On Oct. 30, the Legion of Honor unveiled its inaugural Halloween celebration, a spellbinding “Night at the Museum” that transformed the neoclassical landmark into a nocturnal playground of art, music, and revelry. Priced at $35 per ticket, the event sold out online with all 2,700 spots claimed in advance. Some additional hundred hopefuls queued at the entrance for last-minute access before doors opened promptly at 6 p.m.
For four immersive hours, guests draped in their most theatrical Halloween finery were left to wander through the museum’s dimly lit corridors, which were converted into eerie dreamscapes with electrifying beats and decadent surprises tucked into every alcove. The promotional invitation captured the mood perfectly:
Come dressed in your most art-inspired, avant-garde costumes, and explore haunted artworks and delicious delights around every gallery corner — all while sipping moody cocktails, grabbing a tasty bite from Off the Grid food trucks, and grooving to live music after hours from In Session DJs.
Guests wandered through the museum’s dimly lit corridors, which were converted into eerie dreamscapes with electrifying beats and decadent surprises tucked into every alcove.
Three D.J. stations pulsed throughout the museum, each helmed by rotating artists spinning an eclectic mix of electronica, R&B, pop, and experimental sounds. True to San Francisco’s storied love of costumed spectacle, from Bay to Breakers to Castro bar crawls and SantaCon, the crowd arrived in full regalia, with attendees traveling from across the Bay Area, including Concord, San Jose, and Marin. The event attracted a vibrant cross-section of attendees, from seasoned art lovers to die-hard D.J. devotees, all converging for a night where culture met club energy.
The Henderson Family Foundation generously sponsored the event, marking a new chapter in the museum’s Late Night series, which spans both the Legion of Honor and the de Young for special holidays. Earlier this year, the series spotlighted Isaac Julien’s work in June with In Session D.J.s at the de Young, and in April, hosted the annual gala’s ultimate afterparty, an exclusive after-hours affair featuring craft cocktails and festive bites.
With plans already underway for next year’s Halloween festivities at both institutions, the Late Night series continues to redefine what it means to experience art after dark.