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Home | Fall Family Fairs & Festivals in the Bay Area

Fall Family Fairs & Festivals in the Bay Area

The Goblin Jamboree takes place at the Bay Area Discovery Museum on October 21–22 & 25–29.

Fall is one of our favorite times of year, and there's so much family fun to be found in Marin and beyond. Find a family-friendly fall festival, fair or Oktoberfest to celebrate the season. We'll keep updating our list of events for Marin and beyond as we find more this fall. If you have an event you'd like to see added to the list, please contact us.

  • 2nd Annual Heirloom Apple Celebration
    Gold Ridge Organic Farms, Sebastopol
    Saturday, September 16, 10 am–3 pm

    Enjoy live music by local Americana band Staggerstrings, Heirloom apple tastings, an orchard stroll with Farmer Brooke Hazen, locally made organic ice cream, tastes of fresh pressed apple juice, olive oils, and artisan cheese and apple pairings. Tickets: adults (13+) $25 and kids $10. Purchase tickets here.
  • Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival
    Old Mill Park, Mill Valley
    Saturday & Sunday, September 23 & 24, 10 am–5 pm

    Explore the fine works of 135 local and international artists and enjoy two lively days of music from local and national artists, special presentations, and refreshments that the whole family will enjoy.. All day music, puppet and storytellers entertain the young ones in the Children’s Grove, emceed by the Blue Fairy. Admission: $20 adults, $15 seniors; kids and teachers and students with ID free. Event details
  • 4th Annual Harvest Party
    Cornerstone Sonoma
    Sunday, September 24, 11 am–3 pm

    The event’s festivities will include a Beer Garden, wine and cheese tasting with Sojourn Cellars and Sonoma Cheese Factory, live music, an array of food and snacks, a pumpkin house, garden and farming demos, workshops, hands-on farm and garden activities, face painting, children’s activities, and ax throwing by New West Knife Works. Tickets: Admission is free. Game and workshop tickets, food, and beverages will be available for purchase. Please RSVP online to attend. Location: 23570 Arnold Drive, Sonoma. Event details.
  • Valley of the Moon Vintage Festival
    Sonoma Valley Plaza, Downtown Sonoma
    Saturday, September 30, 9 am–5 pm

    The Valley of the Moon Vintage Festival is excited to announce plans for the 125th annual event. This year’s community event will feature fun for all ages 5K race and grape stomp,, Artisans Festival, Kids Zone, live music, food and beverage. Event website.
  • Oktoberfest Celebration
    Santa Rosa Pumpkin Patch
    Saturday, September 30, 9 am–10 pm

    Celebrate the arrival of California's favorite season with the first-ever Oktoberfest at the Patch! Held at the Santa Rosa Pumpkin Patch in Sonoma County this activity-packed day begins with a 8K run/walk, followed by a Bavarian-style Oktoberfest for adults and children featuring beer mile races, an Orange Theory obstacle course, Kids' Pumpkin Run, plus pumpkin patch activities, games, and live music. Breweries will be pouring their fall seasonal beers, accompanied by German foods from local restaurants plus much more! Event details.
  • Boo at the Zoo
    Oakland Zoo
    October 1–29, 10 am–4 pm

    Calling all ghosts, goblins, and witches - join us for Boo at the Zoo every day, October 1-29. Enjoy this family-friendly Halloween event with all new experiences! Navigate through a 500-bale hay maze, encounter larger-than-life Halloween decorations, and follow the clues on our self-guided scavenger hunt to find the animal x-rays throughout the Zoo! Make sure to grab your event guide and OCHO candy bar* as you enter the Zoo to participate in all the fun activities! Come in costume. Tickets need to be reserved in advance online. Event details.
  • San Domenico Garden Fair
    San Anselmo
    Saturday, October 7, 11 am–2 pm

    Live music, wagon rides, delicious local gourmet foods, student contributions, and more! Peruse a variety of exhibits and the farmer’s market while the kids entertain themselves with crafts, games, face painting and more! Location: San Domenico Garden of Hope, 1500 Butterfield Road, San Anselmo. Event details.
  • Tahoe Donner Fall Festival
    Northwood Clubhouse. Tahoe Donner
    Saturday, October 14,
    11 am–4 pm
    Now in its 12th year, Fall Festival is Truckee’s premier family-friendly autumn celebration and one of Tahoe Donner’s largest community events of the year! Fall Festival is a favorite for all ages, featuring a full day of harvest-themed events and activities. Tickets on sale soon. Event website
  • Halloween Harvest Festival
    Marinwood
    Friday, October 13, 5–6:30 pm

    Come to Marinwood for its annual Halloween Harvest Festival for children 12 and under. Activities include carnival games, pumpkin carving and decorating, face painting, trick-or-treat bag decorating, and caramel apples. Tickets: fee for kids, adults are free. Food available for purchase. Tickets on sale soon. Event website
  • Biketoberfest
    Marin Museum of Bicycling, Fairfax
    Saturday, October 14, 11 am–5 pm

    Savor delicious brews, see amazing bikes, and hear incredible live music, enjoy family activities, demo bikes, jump on a group ride and connect with 35 bike exhibitors all while taking in the gorgeous Marin October weather. There is something for everyone at Biketoberfest Marin! Beer tasting tickets include unlimited tastings and a keepsake souvenir glass! Advance tickets $35, day of $50. Kids tickets: $3-$5. Location: 1966 Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, Fairfax. Event website
  • Weekend Along Farm Trails
    Various Farms, Sonoma County
    Saturday and Sunday, October 14 & 15, various times

    Meet your farmers & vintners, shop from delicious farmstands, see how cheese is made, pick pumpkins, meet farm animals, learn about beekeeping, sample delicious food and libations and discover some of Sonoma County's best kept secrets! Free, but advance registration is required.
  • Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival
    Historic Main Street, Half Moon Bay
    Saturday & Sunday, October 14–15, 9 am–5 pm

    The World Pumpkin Capital of Half Moon Bay celebrates its bountiful fall harvest and autumn splendor with a special display of enormous, heavyweight champion pumpkins, three stages of entertainment, non-stop live music, the Great Pumpkin Run, pumpkin pie eating contest, pancake breakfast, homestyle foods, pumpkin carving, and more. Admission is free. Event website
  • Corte Madera Oktoberfest
    Old Corte Madera Square
    Saturday, October 14, noon–5 pm

    Enjoy craft brews, local wines, food, and live music at this annual event. Kids' activities include games, face painting, and crafts. Tasting admission $35, non-tasting $10. Event website
  • Goblin Jamboree Fundraiser
    Bay Area Discovery Museum
    Saturday and Sunday, October 21–22 & 25–29, 10 am–4 pm
    Calling all little goblins and their families! Join us for a spooktacular time at the Goblin Jamboree where the museum transforms into a wickedly fun Halloween wonderland! Tickets go on sale Tuesday, September 12. Early-bird weekend tickets: $20 members $25\ general public and weekday tickets: $10 members and $25 general public. Weekend tickets go up by $5 October 1. Event website
  • Cavallo Point Oktoberfest BBQ
    Cavallo Point, Sausalito
    Sunday, October 22, 1–4 pm

    Join us for the grand finale of our Summer BBQ Series, where we're bringing the spirit of Oktoberfest to life! Get ready to experience a feast of epic proportions as we celebrate Cavallo Point's own version of this iconic German tradition. Purchase tickets here.
  • Caulbridge Pumpkin Patch
    San Rafael
    Friday, October 27, Time slots start at 5 pm

    Join us for an evening of magic as we transport your family to a mystical land of wonder. Fairy guides will lead you on an adventure through story and beauty. Families will stop to enjoy scenes from the book “The Sun Egg”, with dancing, laughter, and special handcrafted treasures for your children. Home-baked and hand-made treats await at the end of the path. Community Family: $35 (maximum 2 adults and 3 children). Purchase tickets here!
  • SuperNatural
    California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco
    Saturday, October 27, 6:30–9 pm

    Join us for a fright at the museum! Embrace your eerie side and and haunt our halls in costume for our annual family-friendly, scientifically spine-tingling Halloween event. Tickets: general admission adult (18+), youth (3–17): $45. Purchase ticktes here.
  • Halloween Sausalito
    Monday, October 31, 5:45–7:30 pm
    Downtown Sausalito

    Halloween fun for the entire family. Child-friendly haunted house, parade and trick-or-treat, dog costume contest, and more... Event details.