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Halloween Weekend 2023 in DC: Trick-or-Treat, Air & Scare, and More Things To Do with Kids

Which gourd will win the pumpkin derby race at Pumpkin Rock N' Roll in Kensington, Maryland? Photo courtesy of the event's website
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10/25/23 - By Jennifer Swope

Looking for the best things to do in DC this Halloween weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for this weekend.

Halloween is on Tuesday and this weekend kicks off some of our area's best celebrations. It's time to put those masks and costumes to good use at some kid-friendly Halloween events and activities in and around DC. Our events calendar is packed with the best places for princesses, monsters, and superheroes to show off their outfits all weekend long.

Start the weekend with a family-friendly festival like Hilloween at Eastern Market or Rattle Your Bones at Port Discovery. Continue the Halloween fun at the Del Ray Halloween Parade, Air & Scare at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, or Monster Bash in Takoma Park. And on Halloween itself, enjoy spooktacular events at Great Falls and Mosaic, or head to one of the best neighborhoods to trick-or-treat near DC.

Don’t miss our lists of the top Halloween events in DC for kids and families, the best pumpkin patches near DC, and the best corn mazes near DC.

Halloween activities and events in the DC area tend to sell out, so be sure to call ahead or check websites before heading out.

More Things To Do in Washington, DC this Week with Kids:

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Día de los Muertos Family Day includes face painting, crafts, and other family activities. Photo courtesy of Smithsonian American Art Museum
Día de los Muertos Family Day includes face painting, crafts, and other family activities. Photo courtesy of Smithsonian American Art Museum

Things to Do With Kids this Halloween Weekend in DC

Hilloween

Washington, DC - Friday, October 27
Free
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

Rattle Your Bones at Port Discovery

Baltimore, MD - Friday, October 27
Port Discovery celebrates Halloween with a night full of pumpkin-themed games, ghost stories, a Halloween game show, and more. All the activities and crafts were created with little ones in mind.  READ MORE

Pumpkin Plunge at The St. James

Springfield, VA - Friday, October 27
This fun event includes a pumpkin plunge, pumpkin carving, a water inflatable obstacle course, a glow party, candy, games, and more.  READ MORE

Halloween Night Hunt with Sweets

Washington, DC - Friday - Tuesday, October 27-31
Celebrate Halloween on a zany treasure hunt. Come in costume and have a spooktacular time exploring the 100-room Mansion on O, decorated especially for Halloween. READ MORE

Día de los Muertos Family Day

Washington, DC - Saturday, October 28
Free
Celebrate Día de los Muertos at the Smithsonian American Art Museum with performances by Ballet Folklorico Mi Herencia Mexicana, Mariachi Aguila DC, and Sol y Rumba. Children can enjoy face painting and Día de los Muertos–themed crafts. READ MORE

The World and Me Family Program: Bat Week Celebration

Washington, DC - Saturday, October 28
Free
In partnership with the US Forest Service and Bat Conservation International, the National Museum of Natural History celebrates bats. Visitors can examine bat specimens up close, make their own bat to take home, and learn other ways they can support bats all year long.  READ MORE

Trick-or-Treat at Tudor Place

Washington, DC - Saturday, October 28
Visitors are invited to wear their Halloween costume and celebrate the fall season with games and crafts at Tudor Place. Explore the garden’s meandering paths and find festive activities, fun, and sugary treats. READ MORE

Fall Frolic at Glen Echo

Glen Echo, MD - Saturday, October 28
Free
Come out to Glen Echo Park for this free family event. Assemble a Halloween-themed craft activity in the Bumper Car Pavilion (one bag per child in attendance, while supplies last), trick-or-treat around the park, take a fall-themed family photo, participate in the costume contest at 3:15pm, or join the costume parade at 3:30pm. READ MORE

Frankenskate at Ridge Road Recreational Park

Germantown, MD - Saturday, October 28
Free
Skaters of all ages and abilities are invited to boogie around the rink to the sounds of spooky throwbacks while wearing their Halloween costumes. Refuel at the concession area with local food vendors. Take a break from the rink and lounge on the lawn or play games and enjoy treats. READ MORE

Monster Bash

Takoma Park, MD - Saturday, October 28
Free
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

Kensington, MD - Saturday, October 28
Free
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

Trolley-ween at the National Capital Trolley Museum

Colesville, MD - Saturday, October 28
Visitors are encouraged to get into the Halloween spirit and have fun making crafts, learning about streetcar signal lights, riding an antique streetcar, and more. READ MORE

Air & Scare

Chantilly, VA - Saturday, October 28
Free
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

Boo at the Pool

Reston, VA - Saturday, October 28
Dive into trick-or-treating at the pool. Kids of different swimming abilities can collect treats that are both floating and under the water. Each child receives a goody bag after the event, and kids wearing costumes poolside get an additional prize. READ MORE

Falls Church Halloween Carnival

Falls Church, VA - Saturday, October 28
The annual family-friendly Halloween Carnival in Falls Church features fun activities for kids ages 2-11, including games, inflatables, live music, and snacks. READ MORE

Family Day: Halloween

Triangle, VA - Saturday, October 28
Free
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 On Ice

Fairfax, VA - Saturday, October 28
Skate alongside ghosts, witches, and more at Fairfax Ice Arena's annual Halloween On Ice public ice skating event. There are games, prizes, and a costume parade starting at 1:30pm. READ MORE

OFC's Festival of Frights and Trunk-or-Treat

McLean, VA - Saturday. October 28
Free
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

Trick-or-Treating at Mount Vernon

Mount Vernon, VA - Saturday, October 28
Put on your costume and head to Mount Vernon to enjoy trick-or-treating, 18th-century musical entertainment and activities, and to-go craft bags. READ MORE

Day of the Dead/Día de los Muertos

Washington, DC - Saturday & Sunday, October 28 & 29
Free
Families are invited to participate in Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) activities including dance performances, papel picado artist demonstrations, the unique art of sawdust carpets, and paper marigold and mask making. Visitors can also leave photos and mementos of their loved ones on the ofrenda (altar) or write their name on a butterfly and attach it to the memorial arch.  READ MORE

Spooktacular Halloween: Scavenger Hunt for Junior Detectives

Washington, DC - Saturday - Tuesday, October 28-31
Young sleuths should grab their magnifying glasses to help uncover illusions, riddles, and a chance to win candy treasures all while dressed up in their favorite Halloween costume. READ MORE

Boo! at The Little Towns

North Bethesda, MD - Saturday & Sunday, October 28 & 29
The Little Towns is hosting a spooktacular Halloween fun fest for the entire weekend. Kids are encouraged to dress in costume while participating in creepy crafts, glitter tattoos, a photo booth, a spooky scavenger hunt, thrilling music and dancing, a costume parade, and trick-or-treating. READ MORE

The Pumpkin Patch Express

Baltimore, MD - Saturday & Sunday, October 28 & 29
Take a ride on the B&O Railroad Museum's Pumpkin Patch Express to the First Mile Stable, where kids can decorate pumpkins, make scarecrows, play games, take photos, enjoy autumn snacks, and meet the horses. READ MORE

Zoo Boo!

Baltimore, MD - Saturday & Sunday, October 28 & 29
The Maryland Zoo's 40th annual Zoo Boo! features lots of trick-or-treat stations throughout. Kids can wear costumes, collect candy, and visit the animals. There are also games, prizes, contests, and live entertainment. READ MORE

Silver Spring Holiday Crafts & Treats Fair

Silver Spring, MD - Sunday, October 29
Free
In addition to a variety of sweets and desserts, this festival includes pumpkin decorating, storytelling, a kids' costume parade, and other fun activities. READ MORE

Goblin Golf and Ghost Town at Burke Lake Park

Fairfax Station, VA - Saturday & Sunday, October 28 & 29
Burke Lake Park transforms into Ghost Town for the weekend, with activities including Goblin Golf, pumpkin painting, a bounce house, a trick-or-treat house, and more. Visitors can also ride the spooky carousel and the Frogwarts Express train. READ MORE

Bat Festival at Wolf Trap

Vienna, VA - Sunday, October 29
Free
Celebrate the unique role of bats in the ecosystem while learning about these amazing creatures. Visitors are encouraged to bring their own picnic blanket, chairs, food, and beverages. READ MORE

Del Ray Halloween Parade

Alexandria, VA - Sunday, October 29
Free
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

Great Falls Halloween Spooktacular

Great Falls, VA - Tuesday, October 31
Free
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

Mosaic Halloween Spooktacular

Fairfax, VA - Tuesday, October 31
Free
From store open to store close, stop by Mosaic District shops for trick-or-treating. At 6pm, enjoy Scooby Doo on the big screen in Strawberry Park. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

The St. James Sports, Wellness and Entertainment Complex
Tudor Place Historic House & Garden
Falls Church Community Center
National Museum of the American Indian National Mall
Silver Spring Veterans Plaza
Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts
Great Falls Village Centre