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After a two year hiatus, many parents are excited to take their kids trick or treating this year. While nearly everyone will supply candy, some neighborhoods around the Bay Area go above and beyond for the yearly tradition. Here are the BEST neighborhoods for trick or treating this year.
NOPA - San Francisco
The residents of NoPa host an annual Halloween block party. The celebration features trick-or-treating, a haunted house, and a kids-only costume contest at the 1500 and 1600 block of Grove Street. To make sure that all of the youngsters in attendance have plenty of delicious treats, guests are urged to bring a bag of candy to donate to the event. The North of the Panhandle Neighborhood Association maintains a PG atmosphere during the party to ensure the event is safe for everyone.
Noe Valley - San Francisco
Locals know to go to Fair Oaks Street, notably between 21st and 26th Streets, which runs between Noe Valley and the Mission. You don't have to worry about cars because the roads are blocked to traffic. If you have little children, grab dinner in the area because most houses start tossing out candy around 6 o'clock.
Cole Valley - San Francisco
For one of the most well-known Halloween parties in the area, go to Belvedere Street between 17th Street and Parnassus Avenue. Ghouls and goblins, falling spiders, strobe lights, and blazing jack-o-lanterns are all over the neighborhood. Since the street is blocked off to through traffic and is a particularly popular location for trick-or-treating, get there early to make sure you visit all the houses before they run out of candy. Belvedere is on a hill, so if you have kids who might grow tired, think about including some sort of wagon element in their costume. You should also be prepared to look for parking.
West Portal - San Francisco
On Wawona Street between 14th and Taraval Streets in West Portal, there is a Halloween block celebration every year. Longtime residents of San Francisco have been coming here to ask for candy since the early 1980s, and throughout the early 2000s, the neighborhood held a sizable yearly Halloween party with a Harry Potter theme for about ten years. Residents of West Portal may anticipate at least one free and public haunted house this year, complete with real actors and frightful surprises.
McDonald Ave. - Santa Rosa
The historic homes along McDonald Avenue in Santa Rosa provide as a backdrop to one of the most well-liked areas for trick-or-treating on Halloween. Even though many homes are beautifully decorated for Halloween, a visit to the McDonald Mansion is necessary to complete the trick-or-treating experience. The proprietors of this Victorian property from 1877 put on a lavish themed haunted house with live actors every year. Themes from previous years have included Alice in Wonderland and Jack the Ripper. Those who are older should trick-or-treat in this area. On Halloween, the gates open at 5 p.m., and as the estate is a private residence, decorations are only shown outside.
Willow Glen - San Jose
The people of the Willow Glen area are enthusiastic about holiday celebrations, and it has long been a popular site in the south bay for trick-or-treating. This year, downtown Willow Glen merchants will host their yearly trick-or-treat event on the day before Halloween. There are separate trick-or-treating events for toddlers, preschoolers, and dressed-up school-age children during the day. After hours, candy is abounding and local homes are festively decked.
Downtown San Carlos
The City of San Carlos hosts a Goblin Walk for trick-or-treaters seven years of age and under every Halloween. This year, kids in costumes can stop into any establishment sporting a Goblin Walk Stop sign for Halloween treats on the Friday before Halloween from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. along Laurel St. At the Downtown Park, special Goblin trick-or-treat bags will be offered. For trick-or-treating on Halloween night in a neighborhood that goes all out with spooky decorations and wonderful snacks, older children will appreciate traveling to neighboring Eucalyptus St.