SAN FRANCISCO — Scaregrove returns to Stern Grove on Friday, Oct. 30, with six hours of free Halloween programming for families, including a haunted house, carnival rides, a haunted maze, arts and crafts and live entertainment.
San Francisco Recreation and Parks lists the annual event from 3 to 9 p.m. at Sigmund Stern Grove, 19th Avenue and Sloat Boulevard. Costumes are encouraged. Food will be sold at the event, so “free” refers to admission and the advertised programming rather than food purchases.
When and where is Scaregrove 2026?
Friday, Oct. 30 from 3 to 9 p.m. at Sigmund Stern Grove, 19th Avenue and Sloat Boulevard in San Francisco.
Rec and Parks lists the event as free and family-friendly. Its calendar also separately lists Mobile Rec at Scaregrove from noon to 8 p.m., including a rock wall, so some activity at the park begins before the main Halloween event opens.
What is there to do at Scaregrove?
The city’s current event listing advertises a haunted house, carnival rides, a haunted maze, arts and crafts, live entertainment and food for sale. A separate volunteer listing describes the maze as a hay maze and lists activity stations in addition to the haunted attractions.
The city does not publish a minute-by-minute attraction schedule on the main event page. Families who are coming for one specific activity should check the current Rec and Parks listing before leaving in case operating details change.
Is Scaregrove free?
Yes. San Francisco Recreation and Parks lists admission as free. The event page explicitly says food will be available for sale, so plan separately for anything you want to eat or drink.
Which Muni lines go to Stern Grove?
SFMTA’s Stern Grove location page lists the 23 Monterey and 28 19th Avenue among the routes serving the park at 19th Avenue and Sloat Boulevard. It also lists nearby rail and other service, but event-day and construction service can change.
For the simplest trip planning, check SF News Today’s live transit page shortly before leaving. Older Rec and Parks Scaregrove access guidance specifically directed 28 riders to 19th and Sloat and 23 riders toward the Crestlake Drive/Vale Avenue side of the park; treat those as useful orientation, not a guarantee of the 2026 event-day operating plan.
What about parking and drop-off?
Stern Grove sits in a residential area and parking can be limited during large events. The current Scaregrove page does not promise general event parking. SFMTA lists the West Portal/14th Avenue lot as a nearby public parking option for the park, but spaces and street parking are not guaranteed.
If you are driving, leave time to park legally outside the immediate entrance area and expect a walk. Rideshare and passenger-loading arrangements can also change for a special event, so the city event page is the best place to check for any late access update.
What else is happening around Halloween?
Families looking for a daytime option the previous weekend can also use our guide to the free Great Hauntway at Sunset Dunes on Oct. 25. SF News Today is also tracking the Fillmore Halloween Night Market and other free city events.