The Haunt: A Halloween Hangout Crafted by Artists
October 29–31, 2026
Interactive Haunted House
Presented by YBCA & Bat Witch Ghost
Image: The Haunt, 2025. YBCA, San Francisco.
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA)
701 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
+1 415 978 2787
YBCA Website
YBCA Instagram
The Haunt Hours
| Monday | Closed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | Closed |
| Wednesday | Closed |
| Thursday | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm |
| Friday | 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm |
| Saturday | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Overview
The Haunt returns to YBCA with a Halloween hangout crafted by artists, blending spooky spectacle, B-movie aesthetics, and San Francisco’s DIY creative spirit. This year’s Techno-Fantasy theme transforms discarded electronics and salvaged materials into a warped futuristic world of eerie corridors, immersive art installations, and otherworldly surprises.
Inside The Haunt. YBCA, San Francisco.
Presented by YBCA and Bat Witch Ghost, the 6,000-square-foot experience is part haunted labyrinth, part laser-lit speakeasy, featuring tarot readings, dancing, drinks, and DJs curated by Lower Grand Radio. Costumes are encouraged, and tickets include gallery admission.
*Kids 12 and under enter FREE, with a family-friendly early show on October 30 at 5 p.m.
🗓 The Haunt: A Halloween Hangout Crafted by Artists runs Oct. 29–31, 2026, at YBCA in San Francisco’s Yerba Buena arts district, alongside current exhibitions Dread Scott: The Body Politic; Rael San Fratello: Prototypes and Provocations; GaHee Park: Behind the Curtain; and Creativity Explored at YBCA.
💌 Did you experience The Haunt, see any of the exhibitions, or try any of our recommendations? What did you think? Let us know in the comments (in the Reviews section located on the second tab at the top of the page).
Currently On View at YBCA
GaHee Park: Behind the Curtain | Aug. 7, 2026–Jan. 3, 2027
GaHee Park: Behind the Curtain explores fantasy, sexuality, and mortality through surreal paintings of intimate moments, uncanny still lifes, and dreamlike landscapes.
Dread Scott: The Body Politic | Sept. 25, 2026–Jan. 31, 2027
The exhibition reflects Dread Scott’s longtime commitment to art that confronts political issues and interrogates American patriotism.
Rael San Fratello: Prototypes and Provocations | Sept. 25, 2026–Jan. 31, 2027
Rael San Fratello: Prototypes and Provocations surveys two decades of innovative architecture and design exploring housing, the U.S.–Mexico border, social practice, and sustainable building.
Creativity Explored at YBCA | Aug. 5–Nov. 25, 2026
Creativity Explored at YBCA is a FREE presentation of artwork by Creativity Explored artists, with opportunities to see artists at work, purchase art, and create alongside them.
QUICK GUIDE: Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA)
⭐ THE HAUNTS HOURS & ADMISSION (*YBCA MEMBERS: $15 admission to all shows):
- Thursday, Oct. 29 from 7:00–10:00 p.m. $25. Evening show recommended for ages 13 and up.
- Friday, Oct. 30 from 5:00–7:00 p.m. $25. Family-friendly early show featuring a free Halloween headwear workshop by SCRAP. Kids 12 and under FREE.
- Friday, Oct. 30 from 8:00–10:00 p.m. $25. Evening show recommended for ages 13 and up.
- Saturday, Oct. 31 from 8:00–11:00 p.m. $25. Evening show recommended for ages 13 and up.
⭐ YBCA EXHIBITIONS:
- GaHee Park: Behind the Curtain explores fantasy, sexuality, and mortality through surreal paintings of intimate moments, uncanny still lifes, and dreamlike landscapes. | Aug. 7, 2026–Jan. 3, 2027
- Dread Scott: The Body Politic confronts American patriotism, power, and politics through provocative new works spanning printmaking, installation, and performance. | Sept. 25, 2026–Jan. 31, 2027
- Rael San Fratello: Prototypes and Provocations surveys two decades of innovative architecture and design exploring housing, the U.S.–Mexico border, social practice, and sustainable building. | Sept. 25, 2026–Jan. 31, 2027
- Creativity Explored at YBCA is a FREE presentation of artwork by Creativity Explored artists, with opportunities to see artists at work, purchase art, and create alongside them. | Aug. 5–Nov. 25, 2026
⭐ YBCA HOURS: Open Thursday–Sunday 11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Wednesday 11:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. Closed Monday–Tuesday.
⭐ YBCA ADMISSION: General Admission Tickets Adults $10; Seniors 65+, Students, Educator $5; Accessibility caregiver and 17 & Under FREE. Membership starts at $165.
⭐ YBCA DISCOUNTS:
- FREE ON WEDNESDAYS
- Museums for All (show your EBT or Medi-Cal card/ID)
- FREE Admission for Military Personnel
- FREE Admission for Museum employees + 1 guest w/current valid staff ID
⭐ YBCA EVENTS:
- FREE ART WORKSHOP: Pop-up Mini Haunted House on Oct. 28, 2026, from 2:00–4:00 p.m. (FREE with registration)
- HALLOWEEN EVENT: The Haunt: A Halloween Hangout Crafted by Artists presented by Bat Witch Ghost & YBCA, Oct. 29–31, 2026. ($25; YBCA members $15; kids 12 and under FREE)
- FILM SCREENING ($15): The Red Shoes (1948), co-presented by GaHee Park, Michael Vass & YBCA, on Oct. 31, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. (Includes gallery admission and themed snacks while supplies last.)
- FREE GALLERY TOUR & SKETCHING: Dread Scott & Rael San Fratello on Nov. 4, 2026, from 4:00–5:30 p.m. (FREE with registration)
- FREE LIVE MUSIC: Ryli performs in the GaHee Park: Behind the Curtain exhibition on Nov. 4, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. (FREE with RSVP)
- FREE JAM SESSION: Jam Session with Creativity Explored featuring artists and their handmade instruments on Nov. 6, 2026, from 12:00–1:30 p.m. (FREE with RSVP)
- DANCE FILM FESTIVAL: 2026 World Deaf & Disabled Dance Film Festival presented by Urban Jazz Dance Company, featuring films celebrating Deaf and Disabled dance artists from around the world. Nov. 6–7, 2026. Friday screenings 6:00–9:00 p.m.; Saturday screenings 11:30 a.m.–7:30 p.m. ($28.52 per program; $87.21 Saturday Festival Pass)
- FILM SCREENING ($15): West Indies: The Fugitive Slaves of Liberty (1979), directed by Med Hondo and co-presented by Ashley Clark & YBCA, on Nov. 14, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. (Includes gallery admission and snacks while supplies last.)
⭐ NEARBY ART:
- PUBLIC ART: Revelation, the Martin Luther King Jr. memorial fountain and several others at Yerba Buena Gardens (see LINK for additional works at Yerba Buena Gardens) | 1-min walk
- MUSEUM: SFMOMA ON VIEW: RM x SFMOMA | This landmark exhibition curated by RM of BTS with SFMOMA curators, brings together 200 rarely seen works from RM’s personal collection and SFMOMA to place modern Korean art in dialogue with contemporary art from around the world. | Oct. 2026–Feb. 2027 | 1-min walk
- MUSEUM: MoAD ON VIEW: Dorian Reid: Calling All Cats (MoAD Emerging Artist Series) is a multidisciplinary exhibition of ceramics, paintings, prints, textiles, and installations that celebrates Black history, community, civil rights, and animal welfare through the artist’s whimsical world of cats. | Sept. 30–Dec. 6, 2026 | ON VIEW: Dewey Crumpler: Sonic Lineages is the first major museum exhibition spanning more than five decades of the Bay Area artist’s career, bringing together paintings and newly commissioned kinetic works that explore Black consciousness, memory, spirituality, time, and African cosmologies. | Sept. 30–May 30, 2027. | UPCOMING: Tahirah Rasheed: The Light We Carry Forward (MoAD Emerging Artist Series) explores Black womanhood through glass, print, and photography, examining survival, care, healing, and resistance in the face of medical and institutional harm. | Dec. 16, 2026–March 7, 2027 | 2-min walk
- GALLERY: Berggruen Gallery ON VIEW: Defining the Century: Modern Visionaries from Picasso to Calder | Sept. 10–Oct. 22, 2026 | ON VIEW: Liam Everett: the passenger | Sept. 10–Oct. 29, 2026 | UPCOMING: Stephen Hannock: Recent Nocturnes in the Gloaming | Oct. 29, 2026–Jan. 7, 2027. *ARTIST TALK & OPENING RECEPTION: Thurs., Oct. 29, 2026 (Artist Talk 4:30 p.m.; Opening Reception 5:00–7:00 p.m. | UPCOMING: Jacob Hashimoto: Death by Water | Nov. 5, 2026–Jan. 7, 2027 *ARTIST TALK & OPENING RECEPTION: Thurs., Nov. 5, 2026 (Artist Talk 4:30 p.m.; Opening Reception 5:00–7:00 p.m. | 6-min walk
⭐ NEARBY DINING
- Tropisueño | Casual taqueria vibes by day and a full-service restaurant and bar by night. | 2-min walk
- Delarosa | Pizza and pasta. BOOK DELAROSA ON OPEN TABLE HERE | 2-min walk
- Amber India | Upscale Indian food w/ *Mon–Fri LUNCH SPECIALS starting at $18 & $32 Lunch Buffet! BOOK AMBER INDIA ON OPEN TABLE HERE | 4-min walk
- Metreon Food Hall | Budget-friendly assortment of food vendors i.e. burgers, salads, poke bowls, wraps, ramen. | 4-min walk
- The Harlequin | Cocktail bar w/Brooklyn vibes serving lunch (Thurs., Sat., Sun.) and dinner. *Check out their FABULOUS HAPPY HOUR 4:00–6:00 p.m. daily featuring $2 oysters and $11 cocktails. BOOK THE HARLEQUIN ON OPEN TABLE HERE | 4-min walk
A LOVE LETTER TO ART’S CASUAL DINING PICKS
- Jane on Third at SFMOMA | Amanda Michael’s local café chain named for her daughter, serves housemade baked goods, breakfast, sandwiches, and salads—perfect for a quick snack or leisurely lunch. Open to the public, MUSEUM ADMISSION NOT REQUIRED. | 1-min walk
- Ippudo | Cozy, modern ramen restaurant with a full bar. *Check out their DAILY HAPPY HOUR from 3:00–6:00 p.m. | 3-min walk
- Oren’s Hummus | Delicious Israeli food in a casual friendly setting. *Check out their AMAZING HAPPY HOUR Mon–Thurs 3:00–5:00 p.m. | 3-min walk
- Fang | Cantonese cuisine from the Fang family of House of Nanking. As seen on Chef Dynasty: House of Fang (oh, I like that Peter Fang!), chefs Kathy and Peter Fang blend tradition with charm. BOOK FANG ON OPEN TABLE HERE | 4-min walk
💖 A LOVE LETTER TO ART’S ROMANTIC DINING PICKS
- The Pied Piper | Old world bar + food + Maxfield Parrish’s Pied Piper painting in SF’s historic Palace Hotel. BOOK THE PIED PIPER ON OPEN TABLE HERE | 6-min walk
- The Cavalier | I love the English hunting lodge meets chic gastropub vibes, thanks to the vision of designer extraordinaire Ken Fulk. *CHECK OUT THEIR FANTASTIC HAPPY HOURS: Mon–Sat 4:00–6:00 p.m.; Fri & Sat 9:00–10:00 p.m. Includes $10 Cocktails & Apps under $20! The MARLOWE BURGER is a SF classic. BOOK THE CAVALIER ON OPEN TABLE HERE | 7-min walk
More nearby suggestions are always welcome. Feel free to add in the comments!
A LOVE LETTER TO ART RECOMMENDS
SEE MORE ART AT YERBA BUENA GARDENS
🦋 FREE: There also are quite a few public artworks on display at Yerba Buena Gardens (750 Howard Street | map | 2 min walk), including the Martin Luther King Jr. memorial fountain, Revelation, a powerful work by sculptor Houston Conwill, poet Estella Conwill Majoza (great interview with her in the link), and architect Joseph DePace.
DINING AT YERBA BUENA GARDENS
🌳TIP: I really enjoy just chilling out and having a bite to eat in Yerba Buena Gardens, where you can either sit on the benches, grass, or on the Metreon’s Dining Terrace (tables and chairs available seasonally). *For kids, I would recommend grabbing takeout from one of inexpensive restaurants in the Metreon (the steps from Yerba Buena Gardens lead right into the food court). The park hosts FREE LIVE MUSIC AND PERFORMANCES on many weekends of the year, which is really FANTASTIC in the spring and summer. Such great vibes!!
ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS AT YERBA BUENA GARDENS
Activities for kids at Yerba Buena Gardens include: Yerba Buena Gardens, Yerba Buena Gardens Children’s Creativity Museum and the LeRoy King Carousel, the Yerba Buena Children’s Garden playground, and the Yerba Buena Ice Skating and Bowling Center.
Yerba Buena Gardens | 750 Howard St, San Francisco, CA 94103
Located in the cultural heart of San Francisco, Yerba Buena Gardens is the perfect place to play, dine, shop or just relax.
Children’s Creativity Museum | 221 4th Street, San Francisco, CA 94103
The Children’s Creativity Museum in San Francisco offers hands-on art, design, and innovation experiences for kids of all ages.
LeRoy King Carousel | Children’s Creativity Museum | 221 4th Street San Francisco, CA 94103
The Carousel is open Saturday and Sunday. The historic Looff carousel at the Children’s Creativity Museum – renamed in 2014 in honor of San Francisco Redevelopment Commissioner and civil rights advocate LeRoy King - is the crown jewel of Yerba Buena Gardens. It transports children (and children-at-h…
Yerba Buena Children’s Garden Playground | Howard St and 4th St, San Francisco, CA 94103
A children’s playground like no other in downtown SF. For SF visitors and residents looking for a children’s playground to let the rascals burn off some energy, Yerba Buena Children’s Garden will deliver all the smiles and fun your kids are looking for.
Yerba Buena Ice Skating & Bowling Center Public Skating | 750 Folsom Street, San Francisco, CA 94107
We have Public Skating just about every day of the year. Please see our schedule below for each specific day. You can purchase tickets online to speed up your entry process, the service fee is waived for these purchases, so the price is the same in person or online. Ice skate and locker rentals a…
NEARYBY ART
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art | 151 Third Street, San Francisco, CA 94103
The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art is one of the largest museums of modern and contemporary art in the United States and a thriving cultural center for the Bay Area. Our remarkable collection of painting, sculpture, photography, architecture, design, and media arts, is housed in an LEED Gold-certified building designed by the global architects Snøhetta and Mario Botta. In addition to our seven gallery floors, SFMOMA offers 45,000 square feet of free, art-filled public space open to all. Welcome!
Museum of the African Diaspora | 685 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94105
MoAD, a contemporary art museum, celebrates Black cultures, ignites challenging conversations, and inspires learning through the global lens of the African Diaspora.
Berggruen Gallery | 10 Hawthorne St, San Francisco, CA 94105
Berggruen Gallery specializes in the exhibition and sale of 20th-century American and European paintings, drawings, sculpture, and limited edition prints.
NEARBY DINING
Tropisueño Mexican Kitchen | Taqueria By Day, Full-Service Bar & Restaurant By Night! | 75 Yerba Buena Lane, San Francisco, CA 94103
Inspired by a tropical dream of the Jaliscan coastline and the complex cuisines from the very diverse regions throughout Mexico. We proudly offer a quick-service Taqueria by day and a charming, full-service Restaurant by night. Our Bar is open from start to finish, so enjoy our excellent handcrafted cocktails everytime you visit!
Delarosa | All-Day, Roman-Style Pizzerias in California | 37 Yerba Buena Lane, San Francisco, CA 94103
Delarosa is an all-day gathering place serving rustic Italian dishes, eclectic beers & craft cocktails in SF’s Marina, a second location in SF’s FiDi, and now open in Bishop Ranch, San Ramon, CA. Beloved for its Roman-style pizza, small plates, craft beer, Italian and Californian wines, and delicious craft cocktails, Delarosa and its interpretation of the classic and unpretentious beer and pizza pairing has made a mark on many locals’ and visitors’ must-visit lists.
Amber India | 25 Yerba Buena Lane, San Francisco, CA 94103 | Book on OpenTable
Amber India - San Francisco, Fine Dining Indian cuisine. Read reviews and book now. *Check out their Mon–Fri LUNCH SPECIALS starting at $18 & $32 Lunch Buffet!
Dining at Metreon | *Metreon has many great casual dining options. | 135 4th St, San Francisco, CA 94103
Visit Metreon, a four-story vertical shopping and entertainment center, located in the heart of downtown San Francisco, CA. Shop with us today!
The Harlequin | Cocktail Bar, Restaurant, Lounge and Event Space | 68 4th St, San Francisco, CA 94103
WELCOME TO THE HARLEQUIN: A Decadent Era of Cocktails and Dining in Downtown San Francisco. Party like it's 1923 while enjoying expertly crafted cocktails paired with New American cuisine. Our spaces are great for happy hours, group celebrations, date nights, private dining, and corporate events. Located steps from Moscone Center in the Yerba Buena neighborhood.
*A LOVE LETTER TO ART'S CASUAL PICK | Jane on Third | 151 3rd Street, San Francisco, CA 94103
Cafes and bakery with an emphasis on fresh, healthy, innovative foods and high quality coffee and tea. Everything made from scratch daily and a full catering menu available online.
*A LOVE LETTER TO ART'S CASUAL PICK | IPPUDO Yerba Buena | 18 Yerba Buena Ln, San Francisco, CA 94103
Discover the best tonkotsu ramen in San Francisco at Ippudo Yerba Buena – where deep, creamy pork broth and perfectly balanced noodles come together for an unforgettable bowl. Located in the heart of Yerba Buena, we proudly serve authentic Hakata-style ramen that’s rich in flavor and tradition. Explore our menu, check our hours, and reserve your table today for a true taste of Japan’s finest ramen. *Check out their DAILY HAPPY HOUR from 3:00–6:00 p.m.
*A LOVE LETTER TO ART'S CASUAL PICK | Oren’s Hummus | **Check out their AMAZING HAPPY HOUR Mon–Thurs 3 p.m.–5 p.m. | 71 3rd St, San Francisco, CA 94103
Our pita and hummus are prepared fresh numerous times throughout the day. We serve Angus beef, all natural chicken and 100% organic eggs, and we source most of our produce from local family farms.
*A LOVE LETTER TO ART'S CASUAL PICK | Fang | 660 Howard Street, San Francisco, CA 94105
Trendy spot offering modern twists on Chinese staples in an upscale, Asian-influenced setting.
*A LOVE LETTER TO ART'S ROMANTIC PICK | The Cavalier | 360 Jessie St, San Francisco, CA 94103
The Cavalier is a London-inspired brasserie, located adjacent to Hotel Zetta in San Francisco’s SoMA neighborhood. The upscale British influenced restaurant is brought to you by Executive Chef Jennifer Puccio and award-winning San Francisco designer, Ken Fulk. *CHECK OUT THEIR FANTASTIC HAPPY HOURS: Mon–Sat 4:00–6:00 p.m.; Fri & Sat 9:00–10:00 p.m. Includes $10 Cocktails & Apps under $20!
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Author: ALoveLettertoArt
