Halloween falls on a Thursday this year, but plenty of local venues are celebrating a bit early. Check out this list of haunted houses, masquerade balls, raging parties and spooky shows.

HAUNTED HOUSES

Rebel Yell
Oct 26-Nov 1
Rebel Yell Haunted House
1577 Rebel Way, San Jose
Going 20 years strong, Rebel Yell Haunted House comes with a full backstory involving a mad scientist, Dr. Monticore VonBraun, who has been driven by grief and ghostly spirits to experiment with raising the dead. Aperitions, corpses, zombies and some good old-fashioned gore can be found in the abandoned funeral home that Dr. VonBraun now occupies. Not for the faint of heart, the creators consider this a PG-13 experience.

Halloween Haunt
Thru Nov 2, 7pm
Great America
4701 Great America Pkwy, Santa Clara
Eight mazes bring nightmares to life with a werewolf lair, a zombie-infested high school and a weird wax museum. Watch out for deranged and disgruntled circus sideshow acts in the brand-new Scare Zone, “Killer Clown Town.” Undead entertainment includes acrobats, BMX bikers, fire dancers, drummers and a lively celebration of the dearly departed at the free-spirited Dia de los Muertos party. Roller coasters will keep running for those in need of extra reasons to scream.

Unhinged
Thru Nov 2
Winchester Mystery House
525 S Winchester Blvd, San Jose
Featured on Ghost Hunters and in the 2018 film starring Helen Mirren, San Jose’s iconic haunted house shines especially darkly around Halloween. This year, the newly conceived Unhinged attraction dispels with history and spins a yarn separate from the mansion’s capricious construction—taking the lore of the legendary estate and, much like Sarah Winchester did with her home, building upon it. The result is a menacing and purely fictional storyline. Oh… there is also ax throwing.

Dead Time Dreams
Thru Nov 2
Dead Time Dreams
2501 Tully Rd, San Jose
Even waiting in line is an experience at Dead Time Dreams. Before visitors enter the two main attractions for the evening, they must pass through the “Midway of Terror,” where creepy creatures pop up with unique teasers of the terrors that lie ahead every night. This year, Dead Time unveils two new ghastly attractions—“Demon House” and “Seven Deadly Sins.” Say your prayers.

THEATER

Rocky Horror Show
Thru Nov 3
San Jose Stage
490 S 1st St, San Jose
San Jose Stage Company kicks off its 37th season by doing the Time Warp again—live! The players take on the original West End musical, which went on to find success on Broadway and on the big screen. As with midnight screenings of the 1975 cult classic starring Tim Curry, audience participation is highly encouraged.

Halloween Spooktacular
Oct 26 & Oct 27, 8pm
Made Up Theatre
4000 Bay St, Ste B, Fremont
The Made Up Theatre improv troupe is planning a pair of hauntingly hilarious shows this weekend. Friday nights at Made Up Theatre feature Laugh Track City, short-form improv games in the style of Whose Line Is It Anyway?, and Saturday nights are for Closing Night, long-form improvised plays. Expect some Halloween-themed groaners in the mix.

Picture Show
Oct 26, 11:30pm
3Below Theaters & Lounge: 288 S 2nd St, San Jose
The Barely Legal cast gets into the Halloween spirit with extra pre-show shenanigans, including a costume contest and other surprises. Rocky Horror virgins should expect an evening of bawdy entertainment and can rely on the helpful “survival kit” that will provide them with props and instructions. Regulars can just shiver with antici……pation.

NIGHTLIFE

Pair of Pure Parties
Oct 25 & 26, 9:30pm
Pure Nightclub
146 S Murphy Ave, Sunnyvale
The Riot Halloween party kicks off the weekend on Friday night. DJ Playboi, Shaffy, Yo Adrian and others keep the dance floor lit up like a jack-o’-lantern, spinning hip-hop, EDM and Top 40 hits. Costumes are highly encouraged. Add your name to the guest list and check in before 10:30pm for free entry. Saturday night cranks up the volume with a $1,000 costume contest at the Curse of the Clown event.

Week of ’Ween
Oct 25-31
Rosie McCann’s Irish Pub & Restaurant
355 Santana Row, Ste 1060, San Jose
Santana Row’s Irish pub has an entire week of Halloween fun planned. Friday kicks things off with the “Dead Man’s Chest” pirate-themed party; Saturday is the “Vampire’s Ball;” dress up as your favorite super-good or super-bad guy for Sunday’s “Heroes and Villains”; Monday’s “Sound From Beyond the Grave” is all about bringing your favorite entertainers back to life; and the “Wild Card Night” on Tuesday offers no guidelines. The big night—Thursday, Oct. 31—will feature a costume contest, so save your best ’fit for last.

Thrill The World
Oct 25, 7pm
Downtown Campbell
E Campbell Ave & N 1st St, Campbell
Zombies roam the streets of Campbell as a floating flash mob dances to “Thriller.” Dancers who want to get their Michael Jackson on should arrive in costume at the top of the First Street parking garage by 6:45pm. The folks at Adira Dance and Costume are the fearless organizers of this annual event.

Mountain View Monsters
Oct 26, 27 & 31, 9pm
Opal Nightclub
251 Castro St, Mountain View
This Mountain View hotspot is so stoked on dressing up that they’re hosting three Halloween-themed evenings: Friday and Saturday are “A Nightmare on Castro Street” and “Haunted Things,” respectively. On the 31st it’s the “Halloween Night Rage.”

Willow Glen Beer Walk
Oct 26
Various Locations
Downtown Willow Glen, Lincoln Ave., San Jose
The folks at Dipsomania are at it again, bringing their annual Halloween Beerwalk event back to downtown Willow Glen. Costumes are encouraged for this stroll up and down Lincoln Avenue. Check out local shops and restaurants, including Braise, Bruni Gallery, Ohana Board Shop and the Willow Street Pizza & Taproom, while sipping on suds from local and national craft brewers. Participating labels include Golden State Brewery, Hapa’s, Fort Point and Uproar.

Karaoke & Costumes
Oct 31, 5pm
7 Bamboo Karaoke Lounge,
162 Jackson St, San Jose
Sing, drink and party the night away at 7 Bamboo’s annual Halloween bash. Stay until at least midnight for a chance to win prizes and giveaways in the costume contest.

Rock Horror Show
Oct 27, 9pm
Woodhams Lounge
4475 Stevens Creek Blvd, Santa Clara
We aren’t getting any younger. Reminisce about the good old days with a little help from the Woodhams Lounge bar staff and San Jose-based cover band, The Last Decade—known for channeling the best of early aughts emo, post-hardcore, pop punk and more.

Halloween Party
Oct 25, 9pm
The Ritz
400 S 1st St, San Jose
DJs Bit and Basura will be spinning a mix of hip-hop, new wave, electro and Top 40 hits for costumed revelers. The club is offering $500 in prizes to the best dressed, so be sure to look sharp.

SP2 Things
Oct 26, 10pm
SP2 Communal Bar + Restaurant
72 N Almaden Ave, San Jose
Celebrate your favorite fictional Indiana town—Hawkins—at SP2. Costumes are encouraged, but there’s no need to rock a Stranger Things outfit. The Les and Jay Reese set the mood with R&B, old school and Top 40 hits.

Hallow’s Ball
Oct 26, 9pm
Flights Restaurant
165 Los Gatos-Saratoga Rd, Los Gatos
Featuring iHeart Radio’s DJ Kaos and cash prizes for the best costumes, this is the place to be for cocktail flights, a lively dance floor and a chance to win big.

Rack-in Halloween
Oct 27, 7pm
The Saddle Rack
42011 Boscell Rd, Fremont
Saddle up and get ready to ride with your best costume; there’s $5,000 in cash prizes at stake! Show up early for dance lessons, stay for the live music.

Menage a Trois
Oct. 25, 26 &31
Spearmint Rhino
81 W Santa Clara St, San Jose
San Jose’s only downtown gentlemen’s club is marking Halloween with a three-way. Patrons are encouraged to wear costumes this Friday and Saturday—and on Oct. 31. Dress up and get free entry before 12pm. On Halloween, the best costume walks away with a $150 prize.

FAMILY FUN

Halloween Haunts
Oct 25 & Oct 26
Hidden Villa
26870 Moody Rd, Los Altos Hills
Families with children ages 4-12 can enjoy a scare-free Halloween outing in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Wander the trails surrounding the Hidden Villa farm, collect treats and be awed by a magic show.

Spooky Times at Deer Holloween
Oct 26, 10am
Deer Hollow Farm
22500 Cristo Rey Dr, Cupertino
Little munchkins can explore haunted barns in the safety of daylight at Deer Hollow Farm—and meet the animals that live there. Crafts and additional activities are also available.

Creepy Crawly Halloween
Oct 27, 4pm
Downtown Campbell
E Campbell Ave & N 1st St, Campbell
The streets of downtown Campbell are closed and given over to trick-or-treaters so that they can safely wander, visiting the businesses, enjoying kids activities and mingling with other members of the community. The evening finishes off with a costume contest

Boo to You!
Thru Nov 2, 5pm
Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park
3050 Hecker Pass Hwy, Gilroy
“The Boo” is back at Gilroy Gardens. Rides and attractions take on a spooky atmosphere after dark. Between rides, families can catch the “Boo Train” or trek along the Boo trail for some some trick-or-treating fun. Costumed characters provide live musical entertainment in The Great Big Boo! on the Lakeside Amphitheater stage.

Spina Farms
Thru Oct 31
Spina Farms Pumpkin Patch
Santa Teresa Blvd at Bailey Ave, San Jose
Go straight to the source at Spina Farms, where over 60 varieties of pumpkins are grown and harvested. For a feast for the senses, tour the farm on a tractor-pulled hayride past the pumpkins and fields of sunflowers. On weekends, enjoy live music, take a pony ride, man a pumpkin-blaster cannon or wind your way through the new Area 51 corn maze.

Uesugi Farms
Thru Oct 31
Uesugi Farms Pumpkin Patch
14485 Monterey Rd, San Martin
The park features a two-acre corn maze made easier to navigate via hints in the form of trivia cards. Folks with corn-maze claustrophobia can take a hay ride to explore more of the farmlands. For a photo op, families can pose in front of a 4,000-pumpkin pyramid. Musicians provide live entertainment on certain days.

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