Experience Tingle Bells at ARTECHOUSE. Photo courtesy of ARTECHOUSE
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STEAM Saturday at the National Building Museum is always a fun event. Photo courtesy of the museum
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Ring in the new year at First Night Alexandria. Photo by Geoff Livingston via Flickr 2.0
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Christmas vacation is the perfect time to catch Monet: The Immersive Experience before it leaves town in January! Photo courtesy of the experience
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Garden of Lights at Brookside Gardens will dazzle the whole family. Photo by Tony Ventouris for Montgomery County Parks
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The Holiday Boat Parade is visible from both the Wharf and the Alexandria waterfront. Photo courtesy of the Wharf DC
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Pull on a signature blue parka for Ice! featuring A Charlie Brown Christmas. Photo courtesy of Gaylord National Resort
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Skate in the shadow of the National Gallery of Art. Photo by Elvert Barnes/CC BY 2.0
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The popular Sculpture Garden ice rink is back at the Smithsonian National Gallery of Art. Photo by Elvert Barnes via Flickr 2.0
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The DC Winter Lantern Festival dazzles through January 12. Photo courtesy of the festival
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Top Free Halloween Events in DC: Halloween Festivals, Parades, Trunk-or-Treats, and More

Light up the night at Baltimore's Great Halloween Lantern Parade. Photo courtesy of Creative Alliance
Light up the night at Baltimore's Great Halloween Lantern Parade. Photo courtesy of Creative Alliance
10/4/24 - By Jennifer Swope

Halloween doesn’t have to cost money to be memorable. There are many free Halloween events in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia throughout the month of October to keep kids entertained without breaking the bank. From Halloween festivals and parades to trunk-or-treats and trick-or-treat events, these free Halloween events offer a ton of spooky—and not-so-spooky—fun for DC families.

For even more Halloween fun, check out our Halloween Events and Activities Guide for Kids in Washington, DC, which includes our ultimate roundup of the best Halloween events near DC for kids and families. Happy hauntings!

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The Town of Vienna Annual Halloween Parade gets everyone in the Halloween spirit. Photo courtesy of the event
The Town of Vienna Annual Halloween Parade gets everyone in the Halloween spirit. Photo courtesy of the event

Free Halloween Events Near DC 2024: Halloween Parades

Town of Vienna Annual Halloween Parade

Vienna, VA
Wednesday, October 23, 2024
Hosted by the Town of Vienna and the Vienna Business Association, this annual Halloween parade gets everyone in the spooky spirit. The theme for 2024 is "Party Like it's 1999!"  READ MORE

The Great Halloween Lantern Parade & Festival

Baltimore, MD
Saturday, October 26, 2024
At the Halloween Lantern Parade & Festival, attendees can make their own lanterns, enjoy delicious food, dance, and visit the Artist Market. There's also a costume contest for kids. The parade includes illuminated floats, stilt walkers, marching bands, and more. READ MORE

Del Ray Halloween Parade

Alexandria, VA
Sunday, October 27, 2024
Del Ray’s annual Halloween Parade starts at Mount Vernon Avenue, south of E. Bellefonte, and continues down to the Mount Vernon Recreation Center play fields. Costumed kids, pets, and strollers can march in the parade. READ MORE
Gather up goodies at OFC's annual trunk-or-treat. Photo courtesy of the McLean Community Center
Gather up goodies at OFC's annual trunk-or-treat. Photo courtesy of the McLean Community Center

Free Halloween Events Near DC 2024: Trunk-or-Treats and Trick-or-Treating Events

Connect Church Trunk-or-Treat

Waldorf, MD
Friday, October 25, 2024
Families are invited to put on their costumes and collect yummy treats at Connect Church's third annual free trunk-or-treat. READ MORE

Floris UMC Trunk-or-Treat

Herndon, VA
Saturday, October 26, 2024
The parking lot of Floris United Methodist Church will be full of decorated cars with lots of candy and goodies for costumed kids. READ MORE

Old Firehouse's Festival of Frights and Trunk-or-Treat

McLean, VA
Saturday, October 26, 2024
Put on your Halloween costumes and visit the Old Firehouse in McLean for a night of live music, games, food, contests, and a trunk-or-treat. READ MORE

EXIT Community Realty Spooktacular Trunk-or-Treat

Lanham, MD
Saturday, October 26, 2024
Join EXIT Community Realty for a spooktacular evening of trunk-or-treating filled with candy, costumes, and a whole lot of fun. READ MORE

Air & Scare at Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center

Chantilly, VA
Saturday, October 26, 2024
Parking is $15
Tickets for the outdoor portion of Air & Scare are SOLD OUT. Tickets are not required for the indoor portion. See the spooky side of air and space at the Air & Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. At this popular event, kids can enjoy trick-or-treating, creepy crafts, spooky science experiments, photo ops with Star Wars characters, and other Halloween-themed activities. READ MORE

Trunk-or-Treat at Manassas Park Community Center

Manassas, VA
Saturday, October 26, 2024
Decorated vehicles line up in the parking lot of the Manassas Park Community Center, and families can stop at each one to receive a Halloween treat (or trick)! READ MORE

Trunk-or-Treat at Vine Church

Dunn Loring, VA
Sunday, October 27, 2024
Children and parents can trick-or-treat from car to car as they meet neighbors and enjoy treats. Don't forget to wear a costume! READ MORE

TWT DMV Trunk-or-Treat

Oxon Hill, MD
Sunday October 27, 2024
Head to the TWT DMV Trunk-or-Treat for a spooktacular day of candy, costumes, and community fun. Receive prizes for Best Costume and more. READ MORE

Trunk-or-Treat at Burke United Methodist Church

Burke, VA
Sunday, October 27, 2024
Burke United Methodist Church invites families for a free trunk-or-treat, where kids can wear their costumes and go car to car to collect Halloween treats. READ MORE

Indian Head's Annual Trunk-or-Treat

Indian Head, MD
Thursday, October 31, 2024
Bring costumed kids to Village Green Park on Halloween evening for Indian Head's annual trunk-or-treat, hosted by Bridge Church. READ MORE
Enjoy spooktacular fun at Harbor Halloween. Photo courtesy of the National Harbor Halloween Celebration
Enjoy spooktacular fun at Harbor Halloween. Photo courtesy of the National Harbor Halloween Celebration

Free Halloween Events Near DC 2024: Halloween Festivals and Other Events

Burke Nursery Fall Farm Market & Pumpkin Patch

Burke, VA
Daily, October 1-31, 2024
Burke Nursery offers a small play area for kids with festive photo backdrops. There are also plenty of pumpkins, gourds, Halloween decorations, and more available for purchase. Be sure to try the apple cider donuts! READ MORE

Lil' Pumpkins Fest (at BlackRock Center for the Arts)

Germantown, MD
Saturday, October 5, 2024
BlackRock Center for the Arts' Lil' Pumpkins Fest includes trick-or-treating, costume parades, a spooky dance party, an Artisan's Market, and a biergarten for the parents. READ MORE

Pumpkin Race & Fall Festival (at North Creek Community Center)

Montgomery Village, MD
Saturday, October 5, 2024
Face off or watch as decorated pumpkins on wheels go head to head in this crazy pumpkin race. There are awards for best decoration and most innovative design, best themed pumpkin racer and driver duo, and other fun categories. Attendees can also enjoy live music, food, and lots of children's activities. READ MORE

Halloween Family Fun Day (at RCC Hunter Woods)

Reston, VA
Saturday, October 19, 2024
The Halloween Family Fun Day is great for younger kids to enjoy a non-scary festival. Little ghosts and goblins can get in the spirit of Halloween with performances by Peter McCory, a famed one-man-band, at 12pm, followed by renowned magician Eric Henning at 1:15pm. Kids up to age 8 can try their skills at games until 2pm, and are encouraged to come in costume. READ MORE

PumpkinPalooza at Alethia Tanner Park

Washington, DC
Thursday, October 24, 2024
Come out for live entertainment, food, music, a seasonal scavenger hunt, and a “pick-your-own” pumpkin patch.  READ MORE

Hilloween (at Eastern Market)

Washington, DC
Friday, October 25, 2024
This family Halloween festival at Eastern Market is an opportunity to gather as a community and make festive memories with friends and neighbors. Enjoy trick-or-treating, face painting, games, pumpkin decorating, a photo booth, refreshments, and more. Costumes are encouraged. READ MORE

Monster Bash (in Takoma Park, MD)

Takoma Park, MD
Saturday, October 26, 2024
The Monster Bash is Takoma Park's Halloween celebration starting with dancing and fun, followed by a Costume Parade and Contest, and ending with the Costume Award Ceremony and Celebration. READ MORE

Pumpkin Rock N' Roll (at Warner Circle Park)

Kensington, MD
Saturday, October 26, 2024
Pumpkin Rock N’ Roll is a Halloween extravaganza with family-friendly attractions including live musical performances, a pumpkin derby race, food trucks, and a hay maze. READ MORE

Family Day: Halloween at the National Museum of the Marine Corps

Triangle, VA
Saturday, October 26, 2024
The National Museum of the Marine Corps hosts a spooktacular Halloween Family Day. Participants can enjoy a host of seasonal activities, a puppet show, a costume contest, and trick-or-treating. READ MORE

Halloween Bark Bash @ One Loudoun

Ashburn, VA
Saturday, October 26, 2024
This event combines the best of pet shows and Halloween festivals. The festival includes a pet costume contest, trick-or-treating, dogs for adoption, a photo booth, and more. READ MORE

Van Ness Main Street's Spooktacular

Washington, DC
Sunday, October 27, 2024
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. READ MORE

Harbor Halloween

National Harbor, MD
Sunday, October 27, 2024
Enjoy an afternoon of spooktacular fun for the whole family, including trick-or-treating at select stores and restaurants, kids' activities, a Halloween movie, a pet pawrade, and a chef pumpkin-carving contest. READ MORE

Great Falls Halloween Spooktacular

Great Falls, VA
Sunday, October 27, 2024
The annual Great Falls Halloween Spooktacular on the Great Falls Village Centre Green features a pet parade and costume contest, a ghostly haunted house, live music, and more. Kids are encouraged to wear costumes and trick-or-treat with local merchants. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Floris United Methodist Church
Manassas Park Community Center
The Mindful Touch Massage & Wellness Suite
Burke United Methodist Church
Burke Nursery and Garden Centre
Great Falls Village Centre