This year’s most enchanting haunted experience may be Nightfall at Filoli, the historic mansion in Woodside, located about 40 minutes south of San Francisco.
The estate is breathtaking in any season, but now you’ll take in a sharp inhale at the Gothic-inspired scenes that bring the past to life. You’ll walk through the house illuminated by candlelight, and then venture outside to the lush meadow filled with flickering jack-o’-lanterns. And though it all certainly looks spooky, you can rest easy that the manor doesn’t seem to have any accounts of real-life hauntings.
Filoli was built in 1917 as a private residence; today, though, the National Trust for Historic Preservation-owned home is open to the public. It’s a standout example of a still-standing early-20th-century country estate, and one that was designed by Willis Polk, who was also behind the Beach Chalet at Ocean Beach, the Hallidie Building downtown (one of the first to feature glass curtain walls), the asymmetric polygon Hobart Building on Market Street and the Bourn Mansion in Pacific Heights, which is credited with making clinker brick a thing.
The 54,000-square-foot Georgian revival-style mansion is set on 654 acres, 16 of which consist of English Renaissance gardens, including seven fruit-filled ones for the Gentleman’s Orchard (you’ll have to self-assess if you belong), plus a one-mile estate trail and hundreds of acres of natural land. Please note that a portion of the event also goes through the Meadow, which has uneven terrain (dirt paths, grassy field, bark-laden areas, grave sites… okay, we made that last one up).
At Nightfall, you’ll be able to savor a seasonal drink and devour Halloween-inspired treats at “Jack’s Bar,” play games and pop into photo opportunity setups. It’s a recipe for a magical evening, which starts at 5:30pm and ends at 9pm, and runs from October 16 through November 3. Tickets are $41 for adults and $28 for kids 5 to 17; those 4 and under are free. Find tickets and more details here.