Hello Steemit Friends,

Each October, people around the world gear up for the festivities of Halloween. Though it may technically only be one night, the holiday isn't just an excuse for little kids to get free candy, it's really more like a month-long celebration full of haunted houses, horror movies, and painted pumpkins.

Castro

As I was in San fransico, we went out on a cold night to Castro which is a rainbow district filled with shops and bars along the sidewalk. Local and travelers are super festive and dress up for the occasion despite how cold the weather might be. This area started in the 1940s as a neighborhood costume contest. By the late 1970s, it had shifted from a children's event to a gay celebration that continued to grow into a massive annual street party. We had long hours of fun just walking around and greetings wonderful strangers and taking hundreds of pictures.

San Francisco is especially known for their Halloween traditions, and if you find yourself in the area during this time, here are some extra-spooky places to check out:

San Francisco's Ghost Hunting Tour

For amateur ghost hunters and skeptics alike, the San Francisco Ghost Hunting Tour is one local tradition that everyone can enjoy. The event features a walk-through of one of the only areas to survive the earthquake and fire of 1906, the Pacific Heights Neighborhood. Here, among the tree-lined streets and Victorian houses, you'll hear the accounts of some of San Francisco's most famous dead people--and how they've been haunting people since. Along the way, don't be surprised if strange orbs or coldspots show up in your photographs--those who take the tour often report odd happenings like this. Whether or not it's an actual ghost or a trick of the light is up to you to decide.

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California's Great American Pumpkin Fest

No list can be complete without the San Francisco Bay Area's ever-so-famous Great America Pumpkin Fest. The month-long festival gets its name from the Halloween classic, "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown," and exudes the same family-friendly atmosphere too. Particularly for smaller kids, there are tons of activities to participate in, and if nothing else, the 100-acre amusement park is plenty of fun to walk through.

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Boo At The Zoo

If you're an animal lover, this local tradition is a must-see. Annually, the San Francisco Zoo puts on, "Boo at the Zoo", where people can trick-or-treat throughout the premises, embark on a Haunted Nature Trail or watch animals gobble up Halloween-themed treats. There's also a Costume Parade with actual judges that hand out prizes in three different categories. If you're someone who loves going all out for your Halloween costumes, this might just be worth participating in.

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Though most people might stop trick-or-treating around the age of thirteen, this doesn't mean the Halloween celebrations have to come to a halt too. Here in the Golden City, there's plenty of local October traditions to keep you entertained for the entire month. If you are ever here during halloween like me, Whether you decide to hunt ghosts and learn the local lore, solve a Murder Mystery, revisit those Charlie Brown memories as a kid or hang out at the zoo--you can guarantee you'll have a fun time at any of these events.

Hope you have a wonderful week

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Much Love,Suzana