bone, Canary Hotel rooftop, Sat Oct 31, 6-9 PM, 21+ — SOLD OUT per organizer Eventbrite. Door availability not guaranteed.
Schedules, capacity and ticket availability can change, so please call ahead or book online before attending. Let us know if you go to any of these! As always, please chime in if you have any special events coming up that the group should know about.