This Sunday, The Oaklandside team will be hosting an ofrenda at the Día de los Muertos festival in Fruitvale. Make sure to look for our booth located on 36th Avenue and International Boulevard. We’ll have copies of our housing guide handy in both Spanish and English, opportunities to win Oaklandside merch, and you’ll have a chance to meet and speak with members of our newsroom.
If there’s something you’d like me to consider for this events roundup, email me at azucena@oaklandside.org. If there’s an event that you’d like to promote on our calendar, you can use the self-submission form on our events page.
Halloween events
Piedmont Avenue Pumpkin Patch and haunted house
If you need a last-minute Halloween costume, pumpkins to carve, or are just looking to have a scare, the Piedmont Avenue Pumpkin Patch has it all. Don’t forget to ask the store owner, Jon Goldstein, all of your questions about pumpkins.
Open daily till 8 p.m., free to enter the patch, $10 for the haunted house, 4414 Piedmont Ave.
Merchants Saloon Halloween Mash
Merchants Saloon in Jack London is a divey bar that’s been “poisoning Oakland since 1916.” This Friday, the bar is hosting a themed party with spooky drink specials, giveaways, and music by DJ Sa Supa.
Friday, Oct. 27, 9 p.m. to 2 a.m., free to attend, 401 2nd St.
Hyphy Halloween at Crybaby
Crybaby is throwing it back to the ’90s and 2000s this Friday with a hyphy Halloween night. Dress up in your best costume and enter the contest, or just come through to dance the spooky night away with music by DJs WhatsupAlbert, Joogmac, DJ WavyBB, and Tap 10.
Friday, Oct. 27, 9 p.m., 21 and up, $10, 1928 Telegraph Ave.
Spooky terrarium workshop
For the plant lovers out there, Hella Plants Market is hosting this terrarium workshop by LeShrae Ebony of Trans Planting, where attendees will learn how to create a mini ecosystem using rocks, succulents, and other plants. Add a ghost or a skeleton to make it extra spooky for Halloween.
Saturday, Oct. 28, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., $45, Oakstop, 2323 Broadway
Lakeshore Halloween Parade and Candy Crawl
The pre-parade fun will begin with crafts and games outside of Lakeshore Baptist Church (3534 Lakeshore Ave.) before the procession heads down Lakeshore Avenue. Don’t forget to stop by participating businesses along the way to pick up some candy.
Saturday, Oct. 28, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., free to attend, 3534 Lakeshore Ave.
Trick-or-Treating in the Laurel
Kids are invited to trick-or-treat at participating businesses displaying the sign “trick or treat here” on MacArthur Boulevard between 35th Avenue and High Street. Start at the RE/MAX parking lot (4232 MacArthur Blvd.) to pick up a tote bag for treats (while supplies last).
Saturday, Oct. 28, 12 p.m. to 3 p.m., free to attend, 4232 MacArthur Blvd.
Rockridge Halloween Parade
A magic show, craft tables for kids, a dance party with DJ Danny Santos spinning Halloween classics, a costume contest, and lots of free candy are what you can expect at this event in Rockridge.
Sunday, Oct. 29, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., free to attend, see website for the different locations.
Montclair Village – Halloween fun for everyone
Pumpkin carving, face painting, and lots of tasty goods at the farmer’s market are what people can expect this weekend at the Village. Halloween bags will be given away to the first 350 visitors.
Sunday, Oct. 29, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., free to attend, 6123 La Salle
Dog costume contest at Eli’s Mile High Club
Dress up your doggie in its best costume and head over to Eli’s Mile High Club. Even if you don’t have a pet, stop by to check out how the dogs are dressed up while enjoying a refreshing beverage from the bar. The contest begins at 3:30 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 29, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., free to attend, 3629 Martin Luther King Jr. Way
Spooky Puppy at Temescal Brewing
Three lucky pups will be chosen to appear on next year’s cans of Spooky Puppy IPA. Registration for the contest begins at noon, and there are limited slots. If you can’t attend in person but still want to enter your doggie in the contest, see the rules on how to participate remotely.
Sunday, Oct. 29, 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., free to enter, 4115 Telegraph Ave.
Creative Growth Halloween fundraiser
Creative Growth, an Oakland nonprofit that provides studio space, support, and exhibition opportunities to artists with developmental disabilities, will be hosting a fundraiser at the Oakland Museum. The event will include music by the 80s cover band Tainted Love. Expect a silent auction, raffles, costume contests, pumpkin and face painting, and much more. Kids under three can attend for free.
Sunday, Oct. 29, 12 p.m. to 3 p.m., $75, 1000 Oak St.
Driveway Follies
For over a decade, the late puppeteer Larry Schmidt would open up his Trestle Glen home (where he built a stage) around Halloween to host an annual spooky marionette show. Since his passing in 2019, the Driveway Follies nonprofit was created to help preserve the lost art of marionette puppetry. Every year on Oct. 30 and 31, the Follies hosts a free Halloween puppet show outside the home, starting at sundown and ending around 10 p.m. Witches, ghouls, zombies, and human families are all invited to attend, but space is limited.
Monday, Oct. 30, and Tuesday, Oct. 31, sundown to 10 p.m., free to attend, 3854 Greenwood Ave.
Day of the Dead events
Día de los Muertos festival in Fruitvale
Themed “Blooming Resilience,” this year’s festival honors the spirit of what makes Fruitvale thrive. The festivities take place along International Boulevard from Fruitvale to 42nd avenues and will include two stages with live music, Aztec dancers, altars created by community members and organizations, family activities, and much more.
Sunday, Oct. 29, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., free to attend, International Boulevard between Fruitvale and 42nd Avenue.
Día de los Muertos at the Oakland library
Come to the Main Library to learn how to make sugar skulls, traditionally used to place on altars for the Day of the Dead. At this event, the skulls will be made out of model magic clay and decorated with glitter and other supplies.
Friday, Oct. 27, 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., free to attend, 125 14th St.
Día de los Muertos Family Fun Fest at Jack London Square
Fruitvale isn’t the only neighborhood in Oakland hosting a Day of the Dead event. Over in Jack London Square, there’s a family event that will include craft activities, a costume contest, and performances by Mexican folklórico dancers and a mariachi band.
Sunday, Oct. 29, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., free to attend, at the plaza near Plank, 472 Water St.
