Celebrate Halloween at Marin Center's Drive-Thru Spooktacular!

It goes without saying that, like so many other things in the era of COVID-19, Halloween celebrations are going to be different in 2020. But there are still plenty of opportunities to put on your costumes and enjoy some Halloween fun! From October 23 through November 1, you can enjoy a fun, spooky, and family-friendly Drive-Thru Spooktacular at the Marin Center in San Rafael. The Spooktacular is organized and presented by the Marin County Department of Cultural Services and endorsed as a fun holiday alternative by the Marin County Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Admission is $10 per car.

At the Spooktacular, festive treats will range from drive-thru Halloween-themed fair food, including pumpkin and ghost candy apples, black-and-orange cotton candy, giant corndogs, giant turkey legs, funnel cake, churros, kettle corn, caramel corn, and strawberry lemonade, and more. Also on the menu are Greek gyros, tri-tip sandwiches, ribs, and deep-fried Oreos. A selection of holiday-themed adult beverages will also be offered. Attendees will drive through a series of Spooktacular “lands” featuring animatronic dinosaurs, skeletons, Halloween favorites, and much more.

From 3 to 6 pm on Halloween (Saturday, October 31), the drive-thru will also feature live entertainment by the Las Gallinas Sanitary District Non-Marching Band, aka the Sewer Band, performing Halloween and spooky tunes at the fairgrounds. The Marin County Free Library will give out free mini activity books, bookmarks, stickers, and pencils from 11 am to 8 pm on October 31 and November 1.Those events do not have a separate entry fee. Attendees can also download the Spooktacular Drive-Thru Tunes playlist on Spotify to play in their cars.

Operated by the same team that presents the Marin County Fair each year, the Spooktacular will prioritize the safety of its guests and vendors. All event personnel will wear face coverings and gloves and will sanitize surfaces frequently as they deliver properly packaged food. Attendees will remain in their cars during the event.

Marin HHS’ Public Health Division released safe celebration guidelines, urging residents to seek at-home, drive-thru and virtual festivities for Halloween and Dia de los Muertos. HHS is strongly discouraging customary activities like door-to-door trick-or-treating or large multi-household parties, which can be high risk for COVID-19 transmission. Traditional celebrations encourage touching surfaces like doorbells, door handles, and candy bowls, and make it more difficult to maintain physical distancing.

If You Go

The Halloween Drive-Thru Spooktacular takes place daily at the Marin Center, 10 Avenue of the Flags, San Rafael 94903, near the Marin County Civic Center. Hours are 4–9 pm Monday–Friday and 11 am–9 pm on Saturdays and Sundays. Admission is $10 per car. Learn more on the Marin County Fair's Facebook Page.