Fall is officially here! Break out the autumn décor, Halloween decorations, and hot apple cider. Some fan favorites of the season include:
Hayrides
Apple and pumpkin picking
Haunted houses
And more!
Autumn is traditional the beginning of the ‘cozy’ season, where everything begins to slow down. Although many enjoy spending time inside, getting warm by the fireplace, others look forward to the cooler weather.
Here are the top fall events in 2022 in the San Francisco Bay Area:
Fleet Week
Each year, the much-anticipated Fleet Week is held in San Francisco. The famed roar of the jets zooming overhead draws crowds from all over the state.
The U.S. Navy Blue Angels are notorious for swooping up, down, and around the Golden Gate Bridge, a true sight to see. The weekend-long event boasts multiple activities for all ages including but not limited to:
Live music
Free tours of military ships
And more
Football Season
If you are a Californian, you are undoubtedly a 49ers fan! Fun fact: The San Francisco 49ers were the first team that came from the West Coast!
You have many opportunities to grab game tickets and check out the famed 9ers for yourself. Lev’s Stadium is a mega-stadium that holds over 65,000 fans, armed with solar panels, and was where Super Bowl 50 was held back in 2016.
Day of the Dead
San Francisco offers one of the best Día de los Muertos—or Day of the Dead—a Meso-American holiday. The holiday itself was created to honor deceased loved ones and the cycle of life and death.
Garfield Park in the Mission District is this year’s location to join the Latinx community to honor your loved ones. The day is decorated with beautiful sugar skulls, bright colors, and fanciful costumes. You don’t want to miss it!
Castro Street Fair
SF boasts one of the most colorful, lovely districts in the coveted Castro. LGBTQ history is strong in this district as this specific region holds its yearly street fair.
The fair begins on the first Sunday in October and offers unbelievable street food, art vendors from around the world and locals alike, dancing in the streets, and loads of entertainment. You’ll be awe-struck when you witness the explosion of colors that decorate one of the most exciting events in fall in San Francisco.
San Fran Giants Baseball
If football is not your thing or you are simply a sports junkie, you must check out the famed San Francisco Giants baseball games! Oracle Park hosts the SF team where they play each season every autumn.
The ballpark itself sits nearby the beautiful waterway where you can see people enjoying watersports such as kayaking. You may even be lucky enough to see a home run getting captured into the McCovey Cove area!
Beer City and Monterey Beer Fest
Two popular beer fests return to the Bay Area this October! Beer City Fest is held at Alameda Point and offers more than 30 local and regional ciders, beers, kombucha, and more alcoholic and non-alcoholic options. The festival also offers games, live music, and circus performers!
Monterey Beer Festival is held at the Monterey Country Fair & Event Center. It offers live music, food booths, and tons of new craft brews for you to sip and enjoy!
Napa and Sonoma Wine Country Tours
The weather is perfect outside…so why not pair it with the perfect glass of wine? California is notorious for its stunning Napa and Sonoma Valley areas, and this is the best time of year to pour a glass—or four.
Although on the broader side of the Bay Area, a fun staycation is just what the doctor ordered. Jump on a guided tourn of Wine Country to immerse yourself in one of the most scenic, incredible vin
California’s Great America
Not only does Great America offer year-round fun, but this time of year is also especially fun for everyone! Great America holds its annual Halloween Haunt, a titillating and scary good time!
Scare zones live shows, spooky mazes, and dozens of haunting rides adorn the famed theme park for the Halloween season. Bring your children during the daytime as the park turns a bit darker and scarier for the older crowd.
The Great Pumpkin Fest
Along with the Halloween Haunt, The Great Pumpkin Fest is also held at California’s Great Adventure. Planet Snoopy is redesigned as Planet Spooky where children 12 and younger can showcase their costumes with Snoopy and the gang.
The Great Pumpkin Fest occurs on weekends in October and offers many activities including:
Pumpkin decorating
Hay maze
Professional pumpkin carvers
Trick or treating for kiddos in costumes 12 and younger
Pumpkin patch made of foam for children to jump in
Halloween Time!
Millions of people across the country prep for one of the most festive holidays of the year: HALLOWEEN! Did you know San Francisco has dozens of haunted places? Jump on-board horrifying ghost tours—both for family fun and 21+ events—and prepare to be terrified!
Theater, symphony shows, and trick-or-treating or just a few of the many Halloween-related festivities in the Bay Area. Halloween contests are conducted throughout the city at local bars for adults and schools for the kiddies. Bring out your best costume!
Bottom Line
Overall, fall is a fan-fav season comprised of hundreds of exciting activities to participate in. From family-friendly activities to adult-focused, you are sure to enjoy yourself this holiday season.
Beer fests, haunted hayrides and houses, costume contests, and sipping wine in the cooler weather, autumn is here in the Bay Area, and the events are set in picturesque settings. Happy fall everyone!
