🎃 Where to Trick-or-Treat in San Francisco in 2025
Image generated by ChatGPT
Halloween in San Francisco is no small affair — from block-party street closures to elaborately decorated Victorians, every neighborhood brings its own flavor of fright and fun. Whether you’re a parent planning a candy-collecting route or a decorator aiming to impress the ghosts and ghouls, here’s your complete guide to the city’s top trick-or-treat destinations for 2025.
👻 What Makes a Neighborhood Great for Trick-or-Treating?
The San Francisco Chronicle recently crunched the numbers to identify where Halloween spirit meets density and accessibility. Their “Trick-or-Treat Index” weighs:
The number of kids aged 5–14
The share of single-family or two-unit homes (more doorbells to ring!)
How close those homes are together
🏙️ Top San Francisco Neighborhoods for Trick-or-Treating
Cole Valley – Belvedere Street
A long-time favorite and one of the few officially closed to traffic each year. Belvedere Street between 17th and Parnassus transforms into a spooky pedestrian paradise lined with haunted houses and candy stations. Expect big crowds, big décor, and big fun.
Noe Valley – Fair Oaks Street
Another perennial favorite, with residents shutting down the street from 21st to 26th for a family-friendly block party. Think classic San Francisco homes decked out in Halloween regalia — and plenty of treats.
North of the Panhandle (NoPa)
Local groups on Grove Street close off sections between Baker and Central for a neighborhood-hosted bash. You’ll find carved pumpkins glowing in the stoops and costumed kids filling the street well before sunset.
Inner Richmond – Lake Street
This leafy corridor goes all out with decorations and generous candy-givers. Even without a full closure, the street becomes semi-car-free due to the volume of trick-or-treaters.
Outer Sunset & Parkside
Quiet, safe, and highly rated by the Chronicle’s data. The 28th–42nd Avenue corridors between Lincoln and Irving host several permitted block closures for family trick-or-treating and the lively Irving Night Bazaar. The previous Sunday, 10/26, Sunset Dunes from Judah to Taraval is also hosting The Great Hauntway for trick-or-treating at the beach.
West Portal
Every year, West Portal hosts a lively Halloween block party along Wawona Street between 14th and Taraval. The neighborhood has long been a beloved destination for trick-or-treaters—locals have been collecting candy here since the early 1980s. In the 2000s, it was even famous for its elaborate Harry Potter–themed celebrations. This year, residents can look forward to at least one haunted house, featuring live performers and spine-chilling thrills, free and open to everyone.
St. Francis Wood & Sea Cliff
These more exclusive enclaves compensate for low density with extravagant displays — and the occasional full-size candy bar. Expect movie-set-level décor, but be prepared to walk between homes.
Excelsior, Crocker Amazon & Portola
High marks in the Chronicle’s index, with dense family housing and friendly blocks. Keep an eye out for local mini-fairs like Spooky Garden Reverie on Burrows Street.
Bernal Heights – Cortland Avenue
The community closes down Cortland for a neighborhood festival that’s equal parts small-town fair and San Francisco block party.
Dogpatch – Tennessee Street
Even the kids at La Scuola International get in on the fun with a morning street closure and mini parade. Great for families with younger trick-or-treaters.
🚧 Confirmed 2025 Street Closures for Trick-or-Treating
The SFMTA has released its official Halloween permit list for Friday, October 31, 2025, featuring over a dozen closures across the city.
| Street | Neighborhood | Hours | Event |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belvedere St (17th – Parnassus) | Cole Valley | 4 PM – 10 PM | Trick-or-Treat block party |
| Fair Oaks St (21st – 26th) | Noe Valley | 4 PM – 10 PM | Neighborhood Halloween |
| Grove St (Baker – Central) | NoPa | 3 PM – 10 PM | NOPNA Halloween |
| Lake St (7th – 22nd Ave) | Inner Richmond | 4 PM – 10 PM | Family trick-or-treat |
| Avila St (Chestnut – Prado) | Marina | 4 PM – 9 PM | Marina block party |
| 42nd Ave (Lincoln – Irving) | Outer Sunset | 5 PM – 9 PM | Trick-or-treat corridor |
| Randall St (Whitney – Sanchez) | Noe Valley | 4 PM – 10 PM | Halloween block party |
| Jordan Ave (Geary – California) | Jordan Park | 4 PM – 10 PM | Halloween event |
| Cortland Ave (multiple blocks) | Bernal Heights | 4:30 PM – 8:30 PM | Halloween on Cortland |
| Sunnydale Ave (Hahn – Sawyer) | Visitacion Valley | 1 PM – 11 PM | River of Life Halloween |
| Burrows St (San Bruno Ave) | Excelsior | 8 AM – 9 PM | Spooky Garden Reverie |
| Tennessee St (19th – 20th) | Dogpatch | 7 AM – 12 PM | La Scuola Celebration |
| Front St (Sacramento – California) | Financial District | 12 PM – 1 AM | Nightmare on Front Street |
📍 Interactive Map:
ChatGPT was used in generating this article, but it was reviewed and edited by a human.