San Francisco’s Castro district is preparing to revive itsHalloween festivitiesfor the first time in 17 years. But organizers are adopting a fresh approach for this year’s celebration.

Scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 28, Halloween in the Castro will emphasize community involvement and family-friendly activities during the day in contrast to the rowdy adult-only street parties that overwhelmed the neighborhood in the 1990s and came to an abrupt end after amass shootingin 2006.

Centered on a daylong film festival at the historic Castro Theatre, attendees can expect creative storefront displays, face painting and pumpkin-carving stations, and pop-up drag performances.

In addition to showcasing $5 classic spooky films throughout the day, such as “Death Becomes Her,” “Edward Scissorhands” and “Hocus Pocus,” the Castro Theatre will have a costume contest hosted by theSisters of Perpetual Indulgence,紧随其后的是一个交互式筛选”Rocky Horror Picture Show.”

The event is organized by theCastro Merchants Associationand the Sisters, with $100,000-$150,000 funding provided by theCivic Joy Fund. The organization, co-founded by Manny Yekutiel, owner of Manny’s cafe in the Mission, and philanthropistDaniel Lurie, aims to reinvigorate San Francisco’s commercial districts.

The annual Halloween in the Castro tradition began in 1948with a children’s festivalhosted by Cliff’s Variety, evolving into one of the city’s most prominent LGBTQ events by the 1970s. But the party ended over escalating safety concerns after nine people were shot at the final event.

Reach Aidin Vaziri: avaziri@sfchronicle.com