Nothing quite sets the stage for Halloween like an eerie exploration of a haunted house. Are you prepared for spine-tingling encounters? Exclusively for thrill-seekers like you, we've curated a compilation of the eeriest haunted houses, ghostly tours, and an array of other haunting experiences right here in the Bay Area. Are you daring enough to embark on these bone-chilling adventures?
For more Halloween adventures, explore my blogs Best Trick or Treat Spots in Silicon Valley and Best Pumpkin Patches in Silicon Valley!
Important Note: Please keep in mind that attraction details are subject to change without prior notice. It's advisable to visit the venue's official website for the latest updates and ticket purchases. Additionally, remember to review the websites for any age restrictions, as some of these attractions may be a bit too spine-tingling for the little ones.
Winchester Mystery House
This Halloween, venture into the eerie Winchester Mystery House, where legend says restless spirits influenced its construction. Sarah Winchester, the reclusive widow of a firearm tycoon, believed that the spirits of those killed by Winchester rifles haunted her. To appease these spirits, she continuously built onto the mansion for nearly forty years, resulting in architectural oddities like staircases that go nowhere, doors that open into walls, and a confusing maze of rooms and hallways. It's thought that the peculiar design was intended to bewilder the spirits that she felt were pursuing her. Are you brave enough to explore the secrets of this enigmatic mansion during the spookiest season of the year?
This year, the Winchester Mystery House is introducing a brand-new Halloween experience: Festival Fright Nights, produced in partnership with Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group—the creators of immersive haunted attractions across the country.
Running on select nights from September 26 through November 1, this immersive event transforms the estate into a 1920s masquerade gone wrong. Guests will encounter eerie theatrical sets, live performances, and multiple haunted attractions spread across the property—each revealing more of the mansion’s ghostly lore.
To see the full lineup of experiences, VIP add-ons, and ticket information, visit Festival Fright Nights. Tickets are expected to sell quickly, so plan ahead!
Daytime mansion tours and year-round activities—like the Sarah Winchester Garden Tour, Axe Throwing at the Stables, and Sarah’s Attic Shooting Gallery—are also available for those who prefer their thrills with a little more daylight.
- Location: Winchester Mystery House, 525 S Winchester Blvd, San Jose, CA 95128
- Phone: (408) 247-2000
- Email: info@winchestermysteryhouse.com
- Hours: Daytime mansion tours run 10 AM – 4 PM on weekdays and 10 AM – 5 PM on weekends. Festival Fright Nights takes place on select evenings from September 26 through November 1, 2025 (timed evening entries).
- Admission: Ticket pricing for Festival Fright Nights 2025 starts around $58, depending on date and add-ons. Check the official site for current rates and availability.
Napa Downtown Ghost Walk - Ghosts & Legends of the Redlight District & Main St.
The Napa Downtown Ghost Walk – Ghosts of the Redlight District & Main St. offers a thrilling journey through the darker history of early Napa City. Explore the lives of the intriguing characters who once roamed the city’s wild side, from ladies of the evening to those who sought their fortunes. Visit Main Street, First Street, and the old Red Light District, while uncovering eerie tales from the Napa Asylum and Chinatown. The tour includes ghost-hunting tools and humor, making it a unique experience for ages 15 and up. And while you’re there, don’t forget to check out the Haunted Traveling Museum, home to eerie artifacts and local lore.
- Location: Old Napa Courthouse, 825 Brown Street, Napa, CA 94558
- Phone: (707) 606-5050
- Email: napaghosts@gmail.com
- Dates: Offered on select evenings, with extra dates during the Halloween season (check online calendar for availability)
- Admission: Tickets are $30 + tax and may be purchased online.
Haunted Sonoma Downtown Tour – Ghosts Around the Plaza
Discover Sonoma’s haunted history on the Haunted Sonoma Downtown Tour – Ghosts Around the Plaza. This atmospheric guided walk leads you through the plaza and surrounding streets, where you’ll encounter Native American spirits near Mission Solano, hear the tale of a botched bank robbery and shoot-out on the Plaza, and explore whispered legends beneath the surface—like mass graves, old brothels, haunted barracks, and the dark secrets of an early California city in turmoil. Walk the old El Camino Real, learn about the Bear Flag Revolt and Sonoma’s struggle under Mexican rule, and feel the lingering presence of those who couldn’t rest.
- Location: 1st Street East at The Large Oak Tree, Sonoma, CA 95476
- Phone: (661) 261-5430
- Email: napaghosts@admin
- Dates: Open year-round on Wed & Fri at 8 pm with extra dates during the Halloween season.
- Admission: Tickets are $30 + tax and may be purchased online.
DeadTime Dreams Haunted Attraction
DeadTime Dreams returns for 2025 with its newest nightmare, Meat Factory — a high-intensity haunted maze that plunges guests into a deranged industrial slaughterhouse where nothing is as it seems. Expect grotesque sets, realistic effects, and jump scares around every corner as you navigate this twisted labyrinth.
Before entering the maze, visitors can explore the Midway of Terror — a lively pre-show area featuring eerie décor, music, food stands, and plenty of photo ops. It’s the perfect place to build anticipation, meet up with friends, and soak up the Halloween atmosphere before you take your turn inside the Meat Factory.
- Location: 2210 Eastridge Loop, San Jose, CA 95122 (behind Macy’s and the old Sears, next to the outdoor parking structure near Chili’s)
- Dates: Select nights from October 3 – 31, 2025
- Admission: General Admission $20; VIP/Fast Pass $30 (purchase online recommended)
Pirates of Emerson Haunted Theme Park
The Pirates of Emerson Haunted Theme Park returns to the Alameda County Fairgrounds for another season of thrills and chills. This timed-entry, walk-through experience features multiple haunted houses, eerie sets, and live actors who bring your worst nightmares to life. Expect jump scares, dark twists, and cinematic effects around every corner.
While guests of all ages may enter, anyone under 16 must be accompanied by a 21+ adult—the experience is recommended for age 13 and up, due to its intensity. Enter if you dare, and prepare for an unforgettable night of fright!
- Location: Alameda County Fairgrounds (Corner of Bernal & Valley Ave), Pleasanton, CA 94566
- Dates: Runs on select nights starting September 26, 2025, with an extra date on Halloween. Check the official website for the full event calendar and ticket availability.
- Admission: Tickets range from $45 for general admission to $125 for VIP access, with a $70 Speed Pass option for faster entry. Discounted rates may be available on select early-season nights. Tickets are available online only.
The Bernal Scream Haunted House
The Bernal Scream Haunted House was founded by father-and-son team Mike and Abel Barrera and has grown into one of the Bay Area’s top Halloween attractions. In 2025, its main show is called “Forbidden Symphony,” an immersive, dark, high-end haunted experience that blends top-tier sets, chilling storytelling, and theatrical scares. With its reputation for production quality and immersive design, The Bernal Scream remains a must-visit in San Jose’s haunted scene.
- Location: 5353 Almaden Expy, San Jose, CA 95118
- Dates: Select nights from September 19 through November 2, 2025. See the full schedule on the official website.
- Admission: Prices start at $30 for General Admission. The $30 “Hold Your Own” option offers a private group experience, while the $45 VIP / Fast Pass includes priority entry and themed merchandise.
Fear Overload Scream Park
Fear Overload Scream Park is one of the Bay Area’s most acclaimed haunted attractions, featuring two terrifying haunted houses under one ticket. Known for its cinematic sets, professional scare actors, and relentless atmosphere, this experience is designed for those who crave an intense, pulse-pounding night of fear.
- Ravenwood Sanitarium: Enter a decaying asylum where tortured patients and deranged doctors still roam the halls. Their cries echo through rooms filled with grim medical relics and unsettling experiments gone wrong. Sanity won’t last long once you step inside.
- GearGrind Labyrinth: Descend into an industrial maze of twisted metal and mechanical horrors. Each turn brings new terrors as gears groan, sparks fly, and unseen creatures lurk in the dark corners of this grim factory of nightmares.
Don't forget to visit Eerie Essentials, the park’s emporium filled with chilling keepsakes and macabre gifts to remember your night of terror!
This attraction is not recommended for children under 12. Tickets can be purchased online, and you can save on ticket prices by buying in advance.
- Location: 2086 Newpark Mall, Newark, CA 94560
- Dates: Select nights from September 20 through November 2, 2025. See the full schedule on their website.
- Admission: Prices start at $25 for General Admission, with premium options up to $75 for the Diamond Pass. Tickets are sold online only, and prices increase closer to Halloween—so buy early to save.
