Halloween Events around DC range from trick or treating at historic sites to pumpkin carving to movies at National Harbor. My top 5 Halloween events around DC (plus a few!) have something for everyone.
Halloween Glow in the Park
Where: Adventure Park at Sandy Spring | Sandy Spring, MD
When: Weekends, October 17 – November 1
Admission: $56
Enjoy a spooky Halloween-themed night of climbing and ziplining under the neon colored lights while listening to music throughout the Park. Glow start times are available every 10 minutes 6-8:20pm, and tickets are good for a 2 hour + 40 minute adventure. Costume encouraged but refrain from capes, masks that cover your eyes, and any super loose garments. Reserve in advance online — this event tends to sell out. Ages 5 & up are welcome! Read more about the Adventure Park at Sandy Spring here.
Soul Strolls: Grave Robbing & Resurrection
Where: Congressional Cemetery | Capitol Hill, DC
When: October 17, 18, 24, 25, 31 & November 1
Admission: $40/adult, $30/age 5-14, free/under 5
Experience a dark chapter of DC’s history, a chilling glimpse into the past. Discover the stories of Congressional Cemetery’s interred residents, victims, and perpetrators alike, brought to life by talented actors. Encounter them and uncover their long-buried secrets. These annual twilight tours explore the stories of individuals buried there through a guided lantern lit tour of the grounds with costumed interpreters. Also enjoy live music, thematic cocktails, and the ambiance of an evening in the cemetery. Attendee costumes welcome and encouraged!
Bennett’ Curse
Ranked as the scariest haunted house on the East Coast is Bennett’s Curse, the Haunted House at Dundalk. Just over an hour away from the District, Bennett’s Curse was ranked the #2 scariest haunted house in the nation by Haunt-World’s annual rankings.
The special celebration of being one of the scariest haunted houses in the nation for a quarter-century means that visitors can expect Hollywood-level production quality, captivating set designs, spine-chilling monsters, and terrifyingly immersive sound and lighting effects.
The four returning attractions are:
- House of the Demons – one of the most iconic and beloved attractions at Bennett’s Curse, the House of the Demons attraction is famous for its massive castle set design and the incredible costume design that’ll give even the biggest fear fanatics a fright to remember.
- Ravenbrook Asylum – a dilapidated insane asylum overrun by deranged doctors, nightmarish nurses, and creepy convicts, this haunted attraction is not for the faint of heart. Famous for its gruesome visuals and the experience’s use of psychological horror, this experience may rattle you to your core.
- The Crypts – a twisted maze full of bones, restless spirits, and sensations of paranoia, ‘The Crypts’ gives the brave souls who enter a chance to find their way out through this claustrophobic, fear-inducing labyrinth.
- Halloween 3D – visitors to the Halloween 3D experience will be given special 3D glasses to experience an eye-popping carnival scene designed to disorient and induce dread!
“Eye Spy” Halloween Trains
Where: Cabin John & Wheaton Regional Parks | Bethesda & Wheaton, MD
When: Saturdays & Sundays, October 4-26
Admission: $6
Hop on board the Halloween Trains! All ages can take a ride through “Trainslyvania” on Montgomery Parks’ Cabin John Miniature Train and the Wheaton Miniature Train. They’ll run every Saturday and Sunday in October 10am – 5pm, and it’s best to purchase tickets in advance online to guarantee a ride (only a limited amount are available onsite.) Read more about Cabin John Regional Park here and Wheaton Regional Park here.
Howl-O-Ween
Where: Gateway Interim Dog Park | Rosslyn, VA
When: October 24, 4:30-6:30pm
Admission: Free
Join the Rosslyn BID for a Halloween-themed evening of dog-friendly activities, treats, and seasonal fun. Festivities will include pet-themed vendors, a beer and wine bar for pet parents, the opportunity to mingle with fellow furry friends, and more. Plus, don’t forget to dress your pup in their best outfit so they can compete in the annual dog costume contest. Registration for the contest will be on-site.
The Haunted Washington Scavenger Hunt
Where: White House area | Downtown DC
When: October 25, 6pm
Admission: $22
Do you believe in ghosts? You just might after this spooky tour that reveals the stories of the restless souls you might disturb. On teams, you’ll follow clues to ghost-plagued buildings near the White House and answer tricky questions about what you find. Possible cameos by the spirits of Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, Dolley Madison, Abigail Adams, Andrew Jackson, the (allegedly) suicidal Mrs. Henry Adams, and losing duelist Stephen Decatur. The hunt is a bit spooky, a bit macabre, a bit goofy, and a lot of fun. It’s also a bit slower paced than Watson’s regular hunts because the questions are longer, in order to fill you in on the eerie events that transpired at each location. For teens and older. [Note: For private groups, there is a Kids Edition of this ghoulish game, suitable for ages 7 and up.]
Trick-or-Treating at Mount Vernon
Where: Mount Vernon Estate & Gardens | Mount Vernon, VA
When: October 25, 2-6pm
Admission: $24-30/adult, $20-25/child
Trick-or-treat at Mount Vernon as George Washington’s estate open its gates for Halloween fun and spook-tacular activities. Along with collecting candy around the historic grounds, enjoy live entertainment, check out a apple butter-making demo (and get a taste!), watch sparks fly at the blacksmith shop, learn about Mount Vernon’s horses, and more.
Mystery Mansion Adventure
Where: Chevy Chase Women’s Club | Chevy Chase, MD
When: October 31 – November 1
Admission: $20
Celebrate Halloween and t he Day of the Dead! Step into a world of spooky fun at Mystery Mansion Adventure, a family-friendly haunted house hosted by The Woman’s Club of Chevy Chase. Tickets include admission to the indoor, family-friendly haunted house; photo ops in the whimsical Hall of Portraits; hands-on crafting fun in Artisan Alley; an interactive characters and spooky surprises. Plus, food & drinks and s’mores kits (to enjoy by firepits) are available for purchase. A perfect for kids ages 3–10 (and fun for parents and Halloween fans of all ages)!
Halloween Family Campfires
Arlington Parks and Recreation | October 25-26, 31
You can add a camping experience to your Halloween plans this year. Arlington County Parks and Recreation is hosting a round of family campfires complete with marshmallows, chocolate, graham crackers, and spooky stories at Fort C.F. Smith Park, Long Branch Nature Center, and Gulf Branch Nature Center ($7 registration required).