Home for Halloween Continues to Deny the Great Pumpkin's Existence

Did you know the Home for Halloween campaign, the effort to get unsavory elements out of the Castro during Halloween night, is still in effect? It is. And their site -- which features a concerned, bejeweled black man all aghast, paired with a selection of autumnal squashes -- will tell you that the Castro is a no-go this year.

Why, they even have a blog, called the "Boo-Blog," which tells you why staying home for Halloween this year "is the 'in' thing to do." Even though "bars and restaurants in the Castro will be open for business" and "the streets will not be closed to traffic," the Castro, you see, is closed come 10/31.

No really.

And while the official-ish Halloween party this year will happen at the glamorous-sounding Parking Lot A open lot near AT&T Park, the "alcohol-free" festivities will close at a bewildering 11:30 p.m. But nevertheless, the Castro, we repeat, will be closed.

Now, Halloween falls on a Friday this year, so you know it will be an extra spooktacular night to roam around the streets of SF. We can't tell you exactly where we'll be bobbing for apples on All Hallow's Eve. But here's a hint: the night will involve a place synonymous with a near-dead Communist leader of an island country south of Florida. That's all we'll say for now.

But what about you? What will you be doing and where will you all be going on Halloween night? Besides the Castro, that is. Because it will be closed.