East Bay Events: October 2026

October is in full swing across the East Bay. Pumpkin patches are open, haunted houses are running, and nearly every downtown has a Halloween event on the calendar. I've pulled together the best of what's happening in the Tri-Valley, Walnut Creek, Concord, Brentwood, and a few favorites from Oakland and Berkeley, so you can plan your month in one place.

Pumpkins After Dark – Alameda County Fairgrounds, Pleasanton | Oct 2–31

New this year! This glowing walking trail is lined with more than 10,000 hand-carved pumpkins, with live carving demos, photo spots, treats, and roaming performers. It runs Thursday through Sunday nights (Oct 8–11, 15–18, 22–25, and 29–31). Start times are between 6:30 and 7 PM, and last entry is at 10 PM. Tickets are $28.80 for adults, $22.80 for ages 4–17, and free for ages 3 and under. Parking is $15, entry is at Gate 8 off Valley Avenue, and pets aren't allowed.

Pirates of Emerson Haunted Themed Park | Oct 2 – Nov 1

Now in its 36th season, this Halloween favorite has four haunted houses, games, live bands, and a virtual reality ride on select nights at the Fairgrounds. It's intense and not meant for young kids. General admission starts at $48, and the gates open at 7:05 PM.

Taco Trail Challenge – Concord | Oct 2–15

Concord's taco crawl runs through Oct 15, a tasty way to explore the city's local spots.

Elephant Migration Art Display – Downtown Livermore | Oct–Dec

Life-size elephants are taking over Stockmen's Park and Bankhead Plaza this fall. It's a fun stop while you're downtown for any of the Livermore events below.

Witches Night Out – Downtown Livermore | Wed, Oct 7

Grab your coven and head downtown from 4 to 9 PM for moonlit shopping and dining. Participating shops have event-only specials, and each stamp on your Event Specials Pass earns an entry into a gift basket drawing. Restaurant seatings are ticketed (5:30–7 PM and 7:30–9 PM). The first 500 guests at Caratti Jewelers get a Witches Brew tea giveaway, and there's a photo backdrop at Livermorium Plaza. This one is geared toward adults.

626 Night Market – Alameda County Fairgrounds, Pleasanton | Oct 9–11

This is the original Asian night market in the U.S., with street food, handcrafted goods, and live performances. It runs 3–11 PM each day. Admission is $6, and kids 3 and under are free.

Pleasanton Ghost Walk – Downtown Pleasanton | Oct 9, 10, 16 & 17

Museum on Main's two-hour guided walk visits Pleasanton's most haunted spots along Main Street, with costumed "ghosts" along the way. Timed tours leave the museum every 30 minutes between 6 and 8 PM. Tickets sell out most years, so check museumonmain.org.

ArtWalk Livermore | Sat, Oct 10

More than 200 artists fill downtown Livermore from 11 AM to 5 PM, with everything from pottery and jewelry to fine art, plus live music. It's free to attend. New this year is Chalk It Up, a chalk art festival happening right alongside it.

Dublin Harvest Fair | Sat, Oct 10

Old-fashioned fall fun at Dublin Heritage Park and Museums, with a petting zoo, hay bale maze, wagon rides, face painting, gold panning, butter churning, and tours of the historic 1910 Kolb House. Admission is free and activities are purchased separately. It has typically run 10 AM–2 PM, so check dublin.ca.gov for this year's wristband details.

Oktoberfest – Downtown Brentwood | Sat, Oct 10

Downtown Brentwood's 16th annual Oktoberfest runs from 1 to 7 PM, with German food and drinks, games, shopping, and family fun.

TLC, Salt-N-Pepa & En Vogue – Toyota Pavilion at Concord | Sun, Oct 11

Grab your '90s-loving friends for a night of R&B and hip-hop hits at Concord's outdoor amphitheater. Tickets are at toyotapavilionatconcord.com.

TASTE: The Livermore Valley Wine Experience | Oct 15–18

Livermore Valley's signature food and wine weekend kicks off Thursday with Taste Our Terroir at the newly renovated Concannon Vineyard Event Center, where 20 winery-and-restaurant teams compete for your vote. Friday and Saturday bring a full lineup of ticketed experiences, including Cheese, Chocolate & Cheers, a literary-themed pairing evening called A Taste of Stories, Cattle, Cabernet & Country at McGrail, A New Orleans Afternoon, and a 1920s speakeasy night, Barrels & Bootleggers. You can pick one or string them together at lvwine.org.

Autumn Lights Festival – Lake Merritt, Oakland | Oct 15–17

A multi-night festival of light art around Oakland's Lake Merritt, and a lovely excuse for an evening stroll along the water.

Trick or Treat Trail – Baldwin Park, Concord | Fri, Oct 16

The City of Concord's preschool program hosts this free evening from 4:30 to 6:30 PM, with costumed trick-or-treating, crafts, and a scavenger hunt. Pre-registration is required (it opened Oct 1), and parking in the surrounding neighborhood isn't allowed, so use the overflow lots or Todos Santos Plaza.

Boo Bash & Pumpkins on Main – Downtown Pleasanton | Sat, Oct 17

This is a new one. The Pleasanton Downtown Association is hosting its first-ever Boo Bash as the grand finale of the month-long Pumpkins on Main Scavenger Hunt. Expect Halloween music, carnival games, a pumpkin painting contest, and trick-or-treating at downtown businesses. Costumes are encouraged.

Diwali Festival of Lights & Fireworks – Alameda County Fairgrounds, Pleasanton | Sat, Oct 17

The Dussehra Diwali Dhamaka runs from 12 to 11 PM and is the East Bay's largest Diwali celebration. It features a 40-foot Ravan Dahan effigy burning, a fireworks show, a Rath Yatra procession, Ramleela dance drama, Dandiya, Bollywood performances, and an Indian food festival. General admission is $12, and kids 5 and under are free.

Pumpkin Patch and Splash – Livermore | Sat, Oct 17

From 1 to 4 PM at the Robert Livermore Aquatic Center, kids pick a pumpkin right out of the pool and decorate it afterward.

Wine & Dine – San Ramon | Thu, Oct 22

The San Ramon Chamber of Commerce's evening of local food, wine, and microbrew tastings returns to the San Ramon Community Center. It features 30+ vendors and a silent auction. Ticket details are at sanramon.org.

Spooktacular Celebration – Danville | Thu, Oct 22

The Town of Danville's Halloween party for little ones (ages 1–10) has crafts, games, face painting, and trick-or-treating. Pre-registration has been required in past years, so check danville.ca.gov for session times and sign-up.

Bubbles & Broomsticks – Downtown Brentwood | Thu, Oct 22

Put on your witchiest outfit for an evening of shopping, sipping, dining, and dancing along First Street from 5 to 9 PM. It's ticketed, and early check-in is Wednesday, Oct 21 from 4 to 6 PM at La Fuente.

Trunk or Treat – Civic Park, Walnut Creek | Fri, Oct 23

Walnut Creek's 7th annual Trunk or Treat is free and runs from 3 to 6 PM, with a trick-or-treat lane, activities, giveaways, a scavenger hunt with prizes, and music. The first hour (3–4 PM) is a low-sensory hour with no music, allergy-friendly treats, and quiet spaces.

Halloween Market – Donkey & Goat Winery, Berkeley | Fri, Oct 23

This free, all-ages market runs 5 to 9 PM, with local artists and makers, tarot readings, live music, and food vendors. It benefits the Berkeley Humane Society.

Ghosts of Dublin – Dublin Heritage Park | Oct 23–24

Take a flashlight tour through the Dublin Historic Cemetery for an evening of local ghost stories. Visit dublin.ca.gov for tickets and times.

Pleasanton Harvest Festival – Alameda County Fairgrounds | Oct 23–25

For more than 50 years, this arts-and-crafts show has brought hundreds of artisans to Pleasanton, with handmade jewelry, clothing, specialty foods, photography, wood art, ceramics, and more. It's open Friday 10–4, Saturday 10–5, and Sunday 10–4, and it's a great place to start your holiday shopping.

Kidz Town Halloween Hay Day – Downtown Livermore | Sat, Oct 24

This is a free morning (10 AM–1 PM) for kids in 5th grade and under, with trick-or-treating at downtown businesses, live music, games, and a costume contest. Because of the elephant display, the activity booths and the 11 AM–1 PM costume contest will be at Carnegie Park (Third and J Streets) this year. The first 1,500 kids get a free treat bag, and Quest Science Center will have a Halloween science play area at Stockmen's Park from 10 AM to noon.

Halloween Zom-Brew Crawl – Downtown Pleasanton | Sat, Oct 24

Beer lovers, this one's for you. From 5 to 8 PM, you'll sip 20+ local brews around downtown with live music, costumes, and a few strolling zombies. Check in at Museum on Main (603 Main St). 21+.

Hallo-Wine Party Tour – Livermore | Sat, Oct 24

Hop on the Livermore Wine Trolley for a costume-friendly tour of three Livermore Valley wineries: Wood Family Vineyards, 3 Steves Winery, and Murrieta's Well. Each stop includes a tasting flight and a Halloween treat.

Boo Bash at Danville Livery | Sat, Oct 24

From 12 to 3 PM, kids can explore a giant inflatable corn maze, pan for gems at Miner's Mountain, watch pumpkin carving demos, and trick-or-treat with Livery merchants.

Pumpkin Festival – Mountain View Cemetery, Oakland | Sat, Oct 24

This longtime tradition runs from 12 to 3 PM and is free. Kids can pick a pumpkin (one per child) in the cemetery's pumpkin patch meadow, jump in the inflatable funhouses, crawl through a hay-bale tunnel, get their faces painted, and decorate pumpkins and treat bags. Parents need to stay with their children, and food trucks will be on site.