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37 Best Things To Do in DC October 2024 with Kids: Halloween Events, Fall Festivals, and More

Photo ops abound at the Great Country Farms Fall Pumpkin Harvest Festival. Photo by Jennifer Marino Walters, courtesy of the farm
Photo ops abound at the Great Country Farms Fall Pumpkin Harvest Festival. Photo by Jennifer Marino Walters, courtesy of the farm
9/29/24 - By Jennifer Swope

Spooky season arrives with October, and we have the best family-friendly events for little ghosts and goblins all month long.

Halloween events and fall festivals will keep your family busy this month as you celebrate the harvest season, pick pumpkins, and dress up for trick-or-treating.

Two new shows opening in October that your kids might want to see are She Persisted at Adventure Theatre and Spells of the Sea at The Kennedy Center. And for your budding wizard, Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience returns to Morven Park in Leesburg at the end of the month.

We have so many more great events listed below for your family in October, but don't forget to check our family activity calendar every day, as we're always adding more events.

More Things To Do in DC This October With Kids:

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Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience returns to Morven Park. Photo by Jennifer Marino Walters
Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience returns to Morven Park. Photo by Jennifer Marino Walters

Top Things To Do in DC with Kids this October

Great Country Farms Fall Pumpkin Harvest Festival

Bluemont, VA
Daily, October 1-31, 2024
Great Country Farms' fall festival includes hayrides to a pick-your-own pumpkin patch, pig races, a ninja warrior course, jumping pillows, slides, playgrounds, and much more. Don't forget to meet P-Rex the Pumpkin Eating Dino and try freshly baked cider donuts. READ MORE

She Persisted at Adventure Theatre

Glen Echo, MD
Fridays - Sundays, October 4 - November 3, 2024
Fourth-grader Naomi’s field trip to a women’s history museum turns into a time-travel adventure where she encounters inspirational women who have overcome barriers and made waves throughout US history. From activists and athletes to artists and more, the musical features the stories of female trailblazers such as Harriet Tubman, Virginia Apgar, Ruby Bridges, Sally Ride, Florence Griffith Joyner, and Sonia Sotomayor.  READ MORE

Open Streets: 7th Street NW

Washington, DC - Free
Saturday, October 5, 2024
Three miles of 7th Street NW close to cars and open the street for people to walk, bike, scoot, and play. With classes and demonstrations including yoga, arts and crafts, live music, and more, there's something for all ages and abilities. READ MORE

Old Bowie Celebrates! Festival

Bowie, MD - Free
Saturday, October 5, 2024
The Old Bowie Celebrates! Festival features live music and dance, food vendors with local and global cuisines, arts and crafts, and much more. Children can explore cultures through activities, earning stamps in their festival passports. READ MORE

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

Montgomery Village, MD - Free
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

Farm Day in Cherry Hill Park

Falls Church, VA - Free
Saturday, October 5, 2024
Farm Day in Cherry Hill Park has fall-themed family activities including a petting farm, pony rides, pumpkin painting, scarecrow making (bring your own long pants and a sleeved shirt), live music, tours of the Cherry Hill Farmhouse and barn, blacksmith demonstrations, and more. READ MORE

Green Spring Gardens Fall Festival

Alexandria, VA - Free
Saturday, October 5, 2024
Families can enjoy activities and classes at the Green Spring Annual Family Fall Festival, including vendors selling plants and other items, a silent auction, a book sale, and a bake sale. READ MORE

Takoma Park Street Festival

Takoma Park, MD - Free
Sunday, October 6, 2024
Enjoy over 150 vendors, live music from 18 local bands, food trucks, and more fun activities at this popular street festival. READ MORE

Encanto: The Sing-Along Film Concert (at Hylton Performing Arts Center)

Manassas, VA
Sunday, October 6, 2024
Disney Concerts presents Encanto: The Sing-Along Film Concert tour, where Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Academy Award®-winning film comes to life in a one-of-a-kind concert event. See the entire feature-length film and an on-stage band playing all the record-breaking hit songs from the beloved soundtrack. READ MORE

Bowie Baysox Pumpkin Patch & Fall Festival

Bowie, MD
Saturday, October 12, 2024
The Bowie Baysox baseball field at Prince George's Stadium transforms into a pumpkin patch at this fall festival, which also features carnival games, face painting, pumpkin painting, and more. Halloween costumes are encouraged. READ MORE

Arctoberfest - Celebrate Archeology (at Sully Historic Site)

Chantilly, VA - Free
Saturday, October 12, 2024
Celebrate Archeology Month with a gathering of local archeologists. Enjoy fun demonstrations, explore the archeological trail, learn about the skills archeologists need, see some high-tech tools of the trade, and create your own take-home craft. READ MORE

City of Fairfax Fall Festival

Fairfax, VA - Free
Saturday, October 12, 2024
Fairfax's fall festival features more than 400 arts, crafts, and food vendors, as well as children's activities and three stages with music and entertainment.  READ MORE

Spells of the Sea at The Kennedy Center

Washington, DC
Saturdays & Sundays, October 12-20, 2024
A young girl embarks on a quest to save her father after he’s struck by the “Big Bad Sickness of the Sea.” Come along on this enchanting musical journey about facing fears, embracing emotions, and believing in oneself. READ MORE

Touch-a-Truck at McLean Community Center

McLean, VA - Free
Monday, October 14, 2024
If your children love vehicles, visit Touch-a-Truck! This free event allows kids to touch, sit in, and explore some of their favorite cars and trucks. READ MORE

Harvest Day with FRESHFARM (at The Kennedy Center)

Washington, DC - Free
Saturday, October 19, 2024
Join local nonprofit FRESHFARM for a fun and tasty journey through the local food system. Dive into hands-on activities to learn how food is grown and made—and discover easy ways to get involved, from cooking to composting. Plus, enjoy music, local vendors, and a day of fun for the whole family. READ MORE

Mount Vernon Fall Harvest Festival

Mount Vernon, VA
Saturday & Sunday, October 19 & 20, 2024
Celebrate the crisp autumn season with 18th-century activities and demonstrations at the Farm at Mount Vernon. Watch wheat-treading demonstrations in Washington's innovative 16-sided threshing barn, and visit the Farrier to learn how horseshoeing was performed in the 18th century. See how laundry was done and help in the process, and watch demonstrations of cooking, candle-making, and spinning. READ MORE

Fall Carnival and Fall Harvest Days at Frying Pan Farm Park

Herndon, VA - Free (parking $10)
Saturday & Sunday, October 19 & 20, 2024
Enjoy a weekend of fall fun including games, rides, and fair food. You can also explore the farm on Fall Harvest Day. Watch the cider press in action, milk a goat or a cow, shell corn, peel apples, meet the farm animals, and see traditional farm demonstrations. READ MORE

Turkish Festival

Washington, DC - Free
Sunday, October 20, 2024
Celebrate the Turkish Festival with Turkish foods, live music, folk dancing, arts and crafts, and kids' games.  READ MORE

Laurie Berkner Band at GMU Center for the Arts

Fairfax, VA
Sunday, October 20, 2024
Welcome "the undisputed queen of kindie rock" (USA Today), Laurie Berkner and her band, in a concert event for the whole family. One of the most popular children’s entertainers in the United States, her music shines a light on what it means to be a kid, and children can’t get enough of her folk-pop melodies made especially for them.  READ MORE

The World and Me Family Program: Bat Week Extravaganza

Washington, DC - Free
Saturday, October 26, 2024
The National Museum of Natural History is collaborating with the US Forest Service to celebrate Bat Week. Come learn about how important bats are to the planet, and help shine the light on the importance of spiders. See bat and spider specimens up close, make art celebrating bats and spiders, and learn other ways to support bats and spiders all year long.  READ MORE

Bluey’s Big Play at The Lyric

Baltimore, MD
Saturday & Sunday, October 26 & 27, 2024
When Dad feels like a little bit of Sunday afternoon time-out, Bluey and Bingo have other plans. Adapted from the children's television series, Bluey’s Big Play is a brand-new theatrical adaptation featuring the Heelers brought to life through puppets. READ MORE

Doktor Kaboom: Under Pressure! at The Kennedy Center

Washington, DC
Saturdays & Sundays, October 26 - November 3, 2024
Equal parts interactive science, comedy, and personal empowerment messages, Doktor Kaboom returns to explore real-life mental and emotional pressures in a hilarious and educational new show. READ MORE

Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience (at Morven Park)

Leesburg, VA
Daily, October 26 - December 1, 2024
Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience lets fans venture into an illuminated forest brought to life. Unicorns, Nifflers, and Hippogriffs are only some of the magical creatures guests come face-to-face with. The interactive, family-friendly experience also gives fans the opportunity to cast spells to illuminate the dark forest and try their hand at summoning a Patronus. In the depths of the Forbidden Forest, who knows what spellbinding surprises could be lurking between the trees?  READ MORE

Silver Spring Holiday Crafts & Treats Fair

Silver Spring, MD - Free
Sunday, October 27, 2024
In addition to a variety of sweets and desserts, this festival includes a day of crafts, treats, and spooky festivities that promise thrills for kids, pets, and the entire family.  READ MORE
Air & Scare at Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center . Photo courtesy of the event.
Air & Scare at Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center . Photo courtesy of the event.

Halloween Events & Halloween Weekend in Washington, DC

Brick-Or-Treat: Monster Party – Kids Halloween Event at LEGO Discovery Center Washington, DC

Springfield, VA
Daily, October 1-31, 2024
Daily from October 1-31, families can get into the Halloween spirit as LEGO® Monsters take over LEGO Discovery Center Washington, DC and throw a Monster Party you don't want to miss. Brew up fun at the Potion Kitchen, a place to create potions of all sorts by combining your building creativity. Plus, enjoy monster-ific activities and an exclusive 4D Halloween movie, The Great Monster Chase. READ MORE

Zoo Boo! at Maryland Zoo

Baltimore, MD
Fridays - Sundays, October 4-27, 2024
The Maryland Zoo's 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

Boo at the Zoo at the National Zoo

Washington, DC
Friday - Sunday, October 18-20, 2024
At Boo at the Zoo, kids can dress up and go 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

Town of Vienna Annual Halloween Parade

Vienna, VA - Free
Wednesday, October 24, 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

Hilloween (at Eastern Market)

Washington, DC - Free
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

Halloween on the Farm (at Frying Pan Farm Park)

Herndon, VA
Friday, October 25, 2024
Come trick-or-treat on the farm! Visit with farm animals, create crafts, play games, tour the decorated farmhouse, and enjoy fall on the farm. READ MORE

The Great Halloween Lantern Parade & Festival

Baltimore, MD - Free
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

Trolley-ween at the National Capital Trolley Museum

Colesville, MD
Saturday, October 26, 2024
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

Falls Church Halloween Carnival

Falls Church, VA
Saturday, October 26, 2024
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

Air & Scare at Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center

Chantilly, VA - Free
Saturday, October 26, 2024
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

Harbor Halloween

National Harbor, MD - Free
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

Del Ray Halloween Parade

Alexandria, VA - Free
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

Great Falls Halloween Spooktacular

Great Falls, VA - Free
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:

7th Street NW between Rhode Island Ave & E Street
Chestnut Ave. & 9th St.
The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
George Mason University Center for the Arts
The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Silver Spring Veterans Plaza
Falls Church Community Center
Great Falls Village Centre