Why wait until the actual day to celebrate one of the best holidays of the year? Besides the bonus of getting extra mileage out of costumes and having more excuses to indulge in sweets, Halloween festivities are a treat any day. And there are gobs of ways to get into the spirit during the days leading up to the grand event. From no-fright fun to cool and creepy thrills, this annual KFDC round-up has all of the details on where and when you and the kids can have a wicked good time around DC and even a bit…beyond. Happy Halloween!
Jenny the Cat: A Halloween Adventure
Where: The Puppet Co. | Glen Echo Park, MD
When: Through November 5
Admission: $15
The Puppet Co. favorites Ingrid and Mollie are bringing a charming and educational adventure to the main stage for Halloween! Come meet Jennie the Cat! When Jennie receives a Halloween card that calls her a scary cat, she feels like she’s been put in a box. Does she have to be scary? Join Jennie as she meets new friends with some spectacular tricks and treats to share, like skateboarding, shadow puppetry, and pumpkin carving. Who will Jennie choose to be? This show features cuddly puppets, audience interaction, and all original music.
Kids BOO Fest
Where: Six Flags America | Landover, MD
When: Through October 27
Admission: Starts at $45
Explore all ages spooky fun at the local amusement park. Enjoy family-friendly rides, a trick-or-treat. trail, fall activities, Halloween-themed shows, ghoulish food for every taste, and much more. This is an all-day affair with SO much to do!
Fall Festivals
Where: Around the DC area
When: Through early November
Admission: Varies by locale
Many of the fall festivals around the area incorporate Halloween fun into their offerings. Pick out potential jack-o-lanterns, do Halloween-themed crafts, go on rides, and much more! See a list of seasonal celebrations here.
Howl-O-Ween
Where: Great Wolf Lodge | Williamsburg, VA & Perryville, MD
When: Through October 31
Admission: Rates vary
Enjoy a Halloween-themed family getaway to Great Wolf Lodge, where there will be spooktacular fun all month. Kids and parents alike can enjoy special activities including a Trick-or-Treat Trail, Howl-O-Ween House, Costume Parade, Monster Bash Dance Party, Spooktacular Story Time, and much more. This, plus the ongoing fun and indoor waterpark will make for an extra special and spooky Halloween! Read more about Great Wolf Lodge Williamburg in this KFDC post and this one about the newer park in Perryville, MD.
Book Some Halloween Fun
Where: DC Public Libraries | Around DC
When: Several October dates
Admission: Free
Story times, crafts, and children’s parties all with Halloween themes are taking place at libraries around the city. Drop in for the fun — all of the activities are free! Be sure to check age recommendations to confirm they’re appropriate for your child as they vary by event. (Follow the link then search keyword Halloween.)
Haunted Lab
Where: Children’s Science Center Lab | Fairfax, VA
When: October 4-27
Admission: $15
Visit the Children’s Science Center Lab in October to enjoy a FANG-tastic Haunted Lab. Enjoy spooky science activities in all experience areas. Read more about the Lab (during non-Halloween) in this KFDC post.
“Eye Spy” Halloween Trains
Where: Cabin John & Wheaton Regional Parks | Bethesda & Wheaton, MD
When: Saturdays & Sundays, October 5-27
Admission: $6
Hop on board the Halloween Trains! All ages can take a ride through “Trainslyvania” on Montgomery Parks’ Cabin John Miniature Train and the Wheaton Miniature Train. They’ll run every Saturday and Sunday in October 9:30am – 4:30pm, and it’s best to purchase tickets in advance online to guarantee a ride (only a limited amount are available onsite.) Purchase for Wheaton here and Cabin John here.
Goblin Golf
Where: Burke Lake Park | Burke, VA
When: Saturdays & Sundays, October 5-20
Admission: Free
Halloween arrives early at the Burke Lake Park mini-golf course. Enjoy a festive themed experience with Halloween treats included. Ghosts and goblins will be appearing all day from 11am – 5pm. Bring a date, a friend, or the whole family; this mini golf experience is fun for everyone!
Lil’ Pumpkins and Oktoberfest at the ROCK!
Where: BlackRock Center for the Arts | Gaithersburg, MD
When: October 5, 12-4pm
Admission: Free
The 5th Annual Lil’ Pumpkin Festival at BlackRock Center for the Arts offers the Upcounty community a fun, free, and safe way to enjoy all kinds of spooky fall festivities. Activities include trick-or-treating, live music, costume parades, spooky dance parties, an Artisan’s Market, and a biergarten for the parents. The Spooky (not so spooky!) Dance Party runs in 30-minute increments, with the final dance session of the day being sensory friendly.
Spooky Science
Where: Maryland Science Center | Baltimore, MD
When: October 12, 12-4pm
Admission: $26.95/adult, $20.95/ages 3-12
Take your Halloween costume out for a trial run and visit the Maryland Science Center, if you dare, for an afternoon filled with spooktacular science fun! Experiment with ghoulishly glowing lights. Creatively cast a spine-tingling shadow. Use leverage and elasticity to launch creepy catapults, and more! Read more about the Baltimore attraction here.
PEANUTS Great Pumpkin Patch Express
Where: Aughwick Valley | Central PA
When: October 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, and 27
Admission: $30-35/adult, $24-29/child
Plan an overnight or a weekend getaway for this one… Put on your Halloween costume and join Charlie Brown and Snoopy aboard the PEANUTS™ Great Pumpkin Patch Express on the famed narrow-gauge East Broad Top Railroad in central Pennsylvania. Join Charlie Brown and Snoopy on a train ride behind a century-old steam engine full of games, pumpkins, beautiful scenery, vintage trains, and more! The three-hour experience includes a 60-minute, nine-mile, round-trip train ride through the scenic Aughwick Valley to enjoy 90 minutes at the Sincere Pumpkin Patch. Trains depart at 10am, 11:30am, 1pm, and 2:30pm. The vintage steam train features comfortable, enclosed passenger cars, popular open-air cars, and an authentic caboose. One of the East Broad Top’s passenger cars is wheelchair-accessible, as is the “Sincere Pumpkin Patch”.
Learn to Letterbox: Halloween Edition
Where: Potomac Overlook Park | Arlington, VA
When: October 13, 3:30-5pm
Admission: $12
Letterboxing is a family friendly scavenger hunt style adventure that takes you to interesting locations all over the world solving clues and searching for hidden treasures. Participants will learn where to find the clues, how to decipher them, and receive hints on what to look for. Then off on an adventure around the park to find the boxes hidden there. Participants will also get a chance to carve their own personal stamp and receive an introductory logbook!
Boo at the Zoo
Where: National Zoo | Woodley Park, DC
When: October 18-20, 6-8:30pm
Admission: $25/members, $35/non-members
The National Zoo’s annual not-so-spooky Halloween haunt, one of DC’s most beloved events for the kiddie crowd, is back. With 30 treat stations, after hours animal viewing with habitats decorated for Halloween, and fiendishly decked out trails, this frightfully fun evening is a treat for the whole family. And the souvenir tote bags they give out will be brimming with goodies for all ages. Costumes very much encouraged!
Soul Strolls: Scandal and Slander
Where: Congressional Cemetery | Capitol Hill, DC
When: October 18-19 & 25-26
Admission: $35/adult, $15/child
Uncover tales of scandal from the residents of Congressional Cemetery—a macabre glimpse into DC’s notorious past. Discover how their legacies endure in our collective memory. Encounter those shrouded in the past, brought vividly to life by our talented actors, and witness them as they tell their stories. These annual twilight tours explore the stories of individuals buried here through a guided lantern lit tour of the grounds with costumed interpreters. Experience the history of this hallowed ground exactly the way it should be experienced in October – in twilight and darkness, immersed in vignettes of the lives of our interred residents. Hour-long tours depart every 15 minutes from 6-9:30pm.
Meet some of the souls of Congressional Cemetery
Family Day: Halloween
Where: Library of Congress | Capitol Hill, DC
When: October 19, 10am – 4pm
Admission: Free
Celebrate spooky season with eerie crafts, images, and more from the collections. Each Family Day includes a creative activity, connections to Library of Congress collections, a chance to talk to staff experts, and a guide to using Library resources at home. Read more about the Library of Congress in this KFDC post.
Halloween in the Garden
Where: Annmarie Sculpture Garden | Solomons, MD
When: October 19, 10am – 4pm
Admission: $5/online, $8/at gate
Join Annmarie’s annual family-friendly Trick-or-Treating festival for a howling good time. The garden will be decorated for the season with lots of great Halloween and fall decor, with fun photo ops around every corner! More than 60 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! Dress up the whole family and enjoy a spooktacular day! Read more about Annmarie here and here.
Spooky Pooch Howl-o-ween Celebration
Where: Hillwood Museum & Gardens | Northwest DC
When: October 19, 4-6pm
Admission: $13/adult, $8/member, $5/age 6-18, free/under 6
Hillwood’s Halloween event for pooches (and their people) is back! Bring your “best friend” for Halloween fun — explore Hillwood’s 25 acres of landscaped gardens and lush natural woodlands with your four-legged friend, while enjoying a costume competition and yappy hour. Interesting tidbit: This event is inspired by Marjorie Post’s affection for dogs and the memorial dog cemetery she created.
Family Costume Party
Where: Children’s Science Center Lab | Fairfax, VA
When: October 19, 5-7pm
Admission: $15
Get ready for an eerie evening as the Haunted Lab opens its doors after hours for a night of spine-tingling fun. Wear your most creative, prize-worthy costume and brace yourself for a truly spook-tacular experience. Try your hand at capturing elusive, ghostly bubbles as they float eerily through the air. Conjure up sparks that fly with a flash, or reach into the unknown and feel the suspense of touching mysterious, unseen objects. Prizes will be awarded to those who come with the most imaginative and original costumes, so make sure your ‘fit is as unforgettable as the night itself! Read more about the Lab (during non-Halloween) in this KFDC post.
Family Dance Party
Where: Hi-Lawn @ Union Market | Northeast DC
When: October 20, 11-1pm
Admission: $10
Rumpus Room Family Dance Party: Halloween Special is back at Hi-Lawn! Get ready for a spooktacular day of dancing and fun for the whole family. Dress up in your favorite costumes and boogie at DC’s best (and only) family dance party on the roof at Union Market. This one always sells out, so snag tickets soon! Rumpus Room is designed for kids 10 and under and their caregivers.
Halloween Toddler Time
Where: B&O Railroad Museum | Baltimore, MD
When: October 24, 10:30am
Admission: $20/adult, $12/age 2-12
Bring your child to the B&O in their costumes for some Halloween-themed activities at this spooktacular session of Toddler Time. There will be crafts and destinations spread throughout the museum campus for trick-or-treating. They’ll also be reading The Spooky Express by Eric James followed by a costume parade to the Mile One Express Train Ride!
PumpkinPalooza
Where: Alethia Tanner Park | NoMa, DC
When: October 24, 4-8pm
Admission: Free
NoMa’s free annual community-wide celebration of Halloween returns with live entertainment, yummy food, music, a seasonal scavenger hunt, and, of course, the free “pick-your-own” pumpkin patch! Details are still TBA so stay tuned!
17th Street High Heel Race
Where: 17th Street NW, btwn P & S | Dupont Circle, DC
When: October 24
Admission: Free
The High Heel Race is a 37-year DC tradition, with a rich history of “Crossing The Line Since 1986.” During the week before Halloween, thousands of spectators pack the Dupont Circle Neighborhood to watch hundreds of costumed drag queens show off their extravagant outfits and race down Historic 17th Street, NW. There’s also live entertainment, a parade, and more festive fun! The race begins at 9pm, but people start gathering at 6pm.
Trick or Fruit
Where: US Botanic Garden | Capital Hill, DC
When: October 25, 6-8pm
Admission: Free
Explore plants that produce edible fruits throughout the Conservatory at this fun evening program for families. Hear stories about what makes each plant interesting, learn about the environments they grow in, and experience the fruits with all of your senses, including taste. Registration required and costumes highly encouraged!
Halloween Nights Fun & Sweets
Where: Mansion on O Street | Dupont Circle, DC
When: October 25-31
Admission: $52.50
During the week leading up to Halloween, celebrate the BOO season on this zany journey around the museum. Come in costume and have a spooktacular time exploring the 100-room Museum decorated special for Halloween, including over 80 secret doors. (Be warned secret doors are tricky to find — if you find 3 you are an above average sleuth!) Halloween candy, a costume contest, and a cash bar (for parents) are part of the fun, too. BYO shopping bags — everything is for sale! Read more about this wonderfully unique DC attraction in this KFDC post.
Halloween Glow in the Park
Where: Adventure Park at Sandy Spring | Sandy Spring, MD
When: October 25-26
Admission: $56
Enjoy a spooky halloween-themed night of climbing and ziplining under the neon colored lights while listening to music throughout the Park. Glow start times are available every 10 minutes 6-8:20pm, and tickets are good for a 2 hour + 40 minute adventure. Costume encouraged but refrain from capes, masks that cover your eyes, and any super loose garments. Reserve in advance online — this event tends to sell out. Ages 5 & up are welcome! Read more about the Adventure Park at Sandy Spring here.
Howl-O-Ween
Where: Gateway Interim Dog Park | Rosslyn, VA
When: October 25, 3:30-5:30pm
Admission: Free
Join the Rosslyn BID for a Halloween-themed evening of dog-friendly activities, treats, and seasonal fun. Festivities will include pet-themed vendors, a beer and wine bar for pet parents, the opportunity to mingle with fellow furry friends, and more. Plus, don’t forget to dress your pup in their best outfit so they can compete in the annual dog costume contest. Registration for the contest will be on-site.
Hill-O-Ween
Where: Eastern Market | Capitol Hill, DC
When: October 25, 5-8pm
Admission: Free
Capitol Hill’s annual neighborhood event is legendary for little ones! Count on live pumpkin carving and a DJ spinning tunes for a spooky dance party. More details are still to come, but for past events the block of 7th Street SE next to Eastern Market is closed to traffic for one of the best community Halloween celebrations in the city. There have been moon bounces, goody giveaways, face painting, wagon rides, and more exciting festivities. The best part is seeing the masses of jubilant kids in all kinds of costumes indulging in the extravaganza.
Halloween on the Farm
Where: Frying Pan Farm Park | Clifton, VA
When: October 25-26, 5-8pm
Admission: $10
Trick or treat on the farm! Visit with farm animals, create crafts, play games, tour the decorated farmhouse, and enjoy the fall on the farm. The program runs in three one-hour time slots. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Register in advance here for 10/25 and here for 10/26.
Air & Scare
Where: Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center | Chantilly, VA
When: October 26, 10am – 3pm
Admission: Free, parking is $15
The annual Air & Scare event at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center is back with activities inside and out! The fun includes trick or treat stations, creepy crafts, spooky experiments, and other Hallloween-themed activities; special story times and puppet shows; photo ops; and costume contests.
Glen Echo Fall Frolic
Where: Glen Echo Park | Glen Echo, MD
When: October 26, 1-4pm
Admission: Free, but small cost for some activities
It’s a safe and fun Halloween event with something for everyone! Details still to come, but past event activities for families have included pumpkin decorating, arts & crafts, face painting, trick-or-treating, and a costume parade around the Park.
Halloween Pumpkin Carving Bash
Where: Potomac Overlook Park | Arlington, VA
When: October 26, 1-3pm
Admission: $20
Get in the Halloween spirit by carving or painting a pumpkin with your friends at Potomac Overlook! We’ll provide tools, paint and of course a pumpkin for some holiday fun. You’ll also enjoy some candy, a Halloween craft, and visits from several of our spooky nocturnal critters from the nature center!
Halloween at The Boo-ro
Where: The Boro | Tysons, VA
When: October 26, 3-8:30pm
Admission: Free
The whole family is invited to get festive the Boro’s annual Halloween celebration, Halloween at The Boo-ro! Join the Best In Show Costume Contest, where humans and dogs alike will strut the runway for a chance to win a gift card to a selected Boro retailer. There will also be Halloween crafts for the kids, a slime workshop, trick or treating, face painting, glitter tattoos, and tarot card readers.
Trick or Treat at Tudor Place
Where: Tudor Place | Georgetown, DC
When: October 26, 10am – 12pm
Admission: $15/non-member, $10/member, $5/adult
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 3-8. This outdoor event will take place rain or shine.
Cheer-O-Ween Youth Costume Party
Where: Bladensbug Waterfront Park | Bladensburg, MD
When: October 26
Admission: $12.51
Have a hauntingly good time celebrating Halloween with a cheer twist! This in-person event is perfect for kids who love to dress up, dance, and show off their cheerleading spirit.
There will be a costume contest, unlimited treats, thrilling music, and a raffle with fang-tastic surprises. Whether you’re a cheerleader or just love Halloween, prepare for an unforgettable Cheer-O-Ween experience!
Monster Mash
Where: Village at Leesburg | Leesburg, VA
When: October 26, 1-5pm
Admission: Free
The Village at Leesburg is back with its Annual Monster Mash! Join the fun including live-action professional pumpkin carvers, Trick or Treating around the Village, cookie decorating, their annual costume contest parade for you and your pets, and more.
Hill Family Biking Halloween Ride
Where: Around Capitol Hill, DC
When: October 26, 4-5:30pm
Admission: Free
It’s the second annual Hill Family Biking Halloween Ride! The rolling fun will start at Lincoln Park by the Lincoln Statue, but the route will be a mystery until the day of the ride! We’ll be using the Spooky Hill is Home map built a route along the scariest blocks on the Hill. The ride will end at Eastern Market Metro Plaza for some spooky fun including live music from the Knox Engler Band and a costume contest with awesome prizes.
Family Flights & Frights
Where: College Park Aviation Museum | College Park, MD
When: October 26, 5:30-7:30pm
Admission: $2
Set your Halloween spirits soaring! Join the museum for an evening filled with trick-or-treating in the gallery and spook-tacular games and crafts. Dress up in your favorite costumes and get ready for a high-flying Halloween adventure. Activities while supplies last. Registration required.
The Haunted Washington Scavenger Hunt
Where: White House area | Downtown DC
When: October 26, 6pm
Admission: $22
Do you believe in ghosts? You just might after this spooky tour that reveals the stories of the restless souls you might disturb. On teams, you’ll follow clues to ghost-plagued buildings near the White House and answer tricky questions about what you find. Possible cameos by the spirits of Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, Dolley Madison, Abigail Adams, Andrew Jackson, the (allegedly) suicidal Mrs. Henry Adams, and losing duelist Stephen Decatur. The hunt is a bit spooky, a bit macabre, a bit goofy, and a lot of fun. It’s also a bit slower paced than Watson’s regular hunts because the questions are longer, in order to fill you in on the eerie events that transpired at each location. For teens and older. [Note: For private groups, there is a Kids Edition of this ghoulish game, suitable for ages 7 and up.]
Día de los Muertos Family Day
Where: American Art Museum | Penn Quarter, DC
When: October 26, 11:30am – 3pm
Admission: Free
Bring the whole family for live entertainment, including traditional including traditional Mexican folk dance byCorazon Folklorico, a mariachi performance by Mariachi Aguila DC, and a showcase of different Latin American music genres and dances with Sol y Rumba. Kids 12 and younger can enjoy face painting throughout the day as well as Día de los Muertos-themed crafts. All ages can have fun exploring the museum in a Día de los Muertos scavenger hunt.
Trick-or-Treating at Mount Vernon
Where: Mount Vernon Estate & Gardens | Mount Vernon, VA
When: October 26, 2-6pm
Admission: $17-30/adult, $10-25/child
Trick-or-treat at Mount Vernon as George Washington’s estate open its gates for Halloween fun and spook-tacular activities. Along with collecting candy around the historic grounds, enjoy live entertainment, check out a chocolate-making demo (and get a taste!), watch sparks fly in the Blacksmith Shop, learn about wool carding and spies, stop at selfie station, and more!
Halloween Carnival
Where: Community Center | Falls Church, VA
When: October 26, 1-3pm or 3:30-5:30pm
Admission: $1
The City of Falls Church has been hosting the annual Halloween Carnival for over 30 years, welcoming babies through elementary-aged kids to enjoy all kinds of fun activities. Enjoy a spooktacular family fun Halloween Carnival in Cherry Hill Park for kids 2 to 11 years old! This year’s event will include games, inflatables, live music, and snacks.
Día de los Muertos | Day of the Dead Celebration
Where: National Museum of the American Indian | National Mall, DC
When: October 26-27, 10am – 5pm
Admission: Free
Bring the whole family to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian to participate in activities including dance performances, artist and food demonstrations, coloring activities, and paper marigold and mask making. Visitors are invited to leave photos and mementos of their loved ones on the ofrenda (altar) or commemorate them by writing their names on a butterfly to attach to the memorial arch.
Kids Halloween Cooking Class
Where: Maggiano’s | Springfield, VA
When: October 27, 9am
Admission: $30/kid, $20/parent
Kids ages 4-12 can join Maggiano’s for a fun, hands on Kids Cooking Class Experience making apple crostada and decorating spook-tacular cookies. Before the event, everyone will enjoy a breakfast buffet and coloring activities. Then, the chef will demonstrate and instruct hands-on how to make apple crostada, step by step. Little ones will also decorate Halloween cookies. Halloween costumes are encouraged! Kids will also receive their own chef hat and apron which they will get to take home. We will demonstrate the process while they watch and interact with the chef. All attendees, including parents, must purchase a ticket in advance.
Harbor Halloween
Where: National Harbor | Oxon Hill, MD
When: October 27, 12-3pm
Admission: Free
National Harbor is hosting an afternoon full of spooktacular fun for the whole family, including Trick-or-Treating at select restaurants and retailers, a Halloween Movie, a Chef Pumpkin Carving Contest, and a Pet Pawrade. Visit the website for the full schedule of the day’s events.
Del Ray Halloween Parade
Where: Del Ray Neighborhood | Alexandria, VA
When: October 27, 2pm
Admission: Free
One of Del Ray’s favorite traditions, the 28th Annual Del Ray Halloween Parade begins at Mt. Vernon Avenue, south of E. Bellefonte, and continues down to the Mt. Vernon Recreation Center play fields at Mt. Vernon and Commonwealth Avenues. It’s a family friendly affair that invites costume-clad kids, pets, moms, and dads to march down Mt. Vernon Ave from E. Bellefonte Ave to the Mount Vernon Rec Center field. The event ends with live music and an award presentation.
NSO Family Concert: Halloween Spooktacular!
Where: Kennedy Center | Foggy Bottom, DC
When: October 27, 2pm & 4pm
Admission: $23.50
An annual tradition! The Concert Hall transforms into a ghostly sight when ghoulishly attired National Symphony Orchestra musicians celebrate Halloween. Enjoy a concert filled with musical treats from fa-boo-lous new works to spooky old classics. Arrive early for trick-or-treating and a special Haunted Hall Musical PLAYspace! Recommended for ages 5+.
Hocus Pocus Trick or Treating
Where: Shipgarten | McLean, VA
When: October 27, 12-6pm
Admission:
Bring the whole family for an unforgettable experience meeting friendly, fun characters from Hocus Pocus, plus face painting and arts & crafts kids can enjoy. They’ll also have live music, moonbounces, and a full playground so everyone can have a blast! Dogs are welcome at Shipgarten too, whether on-leash or in our off-leash dog park.
Halloween Movie on the Pitch
Where: Audi Field | Southwest DC
When: October 30, 8pm (gates open 7pm)
Admission: Free
Catch one last movie from the pitch at Audi Field! Join a spooky night under the stars, featuring the family-friendly classic Halloweentown. Gates will open at 7pm with showtime at 8pm, so arrive early to secure your perfect spot. RSVP for free tickets.
Halloween at the Park
Where: The Parc | Tysons, VA
When: October 31, 4-7pm
Admission: Free
Celebrate Tysons is hosting a Halloween party at the Parc at Tysons. Kids and dress up and enjoy face painting, balloon art, mad science, and of course, trick or treating.
Día de los Muertos Festival & Outdoor Projection
Where: National Portrait Gallery | Penn Quarter, DC
When: November 2, 5-8:30pm
Admission: Free
Join the Portrait Gallery’s annual celebration of el Día de los Muertos, one of their biggest events of the year. Enjoy live music, Mexican folk-dance performances, workshops, and a variety of activities for all ages. Create calaveras and papel picado to decorate the community altar, get your face painted to look like la Catrina, and more! Take the celebration to the streets as you witness the live video mapping projection by artists MasPaz and Guache. The artists will create their work live from the Martin Luther King Jr. Library, projected onto the G and 9th street façade.
Pumpkin Chunkin’
Where: Great Country Farm | Bluemont, VA
When: November 2-3
Admission: $12/child, $14/adult
Continue the Halloween fun after the holiday! Bring your leftover jack-o-lantern to Great Country’s smashin’ station and let it fly! The Silo Drop and the Zip Wire Sploosh let you do the smashin’ yourself or opt for the Pumpkin Drop Zone and add it to the upside down “fireworks display” as pumpkins are dropped from a 40-foot lift — so fun to watch! (What happens to all those smashed pumpkins? The pigs and cows love to eat them and GCF composts the rest.) There will also be live music, marshmallow roasting, and cider press demos, plus The Roosteraunt concession stand will be open. Of course, plan to enjoy the farm’s playground, full of fun, too!
Step right up for some haunted fun
HAUNTED (SCARIER) EXPERIENCES
Fields of Fear
Where: Cox Farms | Centreville, VA
When: Weekends through November 2
Admission: $20-35 (purchase in advance online)
When night falls on Cox Farms, it’s time for Fields of Fear — for ages 12 and up! The Dark Side Hayride feature The Lost Circus, a circus abandoned in the early 1900s that now comes to life when the living approach. The friendly Imaginature Trail takes a dark turn for Fields of Fear, transforming into The Forest: Back 40, which consists of half a mile of fear. The Forest joins two other haunted attractions at Fields of Fear, the Dark Side Hayride and the Cornightmare. The Firegrounds feature several bonfires, a six-lane slide, music, karaoke, entertainment, tasty treats, Foamhenge, and more!
Fright Fest
Where: Six Flags America | Upper Marlboro, MD
When: September 24 – October 30
Admission: $45+
Fright Fest is back at Six Flags America. It’s a spooky time of year as zombies and ghouls take over the park. Enjoy thrills and activities for the whole family throughout the day and go back for a truly frightening evening of fun after the sun goes down. Fright Fest offers a wide variety of places to get your scare on, including several haunted houses and scare zones located throughout the park. The stuff of nightmares lurk around every corner as the dark of night washes over the park. The ghouls are set free for their daily hunting rituals.
Laurel’s House of Horror
Where: Laurel, MD
When: Weekends through November 2
Admission: $25 and up
Our family digs this creepy and fun haunted experience. Built inside an abandoned movie theater, it’s sensory overload with a lot to look at and listen to and several good jump scares. There’s always chilling sense of anticipation as you get ready to round the next corner. There are also escape rooms open all year during the weekends, and for private parties and special dates. Recommended for ages 10 and up.
AVFD Station 7 Terror Trail
Where: | Gambrills, MD
When: Fridays & Saturdays through October 26
Admission: $25
Choose a scary trail or a family-friendly haunt here. The scary Terror trail is recommended for ages 8 and older or opt for activities for younger children at the ticket booth and the Boo Haunt loop geared for those under 8 years old. This supports the Arundel Volunteer Fire Department.
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Halloween Decor & Costumes
Getting into the spooky spirit at home can be just as fun as going out for it! Elevate the experience for your fam and neighbors by decorating the front yard and adding some festive accessories inside. Here are quick links to find Halloween supplies to help with that:
Amazon
Michael’s
Home Depot
Target Costumes | Decorations
HalloweenCostumes.com
