Palo Alto released its 2026 Halloween Community Guide on Wednesday, Sept. 23, packing more than a dozen events into a five-week stretch that runs through Oct. 31.
The season kicks off Friday, Sept. 25, with the 42nd annual Moonlight Run & Walk at the Baylands Athletic Grounds, hosted by the city and the Palo Alto Weekly. The 5K walk and run and 10K run start at 5:30 p.m.
The Great Glass Pumpkin Patch returns to the Palo Alto Art Center at 1313 Newell Road on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 26–27, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. In its 31st year, the free-admission event draws more than 5,000 visitors annually and features over 10,000 glass pumpkins, gourds and autumnal keepsakes from more than 20 regional artists, according to Secret San Francisco. Visitors can enter to win a glass pumpkin with no purchase required. Proceeds benefit the Bay Area Glass Institute, the Palo Alto Art Center, the Palo Alto Art Center Foundation and the participating artists.
Looking for a costume on the cheap? The Palo Alto Children's Theatre Semi-Annual Costume Sale runs Thursday, Oct. 1, through Oct. 4. Hours are 3–7 p.m. on Oct. 1–2, 10:30 a.m.–3 p.m. on Oct. 3 and 10:30 a.m.–4 p.m. on Oct. 4. Proceeds support the Teen Arts Council. Transition Palo Alto hosts a Scare Faire & Costume Swap at the Museum of American Heritage on Oct. 10 from 1 to 3 p.m., where families can donate and swap old costumes.
On California Avenue
The second annual Pet Parade and Costume Contest takes over Cal Ave. on Oct. 17 from 10 a.m. to noon. All well-behaved pets and stuffed animals are welcome, and prizes will be awarded.
Halloween Thursday Live, the city's regular Cal Ave. series, held this time on a Saturday, closes the season on Oct. 31 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Cal Ave. The event features local music, games, free giveaways and Halloween- and Oktoberfest-themed programming. Stanford Research Park is sponsoring a photo booth and giving away orange drawstring bags and mini pumpkin decorating kits.
Downtown and library events
A jack-o-lantern display lights up Lytton Plaza on Oct. 30 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Attendees can vote for the scariest, cutest and most creative entries.
Mitchell Park Library hosts several events, including a fabric pumpkin sewing workshop on Oct. 10, a Día de Los Muertos Family Storytime led by Librarian Juliana on Oct. 29 at 10:30 a.m., and a Halloween karaoke night that same evening from 6 to 7:30 p.m. A Halloween dance party for children and families fills the Secret Garden of the Children's Library on Oct. 28 from 4 to 5 p.m.
Halloween Zoo Night at the Junior Museum & Zoo on Oct. 29 from 5 to 7 p.m. offers face painting, animal encounters and free food. The after-hours event is open to members only.
Safety and sustainability
The Palo Alto Police Department's safety tips in the guide include using reflective tape on costumes, inspecting candy before children eat it, sticking to well-lit routes and equipping older children with GPS-enabled devices.
The city also promotes its "Five Rs of Sustainability" for the holiday: refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose and recycle. Residents can use the city's online "What Goes Where" tool to sort, donate or repair items.
A full event calendar is available at cityofpaloalto.org/calendar.
