Haunted Trail and Carnoween | Pleasant Hill Family Events October 22–29

Hi neighbor!

Halloween is quickly approaching, and two big Pleasant Hill events are happening back to back this weekend.

The Haunted Trail of Pleasant Hill takes over the path behind the Teen Center on Friday night from 5–7pm. I'll have a trunk or treat set up, so come by to say hi and grab a treat!

Then Pleasant Hill Elementary is hosting our 72nd annual Carnoween on the blacktop on Friday from 11am–3pm. It's totally free this year, other than concessions. There will be a big slide, carnival games, trunk or treat, a cake walk, face painting, and more. Come hungry, because there will be hot dogs, quesadillas, a bake sale, and lots of other yummy food. Walk or bike if you can (there are plenty of bike racks!), or park at Oak Park Christian Center and walk in to Carnoween from the side gate.

If you want even more candy, there are trunk or treats in Walnut Creek, Concord, and Martinez this weekend too. They're all listed below.

What are your kids dressing up as this year? Reply back and let me know!

See you around town,

Jen

All events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted. Please verify details with the event website to ensure accuracy.

Enter free between 7:30–9am and stay until the garden closes at 6pm, or come later and pay for admission. Golden Gate Park, San Francisco.

Toddler Storytime and Play with songs, stories, and movement for ages 0–3, plus playtime after.

Stories, songs, and movement for ages 1–5, followed by a 20 minute play session.

Storytime Junction with books, songs, and play to build early literacy and social skills.

Lapsit Storytime for ages 0–3 at 11am, then Toddler and Preschool Storytime for ages 2–5 at 11:30am with stay and play toys after.

United Against Hate Storytime with the Pleasant Hill Diversity Commission for ages 0–5, followed by Stay and Play.

A nature hike with themed activities, followed by storytime. Tilden Nature Area, Berkeley.

Cheer on the Golden Bears. Edwards Stadium, Berkeley.

Card games, board games, and snacks for tweens and teens after school. Clayton Library.

Kids build reading confidence in a 15 minute session with a gentle therapy dog. Concord Library.

After school crafts for ages 5–12. Walnut Creek Library.

Food trucks and live music. Trelany Rd, Pleasant Hill.

Enter free between 7:30–9am and stay until the garden closes at 6pm, or come later and pay for admission. Golden Gate Park, San Francisco.

Enter free between 9–10am and stay until the garden closes at 6pm, or come later and pay for admission. Golden Gate Park, San Francisco.

A trick or treat lane with music, games, giveaways, and a scavenger hunt with prizes, plus a low sensory hour from 3–4pm. Civic Park, Walnut Creek.

Help close the farm for the night by bringing the animals their evening meal. Meet at the pig pen at the Tilden Little Farm, Berkeley.

Trick or treat along a path lined with not too scary Halloween displays, with a monster freeze dance and costume contests at 6:15pm. Path behind the Teen Center, 147 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill.

Look at the night sky through historic telescopes on the observatory deck, weather permitting. Chabot Space and Science Center, Oakland.

A drone light show over the Lesher Center to celebrate the Festival of Lights, with viewing on Locust Street. Lesher Center for the Arts, Walnut Creek.

Enter free between 7:30–9am and stay until the garden closes at 6pm, or come later and pay for admission. Golden Gate Park, San Francisco.

Free admission, entertainment, and 9–10am yoga (RSVP required), plus fresh produce and local food vendors for a fee. Trelany Rd, Pleasant Hill.

Free admission on Saturdays for Bay Area residents. Reserve tickets in advance. San Francisco.

Learn about Día de los Muertos and ofrendas, then paint a picture frame to take home. For TK–5th grade, registration required. Lafayette Library.

A not too spooky storytime for ages 1–5 with stay and play after. Costumes welcome!

Meet a featured animal ambassador, from reptiles to farm animals. Tilden Nature Area, Berkeley.

Pleasant Hill Elementary's 72nd annual Halloween carnival with a costume parade at 11am, a big slide, carnival games, trunk or treat, a cake walk, face painting, and crafts, plus concessions for purchase. Bring your own trick or treat bag! 2097 Oak Park Blvd, Pleasant Hill.

Trick or treat at downtown businesses, play games on Main Street Plaza, and enjoy decorated trunks, train rides, and crafts. Bring a candy bag! Main Street, Martinez.

A gentle walk to look for overwintering monarch butterflies and help with a simple butterfly count. Atlas Road Staging Area, Point Pinole Regional Shoreline, Richmond.

A free outdoor Diwali celebration for all ages. Lesher Center for the Arts, Walnut Creek.

Make a nicho, a traditional folk art shadow box honoring a loved one. All materials provided and all ages welcome. Martinez Library.

Games, treats, entertainment, and so much more. Writstbands are $30 ($25 presale for Valhalla families) and required for children ages 4 and up; adults enter free. Costumes encouraged. Valhalla Elementary School.

Build your own unique Lego creations Pleasant Hill Library..

A guided weekend tour of the garden's California native plants. Regional Parks Botanic Garden, Berkeley.

Crafts, games, and nature activities with a focus chosen on the day. Tilden Nature Area, Berkeley.

Trunk or treat with treats, goodie bags, food, games, and prizes. Free parking at the BART overflow lot on Mesa St. 1350 Galindo St, Concord.

A community trunk or treat in the upper parking lot. Bay Club Walnut Creek.

Help close the farm for the night by bringing the animals their evening meal. Meet at the pig pen at the Tilden Little Farm, Berkeley.

Look at the night sky through historic telescopes on the observatory deck, weather permitting. Chabot Space and Science Center, Oakland.

Enter free between 7:30–9am and stay until the garden closes at 6pm, or come later and pay for admission. Golden Gate Park, San Francisco.

Free admission for up to two adults with kids 18 and under, plus art making, storytime, a scavenger hunt, and a K-pop dance party. RSVP in advance. San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

A picture book read aloud for kids. Tilden Nature Area, Berkeley.

A guided weekend tour of the garden's California native plants. Regional Parks Botanic Garden, Berkeley.

Build and stuff a scarecrow to guard the garden, then decide if he's spooky or friendly. Tilden Nature Area, Berkeley.

A costumed pet parade with treats, a Halloween selfie station, and a mini obstacle course. City Center Bishop Ranch, San Ramon.

A Halloween themed open house with festive activities, demos, and a chance to meet the therapy horses. Costumes encouraged, and food is available for purchase. 60 Don Gabriel Way, Orinda.

Help close the farm for the night by bringing the animals their evening meal. Meet at the pig pen at the Tilden Little Farm, Berkeley.

Enter free between 7:30–9am and stay until the garden closes at 6pm, or come later and pay for admission. Golden Gate Park, San Francisco.

Enter free between 9–10am and stay until the garden closes at 6pm, or come later and pay for admission. Golden Gate Park, San Francisco.

A morning of birding for all experience levels, with beginners encouraged. Meet near the Visitor Center at the Regional Parks Botanic Garden, Berkeley.

Pop in and play organized games and activities with Pleasant Hill Rec & Park staff. We provide the fun, you provide the smiles. All ages are welcome. Pleasant Hill Community Center Playground.

A beginner friendly T'ai chi class for adults, no prior training needed. Walnut Creek Library.

Destress with a creative art program led by the Library Wellness Team, for tweens, teens, and adults. Concord Library.

Bring your own chair or blanket for Buffy the Vampire Slayer (PG-13) with free popcorn, best for teens and adults. Concord Library.

Light stretching, breathing, and flowing movement for all ages. Lafayette Library.

Enter free between 7:30–9am and stay until the garden closes at 6pm, or come later and pay for admission. Golden Gate Park, San Francisco.

The $15 entrance fee is waived for US citizens and residents on this National Parks fee free day, but parking and shuttle fees still apply. Mill Valley.

Songs, fingerplays, and lap bounces for babies ages 0–1 and their grownups, with playtime after. Walnut Creek Library.

Kids 6 and up practice reading to a certified therapy dog in 15 minute sessions. Register by phone or at the information desk. Lafayette Library.

Teens in grades 6–12 make a tin embossed mirror frame with a local artist, while supplies last. Pleasant Hill Library.

Kids explore painting, gluing, and decorating with a new take home craft project. Concord Library.

Sip hot cocoa while watching Coco, and decorate a frame for a photocopied picture of a loved one for your ofrenda. Pleasant Hill Library.

Enter free between 7:30–9am and stay until the garden closes at 6pm, or come later and pay for admission. Golden Gate Park, San Francisco.

Enter free between 9–10am and stay until the garden closes at 6pm, or come later and pay for admission. Golden Gate Park, San Francisco.

All Ages Storytime with lively songs and stories, plus playtime after.

Sing Me a Storytime with stories, songs, fingerplays, and movement.

Storytime and a craft for toddlers and preschoolers, provided by I Heart Art. Pleasant Hill Library.

After school studio time in the Maker Space for elementary and middle school students, presented by I Heart Art. Pleasant Hill Library.

A drop in kids program about local birds from the East Bay Regional Park District (no live animals). Clayton Library.

Kids 6 and up practice reading to a certified therapy dog in 15 minute sessions. Registration required. Lafayette Library.

Gregory Gardens Elementary's school carnival fundraiser with free admission and activities paid separately. Wear a costume, but no full face masks. Gregory Gardens Elementary, Pleasant Hill.

A weekly guided meditation session for teens and adults. Lafayette Library.

Enter free between 7:30–9am and stay until the garden closes at 6pm, or come later and pay for admission. Golden Gate Park, San Francisco.

An interactive Halloween storytime for toddlers with hands on sensory stations. Some materials include small pieces.

Stories, songs, and movement for ages 1–5, followed by a 20 minute play session.

Concord's Vice Mayor reads not too scary Halloween stories, then kids show off their costumes in a parade. Concord Library.

Storytime Junction with books, songs, and play to build early literacy and social skills.

Lapsit Storytime for ages 0–3 at 11am, then Toddler and Preschool Storytime for ages 2–5 at 11:30am with stay and play toys after.

Stories, songs, and movement for ages 0–5 with a caregiver, followed by Stay and Play.

Cheer on the Golden Bears against Notre Dame. Edwards Stadium, Berkeley.

Learn to read and write Baybayin, a Filipino script, in celebration of Filipino American History Month. Walnut Creek Library.

Food trucks and live music for the last Thursday of the season. Trelany Rd, Pleasant Hill.

An introduction to Eskrima, a Filipino martial art, in celebration of Filipino American History Month. Walnut Creek Library.

Have an event to add to future newsletters? Let me know!

Jen