Halloween

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.

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.

Halloweekend in and around Washington, DC

October 29, 2021

My kids have been counting down to Halloween for a month & it’s finally here!! Tons of DPR events scheduled for today but check links to verify if they are still on due to the rain. There’s also plenty of farms still open and welcoming pickers!

Friday
3:30pm: Story Pirates Halloween Party and Costume Contest
Creator Campers are hard at work this month creating the New Halloween City, and you’re invited to visit during our FREE virtual Halloween party on October 29th! Wear your costumes for our Zoom parade and see what costumes the Story Pirates are wearing while we play games and celebrate at the silliest Halloween party there is!

3:30pm-5:30pm: Afternoon Fright and Fun at Lafayette-Pointer
A fun-filled afternoon of costumes, candy, and activities.

3:30pm-5:30pm: Afternoon Fright and Fun at Glover Park
A fun-filled afternoon of costumes, candy, and activities.

4:00pm-7:00pm: Trick or Treat Pit Stop at Sherwood
Make a ‘pit stop’ for treats and festivities.

4:00pm-7:00pm: Halloween at Palisades
A fun-filled evening of activities, candy, and a costume contest.

4:30pm-6:30pm: Community Boo Treats at Fort Stevens
Stop by for harvest holiday fun with sweets, face paintings, and crafts.

5:00pm-8:30pm: Trunk or Treat at Joe Cole
Children will safely get candy from participating community members in the parking lot.

5:00pm-7:00pm: Trick or Treat at Deanwood Recreation Center
Participants will be able to trick or treat inside of Deanwood Recreation Center.

5:00pm-7:00pm: Glow in the Dark Egg Hunt Takoma
Search for candy filled glow in the dark eggs and do arts and craft activities.

5:00pm-6:00pm: Turkey Thicket Treat Giveaway
Come by and get a candy bag, handed out from the front door.

5:00pm-8:30pm: Raymond Haunted House
Thrill-seekers will love a frightful tour through the Raymond Haunted House. Or enjoy non-spooky activities including a costume contest, dance battles with spooky music, and bobbing for apples.

5:30pm-7:30pm: HOWL-o-ween Parade at Columbia Heights
The Halloween parade will be for children and dogs to dress up in costumes and strut around the community. Candy and refreshments provided.

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

5:30pm-8:30pm: Haunted Walk Through at Arthur Capper
Enjoy a haunted walk through to celebrate Halloween.

6:00pm-8:00pm: Trunk or Treat at Emery Heights
Trunk Or Treat Halloween Extravaganza.

6:00pm-8:30pm: Kenilworth Gravesite Grab and Go
Come dressed in your best Halloween costume and pick up a pre-packaged bag of treats.

6:00pm-7:30pm: Halloween Costume Parade at Edgewood Recreation Center
Show off your costume and get some candy.

6:00pm-8:00pm: Halloween at Shepherd Park
Fun-filled Halloween activities.

6:00pm-8:00pm: Trunk or Treat at Fort Stanton
Trunk Or Treat Halloween Extravaganza.

6:00pm-8:00pm: Hillcrest Haunted Alley Fright Night
Attendees will enjoy a fun-filled spooky hallway and ‘Trunk Or Treat’ in the parking lot.

6:00pm-8:00pm: Riggs-LaSalle Treat Giveaway
A fun evening of music, games, and a costume contest.

6:00pm-8:20pm: Glow in the Park
Glow in the Park at the Adventure Park at Sandy Spring is available on select dates but some are sold out. 2 hours of climbing & ziplining, additional 40 minutes for the initial orientation. Tickets available every 10 minutes starting at 6pm until 8:20pm.

6:00pm-8:00pm: Ridge Road Halloween Party
Come join The Ridge Road Community for their electrifying, full of fun and energy, scary activities, candy, games, face painting, dance contest, best costume , Famous spooky wall ,and more! This event is for ages 0-18

6:00pm-8:30pm: Spooktacular at Color Burst Park
For one evening, The Merriweather District will be transformed into a festive Halloween space for the whole family to enjoy! Some of the Spook – tivities will include: Pick your own pumpkin at our very own pumpkin patch and give it a spooky makeover. Trick-or-Treat around Color Burst Park. Enjoy a Halloween themed movie night featuring Hocus Pocus complete with popcorn and candy. Costumes are highly encouraged! This event is free and family-friendly. Bring your picnic blanket and snacks to enjoy movie night.

Saturday
9:30am-11:00am: Hirshhorn Howl-o-ween
The Hirshhorn is hosting its first-ever dog-friendly event, just in time for Halloween. Join with (or without) your dog for a morning of costumes and coffee in the Hirshhorn’s outdoor Sculpture Garden. Dress up your pup, and if they’re feeling fierce, sign them up to strut their stuff in our furry fashion contest ($25 to register, free for Hirshhorn Insiders) for the chance to win a few special prizes. Local experts District Dogs will be there to keep the dog party going with free activities like peanut butter portraits. This event is open to all ages, and kids are encouraged to join in on the fun with Hirshhorn-inspired creative projects geared toward little artists.

10:00am-3:00pm: Fall Frolic at Lee-Fendall House
Enjoy some seasonal family fun in the garden of the Lee-Fendall House during the Fall Frolic! Put on your Halloween costumes and join for activities catered to children ages 3-12. Activities include a “ghost” hunt, crafts, and a costume parade. Timed tickets must be purchased in advance.

10:00am-11:00am: Haunted Halloween Hunt at Tudor Place
Experience Halloween at Tudor Place with a spooky one-of-a-kind scavenger hunt. Wear your costume and come with your friends and family. Create a creepy craft to take home, then explore the garden to discover bats, spiders and other outdoor Halloween secrets. Scavenger hunt finishers will receive a special prize. Suggested Ages: 7 – 12 years old. Pre-registration is required. Capacity is limited.

10:00am-12:00pm: PIKEkids Trick-or-Treating
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.

10:00am-5:00pm: Air & Scare at Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
Air & Scare Outside 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. This year many of our Star Wars friends can also be visited at activity stations. A chance to enter a costume contest to win sweet prizes (get all the details and rules). Can’t join the fun in person? Check out the Air & Scare at Home virtual activities.

11:00am-12:00pm: Día de los Muertos Virtual Family Program
The National Postal Museum is delighted to collaborate with the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) to create a virtual family program that celebrates Day of the Dead | Día de los Muertos. The United States Postal Service (USPS) is issuing its first-ever Día de los Muertos stamps in 2021, and these Smithsonian museums are commemorating this special issue by bringing unique educational content to a virtual audience. This program includes an author reading of Dia de los Muertos by Roseanne Greenfield Thong. Educational staff from the Postal Museum and NMAI will lead the audience through some special connections between the book, the holiday, and their collections, and the program will conclude with a craft demonstration. This program is recommended for ages 3-7 but all are welcome!

11:00am-6:00pm: BlackRock Center for Arts Lil Pumpkins Festival
Explore, celebrate and engage in the arts at BlackRock with a day of spooktacular celebration of family programming with free pumpkins, improv workshops, exhibits, trick-or-treating, visual arts, haunted hip-hop, The Rocky Horror Picture Show beginning at 11:00am. From 2:00 – 6:00pm Lil’ pumpkin festival: free pumpkins for ages 11 and under, photo booth (Time TBD), Lil’ pumpkin painting, and Mommy Daddy beer garden! From 2:00 – 5:00pm – LIL’ pumpkins festival trick or treating at 3:00pm, 4:00 pm, and 5:00pm Lil’ pumpkins festival costume parade. All persons must be masked when entering BlackRock’s facility, and all persons ages above the age of twelve entering the facility must show proof of vaccination.

12:00pm: sPETacular Halloween Parade
The Shepherd Park Citizens Association (SPCA) is hosting its First Annual sPETacular Halloween Parade and Costume Contest at Noon at the Parks at Walter Reed proves Halloween is for furbabies too! Prizes are generously donated by One Leg Up Pets, Big Bad Wood Pet Store, and other vendors will be awarded by celebrity judges Carin Ruff of Dog-Friendly Shepherd Park, Vickie Davis of Hines Urban Atlantic, and Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis-George. Register your dog for FREE or come to cheer on your favorites. The event opens at Noon on 10/30/21 at the Parks at Walter Reed Dog Park. Enter at the Butternut gate and please wear a mask.

1:00pm-4:00pm: Nightmare on Elm Street Urban Park
You won’t find Freddy Kreuger here, but come out to Montgomery Parks’ FREE Nightmare on Elm Street Halloween event at Elm Street Urban Park for some spooky, silly fun! This FREE event will feature fun events for the whole family! No registration is required. Bring your appetite, because O’Boy Pizza and Ice Cream will be on-site to provide delicious food, along with a great Halloween disc jockey to get you in the spooky spirit! They will also have a fantastic “Trick or Treat Trails” scavenger hunt, lots of lawn games, and plenty of picnic seating. There will be tons of great Halloween props and decorations for you to snap pictures with.

1:00pm-3:00pm: Halloween Best in Show at The Boro
The Boro, Tyson’s premier destination for luxury urban living in the heart of Northern Virginia, is calling all furry friends to grab their favorite costumes for Best in Show at The Boro! Celebrate the spookiest day of the year with festive treats and activities for the whole family on Hallow’s-eve. Best in Show at The Boro will include a live DJ, themed photo booth, arts-and-crafts, trick-or-treating, and everyone’s favorite lawn games stationed around the park. In the feature event, guests can enter their pups for the ‘Best in Show Costume Contest’ for a chance to win baskets filled with Halloween-themed dog goodies! Owners can then reward their pets at the Bone Bar, a booth offering a festive selection of yummy treats meant for your four-legged friends.

2:00pm-6:00pm: Trick or Treat at Mount Vernon
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.

4:00pm-11:00pm: Drive thru Trick or Treat
DC Party Box is bringing back a contactless drive thru trick or treating Halloween experience in Rockville. Take a drive-thru a spooktacular village with plenty of stops for treats (and tricks) along the way. They’re bringing the thrill to the whole family, with excitement and scares to delight all spook levels. Purchase a “treat” ticket for all individuals in the car that would like candy, and/or purchase a “trick” ticket for all individuals who are just along for the spook of it. EVERYONE in the car must have a ticket and stay in the car.

4:30pm: Luchadora at Adventure Theatre
Luchadora! closes this weekend! Join Adventure for story about defying gender norms, following one’s dreams, and appreciating the ties that bind a family together! From headlocks to power kicks, “Luchadora!” has it all!

5:00pm-10:00pm: OFC’s House of Terror and Family Trunk or Treat
The Old Firehouse is transforming the inside of the center into the spookiest, scariest, walk-through experience in McLean. The House of Terror will be divided into two time slots:• No Scares 5–7 p.m.: Participants can walk through the lighted path and view our actors and actresses with no jumps, scares or fears.• All Scares 7:30–10 p.m.: The effects are on, the lights are off, and the actors and actresses are out of sight and ready to surprise. Trunk or Treat: Saturday, Oct. 30, 6–9 p.m. Free for kids of all ages; preregistration is not required. If the House of Terror isn’t your thing, no worries! Outside, the OFC’s Trunk or Treat will have some music, fun and themed vehicles with Halloween candy to share while supplies last.

6:00pm-8:00pm: Trunk or Treat at Emery Heights
Trunk or treat Halloween extravaganza.

6:00pm-9:00pm: Roving Leaders Zombie Fest
What does it look like when the Zombie Apocalypse hits The Nation’s Capital? Join us and see for yourself as the DPR roving leaders turn NW DC into a doomsday theme park.

6:00pm-9:00pm: Halloween Spooktacular
The St. James Halloween Spooktacular is a great way to enjoy a fun-filled, safe Halloween evening. Bring your own blanket for socially-distanced family movie night in The St. James Field House. 6:00-7:00 PM: Trick-or-Treating. Pre-wrapped candy will be distributed with gloves. Masks required for all employees and unvaccinated guests. 6:30 PM: Field House open for blanket set up, food pick-up and candy sorting. 7:00-8:30 PM: Kid friendly movie (TBD) begins in the Field House 8:30-9:00 PM: Costume Contest – (Winner wins a free SAA birthday party!).

Sunday
9:00am, 11:00am & 2:00pm: Brick Fest Live at FedEX Field
LEGO fans unite! LIVE interactive stage shows, life-size models, games, photo ops, limited edition merchandise and more.

11:00am: Luchadora at Adventure Theatre
Luchadora! closes this weekend! Join Adventure for story about defying gender norms, following one’s dreams, and appreciating the ties that bind a family together! From headlocks to power kicks, “Luchadora!” has it all!

11:00am-2:00pm: Bark Social Fall Fest & Puppy Parade
Fall fest will include activities such as: Duo donut grab with you and your pup, bobbing for apples, ring toss, straw bale pyramid, pumpkin calligraphy, cookie decorating, and much more! There’s something for everyone — you’ll be sure to leave the park with a a bag full of goodies. Silver Branch Brewing and Frankly Vodka will be giving out drinks as well for the adults. Afterwards, get the pups in a row and parade around Pike & Rose. Yes, prizes will definitely be given out to best dressed in three categories: (1) Best buddies joint costume (you + your dog), (2) Best dog costume, and (3) Best group costume (2+ humans and dogs).

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! 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.

12:00pm & 5:00pm Laurie Berkner’s Virtual Halloween Concert
Ready for a spooktacular Halloween experience? Beloved children’s musician Laurie Berkner invites families to stop in for a spell HERE. For double the fun, a family ticket grants admission to both livestreams. For kids who are all dressed up with nowhere to ghost, Laurie’s shows will give the season of costumes, candy, and jack-o’-lanterns a real “BOO-st.” Laurie hopes families will join her in displaying their pumpkins, putting up their Halloween decorations, and getting decked out in their Halloween costume finery.

2:00pm-5:00pm: Spooktacular on Connecticut Avenue
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.

2:00pm: Luchadora at Adventure Theatre
Luchadora! closes this weekend! Join Adventure for story about defying gender norms, following one’s dreams, and appreciating the ties that bind a family together! From headlocks to power kicks, “Luchadora!” has it all!

3:00pm-5:00pm: Halloween drive-through at Chevy Chase Community Center (parking lot)
The Metropolitan Police Department (Second District), Metro Transit Police, and Starbucks invites you to join us for a fun & safe Halloween event for the entire family! Just pull up and each child will receive a bag filled with lots of treats and surprises.

DIY Halloween crafts and experiments from Kiwi Co

October 18, 2021

You’ve seen us post several times about our love for Kiwi Co and the amazing boxes we have ordered. Recently a new theme was added to their selections; cooking! Kids can unlock the science of cooking to help kids gain confidence in the kitchen with family-friendly recipes and hands-on STEAM activities. You can order just one box and see which line you like best or subscribe to receive one each month. Boxes range from exciting STEM crafts to a doodle crate and everything in between. I love saving our Kiwi boxes for rainy or cold days to keep the Bambinos entertained and learning. A few crates my kids have loved are soap making and creating a paint pendulum as well as the Atlas crate where they learned about other cultures. You can save $10 by using this link to place an order.

Check out these fun 15 at-home ideas for making Halloween crafts & experiments. My kids are eager to make the leaky pumpkin and spider launcher. Extend the at-home crafts with these fall ideas too! There are plenty of Halloween

Related post:
Halloween guide
Subscription boxes for children
Fall foliage

Boo drive thru at the Smithsonian National Zoo

September 21, 2020

Start your engines and prepare for some spooky fun during Boo Drive Thru, October 24 & 25 from 4:30pm-9:30pm. This is a special edition of the beloved children’s trick-or-treating event. Pack your car full of ghouls, ghosts, princesses and superheroes and cruise down the Zoo’s North Road, all in support of Friends of the National Zoo. Supernatural sights await along your drive—and so do treat bags stuffed with M&Ms, Twix and more!

In order to ensure that everyone stays safe this year, Boo Drive Thru is a special 2020 version of Boo at the Zoo, in which kids (and their parents) get Halloween entertainment and candy from the comfort of their own cars.

When purchasing your car pass, you will be able to choose a drive thru time and reserve up to six treat bags. All cars will enter through the Zoo’s Connecticut Avenue entrance and follow a mile-long path along the side of the Zoo. Only family-sized vehicles will be permitted to enter Boo Drive Thru.

On your drive, you will see witches, vampires, Count Pandula and other spooky sights — and get a fun photo opportunity — before receiving your treat bags at the end. After you receive your bags, you will be able to exit at the lower end of the Zoo.

Friends of the National Zoo members can purchase car passes now. Non-members can purchase car passes beginning Wednesday, Sept. 23. Each car can reserve up to six treat bags while purchasing car passes.

FONZ members: $45 per car pass
Non-members: $55 per car pass

Ultimate Guide to Halloween in and around Washington, DC

October 11, 2018

Saturdays and Sundays only– 10:00am-6:00pm-: Eye Spy Train at Wheaton
All aboard the Wheaton Eye Spy Halloween Train! NO LONGER HAUNTED! This “not so scary” train ride is fun for the whole family – it’s all about fun, not fright! Each child will receive an Eye Spy card before boarding the train. As you ride through the woods of Wheaton Regional Park, look all around to find Halloween friends hiding, and mark them off the Eye Spy card. They’ll have fun Halloween activities in the Train Station Party Room, where snacks will also be available for purchase. Costumes are encouraged! Please bring a canned food donation for your neighbors in need – they’ll donate them to Mid-County United Ministries in Wheaton. [Read more…]