There’s a chill in the air, the leaves are showing off their spectacular colors, and spooky season is upon us! There are so many ways to celebrate in the DMV, we’ve compiled a list of some of our favorites below.
Boo at the Zoo, October 28th – 30th
5:30 – 8:30 p.m., $25 for members, $35 for non-members
No tricks here, just treats! Bring the whole family to the National Zoo in D.C. for a not-so-spooky trick-or-treat with the animals. Tickets include after hours access to the Elephant Community Center, Small Mammal House, Reptile Discovery Center, Great Ape House, and Think Tank, plus a dance party, and a souvenir tote bag to carry all the candy you’ll yield from 30 trick-or-treat stations throughout the Zoo.
Montgomery County Fall Family Festival, October 22nd
4 – 6 p.m., Gwendolyn E. Coffield Community Recreation Center
Free for Montgomery County Residents, $15 for non-residents
Don your best Halloween garb to win prizes, and enjoy face painting, plenty of treats, and a gaming truck at this fun family event!
Multiple times/locations, $5 per person
– October 22, 4:30-6 p.m., Martin Luther King Jr. Swim Center
– October 29, 7::30-9 p.m.,Olney Swim Center
– October 29 and October 30, 10-11:30 a.m., Eunice Kennedy and Sargeant Shriver Aquatic Center
This fun and unique event offers kids ages 2-12 the chance to dive in, splash around, and pick out a floating pumpkin to decorate.
Pumpkin Derby, October 22nd
10 a.m., Mid-County Community Recreation Center / 11:30 a.m., Ross Boddy Community Recreation Center. Registration costs $20 and includes a racer kit (to be picked up at the Ross Boddy community recreation center
Hilarious, suspenseful, and dramatic! For a truly unique Halloween experience, join the pumpkin derby. Craft a one-of-a-kind Pumpkin Racer and test its speed with side-by-side races to find out whose autumnal automobile is the fastest of all.
Montgomery County Parks Spooktacular, October 23rd
10 a.m. – 1 p.m., South Germantown Recreational Park Adventure Playground, Free.
Featuring live performances, a haunted maze, a Halloween moon bounce, face painting, a photobooth, a dance party, and more, there’s something for everyone at the Montgomery County Parks Spooktacular! Concessions available for purchase from Steeze Burger and Blondie’s Doughnuts.
NoMa PumpkinPalooza, October 27th
Starting at 4 p.m., Alethia Tanner Park
Free Admission, register online to reserve your pumpkins (limit 3/family) here.
The NoMa Business Improvement District presents PumpkinPalooza – a Halloween festival featuring a pick-your-own pumpkin patch, scavenger hunt, live music and entertainment, food and drinks from local vendors, including a pop-up beer garden from Red Bear Brewing Co., and a screening of Hocus Pocus (movie begins at 6:45pm). PumpkinPalooza has something for everyone!
The Halloween Hunt Experience at the Mansion on O & O Street Museum, October 1st – 31st
$35 per person, children under 17 must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
With over 100 rooms and 70 secret doors, the Mansion on O is the perfect venue for a spooky Halloween treasure hunt! The historic mansion is decorated for the season, and filled with themed prizes for you to find. Everything is for sale, so bring a bag, then enjoy a drink at the bar. Bonus points if you dress up!
Halloween Whodunit 2 at the DC Improv, October 26th
General Admission $25
Die Laughing Productions presents Halloween Whodunit 2 at the DC Improv, a spooky, side splittingly funny murder mystery show, audience participation required. Set the scene… you’re at the neighborhood’s annual costume party but not all is at it seems – there’s a murderer in the house! Can you solve the mystery and figure out the killer’s identity? Fun and fright guaranteed!
Nightmare in Navy Yard, October 29th
8 p.m., General Admission $25 (open bar packages also available)
For something seriously scary, and seriously fun, check out D.C.’s biggest Halloween party, Nightmare in Navy Yard. With animatronic props, a live DJ, special effects, and of course, a costume contest, this haunted house party on the waterfront is sure to be a ghoulish good time!
Adult Spooky Night Hike, October 27th
7:30 – 9 p.m., Meadowside Nature Center, $7
If parties aren’t your scene, get your haunt on with ghost stories around the campfire and a one mile guided night hike to the Pioneer Homestead and covered bridge.
Sleepy Howllow Anniversary & Halloween Celebration at Barkhaus, October 27th
7:30 – 10 p.m., $40 for members, $55 for non-member
Barkhaus in Alexandria is celebrating their anniversary with a haunted forest-themed event for four-legged fans with snacks for humans and pups alike, drinks, and seasonal fun. Your ticket includes admission for one person and one dog, a beer and wine bar, candy and snacks, puppuccinos, and a donation to the ASPCA so you can give back while getting ghosty!
Bark Social Bethesda Double Trouble Halloween Costume Contest, October 24th
4 – 7 p.m., Humans admitted free, $9.99/dog ($4.99 second dog)
Put on your pup’s best costume and head to Bark Social to compete for best dressed! Spooky or silly, anything goes, and as long as you and your dog match, you’re in the running to win fun prizes! While you’re there, enjoy Bark Social’s beer wall or grab a latte, and have fun hanging out with other pups and their paw-rents.
Lost Barrel Brewing Dog Costume Contest + Party, October 30th
11 a.m. – 8 p.m., free to enter/attend
Escape the city and join Lost Barrel Brewing for their dog costume contest in Middleburg, VA! Voting begins at 1:45pm, with prizes awarded at 2, and the party continues until 8 p.m. While you’re there, enjoy live music, beer, wine, hard seltzer, and snacks.