BARSTOW, Calif., Oct. 5 (High Desert News Online) — Calico Ghost Haunt will bring live music, gunfighter shows, trick-or-treating and costumed scares to Calico Ghost Town in Yermo, California, over two weekends in 2026: Oct. 23–25 and Oct. 30–Nov. 1.
San Bernardino County Regional Parks is organizing the event around the theme “Outlaws Versus Miners,” combining Old West showdowns with Halloween activities for families. The program includes daytime entertainment, contests and evening periods when costumed performers roam the town’s streets to scare visitors.
What happens during the haunt?
The county describes a mix of performances and activities rather than a single show. Both weekends will feature live bands throughout the day, a Saturday-night headlining concert, gunfighter shows, games, a monster mash dance and other live entertainment.
The Storytellers have announced that they will perform on Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the first weekend, Oct. 23–25. The band’s announcement covers those three dates, not the second weekend.
Regional Parks also lists pumpkin-carving, campground-decorating and costume contests. Visitors are encouraged to attend in costume, making participation part of the event alongside the scheduled performances.
When is it open?
The county gives the same daily event hours for both weekends:
- Fridays, Oct. 23 and Oct. 30: 5–9 p.m.
- Saturdays, Oct. 24 and Oct. 31: 9 a.m.–10 p.m.
- Sundays, Oct. 25 and Nov. 1: 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
The second Saturday falls on Halloween, and the event continues through the following Sunday. Saturday has the longest published schedule, spanning daytime activities and evening entertainment.
Trick-or-treating and scare hours have separate schedules, so the overall opening hours do not describe when every activity takes place.
When are the treats and scares?
According to Regional Parks, concessionaires throughout the town will offer trick-or-treating on both weekends. Those businesses will distribute treats from 4–5 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and from noon–1 p.m. on Sundays. The Friday trick-or-treat period therefore begins before the published 5 p.m. event opening.
The county schedules roaming “town scarers” for Fridays from 5–9 p.m. and Saturdays from 6–10 p.m. These are the designated periods for performers to move through the streets and frighten visitors.
Calico Attractions separately recommends ages 13 and older for the 5–10 p.m. period in its first-weekend guidance and describes Friday and Saturday as family-friendly until 4 p.m. It also gives a 9 a.m. Friday opening, which differs from the county’s event schedule.
What does admission cost?
Regional Parks sets 2026 Ghost Haunt admission at $15 for adults and children ages 12 and older, and $10 for children ages 4–11. Children ages 3 and younger enter free.
Camping reservations include four event tickets, according to the agency, which directs campers to its reservation service to book. The campground-decorating contest is among the activities offered during the haunt.
How does this edition compare with last year?
The event also ran across two weekends in 2025, when San Bernardino County used the theme “Terror Under the Big Top.” That edition took place Oct. 24–26 and Oct. 31–Nov. 2.
The county’s 2025 schedule used the same Friday, Saturday and Sunday hours and the same admission rates as those announced for 2026. Camping reservations then included admission for up to four people. This year’s announced theme shifts the entertainment from the earlier circus-themed title to outlaws and miners.
Where is the event, and who handles questions?
Regional Parks gives the venue address as Calico Ghost Town, 36600 Ghost Town Road, Yermo, California. The park can be reached at 760-254-1123.
The agency names Regional Parks Recreation Coordinator Dominque Hernandez as the event contact, at dominique.hernandez@parks.sbcounty.gov or 909-387-2410.
