Friday, October 30 | 3–7 PM | Downtown Berkeley
Calling all ghosts, goblins, witches, weirdos, little monsters and creatures of every kind!
The 7th Annual Downtown Berkeley Halloween Hootenanny is back for an afternoon of frightfully good fun, Berkeley-style!
Join us for a FREE, family-friendly Halloween celebration featuring live music, spooky surprises, local vendors, festive activities, treats, and plenty of Halloween mischief. Bring the kids, round up your friends, dress up your pets, and get ready to celebrate everything wonderfully weird about Berkeley!
And this year, we're turning up the Halloween magic with our Halloween Costume Contest, co-presented by Visit Berkeley!
The Hootenanny Halloween Costume Contest
Got a costume that's clever, creative, creepy, or just plain Berkeley? We want to see it!
Whether you're flying solo, dressing up the whole family, or transforming your four-legged friend into a Halloween masterpiece, it's your chance to strut your stuff, show off your imagination, and compete for fun prizes, including Berkeley Bucks and goodies from Downtown Berkeley businesses!
Costume Categories
Best Dressed Beast — Animal Category
Dogs, cats, and other beloved family pets are invited to show off their Halloween finest.Greenest Costume
Reduce, reuse, reBOO! Show us your most imaginative costume made from recycled, reused, or repurposed materials.Most Berkeley Costume
Only in Berkeley! Celebrate the people, places, history, quirks, and unmistakable spirit of our one-of-a-kind city.Keep Berkeley Weird Award
Let your freak flag fly! We're looking for the weirdest, wildest, most wonderfully unexpected costume of the day.Best Solo Costume
One person. One amazing costume. Endless possibilities. Bring your most creative Halloween alter ego to life!Best Family or Group Costume
Because Halloween is better together! Gather your family, friends, or favorite collection of oddballs for a coordinated costume creation.Prizes, Parade & Bragging Rights!
Contestants will have a chance to take home Berkeley Bucks, prizes from local Downtown businesses, and, of course, the admiration of Berkeley's most discerning Halloween enthusiasts.
Costume Contest registration begins at 3 PM, with awards starting around 5:30 PM.
Free to Attend. Fun for All. Weirdness Encouraged.
Presented by the Downtown Berkeley Association, and Visit Berkeley, HABITOT
See you at the Hootenanny!
