How to Prepare for Halloween

Halloween has a way of sneaking up on you. One minute it is the beginning of October and you have plenty of time to figure everything out. The next minute, costume stores are packed, the costume you wanted is sold out, Halloween events are selling out and you are trying to find fake blood at a drugstore on October 30. A little planning can make Halloween much easier and a lot more fun.

Whether you are planning to attend a Halloween party, go to a bar crawl, decorate your home, take the kids trick-or-treating or spend the entire weekend checking out events around San Francisco, here are some of the most important things to do before Halloween arrives.

Start Planning Your Costume Early

The costume is one of the easiest things to put off, and it is also one of the things that becomes much harder to deal with at the last minute. Start thinking about your costume several weeks before Halloween. If you are ordering something online, give yourself enough time for shipping, exchanges and unexpected problems with sizing.

Popular costumes can sell out quickly, especially anything connected to a major movie, television show, celebrity or viral trend from the year. Planning ahead also gives you more time to put together something original instead of buying a complete costume off the rack.

You can check:

• Costume stores

• Thrift stores

• Vintage shops

• Party supply stores

• Craft stores

• Online costume retailers

• Department stores

• Your own closet

If you are creating a group or couples costume, start even earlier. Coordinating several people becomes surprisingly complicated once everyone starts ordering different parts of their costumes.

Try Your Costume on Before Halloween

Do not wait until Halloween night to find out that your costume does not fit. Try everything on at least a few days beforehand. Walk around in it. Sit down. Put on the shoes you plan to wear. This is especially important if you are planning on spending several hours walking around San Francisco. A costume that looks great for five minutes in front of a mirror might feel very different after walking from one bar to another for three hours.

Check for things like:

• Shoes that hurt

• Masks that are difficult to see through

• Costumes that drag on the ground

• Accessories that are difficult to carry

• Makeup that smears easily

• Hats or headpieces that constantly fall off

Making a few adjustments before Halloween can save you a lot of trouble later.

San Francisco Gets Cold

A Halloween costume that works perfectly indoors may not be nearly as comfortable outside. Every time it is even slightly warm during the afternoon, I see a lot of people in very thin costumes that don't provide any warmth shivering as they are walking to the next bar or waiting for their Uber. Accepting that San Francisco is probably going to be cold during the night is important. Either choose a costume that will last all day/night or bring a jacket or a warmer piece of the costume to add later.

A jacket, sweatshirt, leggings or long sleeves can sometimes be incorporated into the costume without changing the overall look. If you are attending an outdoor event or walking between bars, restaurants and parties, having an extra layer can make the night much more comfortable.

Buy Halloween Event Tickets Early

Halloween is one of the biggest weekends of the year for parties, nightlife and special events. Popular Halloween events can sell out or become more expensive as the date gets closer.

Once you know what you want to do, buying tickets early is usually a good idea. San Francisco has Halloween events happening throughout October, so you do not necessarily have to wait until October 31.

Make Restaurant Reservations

If you are planning dinner before a Halloween event, consider making a reservation. With Halloween on a Saturday in 2026, you can expect a much bigger crowd than usual so a lot of restaurants will be packed.

Restaurants near nightlife areas can get busy on Halloween weekends, especially in neighborhoods like the Marina, North Beach, Polk Street, the Mission and SoMa. Eating before a long night out is also a good idea in general. If you are going to a party, nightclub or pub crawl, plan enough time for dinner before the event begins.

You can also make a list of late-night food options ahead of time. Finding pizza, tacos, burgers or another late-night meal is much easier when you already know where you want to go. If you live in SF, that might not be an issue, but if you are coming from out of town, it is good to know. San Francisco doesn't have as many late night spots as I would like.

Figure Out Transportation Before You Leave

Halloween traffic can be unpredictable and parking can also be difficult near major nightlife areas and event venues. If you are going out in San Francisco, consider using public transportation, rideshare services or a designated driver instead of trying to find parking near your destination.

Start Decorating Before Halloween Week

If you enjoy decorating your home, do not wait until October 30. Halloween decorations start appearing in stores surprisingly early, and many of the best items can sell out long before Halloween. Start looking for decorations in September or early October. You do not need to spend a fortune. Some of the best Halloween decorations can be made with inexpensive supplies from craft stores, dollar stores or hardware stores. If you live in an apartment, decorations around the door, windows and living room can create a Halloween atmosphere without taking up much space.

Also, if you happen to live in a area where people tend to go all out with decorating, then getting your decorations up early is a really nice thing to do. A lot of excited kids like to go to different areas with their parents to see the elaborately decorated houses.

Get Pumpkins Before the Last Minute

Pumpkin shopping is another activity that gets much busier as Halloween approaches. If you plan on decorating pumpkins, visiting a pumpkin patch or simply putting pumpkins around your home, consider getting them earlier in October. The Bay Area has plenty of pumpkin patches, including farms around Half Moon Bay, the Peninsula, South Bay, East Bay, Marin and the North Bay. Lemos Farm is always a good choice.

Stock Up on Halloween Candy

If trick-or-treaters visit your neighborhood, buy candy before Halloween week. Stores often still have plenty of candy at the last minute, but the most popular variety packs can disappear quickly. Plus, buying early can usually save you a lot of money. We bought over 5,000 pieces of candy last year and it barely lasted the night. If you live on one of the "Halloween Streets" then you will most likely have a busy night of trick or treating and go through a lot of candy.

Warehouse stores and big-box retailers can be useful if you expect a large number of trick-or-treaters. You can also find a good selection on Amazon.

Prepare for Trick-or-Treaters

If you are handing out candy, spend a few minutes getting your house ready. Make sure walkways are clear and well lit and keep extension cords, decorations and other objects away from areas where people will be walking.

If you have pets, consider keeping them away from the front door during busy trick-or-treating hours. Repeated knocking, doorbells and people in costumes can make some animals nervous. You may also want to place decorations or lights near your entrance so families can easily tell that you are participating.

Make Plans for Kids Before Halloween Night

Families should decide on a trick-or-treating plan before Halloween. Choose the neighborhood or streets you want to visit, decide how long you plan to stay out and make sure children have costumes that are comfortable enough for walking. Flashlights, glow sticks and reflective accessories can make costumes easier to see after dark. This can also help you find your child if you get separated.

San Francisco has many neighborhoods that become especially busy with trick-or-treaters, so arriving earlier can sometimes make the experience easier for younger children. There are also plenty of daytime Halloween events around the Bay Area for families who would rather celebrate before it gets dark.

Pick Up Makeup and Costume Supplies Early

Halloween makeup, face paint, fake blood and costume accessories tend to disappear from store shelves as Halloween approaches. If your costume requires special makeup, buy it ahead of time and test it before Halloween.

This is especially important for:

• Face paint

• Prosthetics

• Costume contact lenses

• Fake eyelashes

• Wigs

• Spirit gum

• Fake wounds

• Body paint

Make a Halloween Weekend Plan

Halloween does not have to be a one-night event. October is packed with seasonal activities, and spreading things out can make the month more fun.

Your plan could include:

Friday: Halloween movie night

Saturday: Pumpkin patch

Sunday: Decorate pumpkins

Following weekend: Haunted house like Terror Vault or Halloween event

Halloween weekend: Costume party, pub crawl or trick-or-treating

There are enough Halloween activities around San Francisco and the Bay Area that you could easily fill several weekends. Technically you could probably visit a different pumpkin patch every Saturday and Sunday until Halloween and still not see them all.

Check Event Rules

Before heading to a Halloween event, check the rules. Some venues have restrictions on:

• Masks

• Large costume props

• Fake weapons

• Oversized bags

• Outside food or drinks

• Face coverings

• Professional cameras

Nightclubs and concert venues may also have stricter security policies than regular Halloween parties. If your costume includes a large prop sword, mask or elaborate accessory, it is worth checking before you leave home. It really sucks to arrive at an event and not be allowed to bring in an amazing prop or a bag filled with comfy or warm clothes for later.

Charge Your Phone

This sounds obvious, but Halloween is one of those nights when your phone tends to get used constantly. You may be taking pictures, ordering rides, checking maps, finding friends, showing tickets and looking up event information. Start the night with a fully charged phone.

A small portable charger can also be useful, especially if you plan on being out for several hours.

Plan Your Photos

Halloween costumes usually involve more work than what you would wear on a normal night out, so take some photos before everything starts falling apart. If you are going out with friends, take a few group pictures early in the evening. This also goes for kids as their amazing Halloween costumes have a way of ripping or falling apart soon after they begin their trick or treating journey.

Check Your Halloween Supplies

Make a check list (now) and then make sure you have purchased or done everything you need. Here are some potential things you might need to do:

• Costume

• Costume accessories

• Makeup

• Comfortable shoes

• Warm layer

• Event tickets

• Dinner reservation

• Transportation plan

• Decorations

• Pumpkins

• Candy

• Phone charger

• ID

• Wallet

• House keys

Halloween is one Holiday where you don't want to worry about running around at the last minute to find something you forgot.

Start Preparing for Halloween Early

You do not need a complicated Halloween plan. The biggest difference usually comes from taking care of a few things early.

Order your costume before everything sells out. Buy tickets before events fill up. Get your decorations while stores still have a good selection. Figure out where you are going and how you are getting there.

For anyone celebrating Halloween in San Francisco, it is also worth remembering that October can be a busy month. Parties, concerts, haunted attractions, pumpkin patches and special events fill the calendar.