Filoli's Nightfall in Woodside is an evening walk through lit-up gardens. The Great Big BOO! at Gilroy Gardens is a theme-park night with a musical show, characters, a candy trail and rides. Both end November 1. The catch is Halloween itself: Gilroy Gardens is open only 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, October 31. If you want to be out after dark that night, Filoli is the one of the two with an evening session.
The two venues are far apart: Woodside is on the Peninsula, and Gilroy is at the southern end of Santa Clara County. Treat them as two separate nights out, not one route.
2 Halloween evenings at a glance
| Outing | Evening schedule | Important exception |
|---|---|---|
| Nightfall at Filoli, Woodside | Nightly Sept. 26–Nov. 1, 5:30–10 p.m.; last entry 8:30 p.m. | Closed Thursday, Oct. 8 |
| The Great Big BOO! at Gilroy Gardens, Gilroy | Through Nov. 1: Fridays 5–10 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays 1–9 p.m.; Halloween shows and trick-or-treating from 5 p.m. | Closed Saturday, Oct. 10. Saturday, Oct. 31 is 11 a.m.–5 p.m. only |
Dates and hours checked September 27, 2026. Confirm your date on the operator's calendar before you go.
Nightfall at Filoli
Nightfall spreads across Filoli's Woodside estate: activities in the meadow, a mystery inside the house, an illuminated redwood trail, and a miniature train display (something to look at, not a ride). Plan on roughly two to two and a half hours. Parking is included, but some lots are up to a 15-minute walk on gravel, and there's no re-entry, so grab everything from the car before you head in. A step-free route is available, though it crosses pavement, gravel, mulch and field sections, so judge whether it suits your stroller or wheelchair. Some areas are dim and spooky, which may be a lot for younger or sensitive kids. Ticket details for each date are on Filoli's Nightfall page.
The Great Big BOO! at Gilroy Gardens: shows, candy and rides
If your kids want rides with their Halloween, this is the one. On weekends the park opens at 1 p.m. and the Halloween program starts at 5, so you can ride in the afternoon and stay for the show and candy trail. On Fridays the park opens at 5. For an evening plan, avoid October 31, when the park closes at 5 p.m.
The lineup can vary by visit, so don't count on every ride or show running the day you go. The interactive wands are sold separately.
Tickets and parking. Single-day tickets are advertised from $65; check the price for your date. Kids under three get in free, and eligible admission includes the BOO. Parking costs an extra $25 per vehicle, and accessible spaces are near the entrance. Include parking when you compare the two outings.
Rides and costumes. Every ride has its own height requirement; check the park's ride policies and ride-specific guidance before promising a particular ride. Inflatable costumes aren't allowed on rides, and loose pieces need to be secured or taken off. The event's rules also bar adults from wearing masks of any kind and don't allow weapons. That matters if the grown-ups are dressing up too.
Access. The park's accessibility page links a Guest Assistance Guide with details for each attraction. Guests who can't wait in a standard line can be assessed at the Welcome Center for the Boarding Pass program. It gives you another way to wait but doesn't let you skip the line. The park rents a limited number of strollers, wheelchairs and ECVs, and it has rest spaces. If your child is sensitive to noise, lighting effects or crowds, plan for those at the evening shows.
Before you book
Pick the date first. Filoli is closed October 8. Gilroy Gardens is closed October 10 and has daytime-only hours on Halloween. For Filoli, arrive early enough to make the walk from parking before the 8:30 p.m. last entry. For Gilroy, add the $25 parking to the ticket price.
Check the operator's page again on the day you go.
For a daytime pumpkin outing on the coast instead, see our guide to Half Moon Bay pumpkin patches.
Creators and sources
Both events came from @bayareakidsgo's September roundup of Bay Area family events. Some of the roundup's other events may have already passed by the time you read this. The dates, hours and policies here come from the Filoli and Gilroy Gardens pages linked above, including Gilroy's November 1 end date.
Related Stasht guides
- Stasht's Halloween Guide
- Stasht's Guide to Fall Days Out
- How to stop missing events saved on Instagram
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