San Jose residents can look forward to a free, family-friendly Halloween celebration this Saturday as Opera San Jose, in tandem with the City of San Jose, presents the "Tunnel of Terror" event. Running from 5 to 9 p.m. at the city’s Sonic Runway, located in San Jose’s City Hall Plaza, the event promises an evening of entertainment and community fun.
Opera San Jose resident artists Nicole Koh, Courtney Miller, and Micah Perry, along with emeritus artist-in-residence Eugene Brancoveanu, are scheduled to perform. They will be joined by members of Children’s Musical Theater San Jose and other entertainers. The lineup includes a range of classical and popular numbers, featuring selections from "Phantom of the Opera," Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” the Bobby “Boris” Pickett hit “Monster Mash,” and Tame Impala’s “Dracula.”
Beyond the musical performances, the festivities will include community trick-or-treating, an interactive light show, and street performers. Attendees can also explore arts and crafts vendors, view lowrider culture displays, and participate in a costume contest offering prizes. The Sonic Runway, an iconic light and art installation, will serve as the backdrop for this Halloween event.
Further afield, several regional arts events are also scheduled. In San Francisco, Jules Massenet’s “Manon” continues its run at the War Memorial Opera House through Sunday, November 1, 2026. This San Francisco Opera production features soprano Amina Edris as Manon and tenor Pene Pati as the Chevalier des Grieux. Remaining performances are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 27, and October 30, with a 2 p.m. show on November 1. Tickets for the classic French opera are available for $30-$447.
Also in San Francisco, the War Memorial and Performing Arts Center will host SF Music Day 2026 this Sunday, offering a free afternoon of diverse musical performances. Starting at noon and concluding with final acts at 5 p.m., the event will span three venues within the center: the Herbst Theatre, the Green Room, and the Taube Atrium Theater. Musicians will perform in genres such as jazz, classical, traditional, contemporary, and world music. The lineup includes drummer Jordan Glenn’s BEAK ensemble, the flute and percussion combo Nippon Kobo, and The Sampaguitas, a trio known for Filipino folk music. The San Francisco Chamber Orchestra, the Rova Saxophone Quartet, Quinteto Latino, and Ian Carey and Wood Metal Plastic are also scheduled to perform.
Meanwhile, in Berkeley, the 13-member band Mariachi Herencia de Mexico will perform a Dia de los Muertos-themed concert this Friday at 7:30 p.m. at the University of California, Berkeley’s Zellerbach Hall. Founded in 2016 by César Maldonado, the group is recognized for blending traditional mariachi with modern styles like salsa, bolero, bossa nova, and cumbia. Their first album, “Nuestra Herencia,” topped Latin music streaming charts and earned a Grammy nomination, while their 2025 release, “Viva La Musica,” further established their genre-merging reputation. Tickets are priced between $23 and $54.
Finally, the SFJAZZ Center in San Francisco launches a series of concerts focusing on its in-house ensemble, the SFJAZZ Collective. This Friday, Venezuela-born pianist Edward Simon will headline with a quintet featuring vocalist Magos Herrera. The 7:30 p.m. performance at Miner Auditorium will highlight Simon’s 2023 album “Femeninas,” which focuses on the contributions of Latin American women songwriters. Tickets for this performance range from $35-$85.
