As the leaves begin to fall and the air takes on that playful sense of mischief, the city of San Francisco, California, lights up with a rich array of Halloween parades and festivals. From costume-filled streets to family-friendly gatherings, 2025 promises a vibrant mix of events that invite everyone—young and old—to celebrate. Whether watching floats glide by or joining in the march, each event offers a chance to share in community spirit and seasonal magic.

In San Francisco, California, Halloween is more than just a night of trick-or-treating. It’s a full-blown celebration of creativity, togetherness, and public display. Costumes, live performances, and street festivals create an atmosphere where families, friends, and neighbourhoods come together. With several major events already scheduled for 2025, now is the moment to plan how you’ll partake in the fun.

This article explores where you can go, how you can join in, how local businesses contribute, and what to pack so you can enjoy the parades and festivals with ease. Whether you’re in it for the floats, the candy, or simply the spectacle, you’ll find something engaging in this year’s Halloween parade line-up.

Where They’re Happening

Several marquee events around San Francisco, California, are scheduled for 2025, showcasing Halloween parades, costume contests, and community-friendly festivities. One such event is the celebration at Japantown, San Francisco, taking place October 24-25 with carnival-style features and a parade of costumed participants.

Another highlight is the event at Waverly Place in Chinatown, San Francisco district: the Chinatown Halloween Festival on October 25, 2025, offers a costume contest, pumpkin patch, and arts & crafts.

For pet-lovers, the Farley’s 36th Annual Halloween Pet Parade & Costume Contest (October 26, 2025) in the Potrero Hill area brings dogs (and occasional cats or other creatures) dressed up and parading down 18th Street-Arkansas to 18th & Texas. Another free-entry event,

The Great Hauntway, happening October 26, 2025, transforms a car-free section of beach between Judah and Taraval into a massive community Halloween party with live performers, trick-or-treating, and bounce houses. Finally, the Halloween Hoopla at Yerba Buena Gardens offers a costume parade for kids under 10, with live music and craft activities—a great option for younger children and their parents.

Each of these gatherings offers a distinct flavour of Halloween in the Bay Area, inviting families, costume-enthusiasts, and community participants to join in the festive fun.

How Families Can Join the Fun

Families looking to take part in Halloween parades and festivals around San Francisco, California, will find plenty of options. Many of the events noted above encourage children and their parents or guardians to dress up, march in costume, and enjoy the community atmosphere together. At Halloween Hoopla, for instance, all kids are welcome to join the costume parade, making it a natural choice for families aiming for a joyful, less intense experience.

For trick-or-treating and interactive fun, The Great Hauntway offers a safe, monitored space where children can collect candy from booths, bounce around, and engage in live performances. The event organisers also accommodate children with sensory needs by providing quieter entry stations and teal-pumpkin allergy-safe baskets.

Families with pets aren’t left out either: at Farley’s Pet Parade & Costume Contest, children can walk their furry companions in costume, cheer from the sidelines, or join the judging of creative outfits. It becomes an inclusive celebration where younger siblings, parents, and pets can all be part of the action.

To make the most of family participation, arriving early, selecting comfortable yet playful costumes, and keeping an eye on age-appropriate activities will ensure an enjoyable outing for everyone. The key is to embrace the communal spirit, participate (whether by marching or cheering), and engage with the activities that match the family’s pace and interests.

Local Business Contributions

Local businesses around San Francisco, California, play a vital role in bringing Halloween parades and festivals to life. They often sponsor costume contests, decorate storefronts, host craft tables, and provide promotional offers to participants. At the Rockridge parade in the East Bay, for example, more than 40 businesses teamed up to host trick-or-treating inside their locations, set up craft tables, and organized themed activities.

In Chinatown, vendors along Waverly Place engage families by offering games, arts & crafts, and prizes as part of the festival programme, creating a partnership between community organisations and commercial enterprises.

Even in events primarily aimed at children, such as Halloween Hoopla, local craft organisations and museums set up stations and collaborate with area businesses to provide materials, interactive games, and entertainment. This synergy helps blend retail, food service, and event-hosting sectors into the seasonal festivities.

The involvement of businesses helps not only to fund and organise the events but also to enhance the experience for participants — whether by offering prizes for best costume, free goodies, or discounted treats for families. It creates an ecosystem where commerce and community celebration support one another, yielding richer and more accessible festivities for everyone.

Practical Tips for Parade Day

To enjoy a parade or festival around San Francisco, California, it helps to arrive prepared. Consider bringing along chairs or blankets so that you can stake out a comfortable spot early, especially if you’re watching a longer parade with floats and performers. Being settled ahead of peak crowd arrival can significantly enhance the experience.

Candy-bags or little treat bags are a must, particularly for events where children are trick-or-treating or collecting goodies at booths. Even when not explicitly advertised, many family-friendly events will hand out candy or small prizes, so a designated bag will be helpful.

Because crowds and street closures are common, using public transit (such as Muni or BART) or bikes may be easier than driving and parking. Many event pages recommend planning arrival times, considering transit lines, and accounting for closures. For car-free experiences, parking will often be limited.

Bring water and light snacks, especially if you plan to attend for a couple of hours or if you have younger children. A comfortable costume helps too — one that allows freedom of movement and doesn’t overheat. In cooler evening hours, it’s wise to layer.

Lastly, engage with the event by cheering, waving at floats, photographing costumes, and perhaps joining the parade if allowed. But also keep group safety in mind: designate a meeting spot in case someone wanders off, and establish a phone plan if you separate temporarily.

Selecting the Best Spot

Choosing the right event and viewing location can make a big difference. If you’re seeking a more relaxed family experience, head to festival-style parades such as Halloween Hoopla or the Chinatown Halloween Festival. These tend to be shorter in duration, located in contained zones, and include activities beyond simply watching floats.

For a more immersive parade with floats, performance groups, and a larger crowd, the Japantown event or The Great Hauntway makes sense. Arrive early, pick points near the start of the route if you would like to enjoy the parade build-up, and avoid last-minute rushes.

Consider accessibility and comfort: if you have strollers, younger children, or pets, scout routes that are less crowded and offer designated entry points (such as the Pacheco welcome station at The Great Hauntway for children with sensory needs).

Also check for weather, street closures, and event logistics. Many parades will update times and routes close to the date, so staying aware is key. By selecting the event that fits your group’s energy and arriving with the right gear, you’ll be well-set for a memorable Halloween parade experience.

2025 brings a fantastic selection of Halloween parades and festivals around San Francisco, California, each offering a unique blend of costumes, community spirit, and creative expression. From family-oriented celebrations to pet-friendly parades and larger street-festival experiences, there is something for every kind of participant.

Families can join in the fun, march or spectate, and enjoy a whole afternoon of activity. At the same time, local businesses lend their support to make the events richer, more engaging, and more widely accessible. The preparations — from blankets and bags to timing and transportation — matter less than the joyful participation and connection that every parade encourages.

Whatever your costume or group size, stepping into one of these autumn celebrations will bring a sense of togetherness and festivity that captures the best of Halloween in the Bay Area. Prepare well, come with an open heart, and you’ll walk away with a spirited memory of the season in San Francisco.

Sources: sf.funcheap.com, ybgfestival.org, sunsetdunes.org, sf.funcheap.com, cycsf.org, dothebay.com
Header Image Source: sf.funcheap.com