Bay Area Events Top Picks
Weekend guide for 10-1 to 10-3-2004 by
the Hauntmaster
This weekend is the first weekend of October and marks when the
Halloween season really gets kicked into high gear. With nearly 100
separate events taking place this weekend it can be challenging to decide
what to do. So we thought we'd give you our top picks of this weekend's
events. Links to our calendar are provide for all the details you'll need
in order to attend.
Friday, October 1st
If you're home during the day, pack up the kids and take them over to
the Lindsay Wildlife Museum for its interactive exhibit, Masters of the
Night: The True Story of Bats. Explore the nocturnal world of these most
fascinating creatures in mythical and real-life settings.
After a hard day at work it's nice to relax with a good horror movie.
If you're near Campbell, beginning at sundown, the Kensington Art Center
will be showing the 1960 Hitchcock classic, Psycho as part of their
Sundown Cinema, The Scream Series. This event is outdoors and strictly
BYOC, Bring Your Own Chair!
In the North Bay you will want to visit the 2004 Sonoma County Harvest
Fair. Wind down the week with some cool jazz, an art show, and fun harvest
season activities while sampling award winning wines.
Saturday, October 2nd
Now that you have a full day to devote to fall activities its a great
time to visit a farm and pick up your Halloween pumpkin. There are many
pumpkin patches in the Bay Area and all of them are fun to visit but
there are a few that really stand out.
North Bay
Cardoza's - Early in the season is the best time to visit Cardoza's.
Being one of the North Bay's most popular pumpkin patches it gets quite
busy later in the season and for good reason. There is so much to do and
learn at Cardoza's with acres of pumpkins, hay rides, mazes, a craft
store, and a learning center there is something for everyone. (2003 Review)
Adobe Pumpkin Farm - Much like Cardoza's, the Adobe Pumpkin Farm is
best visited early in the season before the crowds have descended on the
patch to enjoy its acres of pumpkins, corn maze, picnic areas, and
Halloween and Christmas boutiques. (2003 Review)
East Bay
Clayton Valley Pumpkin Farm - Right outside of Concord, this pumpkin
patch offers something for the whole family. There's a wide array of
pumpkins, kiddy playground, huge straw maze, and harvest crafts. And don't
miss the bean pot with over 3,000 lbs of beans!
Dell'Osso Farms - Located in Lathrop, Dell'Osso Farms may at first seem
a little far a field but believe us, it's worth it. If you're idea of the
perfect pumpkin patch is a quaint, quiet little patch then Dell'Osso Farms
isn't for you. This is a mega-patch with a carnival like atmosphere
complete with a haunted house, hayrides, 40 acre corn maze, a raceway, and
best of all... pumpkin blasters! If you've never shot mini-pumpkins out of
a compressed air cannon then you really don't know what you're missing! (2003 Review)
Peninsula/Coastside
Pastorino's - Pumpkins galore and so much more. Yes, I've been waiting
to use that line and Pastorino's is worth it. Pastorino's has a certain
charm that's hard to describe. Plenty of activities for the young and old
from pony rides and petting zoo to train rides and the best Halloween
"bootique" of any Bay Area pumpkin patch. (2002 Review)
Arata's - Just south of Half Moon Bay off Hwy. 1 is Arata's Pumpkin
Patch. Arata's has one of the widest selections of pumpkin varieties on
the coast as well as a great hay maze, friendly farm animals, and pony
rides.
Aside from pumpkin patches there are many great events taking place
around the Bay today.
From 10 am to 3:30 pm the Filoli House in Woodside will be holding its
annual Autumn Festival, which will include crafts, face painting, balloon
art, and more.
The Triton Museum in Santa Clara will be holding it's Harvest Family
Day where you can learn about harvest celebrations around the world and
make harvest crafts.
In the North Bay, Tiburon will be holding its annual Oktoberfest
celebration. Bratwurst, potato salad, and oompah bands will make this
German harvest festival a not to be missed event. See also the Foster City Oktoberfest,
Bay Meadows Oktoberfest,
Newark Oktoberfest
Sunday, October 3rd
On Sunday the place to be is at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. This
year the Boardwalk is featuring two great haunted attractions.
Labyrinth Haunted House, located across the street from the boardwalk,
will be making its return this year with the theme, "Carnival of
Souls" and will for the first time be open to all ages. (2003 Review)
On the Boardwalk across from the Pirate Ship is the special Halloween
edition of Fright Walk. This Halloween edition has been created by the
same people who brought us the famed Beach Street Haunted House and should
be excellent.
Special tickets for admission to both haunts are available for $15 and
include a coupon for your choice of either Laser Tag or Miniature Golf and
can be purchased at Labyrinth, Fright Walk, Miniature Golf, and Laser Tag.
As if the two haunts and a free game weren't enough reason to visit,
the city of Santa Cruz will be celebrating its 213th birthday with a huge
fireworks spectacular starting at 8 pm. KWAV 97 FM will simulcast a
choreographed musical show, which will be amplified from the Boardwalk and
Beach Bandstand.
If you still haven't found an activity, be sure to take a look at the calendar.
There are literally hundreds of activities happening around the Bay.
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