Freaky celebrations

CONCERT COSTUME BASH - 9:30 p.m. Oct.

27 and 28. 19 Broadway, Fairfax; 459-1091; . Two-night costume bash themed nerds and Catholic schoolgirls featuring the Spazmatics, Nerds That Rock and Junkhead on Oct.

27 and Marones and Slowfinger Oct. 28. $10.

CONCERT HALLOWEEN SERIES - 8 p.m. Oct.

31. Larkspur Cafe Theatre, 500 Magnolia Ave, Larkspur; 924-6107. Sharon Knight and her band perform as part of the "Freaky Folk Tales from Beyond the Veil" Halloween series.

Enjoy spooky songs of haunted ships, fairy visitations and more. $15. COSTUME BALL - 8 p.

m. to midnight Oct. 28.

Tomales Town Hall, Highway One, Tomales; 707-878-2184. Dancing, full bar, costume prizes and music by Ron Thompson and the Resistors. $15 to benefit the Tomales Town Hall.

FAIRFAX HAUNTED HOUSE - 6 to 11:30 p.m. Oct.

27, 28 and 31. Fairfax Youth Detention Center at Fairfax Pavilion, 66 Bolinas Road Park Hill; 456-5469. Haunted house to benefit the Marin Food Bank.

May be too scary for children under 13. $15; $10 with food donation. GREAT PUMPKIN FESTIVAL - 1 to 4 p.

m. Oct. 29.

Landmarks Art and Garden Center, 841 Tiburon Blvd., Tiburon; 435-1843. Pumpkin carving and decorating contest

Dress in costume. $3 to $5. HALLOWEEN BALL AND MASQUERADE - 7 to 10 p.

m. Oct. 27.

Novato High School, Old Gym, Novato; 897-4228; . Fundraising ball with live music from the Big Band era. Music by Marin School of the Arts and Novato High School jazz bands and middle school bands.

Dress in a Halloween costume or '40s swing attire and dancing shoes. $5 to $10. HALLOWEEN CARNIVAL - 10 a.

m. to 2 p.m.

Oct. 28. Twin Cities Co-op Preschool on 56 Mohawk Ave.

, Corte Madera; 924-3150. Non-scary fun for toddlers, preschoolers, kindergartners and families featuring face painting, fortune telling and a cake walk. Dress in costume.

$2 to $3. HALLOWEEN CONCERT AND DANCE - 8 p.m.

Oct. 28. Dance Palace Community Center, corner of Fifth and B streets, Point Reyes Station; 663-1075; .

Old-time country songs and fiddle tunes with the Stairwell Sisters, performing a set for square dancing. Halloween costumes encouraged. $5 to $16.

HALLOWEEN COSTUME PARTY - 9 p.m. Oct.

28. The 2 AM Club, 380 Miller Ave., Mill Valley; 388-6036.

Live music by the Disciples of Beer. Costume contest includes a cash prize. Must be 21 and older.

No cover. HALLOWEEN DANCE PARTY - 8 p.m.

Oct. 28. The Pleasure Is Mine Clubhouse, Harbor Point Racquet and Beach Club, 475 E.

Strawberry Drive, Mill Valley; 507-9962; . A costume contest and dance party for single professionals. Costumes are optional.

$20. HALLOWEEN MAGIC SHOW - 4 and 6:30 p.m.

Oct. 27. The Golf Club House, 267 Buena Vista Ave.

, Mill Valley; 383-1370. Magic and music show with music by Francie Dillon and a 45-minute comedy magic show with Brian Scott. Dress in costume, includes contest.

$7. Kids ages 3 and younger get in free. HALLOWEEN PARADE - 11:30 a.

m. Oct. 29.

Corner of San Andreas and San Carlos, San Marin; 989-8020. San Marin Improvement Association's annual parade featuring kids, adults and dogs on leashes. Costumes will be judged in categories based on age.

Signup begins at 11:30 a.m. and the parade is at noon.

$3 for hot dogs, chips and a drink at the end of the parade at All Saints Lutheran Church. HAUNTED HOUSE - 7 to 9 p.m.

Oct. 28. Neighborhood home, 266 Las Lomas Drive, Novato.

Third annual haunted house to benefit the Novato High School mountain biking club. May be too scary for children under fourth grade. Donations accepted.

LOLLIPOPS AND LETTERS CARNIVAL - 9 a.m. to 1 p.

m. Oct. 28.

Lollipops and Letters Preschool, 360 Nova Albion Way, San Rafael; 479-8980. Kids ages 2 to 5 can participate in trick-or-treating, a haunted house, apple bobbing and a pumpkin rolling contest. Dress in costume.

Free. MILL VALLEY MASQUERADE - 8 to 11:55 p.m.

Oct. 28. Masonic Hall Event Center, 19 Corte Madera Ave.

, Mill Valley; . A mystical costume party to benefit the California Poets in the Schools. Adults only.

$35. MONSTER MASH CARNIVAL - 1 to 4 p.m.

Oct. 28. Marin Primary and Middle School, 20 Magnolia Ave.

, Larkspur; 924-2608; . Haunted house, thrill slide, obstacle course, games, food and bake sale. $10; children 3 and younger get in free.

PUMPKIN FESTIVAL - 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Oct.

29. Mt. Tamalpais United Methodist Church, 410 Sycamore Ave.

, Mill Valley; 388-4456; . Annual pumpkin festival with fun games and activities for kids through fifth grade. Free.

PUMPKIN PANDEMONIUM - 1 to 5 p.m. Oct.

28. 1337 Fourth St. in San Rafael; 451-8119.

Learn how to carve an amazing pumpkin, hear "Great Pumpkin" carols from SingersMarin and visit artist studios. Free. TRICK-OR-TREATING - Noon to 3 p.

m. Oct. 29.

Town Center, on the west side of Highway 101 at the Tamalpais exit, Corte Madera; 381-8198. Kids of all ages can participate in a safe trick-or-treating event with participating merchants at the center. TRICK-OR-TREATING PARTY - 5:45 to 8 p.

m. Oct. 31.

Homestead Community Center, 15 Montford Ave., Mill Valley; 388-0137. Trick-or-treat around the neighborhood with maps and return at 7 for food, games and entertainment.

Free. VERGE HALLOWEEN CONCERT - 7 p.m.

Oct. 28. 618 B St.

, San Rafael; . The Matches, Once Over, Buckeye Knoll, A Class Act and Stop the Malarky Halloween concert. Dress in costume.

$12 to $14. BLACK SABBATH TRIBUTE PERFORMANCE - 9:30 p.m.

Oct. 27. The Hard Rock Cafe at Pier 39, San Francisco; .

Black Sabbath tribute band Sabbath Bloody Sabbath with costume contest. $5 with a costume. BOO AT THE ZOO - 10 a.

m. to 3 p.m.

Oct. 28. The San Francisco Zoo, between Skyline and Sloat boulevards; 753-7071; .

Trick-or-treat among wild animals at the zoo and enjoy haunted nature trail, interactive games, live musical entertainment, games and prizes. Dress in costume. No rubber masks.

$2.50 to $11. EXPLORATORIUM HALLOWEEN BENEFIT - 6:30 p.

m. Oct. 30.

The Exploratorium, 3601 Lyon St.; 650-321-4142; . Tenth annual Halloween benefit "Halloween Heroes" to help the Junior Giants Baseball Program and the Exploratorium Children's Educational Outreach program.

Trick-or-treat stations, hands-on activities, pumpkin and mask decorating. Dress in costume. $55 to $600.

Children 2 and younger get in free. FAMILY HALLOWEEN DAY - 10 a.m.

to 2 p.m. Oct.

28. Randall Museum, 199 Museum Way, San Francisco; 554-9600; . Family festival including games, pumpkin carving, crafts and live performances.

Free. HALLO-GREEN PARTY - 10 a.m.

to 2 p.m. Oct 28.

Chrissy Fields, 608 Mason at Halleck; 561-7752; . Fun activities for younger children including bobbing for organic apples and a costume contest. $8.

HALLOWEEN BASH - 8 p.m. to midnight.

Oct. 28. Hyatt Regency San Francisco, 5 Embarcadero Center; 788-1234; .

Halloween bash with 98.1 KISS Radio's Morris Knight. Dress in costume, includes contest.

$28.50; $30 at the door. HALLOWEEN IMPROV THEATRE - 8 p.

m. Oct. 27 and 28.

Bayfront Theatre, Fort Mason Center, Building B; . True Fiction Magazine is hosting its Halloween Horror shows featuring a full-length improvised play with interweaving stories, music and drama. Visit .

HALLOWEEN MAKEUP CLASS - 6 to 9 p.m. Oct.

26. Makeup Education Center, 132 Ninth St., San Francisco; 863-1329.

Hands-on makeup class to create looks such as wax scarring, bruised eyes and blood effects. $75 (professional makeup included). PUMPKIN PANDEMONIUM - noon to 5 p.

m. Oct. 29.

Pier 39, San Francisco; 705-5500; . Entertainment including a Dance Party and Costume Contest, trick-or-treating, and free pumpkin picking. Dress in costume, includes contest.

Free. ROCK N ROLL HORROR SHOW - 8 p.m.

Oct. 27. Rickshaw Stop, 155 Fell at Van Ness, San Francisco; 820-3907; .

Spooky film "Street Trash" will be screened and live music from Sik Luv, Wire Graffiti, Charm School Drop Outs and Madelia. Proceeds benefit SF IndieFest. Ages 18 and older.

$5 to $10 donation. COSTUME PARTY - 8 p.m.

Oct. 27. Chabot Space and Science Center, Oakland; 510-336-7300; .

Halloween costume party featuring live music, a planetarium show, telescope viewing and hands-on exhibits. $10. COSTUME SHOP SALE - 10 a.

m. to 6 p.m.

Oct. 26 and 27. Sonoma State University, Evert B.

Person Theatre, 1801 E. Cotati Ave., Rohnert Park; 664-2216.

Racks of dresses, exotic hats, costume jewelry, shoes, feather boas and trinkets for finding a costume and/or accessories. Halloween goodies will be included. $2.

50 for parking. HALLOWEEN PARTY - 7 to 9 p.m.

Oct. 26. Ray Miller Community Center, 216 East School St.

, Cotati; 707-792-4600 ext. 460; tdutrat@ci.cotati.

ca.us. An evening of tricks, treats, costumes and palm reading.

Teens 14 and older are invited to a private party. Dress in costume. Free.

HALLOWEEN STORY FESTIVAL - 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.

m. Oct. 28.

The UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley, 200 Centennial Drive in Berkeley; 510- 643-2755; . Family-friendly Halloween stories in the botanical garden with talking pumpkins, birds and trees. Dress in costume.

$10 includes one parent and one child. $3 each additional family member. HARVEST CELEBRATION - 2 p.

m. to 5 p.m.

Oct. 28. The Petaluma Farmers Market, Walnut Park, corner of D Street, Petaluma; 707-762-0344; info@petalumafarmersmarket.

com. Costume parade, cake walk, fresh baked goods, pony rides, and face painting. Free.

HAUNTED ATTRACTION - 8 to 10 p.m. Oct.

26, 8 p.m. to midnight Oct.

27 and 28. Dragon's Head Inn, 1500 Valley House Drive, Rohnert Park; 707-996-4763. Three separate haunted houses, a gift shop, snacks, treats and special area for younger patrons.

$15. HISTORIC HOUSE TOUR - 6 to 9 p.m.

Oct. 29. Petaluma Museum, 20 Fourth St.

, Petaluma; 707-762-3456; petaluma.com/tours/bi_annual_tours.html.

Tour of Petaluma's most mysterious historic homes decorated for an old-fashioned Halloween. Costumed docents will share real and surreal history about the homes and their previous inhabitants. $5 to $15.

Proceeds benefit the Revolving Preservation Fund. MONSTER BASH - 7:30 p.m.

to midnight. Oct. 28.

Aircraft Carrier USS Hornet Museum, 707 W Hornet Ave., Pier 3; Alameda; 510- 521-8448; . Haunted house, costume contest, music and food.

$10 to $20. - Compiled by Lily Faden, Laurel Hanson, Maggie Puzauskas , and we'll wash your car!