The Berkeley Art Club hosted its first-ever Halloween Market on Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, at Donkey and Goat Winery in West Oakland. From live music to tarot reading and rows of unique artist stalls, the market served as a celebration of local art and an opportunity to dress in costume. The event functioned as a fundraiser for the Berkeley Humane Society, an animal shelter for cats and dogs. Over 800 people showed up, and over $1,600 was raised for the shelter.
Both the Berkeley Art Club and its seasonal markets are relatively new, with the Berkeley Art Club being founded in January 2026. The club’s first art market was held in June 2026 as a Midsummer Market.
“I think people just really appreciate in-person events that are not focused around paying a bunch of money and are instead about something connected to real life and being creative,” Janet Stevenson, the organizer of the Halloween Market and founder of the Berkeley Art Club, said, “For the fundraiser, we just want to raise as much money as we can for Berkeley Humane and make sure that all the vendors feel successful with their evening and that they want to come back and stay part of the community.” Stevenson, a Berkeley native and BHS alumna, chose to fundraise for the Berkeley Humane Society shelter because she had adopted her first cats there as a child.
Mena Adams, a ceramic artist who was a vendor at the market, sold unique, monster-shaped mugs and other ceramics in the spirit of the Halloween season. “I think my products have a lot of myself in them, and I think that’s what makes them. I think (the monster mugs) really show my personality and I’m glad that they resonate with other people,” Adams said.
The Berkeley Art Club’s primary focus is on Millennial or Generation Z artists like Adams, so the market is a great opportunity for budding artists to turn their passion into a business while showing off their work. “I just make things that spark joy for myself, and I hope I can share that with others,” Adams said.
Although the general main indoor space was rather small and narrow, Donkey and Goat Winery was packed to the brim, both in the indoor area and on the outside patio. Even attendees who didn’t dress up in costumes could be seen admiring art or sharing a drink among friends. Among the attendees was Mayor Adena Ishii, who was there to support the Berkeley community.
“It’s really impressive to pull together an event of this size with so many different artists, and highlighting local people in the community. This (the market) is exactly the kind of thing that we want to support as the city of Berkeley,” Ishii said, “I love seeing the younger crowd and the older crowd all together enjoying art and just celebrating this beautiful night.”
The Halloween Market marked the Berkeley Art Club’s second major event since its founding in January, with organizers planning to continue hosting markets to fundraise for local charities and provide commercial space for emerging East Bay artists.