🍁 Boo Bash, Doggoween, and Fall Fest!

Plus, a Playground Reopens and 277 Home Development Proposal in San Mateo

Author

Greg Kemper
October 29, 2026

In partnership with

Good morning neighbors!

Welcome to this week’s San Mateo Scoop! The new Central Park playground is ready to open and new housing is being proposed in San Mateo. Plus, we’ve got Fall Fest, Halloween Pop-Up Market, Doggoween, Boo Bash, and other events for Halloween!

Let’s dive in!

In this week’s edition:

  • City Updates: New Central Park Playground reopens, new trustee for Belmont school board

  • Business Updates: New housing across San Mateo

  • Events: Fall Fest, Halloween Pop-Up Market, Doggoween, Boo Bash

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The latest in San Mateo local news

Central Park’s Adventure Village Playground Opens Nov. 10

Mark your calendars, San Mateo families: the city will cut the ribbon on Central Park’s newly renovated Adventure Village playground on Tuesday, Nov. 10, from 4 to 5 p.m. The free event is at 50 E. Fifth Ave., and RSVPs are open on Eventbrite. The forest-inspired playground has been closed since construction began in June 2025, and the city says the project finished on schedule and within budget. Besides custom play structures woven into the park’s tree canopy, the project added a new restroom building, a covered picnic shelter, and new walkways, lighting and seating. It’s a welcome win for downtown families after more than a year behind construction fencing. Read more here.

Belmont-Redwood Shores School Board Appoints New Trustee

The Belmont-Redwood Shores School District board has appointed Rhut Vasavada, a 39-year-old Adobe product manager and parent volunteer, to the Area 5 seat representing southwest Belmont. The board chose him at an Oct. 22 special meeting because no one filed to run in the Nov. 3 election, and two other seats also drew no challengers, so David Koss returns for a second term in Area 3 and newcomer Charles Shagong takes Area 1 in northwest Belmont. All three will be sworn in Dec. 14. Vasavada, a Belmont resident since 2019, says he wants to work with new Superintendent Guadalupe Guerrero on a long-term vision and to tackle the district’s structural deficit and declining enrollment. The district faces a deficit of up to $5.7 million this fiscal year and plans to use reserves, so families should expect budget conversations ahead. Read more here.

Feds Question Eligibility of 328 San Mateo County Voters

The U.S. Department of Justice has asked San Mateo County for information on 328 registered voters whose eligibility it questions, part of a broader federal review of about 20,000 California voters whose citizenship status is being questioned. The county’s elections office received the letter Oct. 23 and is reviewing it with the California Secretary of State and the County Attorney’s Office to determine a response consistent with state and federal law. Chief Elections Officer Mark Church said the county’s job is to ensure every eligible voter can vote while maintaining the accuracy of elections. Santa Clara County has publicly rejected a similar demand, and San Francisco and Contra Costa counties received comparable letters. Voters can still cast ballots in person at any county Vote Center ahead of the Nov. 3 election, and anyone with registration questions can contact the Registration & Elections Division. Read more here.

277-Home Project Proposed for Former Hillsdale Inn Site in San Mateo

A formal application has been filed to replace the former Hillsdale Inn at 477 East Hillsdale Boulevard in San Mateo with 277 new homes. SummerHill Apartment Communities’ plan spans a three-acre lot and includes an eight-story, 248-unit apartment building plus 29 townhouse-style homes in five three-story buildings. The apartments break down to 177 one-bedrooms, 54 two-bedrooms and 18 three-bedrooms, and 41 homes will be affordable (37 for low-income and four for moderate-income households). The site is near Kaiser medical offices, a police station and Park Place at San Mateo, and the plan includes parking for 350 vehicles and 203 bicycles. Cost and construction timeline haven’t been released, so neighbors should watch for upcoming city review. Read more here.

Former San Mateo Marriott Site Eyed for 234 Homes

The former San Mateo Marriott at 1770 S. Amphlett Blvd., near the corner of S. Amphlett Boulevard and Concar Drive, could soon become a 234-unit residential community, according to preliminary plans submitted to the city. The proposal includes 159 three-story, townhome-style units and a six-story building with 75 apartments, 57 of them set aside for low-income households. The hotel, which had more than 400 rooms and about 32,000 square feet of meeting space, closed in 2024 after owner Oracle scaled back its real estate holdings. Oracle bought the property in 2016 for roughly $130 million. The site sits next to a separate proposal at 1650 S. Amphlett Blvd. for 64 single-family homes and 192 condominiums, so this stretch of the corridor is poised for big change. Read more here.

Nash + Co Kitchen: A Home for Local Food Makers in San Mateo

Nash + Co Kitchen, at 1007 Howard Ave. in San Mateo, comes from the team behind Nash Bakes Cheesecakes. It runs the former KitchenTown commissary kitchen, where food and beverage makers can rent space to start, grow and expand their businesses. The Makers Cafe in front is expanding to give local makers more ways to sell their products and host pop-ups, tastings and dinners. Read more here. 

Urban Kitchen in Burlingame

1152 Burlingame Ave, Burlingame

Urban Kitchen serves a mix of American, Mediterranean, and fusion dishes with an emphasis on fresh, wholesome ingredients and customizable meals. The menu includes grain bowls, salads, sandwiches, and entrees, such as the Salmon Miso Bowl with grilled salmon, roasted sweet potato, pickled vegetables, and miso-ginger sauce. Other signature dishes include the Urban Ribeye Burger with caramelized onion jam and garlic aioli, Nashville Spicy Chicken, and Chimi Churri Steak with crispy potatoes. Vegetarian options include tofu-based bowls, while sides range from hummus with crispy chickpeas to charred Brussels sprouts with pomegranate molasses, almonds, and feta. The restaurant highlights made-to-order meals, locally sourced ingredients, and options for a variety of dietary preferences.

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We do our best to verify dates/locations of events, but please independently verify before attending as details are subject to change

🐻 Belmont Boo Bash | Belmont | Twin Pines Park | 10/28 | more
Celebrate Halloween with decorated cars for trick-or-treating, a haunted house, live music, and bites from local food trucks at this free, family-friendly bash.

💃 Jazz Funk Dance Class | San Mateo | Motion Arts Center | 10/29 | more
Get moving with a high-energy dance class that blends jazz technique with funky rhythms, expressive choreography, and plenty of attitude.

🎃 Free Halloween Costume Exchange | San Carlos | Bliss Pediatric Dentistry | 10/29 | more
Give a gently used Halloween costume a second life and find a new-to-you outfit for trick-or-treating without spending a dime.

👻 Haunted House and Halloween Fun | Burlingame | KW Peninsula Estates Office | 10/30 | more
Get into the Halloween spirit with a free haunted house experience and festive fun for local families and spooky-season enthusiasts.

🧛 Halloween Costume Contest | San Carlos | Russian Ridge Winery | 10/30 | more
Show off your most creative, spooky, or downright hilarious Halloween look at a costume contest celebrating the season.

💃 Halloween Latin Night Party | San Mateo | Motion Arts Center | 10/30 | more
Put on your Halloween costume and hit the dance floor for a Latin dance party filled with festive energy and a chance to show off your moves.

🚗 Trunk or Treat | San Mateo | 25th Avenue | 10/30 | more
Bring the kids in costume for a neighborhood Halloween outing filled with trick-or-treating and seasonal fun along 25th Avenue.

🎃 Halloween Night | San Mateo | Allcove | 10/30 | more
Check out Allcove San Mateo's Halloween programming for a seasonal gathering in a welcoming space designed to support young people's well-being and connection.

🎤 Don't Tell Comedy | San Carlos | Indoor Location | 10/30 | more
Enjoy a surprise lineup of stand-up comedians at an intimate, secret-location comedy show where the venue is revealed to ticket holders before the event.

🧙 Broadway Burlingame Trick or Treating | Burlingame | Broadway Avenue | 10/30 | more
Dress up the little ones and head to Broadway Burlingame for a festive community trick-or-treating outing with local businesses.

🚁 Pumpkin Drop | San Carlos | Hiller Aviation Museum | 10/31 | more
Watch a witch drop a pumpkin from a helicopter at noon, then enjoy carnival games and a Haunted Hangar featuring the Great Pumpkin Hunt.

☕ Mom Needs a Minute | Burlingame | Growing Ivy | 10/31 | more
Parents deserve a little breathing room, too. Check out this gathering at Growing Ivy for a chance to take a break and connect with other local parents.

🐶 Doggoween | San Mateo | Fieldworks Brewery | 10/31 | more
Celebrate Halloween with your four-legged friends at this dog-themed gathering, featuring a festive atmosphere for pups and their people.

🧹 Volunteen: Laurel Street Cleanup | San Carlos | 700 Block of Laurel Street | 10/31 | more
Teens can give back to their community by pitching in to clean up Laurel Street and help keep downtown San Carlos looking its best.

🛍️ Halloween Pop-up Market | San Carlos | Out of the Barrel | 10/31 | more
Browse a Halloween-themed pop-up market at Out of the Barrel and discover seasonal finds while enjoying the festive atmosphere.

🍂 Fall Fest | San Mateo | San Mateo's Farmers' Market | 10/31 | more
Celebrate the season at the farmers' market with a fall-themed outing and a chance to explore local vendors and seasonal offerings.

🎃 Halloween Party | San Carlos | Out of the Barrel | 10/31 | more
Make Halloween plans at Out of the Barrel with a festive get-together perfect for embracing the spooky season.

🩰 Viva La Vida Ballet | San Mateo | College of San Mateo | 11/1 | more
Experience a live ballet performance celebrating the beauty and expressive power of dance in a special theatrical outing.

🏆 Pop-Up Cornhole Toss | San Mateo | MLK Jr. Community Center | 11/3 | more
Test your aim and challenge your friends to a fun round of cornhole at this pop-up community activity.