The weather is autumnal and the D.C. region has already been getting into the fall spirit with fall foliage, harvest meals, and endless Oktoberfests. But there’s still lots of seasonal fun to come as Halloween approaches — here are our top picks for how to celebrate spooky season around town.
FAMILY FESTIVALS
NATIONAL HARBOR: On Sunday, Oct. 22, head to the National Harbor for their kid-friendly Halloween party. The afternoon is full of activities, including trick-or-treating, a pet costume parade, a pumpkin-carving contest, and an outdoor movie screening. (National Harbor; Oct. 22; FREE)
DIA DE LOS MUERTOS BLOCK PARTY: Taqueria Habanero and its bar, Alegria, willpresent a Dia De Los Muertos Block Party for all ages at its Bryant Street Market location on Oct. 27. The event will include traditional altar displays, face painting, music, and workshops. (Bryant Street Market; Oct. 27; FREE)
TYSONS: On Oct. 28, The Boro (or as they term it for this event, the “Boo-ro”) in Tysons is hosting their annual Halloween family event, which includes a pet costume contest and a screening of the 1993 classic Hocus Pocus; blankets and chairs are encouraged. (The Boro Tysons; Oct. 28; FREE)
GLEN ECHO: Bring your tots to Glen Echo Park on the last Saturday of October. Fun-sized activities include decorating a trick-or-treat bag (we love the preparation), a costume contest, and arts and crafts to keep even the smallest hands busy. (Glen Echo Park; Oct. 28; FREE)
HARVEST FESTIVAL: At the end of October, KonsiderDis and Washington Parks and People are holding their fifth annual Harvest Festival. The community event will have something for the whole family, including a petting zoo, face painting, a seasonal cooking demo, and booths hosted by family-focused businesses and organizations. (Marvin Gaye Greening Center; Oct. 28 through Oct. 29; FREE)
MORE: Tysons Corner Center Fall Festival (Tysons Corner Plaza; Oct. 21; FREE); Cathedral Commons Fall Festival (Cathedral Commons; Oct. 22; FREE); Wangari Gardens (Kenyon Street and Park Place NW; Oct. 28; FREE)
MORE FAMILY-FRIENDLY EVENTS
PUMPKIN CARVING: Bring the family out to Potomac Overlook for a pumpkin carving party hosted by Nova Parks. Attendees can expect carving tools, painting materials, a pumpkin, and candy to fuel the work. Please note that participants must pre-register — and children must be accompanied by an adult. (Potomac Overlook; Oct. 21; $20 per child)
FAMILY DAY: On the last Saturday of October, the Smithsonian American Art Museum is hosting a Día de los Muertos Family Day. The festivities will feature performances by Ballet Folklorico Mi Herencia Mexicana, Mariachi Aguila DC, and Sol y Rumba. Other activities will include crafts, face painting, and a scavenger hunt. (Smithsonian American Art Museum; Oct. 28; FREE)
SPOOKY DISCO: DancePlace is hosting an intergenerational dance party on Oct. 28 called the Family Spooky Disco. Expect a live DJ and snacks, and get ready to groove. (Dance Place; Oct. 28; $15 each or $40 for four tickets)
MORE: Hill Family Biking Halloween Ride (Maury Elementary Parking Lot; Oct. 28; FREE); Hallowee-ones Costume Party (Atlas Performing Arts Center; Oct. 28; FREE)
SIP AND SPOOK
POOCH COSTUME: Among the pet costume contests this season is the Hillwood Museum’s “Spooky Pooch Howl-o-ween Celebration.” Pick up your “Spooky Pooch” cocktail and snacks to-go at the museum’s Merriweather Café before bringing your costumed canine to the celebrations and enjoying the museum and estate’s 25 acres of green space. (Hillwood Estate, Museum, & Gardens; Oct. 21; $5+, food and drink not included)
PAINTING AND GAMES: On Oct. 21, KonsiderDis is hosting “Sip+Paint+Games (Halloween Edition)” with a spread of activities that includes karaoke, sip & paint, and interactive games. (Riverside Healthy Living; Oct. 21; $35)
COMEDY SHOW: Head to Boundary Stone for an evening with Grassroots Comedy, where the organizers are calling the lineup a “scream come true.” Stand-up performances include former District resident Brittany Carney, Haywood Turnipseed Jr., Christian Escoto, Ross Benoit, and Rosalie Rubio. The event will be “ghost hosted” by Dana Fleitman. (Boundary Stone; Oct. 27; $15 – $30)
PROFS & PINTS: One of your favorite drinking and learning programs is getting into the spirit with two events this month: the one on the filming of The Exorcist and its D.C. connections has already passed, but Profs and Pints does have another scheduled on the haunted landscapes of Middle-Earth. (Penn Social; dates vary; $13.50+)
MORE: Inner Loop October Reading (Shaws Tavern; Oct. 17; FREE)
PARTIES
WIG BAR CRAWL: Don your best wigs, and get ready to party at some of U Street’s best establishments during the “Wig Night Out!” bar crawl. The crawl will feature emcees and pop-up performances at each bar, and contests throughout the night. Proceeds support Worthy Mentoring, an LGBTQ+ mentoring program, and Point Foundation, a scholarship program for LGBTQ+ students. (U Street; Oct. 21; FREE, drinks not included)
HIP-HOP BAR CRAWL: The Annual Hip-Hop Halloween Bar Crawl on U Street is back for a seventh year. There will be plenty of drink specials — including $5 “Spooky Shots” at every stop — and no cover charge for every participating bar. DJs from across the region will be performing, and participants can grab free swag while supplies last. Oh, and costumes are highly encouraged, (U Street; Oct. 28; $10+)
ROCKY HORROR: Darn it, Janet? On Halloween, head to Lincoln Theatre for The Rocky Horror Picture Show‘s 48th Anniversary Spectacular Tour. We’re talking about the original, unedited movie, complete with a live shadow cast, audience participation, a costume contest, and more. (Lincoln Theatre; Oct. 31; $55+)
MORE: Halloween Costume Party (Buena Vida Gastro Lounge, Oct. 29; FREE); Witches Halloween Party (Dew Drop Inn; Oct. 27; FREE) Hi-Lawn’s Halloween Party with Uncle Jesse (Hi-Lawn; Oct. 28, $5), Nightmare in Navy Yard (Capital Turnaround; Oct. 28; $49.99-$79.99), Bar Chinois Costume Contest (Bar Chinois; Oct. 28; FREE admission)
POP-UP BARS
BLACK LAGOON: This national company is taking over bars across the country for its seasonal Halloween pop-up — including cocktail bar Trouble Bird in Navy Yard. Expect “dark, dungeon-like decorations with skulls, coffins and other elements that pay homage to goth, horror and all things Halloween,” according to a press release, along with a cocktail list to match. Sip on an earthy Hellfire Fizz made with rye, carrot juice, sherry, and greek yogurt, or the Satanic Panic, a spirit-free cocktail made with tequila alternative, miso falernum, and lime. (Trouble Bird; Through Oct. 31; FREE admission)
NIGHTMARE ON THE AVENUE: This rotating Alexandria pop-up bar is back to Halloween for the season, with its name referencing Nightmare on Elm Street. Stop in for spooky decor and cocktails such as a Death Eater Negroni made black with activated charcoal, a pumpkin royale with vodka, baileys, cinnamon cayenne simple syrup and a cinnamon sugar rim, and many others. (Del Ray Pop-up Bar; Through at least Oct. 31; FREE admission)
MORE DRINKING AND EATING
COOKIE DECORATING: Bring your fall treats up to a new level with Sugar Coated Bakery in Virginia. The 90-minute cookie decorating class will take place at Lost Boy Cider in Alexandria and will feature everything you need to complete three different seasonal decoration styles. (Lost Boy Cider in Alexandria; Oct. 24; $65+)
HALLOWEEN SCAVENGER HUNT: To mark the season, the O Museum in the Mansion is hosting a “Halloween Nights Fun & Sweets” event. Visit the cash bar, search for secret doors, and show off your spooky best in the costume contest. (O Museum in the Mansion; Oct. 27 – 31; $50)
IMMIGRANT FOOD: Head to Immigrant Food at Planet Word for their Sweater Weather cocktail flight, featuring “New York State of Mind” (an update on the Manhattan), “Bobbing for Apples” (a twist on the Hot Toddy), and “Spicy Pepita” (Anejo tequila, with Manzanilla Fina sherry, pumpkin syrup, and lemon). (Planet Word; Open Tuesday through Sunday; $24 for the flight)
THEATER AND MUSIC
PARANORMAL PRIVATE EYE: Head to Olney Theatre to watch The Brothers Paranormal, a story that follows two Thai-American brothers, their paranormal investigation business, and a new customer whose visit brings unintended customers. (Olney Theatre Center; now through Oct. 29; $55+)
POE & FOE: Mark spooky season by attending Synetic Theatre’s The Tell-Tale Heart, based on Edgar Allen Poe’s short story of the same name. This eerie performance explores notions of the human psyche and is recommended for audiences ages 13 and up. (Synetic Theatre; now through Nov. 5; $35-$65)
LIVING DEAD: This season, Rorschach Theatre is staging Night of the Living Dead — a play adapted from George A. Romero’s 1968 film that centers on six strangers trapped in a farmhouse. The performance is directed by Lilli Hokama and will play through mid-November at the company’s pop-up location on Connecticut Avenue in downtown D.C. (Rorschach Theatre; now through Nov. 18; $20+, with pay-what-you-can options available).
RIPPER REVENGE: Head to the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop to be transported back to Victorian England at a time when Jack the Ripper is on the loose … and three women are ready to take revenge. Kill the Ripper is presented by We Happy Few and runs for just under a month, beginning on Oct. 25. (Capitol Hill Arts Workshop; Oct. 25 through Nov. 18; $5+, with pay-what-you-can options available)
