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Top Halloween Events in DC for Kids and Families in 2022

Show off your Halloween costumes at Harbor Halloween. Photo courtesy of National Harbor
Show off your Halloween costumes at Harbor Halloween. Photo courtesy of National Harbor
9/25/22 - By Jennifer Swope

Bring on the candy, the jack o' lanterns, and the costumes—it's time for Halloween! With so many fun Halloween events in DC, there are lots of ways to celebrate this festive season. The DC area has everything from fall festivals and corn mazes to apple picking and fall train rides. There are also plenty of pumpkin patches near DC to find that perfect pumpkin to decorate your front porch.

But sometimes you want to go all-in on Halloween. When that happens, round up your young witches and ghouls and head out to one of these top Halloween events in DC in 2022. And don't forget to check out our Fall Fun Guide for Washington, DC Families for more autumn activities!

Additional reporting by Christine Mooney, Meredith Kiryakov, and Jennifer Marino Walters

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Bask in the glow of the Trail of Jack-O'-Lanterns. Photo courtesy of Green Meadows Farm & Petting Zoo
Bask in the glow of the Trail of Jack-O'-Lanterns. Photo courtesy of Green Meadows Farm & Petting Zoo

Halloween Events in DC 2022: Halloween Festivals and Other Events

Halloween Eye Spy Trains

Wheaton, MD and Cabin John, MD
Saturdays and Sundays through October 30, 2022
Take a ride through "Transylvania" aboard Cabin John Regional Park's and Wheaton Regional Park's Eye Spy Miniature Trains. READ MORE

Haunted Lab

Fairfax, VA
Saturdays and Sundays through October 30, 2022
The Children's Science Center is transforming into a Haunted Lab for Halloween. In addition to not-so-spooky decorations, families can create ooey-gooey Frankenslime, go on a scavenger hunt to find spooky animals native to North America, learn about creepy-crawly bugs in the Bio Zone, and more. READ MORE

Witch Wartsmith's Halloween Spooktacular

Glen Echo, MD
Thursdays-Sundays, October 1-31, 2022
The Puppet Co. at Glen Echo presents the Halloween Spooktacular, a funny competitive variety show where the audience gets to vote for the winner. This not-so-spooky show, filled with puns and Halloween humor, will entertain kids and parents. READ MORE

Trail of Jack-O'-Lanterns

Ijamsville, MD
Fridays & Saturdays through October 29, 2022
Put on your costume and head to Green Meadows Petting Farm's annual Trail of Jack-O'-Lanterns to see glowing jack-o-lanterns in all shapes and sizes. There's also a a farm show, fire pits, trick-or-treating along the trail, and the chance to meet furry friends in the Animal Barn. Hayrides, glow necklaces, s'mores, and more are available for purchase.  READ MORE

Pumpkin Race & Fall Festival

Montgomery Village, MD - Free
Saturday, October 8, 2022
Face off or watch as decorated pumpkins on wheels go head to head in this crazy pumpkin race! There will be awards for best decoration and most innovative design, best themed pumpkin racer and driver duo, and lots of other fun categories. Attendees can also enjoy live music, food, and lots of children's activities. READ MORE

Halloween Family Fun Day

Reston, VA - Free
Saturday, October 22, 2022
The Halloween Family Fun Day is great for younger kids to enjoy a non-scary festival. Little ghosts and goblins will get in the spirit of Halloween with performances by Peter McCory, a one-man band, and Bob Brown's Puppets. There will also be carnival games and treats. Kids are encouraged to come in costume. READ MORE

Boo at the Pool

Reston, VA
Saturday, October 22, 2022
Dive into trick-or-treating at the pool! Treats will be both floating and under the water for kids of different swimming abilities to collect. Each child will receive a goody bag after the event and kids wearing costumes poolside will receive an additional prize. READ MORE

Fall Frolic

Alexandria, VA
Saturday, October 22, 2022
The garden of the Lee-Fendall House will come alive with activities for children ages 3-12, including a "ghost" hunt, crafts, a costume parade, and more. READ MORE

Halloween Boo Bash

Gaithersburg, MD
Saturday, October 22, 2022
This family-friendly Halloween party will include crafts, trick-or-treating, a costume parade, and a Monster Mash dance party.  READ MORE

Halloween Night Hunt with Sweets

Washington, DC
Thursday, October 27 - Monday, October 31, 2022
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

Hilloween 2022

Washington, DC - Free
Friday, October 28, 2022
This family Halloween festival at Eastern Market is is an opportunity to gather as a community and make festive memories with friends and neighbors. There will be trick-or-treating, face painting, games, pumpkin decorating, a photo booth, refreshments, and more. Costumes are encouraged. READ MORE

Boo at the Zoo

Washington, DC
Friday, October 28 - Sunday, October 30, 2022
Boo at the Zoo returns this year! Kids will delight in dressing up and trick-or-treating at Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, while viewing animals at the Elephant Community Center, Small Mammal House, Reptile Discovery Center, Great Ape House, and Think Tank.  READ MORE

ZooBOOO!

Baltimore, MD
Saturday & Sunday, October 29 & 30, 2022
The Maryland Zoo will have lots of trick-or-treat stations throughout at its 39th annual ZooBOOO! Kids can wear costumes, collect candy, and visit the animals. There will also be games, prizes, contests, and live entertainment. READ MORE

Halloween Carnival

Falls Church, VA
Saturday, October 29, 2022
The annual family-friendly Halloween Carnival in Falls Church will have fun activities for kids ages 2-11, including games, inflatables, live music, and snacks. READ MORE

Lil' Pumpkins Fest

Germantown, MD - Free
Saturday, October 29, 2022
BlackRock Center for the Arts' Lil' Pumpkins Fest includes trick-or-treating, a photo booth, lil' pumpkin painting, free pumpkins for kids under 11, a beer garden, and a costume parade. READ MORE

Halloween On Ice

Fairfax, VA
Saturday, October 30, 2022
Skate alongside ghosts, witches, and more at Fairfax Ice Arena's annual Halloween On Ice public ice skating event. There will be games, prizes, and a costume parade starting at 1:30 pm. Kids 12 and under in costume will receive $1.00 off admission. READ MORE

Halloween Bark Bash

Ashburn, VA - Free
Saturday, October 29, 2022
This event combines the best of pet shows and Halloween festivals. The festival includes a pet costume contest, socially distanced trick or treating, dogs for adoption, a photo booth and more. READ MORE

Ghoul School: Interactive Show

National Harbor, MD
Fridays & Saturdays through October 29, 2022
Kids are invited to rhyme a tune, test a mad scientist’s latest experiment, play a game of Halloween charades, and more when they join lovable misfits Jake L. Hyde, Shelley Stein, Boris Beats, and Mandy Kin in this live, interactive show. These descendants of iconic Halloween monsters entertain with stories and activities to demonstrate the importance of individuality, diversity, and being yourself. READ MORE

Ghost Town at Burke Lake Park

Fairfax Station, VA
Saturday & Sunday, October 29 & 30, 2022
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

Harbor Halloween

National Harbor, MD - Free
Sunday, October 30, 2022
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 - Free
Monday, October 31, 2022
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

Halloween Events in DC 2022: Trunk-or-Treats and Trick-or-Treating Events

Towson Trunk-or-Treat

Towson, MD - Free
Saturday, October 15, 2022
Young and old can go from car to car to collect treats at Towson's free annual Trunk or Treat. There will also be carnival games, a bounce house, a costume parade, and more. Prizes will be awarded for best costumes and best decorated cars. READ MORE

FCPD & Friends Trunk-or-Treat

Centreville, VA - Free
Wednesday, October 19, 2022
The Fairfax County Police Department, along with local businesses and organizations, will host a free trunk-or-treat for kids. READ MORE

Truck or Treat

Cooksville, MD
Saturday, October 22, 2022
Costumed kids can trick-or-treat at a variety of trucks, tractors, emergency vehicles, and more while meeting their hometown heroes at this "wheely" fun event. READ MORE

Focus Family Academy's 6th Annual Trunk-or-Treat

Fairfax, VA - Free
Saturday, October 22, 2022
Focus Family Academy's 6th annual Trunk or Treat features a haunted maze, inflatables, a costume contest, games, and of course, trunk-or-treating! READ MORE

Trick-or-Treat at Tudor Place

Washington, DC
Saturday, October 29, 2022
Wear a Halloween costume and search for treats (not tricks) in every corner of Tudor Place's North Garden. Enjoy crafts, activities, and period games. READ MORE

Trick-or-Treating at Mount Vernon

Mount Vernon, VA
Saturday, October 29, 2022
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

Air & Scare

Chantilly, VA - Free
Saturday, October 29, 2022
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, and other Halloween-themed activities. READ MORE

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

McLean, VA - Free
Saturday, October 29, 2022
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-Treat Expedition

National Harbor, MD - Free
Saturdays & Sundays through October 30. 2022
Cheerfully spooky characters pop up along this trail to add some smiles and laughs as children receive some candy. READ MORE

Halloween Events in DC 2022: Halloween Parades

The Great Halloween Lantern Parade & Festival

Baltimore, MD - Free
Saturday, October 22, 2022
At the Halloween Lantern Parade & Festival, attendees can make their own lanterns, enjoy delicious food, dance, and visit the Artist Market. There will also be a costume contest for kids. The parade will include illuminated floats, stilt walkers, marching bands, and more. READ MORE

Town of Vienna Annual Halloween Parade

Vienna, VA - Free
Saturday, October 27, 2022
Hosted by the Town of Vienna and the Vienna Business Association, this annual Halloween parade gets everyone in the spooky spirit. The theme for 2022 is "Time Machine: Vienna in the Past, Present, and Future."  READ MORE

Del Ray Halloween Parade

Alexandria, VA - Free
Sunday, October 30, 2022
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. Awards will be given for Best Pet Costume, Best Decorated Business, Best Decorated Home, and Best Decorated Stroller. READ MORE

Halloween Festivals at Amusement Parks

The Great Pumpkin Fest

Doswell, VA
Saturdays & Sundays, September 24-October 30, 2022
Cherokee County throws a mega fall/Halloween festival with a DJ, trick-or-treating, a costume contest, a petting zoo and hay ride. But that's not all. Kids get a kick out of the pumpkin launcher too. They even have axe throwing and archery.  READ MORE

Kings Dominion Halloween Haunt

Doswell, VA
Select days September 24-October 30, 2022
Do you dare to venture into haunted mazes or scare zones, ride terrifying rides, or watch spooky live shows? Halloween Haunt has fear around every corner, with hundreds of monsters unleashed throughout Kings Dominion.  READ MORE

Six Flags America Kids BOO Fest by Day

Upper Marlboro, MD
Select days September 24-October 30, 2022
Families will enjoy a fright-free Halloween experience during Kids BOO Fest by Day at Six Flags America. With a corn maze, a trick-or-treat trail, classic rides decorated for Halloween, kids' crafts, and more, the entire family will get into the Halloween spirit. READ MORE

Six Flags America Fright Fest

Upper Marlboro, MD
Select days September 24-October 30, 2022
Six Flags America's annual Halloween celebration features festive, family-friendly attractions during the day and much spookier ones once the sun goes down. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Falls Church Community Center
Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center
Great Falls Village Centre
Gary J. Arthur Community Center
Tudor Place Historic House & Garden
Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center