Ready for Fright Night? Halloween Events in the Greater Sacramento Area

Falling leaves, chilly nights and pumpkin spice — autumn has officially arrived. While we’re all busy taking in the fall vibes (perhaps with a visit to Apple Hill), a cherished holiday is looming on the horizon: Halloween. As the month moves along, the atmosphere seems to take on a darker edge. Ghosts, skeletons, and jack-o’-lanterns are already appearing on front porches, and many people are starting to plan their haunted holiday celebrations.

If you’re in the greater Sacramento area, you won’t have to look far for ways to get into the spooky Halloween spirit. There are haunted houses galore (both real and imagined), as well as lots of family-friendly community events that offer a lighter take on Halloween. Whatever your spooky style, Sacramento has plenty of Halloween attractions and activities to explore all month long.

For Adults & Teenagers

Sacramento Scream Park | North Highlands

Photo courtesy Sacramento Scream Park

This haunted attraction in North Highlands is actually four haunted houses in one. This year, the attractions include a twisted sanitarium, a clown-filled amusement park, a creepy private academy, and a cursed swamp. There’s also a “Frightmare Midway,” a mini escape room, and of course, plenty of costumed scare actors. They also offer behind-the-scenes tours and a variety of food and drink options. Not recommended for children under 12.

Spooky Homes in Sacramento County

Golfland Sunsplash Fright Nights | Roseville

This popular water park in Roseville transforms itself into The Gauntlet Haunted House come October. It’s a terrifying maze of ground-breaking special effects, animatronics and skilled actors. If you’re looking for something a bit more tame for younger kids (or scaredy cats), the mini golf course has been spookified for the season as well. Haunted house not recommended for children under 13 or those with heart conditions.

Corbett’s House of Horror | Davis

Photo courtesy Corbett’s House of Horrors

This pro-level haunted horror show in Davis is designed by FX experts, a construction company, and a talented group of professional designers and artists. The 15-acre “Fear Farm” includes several haunts, including Medical Mayhem, Scarecrow Corntrail and a Carn-evil. There’s also a Paintball Zombie Attack, where you defend yourself from the living dead with paintball guns. All ages are welcome, but it may not be suitable for young children.

Heartstoppers Haunted House | Rancho Cordova

Photo courtesy Heartstoppers Haunted House

Step into the 18th season of Heartstoppers Haunt for a Halloween experience like no other! This spine-chilling event features four haunted attractions connected through one terrifying story, set across a massive three-story building and outdoor area. With nearly two decades of scaring Northern California, Heartstoppers delivers bigger thrills and unforgettable memories year after year. Tickets are sold online only with reserved time slots for shorter waits and maximum scares—so grab yours early and get ready for a night where fear and fun collide!

Haunted Hideaways in Placer County

Nite Terrors Haunted House | Auburn

An airborne parasite has gotten loose at a research laboratory, leaving violent zombies in its wake. So goes the terrifying tale at this haunted house in Auburn, held Friday and Saturday nights through October, which has terrifying sets, costumed actors and plenty of jump scares! Not recommended for children under 12. 

Haunted Forest | Winters

Photo courtesy The Haunted Forest

Located on 30 acres of dense natural forest on the bank of Putah Creek in Winters, this eerie experience features theatrical scenes and mystical creatures. Before the sun goes down, you can bring the kiddos for Twilight Hour for fun forest activities and to meet the friendly creatures. But after sunset, the ghouls come out! Best of all, the forest is adjacent to Green River Taproom, so you can grab a bite to eat before or after. Outside of Twilight Hour, not recommended for children under 12. .

For Families & Younger Kids

Fog Willow Farms | Wilton

Photo courtesy Fog Willow Farms

This working farm in Wilton is THE place to go with your little ones to get into the Halloween mood. You can explore the pumpkin patch and pick out the perfect pumpkin, take a hayride, and climb the giant haystack. You can also catch pig races, a ducky derby, and take a pony ride. Hungry? They have plenty of options to keep those bellies full, including a snack bar complete with barbecue on weekends, home-baked goodies, caramel apples and more.

Safe & Super Halloween at Fairytale Town | Sacramento

For the littlest ghosts and goblins, Fairytale Town in Sacramento’s Land Park neighborhood is a good bet. Its annual family-friendly Halloween celebration will be held Oct. 11–12 and Oct. 17–19 from 5–9 p.m. Now in its 39th year, the event includes hands-on activities, a costume parade, and live performances, including a puppet show and magic show. This year, the theme is “Isle of the Lost,” based on the popular Descendents franchise.

Halloween at Hagan | Rancho Cordova

Photo courtesy Halloween at Hagan Park

The city of Rancho Cordova is at it again with its annual Halloween bash at Hagan Community Park. Held Saturday, Oct. 25, the event includes a zombie run, trunk-or-treat, carnival games, and live music. There will also be plenty of food and drink vendors as well. Plus, your kiddos can burn off all that sugar on an obstacle course and bounce houses!

Frightfully Cozy Homes in El Dorado County

Halloween Spooktacular | El Dorado Hills 

To be held Friday, Oct. 31 from 3–6 p.m. at the El Dorado Hills Town Center in El Dorado Hills, this annual event is a safe alternative to traditional door-to-door trick-or-treating. The little ones can instead trick-or-treat at local businesses, which stay open late to pass out candy. There’s also a costume contest.

Zombie Bike Ride | Davis

Photo courtesy Zombie Bike Ride

This free, family-friendly event in downtown Davis is a weekend-long celebration of all things Halloween! It kicks off on Friday, Oct. 24, with hands-on activities at the Davis Art Center, followed by a kid-friendly haunted house at Watermelon Music that also includes Halloween karaoke, pumpkin painting and more. On Saturday, there are free tethered hot air balloon rides followed by the Davis Food Co-op’s Halloween Block Party, which includes live music and a costume contest. Afterwards, there’s an adults-only Zombie Ball with a live DJ, a Halloween fashion show/costume contest, and fortune tellers/tarot readers. Sunday marks the main event, an all-ages bike parade where adults, kids, and even dogs can dress up in their favorite costumes and roll through town. No bike? No problem. You can also walk, scoot, or skateboard. Afterwards, skydiving zombies will fall from the sky over Community Park, and there’ll be a free Zombie Mash Afterparty with BMX riders, bounce houses, a Zombie marching band, and food and drink vendors. Can’t make it? Bring your littles along the trick-or-treat trail in downtown Davis on Oct. 31 from 3–5 p.m.

Trick or Treat on Main Street | Placerville

The streets of downtown Placerville turn spooky this Halloween for a safe and fun trick-or-treating event. Held from 4–6 p.m. on Oct. 31, the kiddos can fill their goodie bags with candy from participating merchants. There’ll also be carnival games, face painting, a DJ, and a costume contest.

Boo-tiful Homes in Yolo County

BooBash on Candy Lane | Citrus Heights

Photo Courtesy of Citrus Town Center

Bring your littles to the Citrus Town Center for a festive Halloween celebration. To be held Saturday, Oct. 11 from 10 a.m.–12 p.m., the family-friendly event includes face painting, a balloon artist, and hands-on science experiments like slime making. Of course, you can’t have Halloween without candy, so kids will be able to stroll through Candy Lane to fill their goodie bags with sweet treats. Costumes are encouraged! Although the event is free, they are accepting $5 donations towards the Citrus Heights Homeless Assistance Resource Team.

Sacramento Area Ghost Tours

If you’re looking to reach beyond the grave this holiday season, consider taking one of several ghost tours held throughout the region. Some to consider include the following:

• Lantern Tours at the Old City Cemetery. These popular tours take visitors through the graveyard and focus on the real-life stories of the city’s early residents. Costumed docents tell the tales of greed, grift, and murder by lantern light. Tickets sell out quickly, but as cancellations occur spots open up.
• U.S. Ghost Adventures in Old Sacramento. There are two popular tours to choose from: Sacramento Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl, a thrilling mix of ghost stories and drinks; and Shadows, Scandals, and Secrets of Old Town, which takes visitors on a walk to haunted locations.
• Sacramento History Museum in Old Sacramento. From the group that puts on the popular underground tours comes an October-only offering where costumed guides share tantalizing tales of Gold Rush characters.
• Moonlight Ghost Tours in Placerville. You can learn the eerie history of early “Hangtown” during these popular ghost tours, which are led by local historians and storytellers. One tour takes guests through the town’s historic streets and focuses on its Gold Rush history and the other takes guests to the old Placerville cemetery, searching for ghosts of the past using real paranormal equipment.