Lovers of classical music and ballet are in luck this weekend. Peter Jaffe conducts Symphony San Jose’s annual Symphonic Spooktacular, featuring selections from Stephen Schwartz’s Wicked, Frank Wildhorn’s Jekyll & Hyde, Kurt Weill’s Threepenny Opera, Alan Menken’s Little Shop of Horrors and Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods and Sweeney Todd. Dress up in a costume or just enjoy the festive Halloween parade. $35-$115. Oct 25, 7:30pm; Oct 26, 2:30pm. California Theatre, 345 S 1st St, San Jose. symphonysanjose.org
Also this weekend, New Ballet invites guests to its annual Halloween Gala & Dance Party, a family-friendly rooftop party with a costume contest, a sneak peek at the season’s highlights, and the opportunity to support New Ballet at its most important fundraiser of the year. $50 for performance; $200 for party. Oct 25, 7-10pm. Hammer Theatre Center, 101 Paseo De San Antonio, San Jose. newballet.com
Thu, Oct 23
Frankenstein—Experience National Theatre Live’s production of the Mary Shelley classic, directed by Danny Boyle and starring Jonny Lee Miller as the Creature. Oct 23, 7pm. Hammer Theatre, 101 Paseo De San Antonio, San Jose. hammertheatre.com
Fri, Oct 24
Crazy Quilt Club—Santa Clara Players stage this murder mystery for laughs. Veronica Blather is a sweet little old lady who spends most of her time knitting and solving murders; clues drop as fast as corpses and the dialogue keeps the audience in stitches. $10-$23. Oct 24-Nov 8. Hall Pavilion at Triton Museum, 1750 Don Ave, Santa Clara. scplayers.org
Stitches & Wiggles—Work by Jody Alexander and Thomas Campbell invites us to participate in an object-based dialogue, gathering materials to reuse, repurpose, repair, mend, patch, or stitch together to make compelling artworks that use the language of our time. Oct 24, 2025-Mar 8, 2026. NUMU, 106 E Main St, Los Gatos. numulosgatos.org
Sat, Oct 25
From Formosa to Vienna—Nova Vista Symphony presents the Bay Area premiere of Tyzen Hsiao’s Violin Concerto in D, with an assist from soloist Richard Lin. Also on the program: Mozart’s Overture to Marriage of Figaro and Mahler’s Symphony No. 1. $35-$45. Oct 25, 7:30pm. De Anza Visual & Performing Arts Center, 21250 Stevens Creek Blvd, Cupertino. novavista.org
San Jose Diwali Celebration—Featuring a concert from YouTuber and singer Vidya Vox, this event offers food, lights, shopping and music. Admission is free with registration. 3-9 p.m., Oct. 25, Plaza de Cesar Chavez, 1 Paseo de San Antonio, San Jose. eventbrite.com.
Green Halloween—Creepy Crawly Critter Show, games and activities, crafts and a costume parade. $22. Oct 25, 11am-2pm. Happy Hollow Park & Zoo, 748 Story Rd, San Jose. happyhollow.org
Dracula—This new adaptation brings the suspense and seduction of Bram Stoker’s classic novel to the stage, with a theatrical picture of Stoker’s famous vampire that’s rich with both humor and horror. $49.08-$57.08. Oct 25-Nov 9. Sunnyvale Community Theatre, 550 E Remington Dr, Sunnyvale. sunnyvaleplayers.org
Sun, Oct 26
Scary Music!—Tunes by Danny Elfman and John Williams plus Stephen Schwartz’s Suite from Wicked and Paul Dukas’ The Sorcerer’s Apprentice will please kids and adults. The concert begins with a tour of the orchestra and concludes with a group conducting lesson. $35 ($15 for children). Oct 26, 3pm. Cañada College Main Theater, 4200 Farm Hill Blvd, Redwood City. redwoodsymphony.org
New Horizons—Mission Chamber Orchestra of San José presents a selection of works that range from the Romantic era right up to the present day. Ricardo Martinez is soloist in the Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra by local composer Lee Actor, a work commissioned by MCOSJ in 2010. The program also highlights works by Louise Farrenc, Cécile Chaminade, Mendelssohn, Elgar and Saint-Saëns. $11.25-$26.62. Oct 26, 2:30pm. Hammer Theatre Center, 101 Paseo De San Antonio , San Jose. missionchamber.org
Bollywood Diwali Dandiya Dance Night—A night of dancing will raise funds for the Taarika Foundation, which raises awareness about children’s mental health. $25/$18 for kids 4-7. Oct. 26, 6-9pm. Morgan Hill Community and Cultural Center, 17000 Monterey Rd, Morgan Hill. eventbrite.com.
Tue, Oct 28
Essential Adaptations: Printmaking from Costa Rica—The exhibit explores the ways in which Costa Rican artists arrive at authentic materials for printmaking through processes of creative reuse, recycling, and individual materials development. Free. Opens Oct 28, with an artist presentation at 5pm and a reception at 6pm. Runs through Feb. 13, 2026. Natalie and James Thompson Art Gallery, Art Building, San José State University.
Boz Scaggs—The season finale at the mountaintop winery features the Bay Area musician, touring in support of his new album, Out of the Blues. $87-$686. Oct 28, 7:30pm. Mountain Winery, 14831 Pierce Rd, Saratoga. mountainwinery.com
Wed, Oct 29
A Driving Beat—TheatreWorks presents a world-premiere play by Jordan Ramirez Puckett, a Bay Area writer now living in New York City. Directed by Jeffrey Lo, it tells the story of a road trip shared by a white mother and her adopted brown son. $49. Oct 29-Nov 23. SecondStage, Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St, Mountain View. theatreworks.org
Leonid & Friends—A Tribute to the Music of Chicago: 2025 or 6 to 4 Tour. $49-$459. Oct 29, 7:30pm. California Theatre, 345 S 1st St, San Jose. sanjosetheaters.org
Continuing
United Nations Association Film Festival—Documentary films from around the world screen in multiple cities, including South Bay locations. Continues through Oct 26. unaff.org
Silicon Valley Jewish Film Festival—A hybrid schedule of 30 screenings that includes some in-person events and other virtual watch parties. Continues through Nov 2. svjff.org
Silicon Valley Asian Pacific FilmFest—Asian American cinema continues with online events at this festival that seeks to celebrate culture, creativity and connection. Through Oct 26. AMC Sunnyvale and online. svapfilmfest.org
Art of Remembrance Ofrenda Exhibit—Local artists display their Day of the Dead ofrendas through Nov 4. AAACNA Studies Center, 5th Floor, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library, San Jose State University. library.sjsu.edu
Festival Fright Nights—In honor of the spooky season, Winchester Mystery House debuts three haunted attractions, themed food and beverage offerings, and access to never-before-used spaces. $54.99+. Through Nov 1. Winchester Mystery House, 525 S Winchester Blvd, San Jose. festivalfrightnights.com
