Best Places to Trick-or-Treat in Marin

October 30, 2025

Halloween may be one of everyone's favorite holidays, but trick-or-treating is kind of a lost art these days. It used to be you'd just trick-or-treat in your neighborhood, but many communities just aren't Halloween friendly. In fact, it seems that many otherwise bustling neighborhoods become ghost towns, so to speak, on Halloween night.

If you happen to live in a place that does go all out for Halloween, then you're in luck! Otherwise, you might want to seek out another nearby neighborhood in which to find that Halloween spirit — plenty of families in Marin County do.

Here's our list of Marin's top (in no particular order) trick-or-treat Halloween hot spots for 2025, as chosen by us, our readers, friends, and social media followers, as well as organized trick-or-treat events leading up to or on Halloween.

Halloween Night, Friday, October 31

Hamilton, Novato — The Hamilton neighborhood in Novato is full of families and enjoys a close-knight, small-town atmosphere. It's the go-to trick-or-treat spot of many Marin families.
Devonshire Drive and Center Road, Novato—This neighborhood goes all-out for Halloween, making this a fantastic and safe trick-or-treat spot in western Novato.
Downtown Fairfax — Fairfax's Halloween parade starts at the Fairfax Theater at 5 pm sharp and heads to the Haunted Grove in Bolinas Park. There will be plenty of treats for kids along the way as well as a costume contest.
Gerstle Park, San Rafael — Gerstle Park is a charming and compact neighborhood where many of the residents really get into the Halloween spirit.
Knight Drive, San Rafael — This street in San Rafael's Glenwood neighborhood is safe, and has plenty of decorated homes and Halloween spirit and atmosphere.
Marinwood, San Rafael— This neighborhood between San Rafael and Novato resembles something you'd see in Leave it to Beaver or another depiction of Mid-Century suburban life. Check out all the Halloween decorations, and stay for the trick-or-treating.
Shady Lane, Ross—This street in picturesque Ross closes to traffic in the early evening on Halloween, making it a safe place for trick-or-treating.
Sycamore Avenue, Mill Valley — This leafy residential street is home to a great park (Sycamore Park) and plenty of families. It becomes a party in the streets on Halloween!
Caledonia Street, Sausalito — Away from the touristy hustle and bustle of Bridgeway, the Caledonia Street neighborhood is where the locals come to shop and dine. Caledonia and its nearby streets are a great place to trick-or-treat, too. It's also where Sausalito's city-sponsored trick-or-treat lane and other Halloween activities take place from 5:45–8 pm.
Marin Country Mart, Larkspur — Head to Marin Country Mart from 4–7 pm for trick-or-treating at the shops, crafts, and more! Enjoy an outdoor screening of Monsters Inc. at 6 pm.
Heatherwood, Larkspur — Located near Heatherwood park, adjacent to Redwood High School, this Larkspur neighborhood is is a local favorite for Halloween. Head to Heather Way for trick-or-treat action.

Please keep in mind that a lot of people know about these neighborhoods, and it can get pretty crowded with all the out-of-towners driving in. Be prepared for a potential parking challenge, be patient, and make sure you watch for trick-or-treaters in the dark. Safety first! Above all, don't forget that you're a guest in someone else's neighborhood, so be considerate, patient, kind, and courteous. But above all, have loads of Halloween fun!