Fall

DC Family Weekend Fun Guide

October 27, 2023

It’s a spooky and beautiful weekend! Our Halloween guide is full of family fun and you can find out where you can pick pumpkins and sip cider in the fall festivals, farms and orchard post.

All weekend:
Mystery Mansion
A ten-room haunted house packed with chills, thrills, and a smidge of Maryland history, Mystery Mansion has scares that are just right for younger children. This is a 100% “No Contact” haunted house! Older students and adults will enjoy the stories, special effects, and devious characters. If you are 10 years or older (no exceptions) you can visit The Crypt, a slightly scarier experience for those who dare. Before and after Mystery Mansion, enjoy Bonfire Bash! Bonfire Bash will take place each night with fire pits, Halloween movies, live entertainment, food, beer & wine, face painting, and s’mores! Mystery Mansion & Bonfire Bash take place at 7931 Connecticut Avenue, one mile inside the beltway. Free parking is available behind the club house.

Glow in the Park
Enjoy a magical experience climbing and ziplining through the trees lit up with neon colored lights, rockin’ music, and exciting themes! Reserve your tickets in advance for this fan-favorite event! Ages 5 and up are welcome.

Eye Spy Halloween Trains
Montgomery Parks’ Halloween Eye Spy Train returns this year at the Cabin John Miniature Train. Are you ready to join us for a train ride around “Trainsylvania” while searching for all of the hidden characters along the tracks? All guests are encouraged to purchase tickets in advanced online here.

The Pumpkin Patch Express at B&O Railroad
Join for a ride to the First Mile Stable where you’ll deboard for photo taking, game playing, scarecrow making, and pumpkin decorating! Come as you are or in your best Halloween costume to match the décor onsite. There will even be an opportunity to meet the horses and enjoy autumn snacks before boarding the train back to the Museum.

You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown at Adventure Theatre
Everyone’s favorite characters come to life on the stage through October 29. With charm, wit, and heart, You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown explores life’s big questions through the eyes of the Peanuts gang as they play baseball, fly kites, struggle with homework, swoon over crushes, and celebrate the joys of friendship. Growing up is serious business!

The Wiz
This groundbreaking twist on The Wizard of Oz changed the face of Broadway—from its iconic score packed with soul, gospel, rock, and finger-snapping 70s funk to its stirring tale of Dorothy’s journey to find her place in a contemporary world. Audiences get to enjoy the epic grooves of such beloved, timeless hits as “Ease on Down the Road,” which became the show’s break-out single, and the bona fide classic “Home” in this spectacular revival.

Look Both Ways
This story was going to begin like all the best stories. With a school bus falling from the sky. But
no one saw it happen—they were all too busy. Washington, D.C.-area native, New York
Times best-selling author, and Kennedy Center Next 50 leader Jason Reynolds conjures 10 tales
(1 per block) about what happens after the dismissal bell rings. Ten unique perspectives are
brilliantly woven into one funny, piercingly poignant look at the detours we face on the walk
home, and in life. Most enjoyed by ages 7+.

Capitol City Circus School Halloween Show
Celebrate a spooktacular night out at Capitol City Circus School’s inaugural staff show! Immerse yourself in a haunting world as our talented staff members take center stage for an unforgettable evening. This family-friendly event promises thrills and excitement for all ages! In addition to the spine-tingling performance, a selection of small concessions will be available for purchase.

Witch Wartsmith’s Halloween Spooktacular
Witch Wartsmith (the sister of Witch Wartsmith from our Legacy and touring show Rapunzel,) hosts the annual Halloween Spooktacular and you get to vote on the winner! Part contemporary competition show, part vintage telethon, and part punpalooza, this spooky variety show will tickle your funny bone. Some of our contestants may change year to year, so come back to see old and new friends alike!

Friday:
5:00pm-6:45pm: My Gym Halloween Party
Looking for not too spooky family fun this Halloween? Find it at My Gym’s Halloween Party! Join for circle time, games, costume parade, and loads of fun! Each child leaves with a My Gym Halloween treat. Book your spot today! Must sign up ahead of time.

5:00pm-8:00pm: Hill-O-Ween
Capitol Hill celebrates Halloween as a community each year in front of Eastern Market on 7th St.

6:00pm-10:00pm: Super, Awesome & Amazing Halloween Spooktacular
Enjoy trick-or-treating, inflatables, photo booth, games, a family-friendly movie, costume contest, popcorn and more!

6:00pm: Movies on the Pitch- Audi Field
“Movies on the Pitch” will transform Audi Field into an outdoor cinema with showings of Hocus Pocus on the stadium’s jumbotron screen. The family-friendly experience will begin at 7:00 pm with gates opening at 6:00pm. Audi Field will offer concessions for purchase during each movie.Tickets are general admission both on the pitch and in the stands. Access to the pitch is limited on a first-come, first-served basis.

Saturday:
8:00am-1:00pm: Adam’s Morgan Apple Pie Contest & Farmer’s Market
The 10th Annual Adams Morgan Apple Pie Baking Contest and the 15th Annual Licking Creek Bend Farm Heirloom Apple Tasting returns to Adams Morgan! The highly-anticipated community event will take place in front of The Line Hotel and directly across the street from the farmer’s market in Unity Park at Euclid and Champlain Streets NW.

10:00am-10:50am: First Studio at Kreeger Museum
Young artists ages 3-5 and an adult companion are invited to use their imagination as they explore the paintings, sculpture, and architecture of The Kreeger Museum. Each program focuses on a theme supported by a story, works of art from the collection, and a hands-on art-making experience. ‘Portraits and People’ is the theme. Advance registration is required.

10:00am-12:00pm: Trick or Treat at Tudor Place
Celebrate the fall season with games and crafts at Tudor Place. Wear your Halloween best to explore the garden’s meandering paths and find festive activities, fun and sugary treats. All ages are welcome; this program is best enjoyed by children ages three to eight. This outdoor event will take place rain or shine.

10:00am-3:00pm: Air & Scare at Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
Join for the annual Halloween event at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center to explore the spooky side of air and space. This event will take place both inside and outside the Udvar-Hazy Center. At Air & Scare, you’ll get some spooky discoveries and some science fun. All visitors are welcome to wear costumes to the Museum. Air & Scare will feature: Trick or treat stations with free candy and snacks. Creepy crafts, spooky experiments, and other Halloween-themed activities for family members of all ages. Special story times and puppet shows for the youngest Halloween revelers. Photo opportunities with your favorite Star Wars characters.

11:00am-2:00pm: Pumpkins in the Park
Join the 10th annual Pumpkins in the Park featuring seasonal festivities from pumpkin decorating (while supplies last), a giant moon bounce, and mobile photo booth to live music by popular local Zydeco band Little Red & the Renegades, a roaming magician, and seasonal beverages* for purchase. This event is FREE and all ages are invited to join. Registration is not required but recommended.** Pumpkins will be available on a first-come, first-served basis throughout the event, so arrive early to get yours!

11:30am-3:00pm: Dia de Lose Muertos at Smithsonian American Art Museum
Celebrate Día de los Muertos with the Smithsonian American Art Museum! Bring the whole family to see exciting live performances, including traditional Mexican folk dance by Ballet Folklorico Mi Herencia Mexicana, an exhilarating mariachi performance by Mariachi Aguila DC, and a showcase of different Latin American music genres and dances with Sol y Rumba. Attendees ages 12 and younger can enjoy face painting throughout the day, while visitors of all ages can try out our featured Día de los Muertos-themed crafts. Have fun with a Día de los Muertos scavenger hunt that will take you through the museum’s new Many Wests: Artists Shape an American Idea exhibit.

1:00pm-4:00pm: Fall Frolic at Glen Echo
Join for some Halloween fun at Glen Echo Park! Activities include decorating a Trick-or-Treat bag and other crafts, a festive fall photo-op (say that 10 times!), a costume contest, and Trick-or-Treating at our resident art studios and galleries.

2:00pm-6:00pm: Trick or Treat at Mount Vernon
Collect candy around the historic grounds and celebrate Halloween with 18th-century entertainment and activities. Collect candy in your special Mount Vernon treat bag around the historic grounds. Snap a selfie at our Straw Bale Selfie Station in front of the Mansion on the Bowling Green. Watch your children in a Costume Parade on the historic grounds. Greet the General & Lady Washington in the historic area.

3:00pm-6:00pm: Halloween at The Boo-ro
Pull out all the stops and don your coolest costume for The Best In Show Costume Contest! Humans and dogs alike will strut the runway for a chance to win a gift card to a selected Boro retailer. Other activities will include a Monster Bash dance party, Halloween crafts for the kids, a spooky themed reading from Turning the Page, tarot card readers and Witch’s Brew cocktails from El Bebe. As the day turns to night, stick around for a spooky screening of the cult classic “Hocus Pocus.” The movie night, sponsored by Tysons Community Alliance and Showplace Icon Tysons, will begin at 6:30 p.m. and include a popcorn bar offering movie snacks.

Sunday:
10:00am-12:00pm: Pike & Rose Trick or Treating
Join at Pike & Rose for a spooktacular Halloween adventure! Come dressed up in your spookiest or most creative costume and enjoy a fun morning of lively entertainment, exciting treats, and lasting memories.

10:00am-12:00pm: Van Ness Spooktacular
Everyone’s favorite kid-friendly Halloween event is returning to Forest Hills Playground this year. Parents and kids of all ages are invited to dress in their favorite costumes and gather at Forest Hills Playground for spooky-inspired activities.

10:00am-5:00pm: Day of the Dead/Día de los Muertos at the National Museum of the American Indian
Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a time for commemorating our ancestors. Rather than a period of mourning, it is an occasion for celebrating with family—both living and dead—and appreciating and honoring the cycle of life and death. Bring the whole family to participate in activities, including dance performances, papel picado artist demonstrations, the unique art of sawdust carpets, and paper marigold and mask making. Visitors are also invited to leave photos and mementos of their loved ones on the ofrenda (altar) or commemorate them by writing their name on a butterfly and attaching it to the memorial arch.

11:00am-1:00pm: Rumpus Room Family Dance Party, Halloween Special
The Rumpus Room, DC’s only daytime dance party for families, returns for Halloween at Hi-Lawn on the rooftop of Union Market! You’ll be getting (slightly) spooky, outdoors under the sun, so put on your costumes and come dance! Costumes are highly encouraged, but not required. Get ready for a dance floor filled with little ghosts, goblins, witches, dragons, and pumpkins of all ages. Relive your night-life glory days with your little ones in tow. The soundtrack for the day will be a family-friendly mix of dance floor classics, current hits, guilty pleasures and Halloween tunes, all at a child-friendly volume. Hi-Lawn will be open for food and beverages at 11:00 am!

2:00pm: 27th Annual Del Rey Halloween Parade
The parade begins at Mt. Vernon Avenue south of E. Bellefonte, and continues down to the Mt. Vernon Recreation Center fields at Mt. Vernon and Commonwealth Avenues for live music and an awards presentation for the pet & stroller contests, plus best decorated house and business. All are invited to march and show off their finest Halloween garb! **Registration for the Pet Costume Contest and Stroller Competition will be done prior to the parade start.

DC Family Weekend Fun Guide

October 6, 2023

Our Halloween guide is full of family fun! This weekend Spooky History Tour at the National Building Museum and the Eye Spy Halloween Trains begin in addition to Halloween events that have already begun. Find out where you can pick pumpkins and sip cider in the fall festivals, farms and orchard post.

All weekend

You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown at Adventure Theatre
Everyone’s favorite characters come to life on the stage through October 29. With charm, wit, and heart, You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown explores life’s big questions through the eyes of the Peanuts gang as they play baseball, fly kites, struggle with homework, swoon over crushes, and celebrate the joys of friendship. Growing up is serious business!

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show at Imagination Stage
This show kicks the season off, with one-quarter of its performances in Spanish
and three-quarters of them in English. Using more than 70 beautiful, larger-than-life puppets and original music, this special event follows all your favorite characters from “Brown Bear, Brown Bear,” “The Very Busy Spider,” “10 Little Rubber Ducks,” and, of course, “The Very Hungry Caterpillar.” The show is best for ages 3-8 and is based on Eric Carle’s books. Playing through October 22.

Disney on Ice at Eagle Bank Arena
Glide and dance your way into the worlds of Frozen & Encanto with music and dancing alongside Elsa and Mirabel, celebrating the amazing gifts that make each of us unique. Enhance your Disney On Ice show ticket with a preshow Character Experience that includes games, storytelling, crafting and interactive time with Elsa and Mirabel. Bring your personal device for photo opportunities.

Friday

6:30pm-9:00pm: Coco Screening & Salsa Dance Class at Color Burst Park
Learn to salsa with the pros and then enjoy a screening of the Disney classic Coco, which takes place in Mexico and was inspired by Día de los Muertos. Salsa Dance Class: 6:30pm – 7:00pm and Coco Screening: 7:00pm – 9:00pm.

6:30pm-11:30pm: Drive-in at Union Market: Selena
Let’s roll down the windows, feel that warm breeze and turn up the radio at the 11th Annual Drive-In at Union Market. This is a cinephile and foodie match made in heaven with better-than-average concessions.

Saturday

9:00am-3:00pm: Open Streets Georgia Avenue
Open Streets is returning to Georgia Avenue in the fall of 2023! Three miles of Georgia Avenue will be closed to vehicles to allow people to walk, run, bike, and play. The route will include hourly programmed classes and demonstrations, including yoga, dancing, and more! The event is free and suitable for all ages and abilities. No cars, just people!

10:00am-4:00pm: First Saturday at National Gallery of Art
All activities are free, and most are first come, first served. Some activities require registration. On the first Saturday of each month the East Building comes alive with art making for all ages, films, pop-up experiences, and more. See link above for the schedule of fun events.

10:00am-3:00pm: The Kreeger Museum Open House
Join a family-friendly celebration of art, music, and nature! This event is free and open to all with live jazz music, art-making activities, and food trucks. Entrance to the Museum will be free of charge and our permanent collection will be on view. See link above for the schedule of fun events.

10:00am-6:00pm: Art on the Avenue
For 28 years, Art on the Avenue has inspired future artists by providing free art projects hosted by local non-profits at the Kids Art Corner— a festival favorite. The festival also has endless art, food, entertainment and art.

11:00am-4:00pm: Chuseok Family Festival at the National Museum of Asian Art
Join to celebrate Chuseok, Korean Thanksgiving Day, with food, performances, and more! Celebrate Chuseok, Korean Thanksgiving Day, with NMAA! Learn about both past and current traditions of one of the biggest holidays in South Korea. Take pictures in traditional Korean clothing known as hanbok and view a charye table display, which is a traditional feast prepared for a family’s ancestors. Enjoy special performances, food talks, programming from local community groups, and more!

11:00am-4:00pm: Taste of Bethesda
The 31st annual event will feature Bethesda’s best restaurants, five stages of live entertainment, an activity area for kids and more!

12:00pm-4:00pm: Chili Cook Off at The Sandlot at The Boro
All are welcome to stop by and enjoy chili tastings, lawn games, a bar, live music from acclaimed singer-songwriter Brian Dunne and his band.

12:00pm-6:00pm: College Park Day
This is the City of College Park’s signature event and features many activities, entertainment, and fun to celebrate the community. The event is open to the public and free to attend.

Sunday

10:00am AND 1:00pm: Red Panda Art Studio has a day of workshops for all ages! Join in the morning for an all-ages workshop or in the afternoon for a Tween Crafty Club!

10:00am-5:00pm: Southwest Fall Festival
Get ready to embrace the cozy vibes of autumn at our Fall Festival! Celebrate the season with fun activities, delicious treats, and a festive atmosphere! Book Bazaar starts at 10:00am and all activities start at 1:00pm.

Ultimate guide to Halloween in and around Washington, DC

October 3, 2023

Fall festivals, orchards & farms can be found here

Halloween and fall events:
Kids Boo Fest at Six Flags: September 16 – October 29
Enjoy rides per usual and then enjoy the family-friendly classic adventure of trick-or-treat around the park! Enjoy special daytime attractions such as our all-new kid-friendly Haunted House walkthrough experience.

Witch Wartsmith’s Halloween Spooktacular at The Puppet Co: September 28 – October 29
Witch Wartsmith (the sister of Witch Wartsmith from our Legacy and touring show Rapunzel,) hosts the annual Halloween Spooktacular and you get to vote on the winner! Part contemporary competition show, part vintage telethon, and part punpalooza, this spooky variety show will tickle your funny bone. Some of our contestants may change year to year, so come back to see old and new friends alike!

Spooky History Tour at the National Building Museum: October 5 – November 1
Explore the haunting legends of the National Building Museum through stories collected over the decades. Hear tales of the historic site which defy easy explanation, while exploring the hidden features of the breathtaking structure. After-Hours Tours are recommended for ages 13 and up.

Eye Spy Halloween Trains: October 7 – 29
Halloween Eye Spy Train event returns in October. Online tickets are now available for purchase. Tickets are $6 each and our train will be running every weekend in October from 11am to 6pm, weather permitting of course. Purchase tickets for Cabin John’s Eye Spy Trains or Wheaton’s Eye Spy Trains.

Lil Pumpkins Festival at BlackRock Center for the Arts: October 14
Calling all lil’ pumpkins for the cutest festival you’ve ever seen – join us for hourly costume parades, pumpkins, refreshments and more!

2nd Annual Halley Rise Fall Festival: October 14
Come celebrate fall at the Farm at Halley Rise! From free kid-friendly scavenger hunts, to farm tours, to bouquet making stands, there’s something for everyone. We’ll have live music from the wonderful band, The Dirty Grass Players, the Roaming Rooster Food Truck will be on-site selling delicious lunch, and A.M. Kettle will be selling a variety of popcorn! Bring your family, and enjoy a day filled with fun fall activities!

Fall Festival at City Ridge: October 14 – 15
Celebrate Fall at City Ridge’s Two-Day Fall Festival & Artisan Market. Enjoy a Pop-up Pumpkin Patch, Autumnal Crafts, Food Trucks and more in the Heart of DC.

Boo at the Zoo: October 20 – 22
Guests can feast their eyes on spellbinding habitats decorated with Jack-O-Lanterns, spooky enrichment and tasty treats for the animals. Fiendishly fun vignettes featuring frolicking skeletons and fantastical creatures liven up the Zoo’s main pathway, Olmsted Walk. Tickets include special after-hours access for animal viewing at the Elephant Community Center, Small Mammal House, Reptile Discovery Center, a souvenir tote bag and around 30 trick-or-treat stations around the Zoo.

Soul Strolls at Congressional Cemetery: October 20 – 29
Trespass into the past and discover the secrets of some of Congressional Cemetery’s “residents.” Soul Strolls, the Cemetery’s annual twilight tours, explore the stories of individuals buried here through guided tours and costumed interpreters. Experience the history of this hallowed ground exactly the way it should be experienced in October – in twilight and darkness, happening upon vignettes and individuals under the guidance of one of our own. Hour-long tours depart every 15 minutes between 6pm and 9:30pm.

Grief and Ghost Tours at Lee-Fendall House: October 20, 21, 27 & 28
Explore Victorian mourning traditions coupled with stories of tragic deaths and mysterious occurrences at the Lee-Fendall House. Customs such as draping the mirrors after a death, funeral practices, hair jewelry, mourning clothing, and séances will be explored. These tours offer a rare opportunity to see the house after dark! Tours will be offered every half an hour starting 7:00 with the last tour at 9:00 PM. Tickets are $15 per person.

Fall Harvest Festival at Mount Vernon: October 21 – 22
Celebrate the crisp autumn season with 18th-century activities & demonstrations at the Farm at Mount Vernon. Explore the Farm. Meet General Washington. Purchase food freshly made in an 18th-century-style oven. Watch an 18th-century cooking demonstration. Visit with the colonial surveyors to see how surveying was done. Witness an 18th-century Cooper and Wheelwright perform their craft. See how horseshoeing was performed in the 18th century with the Farrier. Watch 18th-century spinning demonstrations. Learn about 18th-century textiles and how they were dyed.
NSO Family Concert- Halloween Spooktacular: October 22
An October tradition! The Concert Hall transforms into a ghostly sight when ghoulishly attired
National Symphony Orchestra musicians perform new and old classics to celebrate Halloween
and Dia de los Muertos. Praised for his “easygoing and engaging podium presence” (Playbill),
Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser leads this festive family concert. Most enjoyed by ages 5+.

Halloween at the Harbor: October 22
Enjoy trick-or-treating, a pumpkin carving competition, pet pawrade and more. This family-friendly party is sure to be a wicked good time!

36th Annual 17th Street High Heel Race: October 24
The Annual 17th Street High Heel Race is a time to celebrate the diversity of DC’s LGBTQ+ community and join thousands of costumed spectators cheer on costumed drag queens drag kings and community members as they race down 17th Street NW. Lively and filled with drag entertainment a parade and much more you won’t want to miss this DC tradition!

Mystery Mansion: October 26 – 29
A ten-room haunted house packed with chills, thrills, and a smidge of Maryland history, Mystery Mansion has scares that are just right for younger children. This is a 100% “No Contact” haunted house! Older students and adults will enjoy the stories, special effects, and devious characters. If you are 10 years or older (no exceptions) you can visit The Crypt, a slightly scarier experience for those who dare. Before and after Mystery Mansion, enjoy Bonfire Bash! Bonfire Bash will take place each night with fire pits, Halloween movies, live entertainment, food, beer & wine, face painting, and s’mores! Mystery Mansion & Bonfire Bash take place at 7931 Connecticut Avenue, one mile inside the beltway. Free parking is available behind the club house.

Super, Awesome & Amazing Halloween Spooktacular: October 27
Enjoy trick-or-treating, inflatables, photo booth, games, a family-friendly movie, costume contest, popcorn and more!

My Gym Halloween Party: October 27
Looking for not too spooky family fun this Halloween? Find it at My Gym’s Halloween Party! Join for circle time, games, costume parade, and loads of fun! Each child leaves with a My Gym Halloween treat. Book your spot today! Must sign up ahead of time.

Hill-O-Ween: October 27
Capitol Hill celebrates Halloween as a community each year in front of Eastern Market on 7th St.

Glow in the Park: October 27 – 28
Enjoy a magical experience climbing and ziplining through the trees lit up with neon colored lights, rockin’ music, and exciting themes! Reserve your tickets in advance for this fan-favorite event! Ages 5 and up are welcome.

Dia de Lose Muertos at Smithsonian American Art Museum: October 28
Celebrate Día de los Muertos with the Smithsonian American Art Museum! Bring the whole family to see exciting live performances, including traditional Mexican folk dance by Ballet Folklorico Mi Herencia Mexicana, an exhilarating mariachi performance by Mariachi Aguila DC, and a showcase of different Latin American music genres and dances with Sol y Rumba. Attendees ages 12 and younger can enjoy face painting throughout the day, while visitors of all ages can try out our featured Día de los Muertos-themed crafts. Have fun with a Día de los Muertos scavenger hunt that will take you through the museum’s new Many Wests: Artists Shape an American Idea exhibit.

Trick or Treat at Tudor Place: October 28
Celebrate the fall season with games and crafts at Tudor Place. Wear your Halloween best to explore the garden’s meandering paths and find festive activities, fun and sugary treats. All ages are welcome; this program is best enjoyed by children ages three to eight. This outdoor event will take place rain or shine.

Air & Scare at Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center: October 28
Join for the annual Halloween event at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center to explore the spooky side of air and space. This event will take place both inside and outside the Udvar-Hazy Center. At Air & Scare, you’ll get some spooky discoveries and some science fun. All visitors are welcome to wear costumes to the Museum. Air & Scare will feature: Trick or treat stations with free candy and snacks. Creepy crafts, spooky experiments, and other Halloween-themed activities for family members of all ages. Special story times and puppet shows for the youngest Halloween revelers. Photo opportunities with your favorite Star Wars characters.

Trick or Treat at Mount Vernon: October 28
Collect candy around the historic grounds and celebrate Halloween with 18th-century entertainment and activities. Collect candy in your special Mount Vernon treat bag around the historic grounds. Snap a selfie at our Straw Bale Selfie Station in front of the Mansion on the Bowling Green. Watch your children in a Costume Parade on the historic grounds. Greet the General & Lady Washington in the historic area.

Halloween at The Boo-ro: October 28
Pull out all the stops and don your coolest costume for The Best In Show Costume Contest! Humans and dogs alike will strut the runway for a chance to win a gift card to a selected Boro retailer. Other activities will include a Monster Bash dance party, Halloween crafts for the kids, a spooky themed reading from Turning the Page, tarot card readers and Witch’s Brew cocktails from El Bebe. As the day turns to night, stick around for a spooky screening of the cult classic “Hocus Pocus.” The movie night, sponsored by Tysons Community Alliance and Showplace Icon Tysons, will begin at 6:30 p.m. and include a popcorn bar offering movie snacks.

The Pumpkin Patch Express at B&O Railroad: October 28 – 29
Join for a ride to the First Mile Stable where you’ll deboard for photo taking, game playing, scarecrow making, and pumpkin decorating! Come as you are or in your best Halloween costume to match the décor onsite. There will even be an opportunity to meet the horses and enjoy autumn snacks before boarding the train back to the Museum.

Van Ness Spooktacular: October 29
Everyone’s favorite kid-friendly Halloween event is returning to Forest Hills Playground this year. Parents and kids of all ages are invited to dress in their favorite costumes and gather at Forest Hills Playground for spooky-inspired activities.

Day of the Dead/Día de los Muertos at the National Museum of the American Indian: October 29
Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a time for commemorating our ancestors. Rather than a period of mourning, it is an occasion for celebrating with family—both living and dead—and appreciating and honoring the cycle of life and death. Bring the whole family to participate in activities, including dance performances, papel picado artist demonstrations, the unique art of sawdust carpets, and paper marigold and mask making. Visitors are also invited to leave photos and mementos of their loved ones on the ofrenda (altar) or commemorate them by writing their name on a butterfly and attaching it to the memorial arch.

27th Annual Del Rey Halloween Parade: October 29
The parade begins at Mt. Vernon Avenue south of E. Bellefonte, and continues down to the Mt. Vernon Recreation Center fields at Mt. Vernon and Commonwealth Avenues for live music and an awards presentation for the pet & stroller contests, plus best decorated house and business. All are invited to march and show off their finest Halloween garb! **Registration for the Pet Costume Contest and Stroller Competition will be done prior to the parade start.

Rumpus Room Family Dance Party, Halloween Special: October 29
The Rumpus Room, DC’s only daytime dance party for families, returns for Halloween at Hi-Lawn on the rooftop of Union Market! You’ll be getting (slightly) spooky, outdoors under the sun, so put on your costumes and come dance! Costumes are highly encouraged, but not required. Get ready for a dance floor filled with little ghosts, goblins, witches, dragons, and pumpkins of all ages. Relive your night-life glory days with your little ones in tow. The soundtrack for the day will be a family-friendly mix of dance floor classics, current hits, guilty pleasures and Halloween tunes, all at a child-friendly volume. Hi-Lawn will be open for food and beverages at 11:00 am!

Spooktacular on Connecticut Avenue: October 31 from 2:00pm-5:00pm
The Chevy Chase Citizens Association is reviving Spooktacular – to be held on Connecticut Avenue in Chevy Chase, DC. Restaurants and store owners will provide goodies for costumed trick-or-treaters.

El Día de los Muertos Festival: November 2
Join the annual celebration of el Día de los Muertos – one of the National Portrait Gallery’s biggest events of the year! Visitors will enjoy live music, dance performances by a local folk dance company, workshops and a variety of activities for all ages. Artists MasPaz and Guache will project their live video artwork, “La Común Unidad: Caminando con los Ancestros,” highlighting the artists’ ancestral cultural heritage. Create calaveras and papel picado to decorate the community altar, get your face painted to look like la Catrina – and more! NPR is the media partner.

Montgomery County Halloween and fall fun events page

Corn mazes:
Liberty Mills Farm
Summers Farm
Montpelier Farm
Wayside Farm

Date Night:
Markoff’s Haunted Forest
Field of Screams
Ebe Haunts Trail of Terror
Fields of Fear
Six Flags Fright Fest
Shocktober
Halloween Night at O Street Mansion
Laurel’s House of Horror
Haunted Hayrides

Fall festivals:
Maryland Renaissance Festival: Weekends, August 26 – October 22
Frederick Oktoberfest: September 29-30
Oktoberfest at The Boro: September 30
PIKEtoberfest: October 1
Takoma Park Street Festival: October 1
Taste of Bethesda: October 7
Adam’s Morgan Porchfest: October 14
Bethesda Row Arts Festival: October 14-15
Volta Park Fall Festival: October 21
Glen Echo Fall Frolic: October 28

Pups:
Spooky Pooch Howl-o-ween Celebration: October 21
Hightail it to Hillwood Estate, Museum & Garden with your four-legged friend for some Halloween fun! Inspired by Marjorie Post’s affection for dogs and the memorial dog cemetery she created at Hillwood, we welcome you and your four-legged friend to join us for Halloween fun! Explore the gardens and participate in the annual costume competition. Strut your mutt and size up the other canine contestants.

Hirshhorn Howl-O-Ween: October 22
Join for a morning of dress-up, art activities, and furry fun at Hirshhorn Howl-o-Ween, our annual costumed celebration for dogs and their whole family. The one time of the year when Hirshhorn visitors can share art encounters with their well-behaved pets, Hirshhorn Howl-o-Ween invites dog owners and dog lovers of all ages to the Museum’s Plaza for a pre-Halloween party, featuring: Breakfast snacks, coffee, mimosa bar, and dog-friendly treats. Halloween-themed art making for humans and peanut butter “paw-traits” for dogs. A seasonal family photo booth.

Bark Social Breed Meet-Up: Halloween Costume: October 23
Calling all dog lovers and all breeds! Whether you love coordinating your costume with your dog, or just can’t resist a dog in costume, join us for this super fun costume party!

Howl-O-Ween at Gateway Park: October 27
They’ll have pet-themed vendors, raffles, giveaways, a beer and wine bar, and pet portrait sketches on-site! Dog costumes are strongly encouraged, as we will be hosting our annual Halloween dog costume contest. To enter, you must register on-site at the Rosslyn BID table between 3:30-5:30 p.m.

Bonus:
Order new seasonal treats from Milk Bar. Pumpkin Coffee Cake + Truffles. This popular flavor returns for fall at all bakeries. A vanilla cake is layered with cinnamon “goo,” crunchy cinnamon streusel, pumpkin cheesecake filling and pumpkin frosting. It’s then topped with the *best* part of coffee cake – heaps of coffee cake topping. Available online and bakeries nationwide. Pumpkin Milk Bar Pie. The popular pie returns for fall. It has a gooey, buttery, fudgy consistency of a pecan pie mixed with the quintessential pumpkin flavor you can’t resist during fall. Available online and bakeries nationwide. Caramel Apple Pie Cake. Layers of caramel cake are slathered in a combination of gooey apples and vanilla caramel, and have hidden bits of cinnamon pie crumb in the center. True to pie form, the cake is topped with a layer of ice cream frosting and mini “scoops” of ice cream crumb. Available online and bakeries nationwide.

Fall festivals, farms, orchards and events in and around Washington, DC

September 27, 2023

It’s that time of year when the weather is beginning to cool, cute fall outfits await, PSL’s are back and kids are hoping to start jumping in leaves soon. It also means making memories at local apple orchards, fall festivals and picking pumpkins. Have a favorite place to add to our list? Let us know in the comments!

Larriland (2415 Woodbine Rd., Woodbine, MD 21797)
Open – November 5
Gaze across the fields dotted with thousands of orange pumpkins, each one waiting to become a jack-o-lantern for your porch. The farm is decorated for Halloween with ghosts and goblins to delight and scare you. The fields are laden with crisp, succulent vegetables. The orchards are bent down with apples. It’s the last harvest to reap before the cold winter sets in. And fall is the perfect time to enjoy a tall glass of freshly squeezed sweet apple cider. 20 minute hayrides available on Saturdays and Sundays in late September and October. The Straw Maze, built in a confusing pattern with large round bales of straw, is a delightful place to get lost. The Straw Maze is open every day the farm is open in late September and October. The Boo Barn is for children ages 4 – 6. It is a dark passage in the bottom of the Red Barn and is filled with animated, not too scary ghosts and goblins. The Boo Barn is open every day the farm is open in late September and October. Apple fritters and Food trucks on Saturdays and Sundays in October.

Great Country Farms (18780 Foggy Bottom Rd., Bluemont, VA 20135)
Open – November 5
Open daily for apple picking and corn maze from Sept 1-30. They also have flashlight family nights through the corn maze September 29 & 30. On Saturdays & Sundays, they add in live music, marshmallow roasting, pig races & cider pressing demonstrations. Check out the Zurschmeide Family’s antique 1865 Cider press. Sample freshly pressed cider and see how it used to be produced! Apple picking is October 1-8. Fall Pumpkin Harvest Festival is from October 1-31, adult cornmaze & pumpkin chunkin taking place November 4 & 5. Purchase tickets online.

Gaver Farm (5501 Detrick Rd., Mount Airy, MD 21771)
Open – October 31
The Fall Fun Fest is home to over 65 farm attractions including a corn maze, farm animal barnyard, mini mazes, games, playgrounds, bike tracks, educational opportunities and family fun.

Clark’s Elioak Farm (10500 State Rte 108 Ellicott City, MD 21042)
Open – November 5
Petting farm animals, hayrides, cow train rides, pony rides, birthday parties, educational tours, enchanted pine tree forest, special weekend events, enchanted forest attractions (from an old theme park) and fall season pumpkin patch. You can purchase tickets when you arrive.

Homestead Farm (15604 Sugarland Rd., Poolesville, MD 20837)
Open 7 days a week
Pick your own apples and pumpkins, live animals to see and browse market goodies such as apple cider, mums and honey.

Summers Farm (5620 Butterfly Ln. Frederick, MD 21703)
Open – October 31
Admission includes 45+ fall fun activities. For a full schedule of special events, visit the entertainment page. For a complete listing of activities available at Summers Farm, visit the attractions page.

Leesburg Animal Park (19270 James Monroe Hwy., Leesburg, VA 20175)
Open – November 5
Enjoy the giant hill slides, hay wagon rides, pet and feed animals, free apple and cider snack with admission, free mini-pumpkin, kids maze and live entertainment, pedal carts, bounce pillow and live music. Specials on weekends include camel rides and entertainment.

Cox Farms (15621 Braddock Rd., Centreville, VA 20120)
Open- November 7
The Fall Festival is filled with family-friendly entertainment and TONS of attractions including slides, cornmaze, swings, animals, hayrides and more.

Butlers Orchard (22200 Davis Mill Rd., Germantown, MD 20876)
Open – October 29
Admission to pick your own pumpkins, hayrides, hilltop hop jump pads, tractor pull, jump in the hayloft, visit barnyard buddies, twisted corn maze, live music on weekends, playground, spiderweb, play in the corn box, straw maze, swoop down the giant slides, corn hole games & pedal tractors. Open Wednesday-Sundays, reservations are highly recommended.

Wayside Farm (5273 Harry Byrd Hwy., Berryville, VA 22611)
Open-October 29
Watch the pig races, get lost in the maze or sit under the tree, head to the playground or animals and play pumpkin checkers. There is a hay mountain and hayrides too. Get lost in the 10-acre corn maze. This year the maze is baby Yoda themed.

Loudoun Fall Farm Tour
October 21 & 22
Over two dozen locations are part of this exciting tour through rural Virginia.

Readers also recommend:
Montpellier Farm
Weber’s Cider Mill
Pumpkin Playground at Burke Nursery

Ultimate guide to Halloween in and around Washington, DC

October 20, 2022

We have it all– dogs parades, date nights including frights and of course family-friendly Halloween events! If you are looking for orchards and fall festivals you can find that here. We have been crossing off items from our list of 12 things to do in October.

Halloween and fall events:
Creepy Climb at Summit Ropes: Weekends October 7th – 31st
A nighttime haunted house filled with spooky creatures and scary heights. Explore the darkened world of Summit Ropes like you’ve never experienced before. The Ropes Course transforms into a scary world of zombies, goblins, ghouls, and ghosts.

Witch Wartsmith’s Halloween Spooktacular at The Puppet Co: through October 31

Eye Spy Halloween Trains: through October 30
Halloween Eye Spy Train event returns in October. Online tickets are now available for purchase. Tickets are $6 each and our train will be running every weekend in October from 11am to 6pm, weather permitting of course. Purchase tickets for Cabin John’s Eye Spy Trains or Wheaton’s Eye Spy Trains.

Halloween Hunt at The Mansion on O Street: October 14 -31
Decorated for Halloween just for this hunt – come celebrate the BOO season on this zany treasure hunt. Have fun searching for Autumn & Halloween themed items found only at The Mansion. Prizes additional. There are over 100 rooms and 70 secret doors (yes 70!). They guarantee you can see at least 60 of our legendary rooms — but be warned secret doors are tricky to find — if you find 2 or 3 you are an above average sleuth.

DPR Halloween Events: October 19-31
It’s Halloween in DC and DPR is hosting events in all eight wards this 2022 Halloween season! Sign up today and make plans to attend one of our themed events taking place throughout the District. It’s all tricks and no treats in the place. Browse the events and sign up today….if you dare!

Soul Strolls: Twighlight Tours at Congressional Cemetery: October 21-22
Trespass into the past and discover the secrets of some of Congressional Cemetery’s “residents.” Soul Strolls, the Cemetery’s annual twilight tours, explore the stories of individuals buried here through guided tours and costumed interpreters. Experience the history of this hallowed ground exactly the way it should be experienced in October – in twilight and darkness, happening upon vignettes and individuals under the guidance of one of our own. Soul Strolls take place over four nights, October 14-15 and October 21-22. Hour-long tours depart every 15 minutes between 6pm and 9:30pm.

The Pumpkin Patch Express at B&O Railroad: October 22-23 & 28-31
Join us for a ride to the First Mile Stable as passengers deboard for photo ops and pumpkin decorating. Come as you are or in your best Halloween costume to match the décor onsite. There will even be an opportunity to meet the horses and enjoy autumn snacks before boarding the train back to the Museum.

Mystery Mansion: October 21, 22, 23, 28, 29 & 30
A ten-room haunted house packed with chills, thrills, and a smidge of Maryland history, Mystery Mansion has scares that are just right for younger children. This is a 100% “No Contact” haunted house! Older students and adults will enjoy the stories, special effects, and devious characters. If you are 10 years or older (no exceptions) you can visit The Crypt, a slightly scarier experience for those who dare. Before and after Mystery Mansion, enjoy Bonfire Bash! Bonfire Bash is a Fall Festival with fire pits, Halloween movies, live entertainment, food, beer & wine, face painting, and s’mores! Mystery Mansion & Bonfire Bash take place at 7931 Connecticut Avenue, one mile inside the beltway. Free parking is available behind the club house. Tickets are available now on the web site.

DPR Halloween Events: October 19-31
It’s Halloween in DC and DPR is hosting events in all eight wards this 2022 Halloween season!

Grief and Ghost Tours at Lee-Fendall House: October 21, 22, 28, & 29
Explore Victorian mourning traditions coupled with stories of tragic deaths and mysterious occurrences at the Lee-Fendall House. Customs such as draping the mirrors after a death, funeral practices, hair jewelry, mourning clothing, and séances will be explored. These tours offer a rare opportunity to see the house after dark! Tours will be offered every half an hour starting 7:00 with the last tour at 9:00 PM. Tickets are $15 per person. Tours will be limited to 12 participants and tickets must be purchased in advance. Face masks are recommended.

My Gym Halloween Party: October 21 4:00pm-4:45pm and 5:00pm-5:45pm
Looking for not too spooky family fun this Halloween? Find it at My Gym’s Halloween Party! Join for circle time, games, costume parade, and loads of fun! Each child leaves with a My Gym Halloween treat. Book your spot today! Must sign up ahead of time.

Kids Night Out at Confetti: October 21 from 5:30-8:00pm
A fun-filled Halloween I SCREAM Party (drop-off) for 1st-6th graders! Your child will enjoy an evening full of creating memories with friends, pizza, age-appropriate Halloween games, a costume contest, a glow-in-the dark dance party and, of course, ice cream!

Halloween in the Garden: October 22 from 10:00am-4:00pm
Join us for a family-friendly Halloween festival at our beautiful 30-acre park. With timed-entry tickets and activities spread across the park, there will be lots of room for everyone. More than 50 local businesses and organizations will be here handing out treats for the kids, plus there will be fun and games, a DJ dance party, food trucks, and more! So dress up the whole family and enjoy a spooktacular day at Annmarie! Click here for detailed event and safety information.

Fall Festival at Halley Rise: October 22 from 11am-2pm
This first-ever festival will feature fun family-oriented activities like a scavenger hunt, pumpkin painting and lawn games like corn hole will be accompanied by local bluegrass band, The High and Wides. Festival goers can also purchase food from José Andrés’ Pepe Food truck.

Fall Frolic at Lee-Fendall House: October 22 from 10:00am-4:00pm
Enjoy some fall themed family fun in the garden of the Lee-Fendall House during our Fall Frolic event! Join us for activities catered to children ages 3-12. Activities include a “ghost” hunt, crafts, a costume parade, and more! Timed tickets must be purchased in advance. Sessions start at 10:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 1:00 PM, 2:00 PM, and 3:00 PM and are limited to 20 children each. Tickets are $15 per participating child ages 2-12. Accompanying adults are $5 each and infants under 2 are free.

Fall Harvest Festival at Mount Vernon: October 22 & 23
Celebrate the crisp autumn season with 18th-century activities & demonstrations at the Farm at Mount Vernon. Explore the Farm. Meet General Washington. Purchase food freshly made in an 18th-century-style oven. Watch an 18th-century cooking demonstration. Visit with the colonial surveyors to see how surveying was done. Witness an 18th-century Cooper and Wheelwright perform their craft. See how horseshoeing was performed in the 18th century with the Farrier. Watch 18th-century spinning demonstrations. Learn about 18th-century textiles and how they were dyed.

Día de los Muertos at The Wharf: October 23 from 2:00pm-5:00pm
Celebrate the Day of the Dead at The Wharf. Live music, street food, a beer garden, face painting, sugar skull decorating, and more to District Pier in partnership with Modelo and Fiesta DC.

Montgomery Parks Spooktacular: October 23 from 10am to 1pm
Calling all little goblins and ghouls, celebrate the spooky season at Montgomery Parks Spooktacular. This free kids’ Halloween event features several attractions and performers to get your little ones in the Halloween spirit! Check out some magic tricks at the magician’s corner, add to your costume at the face painting area, and create a Halloween art project at the craft station.

Día de los Muertos at the Wharf: October 25 from 2:00pm-5:00pm
Join us to celebrate the Day of the Dead at The Wharf on Sunday, October 23. We’re bringing live music, street food, a beer garden, face painting, sugar skull decorating, and more to District Pier in partnership with Modelo and Fiesta DC.

35th Annual 17th Street High Heel Race: October 26 from 6:30pm-9:00pm
The Annual 17th Street High Heel Race is a time to celebrate the diversity of DC’s LGBTQ+ community and join thousands of costumed spectators cheer on costumed drag queens, drag kings and community members as they race down 17th Street NW. Lively and filled with local drag entertainment, a parade, and much more, you won’t want to miss this DC tradition, co-hosted by Rayceen Pendarvis and Citrine the Queen.

Bethesda Row Trick or Treat: October 26 from 5:30pm-7:30pm
Bring your ghosts and goblins for an evening of fun, treats, bites and retail scare-apy. Tickets are required per child (not adult) and all proceeds go directly to Manna Food Center.

Art Cart Halloween at Hirshhorn: October 27 from 10:00am-12:00pm
Get inspired by Kusama’s creativity for Halloween and create your own wearable work of art. Together we will learn about Kusama’s life and process (including her love of pumpkins), explore monochromatic materials, and get into the holiday spirit.

Spooktacular at Color Burst: October 27 from 6:00pm-8:00pm
Happy Halloween! Join us for happy haunts, trick-or-treats, and more at Spook-tacular at Color Burst Park! Spook – tivities will include: Pick your own pumpkin and give it a spooky makeover, Get creative with haunted craft stations, Listen to spooky storytimes, Trick-or-Treat around Color Burst Park, Enjoy Halloween cartoons on the big screen. Costumes are highly encouraged! Giveaways and crafts are first come, first served. Event is free and family friendly. All activities are first come first served. Picnic blankets and snacks for movie night are welcome.

Glow in the Park: October 28 & 29
Enjoy a magical experience climbing and ziplining through the trees lit up with neon colored lights, rockin’ music, and exciting themes! Reserve your tickets in advance for this fan-favorite event! Ages 5 and up are welcome.RESERVE TICKETS

Hill-O-Ween: October 28 from 5:30pm-7:30pm
Capitol Hill celebrates Halloween as a community each year in front of Eastern Market on 7th St.

Spooky Season Virtual Party with The Story Pirates: October 28 at 7 pm
Eric from the Story Pirates Podcast has been interviewing monsters, ghouls, and ghosts on the Story Pirates Spooky Season bonus episodes to try to choose the most fangtastic Halloween costume. What will Eric decide to wear for Halloween?! And most importantly: what will Story Pirates fans wear to the FREE spooktacular virtual Halloween party?! RSVP is required by clicking HERE. Free admission.

Boo at the Zoo: October 28, 29 & 30 from 5:30pm-8:30pm
It’s no trick, only the sweetest treat: Boo at the Zoo, Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute’s beloved family-friendly Halloween event. Tickets include special after-hours access for animal viewing at the Elephant Community Center, Small Mammal House, Reptile Discovery Center, Great Ape House and Think Tank, dance party, a souvenir tote bag and around 30 trick-or-treat stations around the Zoo.

Dia de Lose Muertos at Smithsonian American Art Museum: October 29 from 11:30am-3:00pm
Join the Smithsonian American Art Museum in celebrating Día de los Muertos! Bring the whole family to see exciting live performances from Ballet Folklorico Mi Herencia Mexicana, Mariachi Aguila DC, and Sol y Rumba. Enjoy face painting and our featured Día de los Muertos–themed crafts for all ages. If you are unable to make it in person, or want to continue the celebration online, visit our Family Zone for more crafts, coloring pages, and performance videos.

Trick or Treat at Tudor Place: October 29 from 10:00am-1:00pm
Wear your Halloween costume and search for treats (not tricks) in every corner of the garden. Enjoy crafts, activities and period games amid lovely autumn plant life. This outdoor event will take place rain or shine.

Air & Scare at Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center: October 29 from 10:00am-5:00pm
Join us for our annual Halloween event at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center to explore the spooky side of air and space. This year, the event will take place both inside and outside at the Museum. The tickets required for outdoor activities are sold out, however you’re welcome to enjoy our indoor activities without a ticket. Air & Scare will take place rain or shine. Some outside activities may be curtailed, but many will scream on. Bring rain protection if it’s gloomy. We will also host an online costume contest you can enter from home or from the event. This is your chance to win some extra Halloween treats.

Halloween Storytime & Party with Arts on the Horizon: October 29 from 10:30am-11:30am
Join us for a fun and festive Halloween party and interactive storytime! We will explore the wonders of the fall season and all things Halloween! Together we will use music and creative movement to explore new and exciting stories. After the storytime, stick around to create some fun Halloween and fall themed crafts. Wear your Halloween costumes (adults too!) and get ready to move and groove with stories, music, and movement. The event will be held outside on the front lawn. In the case of rain, the event will be moved inside.

Trick or Treat at Mount Vernon: October 29 from 2:00pm-6:00pm
Celebrate Halloween with 18th-century entertainment and activities. Collect candy in your special Mount Vernon treat bag around the historic grounds. Watch Halloween-themed Punch & Judy shows at 2:30 & 4:00 p.m. on the Bowling Green. Watch and Learn about 18th century magic in the Upper Garden at 3:30 & 5:00 p.m. See an 18th-century chocolate-making demonstration and sample a chocolate treat (while supplies last) in the North Grove. Learn about 18th-century Wool Carding along the South Lane. Watch sparks fly at the Blacksmith Shop. Enjoy musical entertainment on the Bowling Green. Find out about our Hog Island sheep, a breed dating back to Washington’s time, at the Stables.

Halloween Spooktacular: October 29 from 1:00pm-10:00pm
The St. James Halloween Party is a great way to enjoy a fun-filled, safe Halloween day inside our complex. 2 events in 1 day! 1:00 PM-4:00 PM: Pumpkin Plunge, Pumpkin Carving and Water Inflatable Obstacle Course. 7:00 PM-8:00 PM: Trick-or-Treating, Field Games and Inflatables 8:00 PM-10:00 PM: Hocus Pocus 2! – Movie in the Field House (Bring your blanket!). 2 separate tickets will be available for purchase, and can also be bundled into one!

Rumpus Room Family Dance Party, Halloween Special: October 30 from 11:00am-1:00pm
The Rumpus Room, DC’s only daytime dance party for families, returns for Halloween! This October we’ll be getting (slightly) spooky, outdoors under the sun, so put on your costumes and come dance with us! Get ready for a dance floor filled with little ghosts, goblins, witches, dragons, and pumpkins of all ages. Relive your night-life glory days and show off those rusty moves with your little ones in tow. The soundtrack for the day will be a family-friendly mix of dance floor and Halloween classics, all at a kid-friendly volume.

Halloween at the Harbor: October 30 from 12:00pm-3:00pm
Enjoy trick-or-treating, a pumpkin carving competition, pet pawrade and more. This family-friendly party is sure to be a wicked good time!

Van Ness Spooktacular: October 30 from 10am-3:00pm
Everyone’s favorite kid-friendly Halloween event is returning to Forest Hills Playground this year. Parents and kids of all ages are invited to dress in their favorite costumes and gather at Forest Hills Playground for spooky-inspired activities followed by Trick or Treating at small businesses along Connecticut Ave in Wakefield, Forest Hills and Van Ness. Click the link for the schedule of events.

PIKEkids Trick-or-Treating: October 30 from 10:00am-2:00pm
PikeKIDS annual Trick or Treat is back! Bring your little ones for a fun morning of Trick or Treating around the neighborhood and stay for brunch. Tickets required and all proceeds benefit Manna Food Center.

Fall Festival at City Ridge: October 30 from 12:00pm-4:0pm
Throughout the day, attendees can enjoy a variety of seasonal activities from painting pumpkins to jumping around the Halloween bounce house. Local DC food truck favorite, Reba’s, will also be on-site serving up funnel cakes and other sweet treats for attendees to enjoy among Halloween hits played by a local DJ. Registration is completely free and can be accessed via this link.

Halloween Spooktacular at Mosaic: October 30 from 9:00am-8:00pm
From store open to store close, stop by your favorite shops for trick-or-treating! Shop around at our FRESHFARM Farmers Market from 9 AM – 2 PM, and get your face painted at the Vienna Singing Princesses pop-up tent from 12 PM – 6 PM in Strawberry Park. Lay out your blankets, spread out your candy, and enjoy The Addams Family on our big screen in Strawberry Park, starting at 6 PM.

Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo: Mexican Geniuses: November 2
Celebrate Día de los Muertos surrounded by the artwork of two of Mexico’s most celebrated artists – Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo. Mexican Geniuses, the immersive experience celebrating this iconic duo, will host an all day Dia de los Muertos celebration honoring the symbolic relationship between the living and the dead with programming for families in the morning, and an adult fiesta in the evening.

Día de los Muertos at The Kennedy Center: November 4 at 7:30pm
Celebrate the Mexican holiday, el día de los muertos, the day of the dead, with a concert dedicated to music by Mexican composers, conducted by NOW’s Artistic Director Alejandro Hernandez-Valdez, a native of Guadalajara, Mexico.

Side Yards at The Yards: November 5 from 5:30pm-8:30pm
Guests are invited to enjoy contortionists, magicians, escape artists, sword swallowers, aerialists, lollipop lyra performers and other spook-tacular performances. Attendees are also able to take part in interactive activities including tarot card and palm reading, balloon artistry, and glitter tattoos, and warm up with hot cocoa and bites from Agua 301 and Due South Dockside. You can find photos from last year’s event linked here.

Corn mazes:
Liberty Mills Farm
Summers Farm
Montpelier Farm
Wayside Farm

Date nights:
Grief & Ghost Tours at Lee-Fendall House: October 21, 22, 28 & 29 from 7:00pm-9:00pm
Celebrate Halloween with a look at Victorian mourning traditions coupled with stories of tragic deaths and mysterious occurrences at the Lee-Fendall House. Customs such as draping the mirrors after a death, funeral practices, hair mementos, mourning clothing, and séances will be explored. These tours offer a rare opportunity to see the house after dark! Tickets are $15 per person. Tours groups will be limited to 10 participants and tickets must be purchased in advance.

Vampire Ball at Synetic Theater: October 28
Festivities start with a performance of Dracula at the theater. Then, guests head one floor up to the Marriott for an exclusive Halloween bash featuring a costume contest, dance party, and all the snacks and drinks that a ghoul could ask for. Gather all your Basic Witches for a party to wake the dead! Costumes very strongly encouraged. 21 and over please.

Adults only:
Markoff’s Haunted Forest
Field of Screams
Ebe Haunts Trail of Terror
Fields of Fear
Six Flags Fright Fest
Shocktober
Laurel’s House of Horror
Haunted Hayrides

Pups:
Spooky Pooch Howl-o-ween Celebration: October 22 from 3:00pm-5:00pm
Hightail it to Hillwood Estate, Museum & Garden with your four-legged friend for some Halloween fun! Inspired by Marjorie Post’s affection for dogs and the memorial dog cemetery she created at Hillwood, we welcome you and your four-legged friend to join us for Halloween fun! Explore the gardens and participate in the annual costume competition. Strut your mutt and size up the other canine contestants.

Howl-O-Ween at Gateway’s Interim Dog Park!: October 28 from 1:00pm-5:00pm
There will be a variety of pet-themed vendors, raffles, and giveaways to share with your pups. Dog costumes are strongly encouraged as we will be hosting our annual Halloween dog costume contest. To enter, you must register on-site at the Rosslyn BID table between 3:30-5:30pm.

Hirshhorn Howl-O-Ween: October 29 from 10am-11:30am
Join with your well-behaved costumed dog for a morning of dress-up and art in the Hirshhorn’s outdoor Sculpture Garden. Advance registration is required.

Halloween Best in Show at The Boro: October 29 from 3:00pm-8:30pm
Join The Boro for the ultimate dog costume contest at Boro Park! Pets will be able to strut the doggy catwalk and pose for judges with one winner crowned “Best in Show”. The top three looks will take home a prize-packed doggy gift basket. Don’t have a dog? Join us anyways for some fall family fun! This spooktacular day will be filled with trick-or-treating, games, and Halloween crafts. It is guaranteed to be a paws-itively wonderful day! The show doesn’t end there! Join us at 6:30pm in The Sandlot for a spooky screening of Scooby Doo (2002) on the big screen complete with a popcorn bar!

sPETacular Halloween Parade: October 30 from 2:00pm-4:00pm
The Shepherd Park Citizens Association is hosting its second popular Spet-tacular Halloween Parade and Costume Contest at the dog park at The Parks at Walter Reed. Start prepping your doggie (and human) costumes. We hear the judges are serious and the competition will be fierce! Dress up your dog to impress and win a prize in each weight category: Small (up to 24 lbs), Medium (24-55. lbs.), and Large (55+ lbs.). Prizes courtesy of One Leg Up Pets, Big Bad Woof Pet Store, and other local businesses. Celebrity judges include Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis-George, Vicki Davis of Urban Atlantic, and Ashley Mercado of One Leg Up Pets. Master Heath Bryan Leone is our Honorary Master of Ceremonies.

Bark Social Fall Fest & Puppy Parade
Various activities and themes throughout October. Click link above for more details.

Bonus:
Order new seasonal treats from Milk Bar. Taking the classic fall favorite, apple cider doughnuts, and remixing it with a uniquely Milk Bar spin, a brand new cake and truffle combo is meant to transport you to your favorite fall memory.

12 family-friendly activities to do in October in and around Washington, DC

September 30, 2022

In addition to checking things off our fall bucket list, there are plenty of exciting events happening in October that will allow families to experience Washington, DC. Don’t miss out on a fall favorite– apple and pumpkin picking!

Frederick Oktoberfest Sept. 30 – Oct. 1

Oktoberfest Weekend at the Wharf Sept. 30 – Oct. 2

Master Chef Junior Live! Oct. 7

Creepy climb at Summit Ropes coming October 7th

National Air & Space Museum re-opening Oct. 14

Fall Carnival at Frying Pan Farm Park Oct 14-16

Open House at The Kreeger Museum Oct. 16

Jacqueline & Jason’s Block Party Oct 16

Fall Harvest Festival at Mount Vernon Oct 22 – 23

Día de los Muertos at the Wharf Oct. 23

Día de los Muertos Family Day at Smithsonian American Art Museum Oct 29

Order new seasonal treats from Milk Bar. Taking the classic fall favorite, apple cider doughnuts, and remixing it with a uniquely Milk Bar spin, a brand new cake and truffle combo is meant to transport you to your favorite fall memory.

Fall festivals, farms, orchards and events in and around Washington, DC

September 10, 2022

It’s that time of year when the weather is beginning to cool, cute fall outfits await, PSL’s are back and kids are hoping to start jumping in leaves soon. It also means making memories at local apple orchards, fall festivals and picking pumpkins. Have a favorite place to add to our list? Let us know in the comments!

Larriland (2415 Woodbine Rd., Woodbine, MD 21797)
Open – November 6
Gaze across the fields dotted with thousands of orange pumpkins, each one waiting to become a jack-o-lantern for your porch. The farm is decorated for Halloween with ghosts and goblins to delight and scare you. The fields are laden with crisp, succulent vegetables. The orchards are bent down with apples. It’s the last harvest to reap before the cold winter sets in. And fall is the perfect time to enjoy a tall glass of freshly squeezed sweet apple cider. Reservations required for pumpkin and evening hayrides. The Straw Maze, built in a confusing pattern with large round bales of straw, is a delightful place to get lost. The Straw Maze is open every day the farm is open in late September and October. The Boo Barn is for children ages 4 – 6. It is a dark passage in the bottom of the Red Barn and is filled with animated, not too scary ghosts and goblins. The Boo Barn is open every day the farm is open in late September and October. Apple fritters and Food trucks on Saturdays and Sundays in October.

Great Country Farms (18780 Foggy Bottom Rd., Bluemont, VA 20135)
September 1 – November 7
Open daily for apple picking and corn maze from Sept 1-30. They also have flashlight family nights through the corn maze September 10, 17, 24, 2022. On Saturdays & Sundays, they add in live music, marshmallow roasting, pig races & cider pressing demonstrations. Check out the Zurschmeide Family’s antique 1865 Cider press. Sample freshly pressed cider and see how it used to be produced! Fall Pumpkin Harvest Festival is from October 1-31 & Pumpkin Chunkin taking place November 5-6. Purchase tickets online.

Gaver Farm (5501 Detrick Rd., Mount Airy, MD 21771)
September 2 – October 31
Enjoy fall on the farm by conquering the twists and turns of the corn maze, bouncing on the jumping pillows, petting and feeding the farm animals and cruising down the giant slides. There are over 60 attractions, appropriate for any age including 2 jumping pillows, Chicken Show, farm animals, mini mazes, playgrounds, duck races, ball games, photo centers and so much more! Purchase tickets online.

Clark’s Elioak Farm (10500 State Rte 108 Ellicott City, MD 21042)
Open – November 6
Petting farm animals, hayrides, cow train rides, pony rides, birthday parties, educational tours, enchanted pine tree forest, special weekend events, enchanted forest attractions (from an old theme park) and fall season pumpkin patch. You can purchase tickets when you arrive.

Summers Farm (5620 Butterfly Ln. Frederick, MD 21703)
September 17 – October 31
Admission includes 45+ fall fun activities. For a full schedule of special events, visit the Entertainment page. For a complete listing of activities available at Summers Farm, visit the Attractions page.

Leesburg Animal Park (19270 James Monroe Hwy., Leesburg, VA 20175)
September 17 – November 6
Enjoy the giant hill slides, hay wagon rides, pet and feed animals, free apple and cider snack with admission, free mini-pumpkin, kids maze and live entertainment, pedal carts, bounce pillow and live music. Specials on weekends include camel rides and Entertainment.

Cox Farms (15621 Braddock Rd., Centreville, VA 20120)
September 17 – 18 & then the Fall Festival will be open Thursday through Monday from Sept. 24 through Nov. 7, plus Tuesday, Nov. 8.
The Fall Festival is filled with family-friendly entertainment and TONS of attractions including slides, swings, animals, hayrides and more.

Butlers Orchard (22200 Davis Mill Rd., Germantown, MD 20876)
September 24 – October 30
Admission to pick your own pumpkins, hayrides, hilltop hop jump pads, tractor pull, jump in the hayloft, visit barnyard buddies, twisted corn maze, live music on weekends, playground, spiderweb, play in the corn box, straw maze, swoop down the giant slides, corn hole games & pedal tractors. Open Wednesday-Sundays, reservations are highly recommended.

Wayside Farm (5273 Harry Byrd Hwy., Berryville, VA 22611)
September 24 and then open Thursday – Sunday & Columbus Day (Oct 10)
September 24 – October 30, 2022
Watch the pig races, get lost in the maze or sit under the tree, head to the playground or animals and play pumpkin checkers. There is a hay mountain and hayrides too. Get lost in the 10-acre corn maze. This year the maze pays homage to our amazing medical professionals who work to keep us all healthy and safe.

Loudoun Fall Farm Tour
October 15 and 16
Over two dozen locations are part of this exciting tour through rural Virginia.

Readers also recommend:
Montpellier Farm
Weber’s Cider Mill
Pumpkin Playground at Burke Nursery

Fall festivals:
Maryland Renaissance Festival: August 27 – October 23
Oktoberfest at The Boro: September 17
H Street Festival: September 17
Oktoberfest at the Wharf: September 30 – October 2
PIKEtoberfest: October 2
Volta Park Fall Festival: October 15
Fall for Fairfax KidFest: TBD
Frederick Oktoberfest: TBD
Barracks Row OctROWberfest: TBD

Adults only:
Markoff’s Haunted Forest
Field of Screams
Ebe Haunts Trail of Terror
Fields of Fear
Six Flags Fright Fest
Shocktober

Food:
Order seasonal treats from Milk Bar. Taking the classic fall favorite, apple cider doughnuts, and remixing it with a uniquely Milk Bar spin, a brand new cake and truffle combo is meant to transport you to your favorite fall memory.

Weekend picks in and around Washington, DC

September 9, 2022

All weekend
Mexican Geniuses: A Frida and Diego immersive experience. Explore over 300 Frida & Diego projections, hear details of their lives and learn about the influence they had on each other.

The Kensington Train Show isn’t to be missed! Taking place 11am-5pm both Saturday & Sunday.

Prince George’s County Fair offers exhibits, performers, livestock and vendors.

Bounce the Mall allows families to bounce, slide and dance your way through a surreal, candy-colored wonderland featuring the largest ball pit on the planet, a 600ft long obstacle course, giant slides, a huge birthday cake bouncer, silent disco dome, inflatable sports arena & more.

Pick your own fruits and veggies has some great options right now. Tomorrow morning, check your inbox for a post on fall festivals that are happening all weekend long.

Friday
5:00pm-8:00pm: Friday’s at the Park
Did someone say live music and food trucks? We are moving our annual Fridays at the Fountain event to Long Bridge Park. This outdoor concert series features local bands and musicians and is free to attend.

7:00pm: Movie night at Lincoln’s Cottage: Onward
Bring a picnic, a blanket and a friend for a FREE film screening on the lawn of Lincoln’s summer residence: Onward (September 9th), Ghost Busters (October 14th), and Audience Choice (November 4th): Vote now for Inside Out or Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure!

Saturday
City Ridge is calling all friends and family to join the neighborhood at three FREE events for everyone on Saturday. Kick off the weekend with a morning flow with Yoga on the Great Lawn starting at 9am. Then continue the fun from 2-4pm at the Pin Oak Park Playdate where families can play on swings, slides, and enjoy healthy snacks. Gather back at the Great Lawn in the afternoon for the US Open Watch Party at 4pm to cheer on your favorite tennis players on the big screen while also enjoying oversized outdoor games and playing on mini pop-up tennis courts. Guests can also participate in the tennis trivia contest with a chance to win prizes like a Wegmans gift card or two tickets to the 2023 Citi Open!

10:00am-2:00pm: Soar Together @ Air and Space On Site Family Day: Expanding Our View of the Universe
Join to explore how scientists are expanding our view of the Universe with the help of new space telescopes and probes, like the James Webb Space Telescope. Guests will find out how these tools help us learn more about black holes, the earliest galaxies, asteroids, exoplanets, and more!

10:00am-4:00pm: Family Day: Celebration of Textiles
Celebrate Korean fashion and culture at the museum during its 41st-annual Celebration of Textiles. See artist demonstrations of weaving, embroidery, quilting and more. Make your own “bojagi” patchwork and try a little K-pop dancing with friends or family. Tours of the exhibition Korean Fashion: From Royal Court to Runway will be offered throughout the day.

11:30am-3:00pm: Portraiture Festival
Join us for a celebration of art, identity and creativity! The Portrait Gallery’s first festival since 2020 will include art, music and activities for all ages. Meet finalists from the 2022 Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition, who will discuss their work during interactive gallery talks and hands-on art workshops. Venture to the Great Hall, where Holly Bass will present her day-long performance “American Woman,” based on her 2021 video in “The Outwin 2022: American Portraiture Today.”

1:00pm-7:00pm: Rosslyn Jazz Festival
Celebrate a diverse lineup of four fantastic acts to the stage at Gateway Park for an afternoon of music, food trucks, yard games, the Arlington Art Truck, community table experiences, and tons of fun.

Sunday
10:00am-7:00pm: Takoma Park Folk Festival
The 2022 Takoma Park Folk Festival (TPFF) is excited about presenting an outdoor, in-person festival with multiple music stages and craft vendors.

11:00am-7:15pm: Adams Morgan Day
For 44 years, Adams Morgan Day has been a family-friendly celebration with music, art and activities for all ages. The event schedule has more details on what they offer.

Plan ahead
Sunday, September 18, 2022
Connect with other LGBT families in Hillwood’s urban oasis at this family celebration. Enjoy a picnic, play lawn games, create an art project, and more!

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