Happy Thursday!

The annual Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Chili Cook-off is this Saturday. Over 55 teams will be competing with both amateurs and professionals going head-to-head — which makes you wonder, what’s it take to go pro?

This week, we’re dropping a special Halloween edition of Oaktown. Scroll down to see our full lineup of family-friendly Halloween events including organized trick-or-treating and parades.

And awayyy we gooooo.

2025 East Bay Halloween Guide

We’ve scoured the neighborhoods for top Halloween events this weekend and the next.

This Weekend

Nightly Trick-or-Treat Trail — Oct. 24-26
Halloween themed scavenger hunt every weekend night now through end of the month.
📍 The Public Market, Emeryville
 🔗 See more →

Trick-or-Treat Trail — Oct. 24-26
Stroll Bay Street and The Public Market to collect candy from shops
📍 Bay Street Emeryville, 5616 Bay St, Emeryville
🔗 See more →

Movie Night: Nightmare Before Christmas — Friday, Oct. 24
Outdoor screening of the Tim Burton classic under the stars.
📍 Huchiun Park – 4311 Hubbard St, Emeryville, CA
🔗 See more →

Witches & Wizards on Water Parade — Saturday, Oct. 25
Costumed paddlers and boats parade along the Alameda Estuary.
📍 Crown Memorial State Beach, 920 Blanding Ave, Alameda
🔗 See more →

Halloween Hootenanny — Saturday, Oct. 25
A lively outdoor festival with crafts, games, and costumes for all ages.
📍 Civic Center Park, Berkeley
🔗 See more →

Halloween Jam: Mad Magic! @ Children’s Fairyland — Oct. 24–26
Fairyland transforms into a spooky-fun wonderland with DJs, crafts, and trick-or-treating.
📍 Children’s Fairyland, 699 Bellevue Ave, Oakland
🔗 See more →

Boo at the Oakland Zoo — Oct. 24–26
For one weekend only! Costume contest and special zoo-themed prizes.
📍 Oakland Zoo, 9777 Golf Links Rd, Oakland
🔗 See more →

Spooky Astronomy — Friday, Oct. 24
Peer through telescopes and hear eerie space stories after dark.
📍 Chabot Space & Science Center, 10000 Bloomfield Ave, Oakland
🔗 See more →

38th Annual Piedmont Avenue Costume Parade — Saturday, Oct. 25
A free family-friendly costume parade starts at 11 a.m. at Pet Food Express and winds up Piedmont Ave with trick-or-treat stations, haunted houses and live music.
📍 Piedmont Avenue, Oakland
🔗 See more →

Annual Rockridge Halloween Parade — Sunday, Oct. 26
Join the costume parade, trick-or-treating at 40+ College Avenue businesses, puppet shows, Halloween crafts and live music for all ages.
📍 Rockridge, Oakland
🔗 See more →

Next Weekend

Fourth Street Trick or Treat & Halloween Fest — Oct. 31
Trick-or-treating, live music, “scary hair” and a bubble show on Fourth Street.
📍 Fourth Street Shopping District, Berkeley
🔗 See more →

Live Oak Halloween Bash — Oct. 31
Morning park party with crafts, games, and costume fun for kids. For ages 5 and under.
📍 Live Oak Community Center, 1301 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley
🔗 See more →

Costumes & Critters — Nov. 1
Featuring hands-on science activities, a scavenger hunt, costume contest and live bats
📍 The Lawrence Hall of Science, Berkeley
🔗 See more →

Stories from The Bay

East Bay braces for a surge of Federal agents — According to reports an “unknown” number of federal agents are expected in the Bay Area starting today.

El Cerrito Police crack down on Halloween decoration thieves — Four individual were arrested in relation to the theft of “copious” amounts of Halloween decorations from neighborhood porches and yards.

OUSD enrollment beats expectations — Over 34,135 students enrolled this year, beating projections by 673. Continued high enrollments and attendance rates could help OUSD snag millions in funding from the state.

Anh Phoong’s law firm to sponsor Sac Kings — Something Wrong? Call Anh Phoong. You know the billboard now get ready to see “Phoong Law” on every Sacramento Kings jersey this season.

Town Pet of The Week

Want to celebrate your pet? Send us a reply with a pic and their name. Bonus if you tell us the neighborhood.

That’s a wrap!

Stay safe out there folks.

-Kolby
Oaktown Weekly

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