Have a jumping good time at The Big Bounce. Photo courtesy of The Big Bounce
Best Free and Fun Things To Do in DC with Kids May 2024
Catch all three seasons of Bluey–plus the show’s biggest episode ever–right now on Disney+.
  VIDEO
Best Bluey Episodes, Themed Snacks and Games for a Memorable Family Night In
Summer Camp photo courtesy of Canva
GUIDE
Washington DC Summer Camp Guide
Full up your buckets with juicy red strawberries. Photo courtesy of Great Country Farms
Best Strawberry Picking Near DC and Summer Strawberry Festivals
You never know who you'll run into at the Blossom Kite Festival. Event photo courtesy of the festival
29 Best Spring Festivals and Fairs in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia for Families
Outdoor movies abound in the DC area all summer long. Photo courtesy of the Fairfax County Park Authority
Free Outdoor Movies in the DC Area this Summer for Kids
Kids of all ages will find lots to explore at Mount Vernon. Photo by Jennifer Marino Walters
Visiting George Washington's Mount Vernon Near DC with Kids
Enjoy storytime each Wednesday at the Hirshhorn. Photo courtesy of the Hirshorn Museum
75 Free Fun Things To Do in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia with Kids
Photo by Haoshuang Lou from Pexels
GUIDE
Spring Activities Guide for DC Kids and Families
Zap the competition with a game of laser tag at Ultrazone. Photo courtesy of Ultrazone
Where to Play Laser Tag and Paintball Near Washington, DC
No ocean? No problem at Greenbrier State Park. Photo courtesy of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources
12 Swimming Lakes Near DC You Need to Discover
Feed calves directly from a bottle at South Mountain Creamery.
A Visit to South Mountain Creamery with Kids: Feeding Baby Cows Near Washington, DC
Kids of all ages will find lots to explore at Mount Vernon. Photo by Jennifer Marino Walters
Visiting George Washington's Mount Vernon Near DC with Kids
Planet Word offers lots of free interactive fun. Photo courtesy of Planet Word
21 Free Things To Do Indoors in the DC Area: Indoor Places To Play On Cold and Rainy Days
Pizza is even yummier when it's free! Photo courtesy of Matchbox
Kids Eat Free: 15 DC Area Restaurants with Free Meal Deals for Families
What masterpieces will your kiddo create at the National Building Museum’s PLAY WORK BUILD exhibit? Photo by Anne McDonough, courtesy of the museum
Best Museums for Kids in the DC Area: Children’s Museums and Family-Friendly Museums
You can't trust just anyone with baby's first haircut!
Best Places for Kids' Haircuts in DC, From Baby Haircuts to Cool Teen Spots
There are many opportunities to help clean up Montgomery County parks throughout the year. Photo courtesy of Montgomery County Parks
Volunteering Opportunities for Kids and Families in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia
Beat the Bomb combines the skill of an escape room with the thrill of a video game—and colorful paint or foam! Photo courtesy of the Beat the Bomb Facebook page
Best Escape Rooms for Kids in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia
With 75 themed walls for kids to tackle, it's impossible to get bored at ClimbZone. Photo courtesy of ClimbZone
Best Indoor Rock Climbing Gyms and Spaces for Kids Near DC
The new Kalahari Resort will be home to Virginia's largest indoor water park.
A New Kalahari Resort and Indoor Water Park is Coming to Northern Virginia
There are several great places to eat with kids near the National Mall.
Best Kid-Friendly Restaurants and More Places to Eat Near the National Mall in Washington, DC

Where to Trunk-or-Treat Near DC for Halloween (for Free!)

This trunk was voted Most Festive at the 2021 Towson Trunk-or-Treat. Photo courtesy of the event
This trunk was voted Most Festive at the 2021 Towson Trunk-or-Treat. Photo courtesy of the event
10/9/22 - By Jennifer Marino Walters

While trick-or-treating on Halloween is a rite of passage for kids, it's not without its downsides. First, it happens only on one day out of the year. Second, traipsing around the neighborhood can be quite tiring for little superheroes and princesses. Luckily for DC-area kids, there is an alternative—free trunk-or-treats! This year there are plenty of places to trunk-or-treat near DC on different days in both Maryland and Northern Virginia, offering kids plenty of opportunities to collect more candy—and wear their Halloween costumes.

For those who are unfamiliar with the term, trunk-or-treats are events at which organizations, groups, or individuals decorate the trunks of their cars with fun Halloween displays. Kids can visit each trunk and receive candy and other goodies.

Read on for our list of free events where kids can trunk-or-treat near DC. For more Halloween fun, check out our Halloween Events and Activities Guide for Washington, DC Kids and our list of the best free Halloween events near DC for kids and families.

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Some car owners use pop culture for decoration inspiration. Photo courtesy of Towson Trunk-or-Treat
Some car owners use pop culture for decoration inspiration. Photo courtesy of Towson Trunk-or-Treat

Where to Trunk-or-Treat in Maryland

Free Trunk-or-Treat and Petting Zoo

Rockville, MD
Saturday, October 15, 2022
Come in your best halloween costume for a fun trunk-or-treat, a petting zoo, music, a raffle, and more Halloween family fun. READ MORE

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

Grille No.13 Trunk-or-Treat

Waldorf, MD
Saturday, October 22, 2022
Head to Grille No. 13 for a free trunk-or-treat. There will also be a DJ, a clown, and fun Halloween activities for kids. READ MORE

Trunk-or-Treat at the Manor

Columbia, MD
Friday, October 28, 2022
Everyone young and old is invited to trunk-or-treat at Historic Oakland. Prizes will be awarded for best kids' costume (age 10 and under), best dog costume, and best decorated cars. READ MORE

Sole Girl Trunk-or-Treat

Clinton, MD
Saturday, October 29, 2022
Small businesses will hand out free candy and other goodies to costumed kids while selling items at this annual trunk-or-treat. There will also be music and a crafting corner. READ MORE

Baltimore Wine & Gift Fairy Trunk-or-Treat

Baltimore, MD
Saturday, October 29, 2022
Wear a costume and bring your favorite Halloween bucket to this community-wide event. In addition to the trunk-or-treat, there will be food, vendors, and other fun. READ MORE

Harvester Baptist Church Trunk-or-Treat

Ellicott City, MD
Saturday, October 29, 2022
Harvester Baptist Church is hosting a free trunk-or-treat for kids ages 12 and under. There will also be crafts, games, snacks, a free prize drawing, and a special storytime. READ MORE

Indian Head's Annual Trunk-or-Treat

Indian Head, MD
Monday, October 31, 2022
Bring costumed kids to Village Green Park on Halloween evening for Indian Head's annual trunk-or-treat, hosted by Bridge Church. READ MORE
Sometimes car owners decorate themselves, too! Photo courtesy of the Manassas Park Community Center
Sometimes car owners decorate themselves, too! Photo courtesy of the Manassas Park Community Center

Where to Trunk-or-Treat in Virginia

FCPD & Friends Trunk-or-Treat

Centreville, VA
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

Trunk-or-Treat - Sydenstricker United Methodist Church

Springfield, VA
Friday, October 21, 2022
Put on your favorite costume and head to Sydenstricker United Methodist Church for a Friday evening of fun, food, and trunk-or-treating. READ MORE

Focus Family Academy's Annual Trunk-or-Treat

Fairfax, VA
Saturday, October 22, 2022
Focus Family Academy's trunk-or-treat features a haunted maze, inflatables, a costume contest, games, and of course, trunk-or-treating. READ MORE

Trunk-or-Treat at Lubber Run Community Center

Arlington, VA
Saturday, October 22, 2022
Sign up for a 30-minute time slot to trick-or-treat from car to car at this walk-through event. Each trunk will be festively decorated and distributing treats to costumed kids. READ MORE

Halloween Trunk-or-Treat at Premier Martial Arts

Gainesville, VA
Saturday, October 22, 2022
Put on your costumes and head to Premier Martial Arts for a trunk-or-treat and other Halloween fun for the whole family. READ MORE

Faith Fellowship Assembly of God Trunk-or-Treat

Alexandria, VA
Tuesday, October 25, 2022
At this free trunk-or-treat at Faith Fellowship Assembly of God, families can also enjoy free games, hot dogs, and more. READ MORE

Trunk-or-Treat - Abiding Presence Lutheran Church

Burke, VA
Wednesday, October 26, 2022
The annual APLC trunk-or-treat is back. Costumed kids can visit cars with festively decorated trunks to receive candy and other Halloween treats. READ MORE

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

McLean, VA
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

Floris UMC Trunk-or-Treat

Herndon, VA
Saturday, October 29, 2022
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

Trunk-or-Treat at Manassas Park Community Center

Manassas Park, VA
Saturday, October 29, 2022
Decorated vehicles will line up in the parking lot of the Manassas Park Community Center as families stop at each one to receive a Halloween treat (or trick)! READ MORE

Patriot Harley-Davidson Trunk-or-Treat

Fairfax, VA
Saturday, October 29, 2022
Join Patriot Harley-Davidson for a safe and gnarly Harley-Ween, where kids of all ages can receive stuffed motorcycle bags full of candy at the trunk-or-treat. There will also be music, food trucks, and Harley-themed games like Toss the Helmet. READ MORE

Trunk-or-Treat at Vine Church

Dunn Loring, VA
Sunday, October 30, 2022
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

Trunk-or-Treat at Burke United Methodist Church

Burke, VA
Sunday, October 30, 2022
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

Places featured in this article: