Skeletons, fangs, lost souls: Here’s where to find SF’s best Halloween-decorated homes  

San Franciscans have stirred ghoulishness, eccentricity and a dash of political satire into the cauldron this year when it comes to Halloween decorations. Here’s a list of streets and neighborhoods to check out on or before Oct. 31. 

Waller Street, particularly the stretch from Scott Street to Steiner Street in the Duboce Triangle, has several Halloween-decorated houses. From ghosts bursting out of windows to spiders dangling from webs, there’s a variety of creative displays. Head down Waller’s side streets as well to find portions of a black-and-white sandworm emerging from garden beds, orange lights and other treats. 

Nearby Page Street is another option, where a scattering of homes along the designated Slow Street have something Halloween-ish on their exterior.  

On Upper Terrace in the Corona Heights neighborhood, several homeowners have gotten into the Halloween spirit, showcasing skeletons (some bald, others in wigs), graveyards, tombstones engraved with the names of certain politicians, and more. A corner residence is viewable from the path along Buena Vista Park’s perimeter, but the street is worth a stroll for a closer look at each home’s decorative touches. 

Presidio Terrace, located on Arguello Boulevard, is a gated community, but when the gates are open (sometimes on the weekends, for instance), dinosaur skeletons, a towering scarecrow, and other frightening decor can be found within.  

Lake Street in the Outer Richmond is a great destination for finding outdoor Halloween decor, made even better by the fact that it’s also a designated San Francisco Slow Street. Taking in views from the sidewalk and street on a stroll makes for a fun time.   

Notably, California Street, which runs parallel to Lake Street, also has a fair share of decorated houses. In general, most streets in the Outer Richmond have at least one home that’s got a spider, skeleton, pumpkin, ghost or goblin of some sort on display—on a porch stoop, stairs, affixed to a window, or hanging from a tree or door.  

If, like this journalist, you’re a huge fan of Tim Burton films, head to Sea Cliff, where you’ll find life-sized replicas of Beetlejuice, Victor and Emily from “Corpse Bride,” and Sally and Jack from “The Nightmare Before Christmas” in front of homes.  

The neighborhood also boasts larger-than-life-sized zombies, skeletons, spiders and a unique tribute to musician Ozzy Osbourne and wrestler Hulk Hogan. Residences on 28th through 32nd avenues have the most decorations, but other Sea Cliff homes also put on a good Halloween show. 

The list wouldn’t be complete if it didn’t include two Divisadero Street addresses: the skeleton-festooned 2229 Divisadero St. in Pacific Heights and “The Divisadero Halloween House” at 284 Divisadero St.  

 Tommy Leyva, who established the “Halloween House,” began the annual tradition 20-some years ago. His love for the holiday stems from his childhood, when he and his family scoped out haunted houses and others with themed displays.  

“I always was fascinated by all the lights and yards full of these great decorations,” he says. 

The process of decorating his own home, which he shares with his husband, gets underway early in the month, starting with the larger items. 

“The space that I have is limited, so I’m trying to create little vignettes and just fill as much as possible,” he says.  

As days went by, passersby witnessed the metamorphosis from a few characters, including a gigantic pumpkin-headed skeleton, to the full ensemble now on view.  

For Leyva, “smaller details” are a key component, such as a recent addition of skeletons on the fence surrounding the front yard. 

“It’ll build,” Leyva says of the display. “Sometimes I can be putting stuff up until the day before [Halloween].” 

New this year are two horned- and winged-skeletons framing the doorway and scary life-sized creatures that activate when guests near them.  

Kids, he says, are always quick to notice any changes. 

“It’s crazy how much they remember from last Halloween, and they quiz you. They’re like, ‘Where’s that thing?’ or ‘That’s new.’ And so you’ve got to be ready—you’ve got to be on your toes,” he says. 

On any given night in October, the sidewalk in front of 284-282 Divisadero St. is crowded with people taking photos and videos of what has become a San Francisco fixture. 

“It’s a passion,” he says. “I’m so proud of what we do, and I’m so happy to see how people react to it,” he says. 

“I feel really blessed to be a part of something that so many people enjoy,” he adds. 

Leyva’s eerie setup is visible any time of the day, but after 5 p.m., when he turns on the lights and the sky darkens, it’s most spooktacular.