Holidays come and go, but Halloween takes its time building up to the big day with nearly a month of activities. As the spirited holiday falls on a Thursday this month, Halloween-themed concerts and parties in the North Bay stretch out over two weekends with a full slate of spook-tacular goodness. Get your costumes ready; these shows and events are so fun, it’s scary!
First up, have a ball at the Tomales Town Hall for the town’s annual Halloween Ball on Friday, Oct. 25. The fun includes costume contest with prizes, a full bar and live music from beloved North Bay group the Blues Defenders, who will pack the dance floor. Ticket sales from the ball support events like Tomales Founders’ Day Celebration, and proceeds from the bar go to improving the historic town hall, meaning this party is an excellent way to support the community.
But there’s more dancing to be had on Oct. 25, at the Sausalito Seahorse, with longtime local favorites the 7th Sons performing classic rock songs and more at a Halloween Dance Party.
Sausalito is also the spot to be for the massive Harmonia Halloween Bash on Saturday, Oct. 26, at Harmonia Wellness & Social Club. The epic, indoor-outdoor bash features a full lineup of creative entertainment. Two rooms of music include DJ sets by Gavin Hardkiss, the South African-born and San Francisco-based DJ who propelled the electronic music scene into the mainstream in the ‘90s through his Hardkiss record label and his own genre-defying electronica. Also on the decks are Eric Monkhouse, DJ Seven, SURYA (featuring international performers Svetlana Koles and Scarlett de la Torre) and others. The bash also boasts a full bar, outdoor firepits, tarot readings and massages, for an eclectic experience.
In West Marin, the Spooky Rock & Roll Halloween Party on Oct. 26 at the Old Western Saloon in Point Reyes gets down with up-and-coming, instrumental surf-rock kids the Greasy Gills, out of Oakland. The band self-released their debut cassette, Bodega Boys, in 2018, and this past August, Hi-Tide Recordings released the band’s 4-track The Spring Collection EP on 7” vinyl.
This Halloween, Marin also remembers the children with several family-friendly activities that appeal to all ages. In Greenbrae, the Bon Air Center invites the community out for a Halloween Bash & Food Drive on Oct. 26, where families can exchange a donation of non-perishable food for a trick-or-treat bag that can be used to collect goodies at the center’s shops and restaurants. The event also features a parade along the promenade, pumpkin decorating, face painting and free pet caricatures, and a pet-costume contest.
In Larkspur, the weekly farmers’ market at Marin Country Mart turns into a Halloween Festival for kids, pets and the rest of us on Oct. 26. The Mart’s mascot Hugo will be on hand for a kids’ and pet costume contest, and activities include guessing the weight of the giant pumpkin, making caramel apples and more.
Finally, on Halloween night, several venues hosting parties, such as the Demons & Angels Halloween Bash at George’s Nightclub in San Rafael that features DJ Jaffeth and Go-Go dancers, and the annual Mother Hips Rock & Roll Halloween Bash at Sweetwater Music Hall in Mill Valley, where the band performs two massive sets of music.
