Happy Thursday, DC!
Have a bunch of BOO-tastic fun with the entire family this Halloween season at an area costume party, pumpkin-carving, or carnival. These kid-friendly events are great options to add to your Halloween plans:
1. Brick-or-Treat Monster Party
LEGO Discovery Center | October 6-31
There’s a monster takeover at the recently opened LEGO Discovery Center in Springfield. All ages can participate in endless Halloween activities like building a pumpkin made of LEGO bricks in the Monsters’ Garden, watching a screening of 4D Halloween movie Monster Party, and playing Monster-themed games to win prizes ($28+).
2. Halloween Eye Spy Trains
Cabin John Regional Park and Wheaton Regional Park | October 7-31
All aboard! Youngsters can ride the miniature train and carousel at Cabin John Regional Park and Wheaton Regional Park every Saturday and Sunday this month. The trains—designed as replicas of an 1863 historic locomotive—will chug through “Trainslyvania” while riders can spot seasonal items along the tracks that match their Eye Spy cards ($6+).
3. Boo at the Zoo
Smithsonian National Zoo | October 20-21
Take a family-fun adventure through the Jack-O-Lantern-decorated National Zoo in your favorite spooky outfit. All ages can participate in trick-or-treating, after-hours animal spectating, dancing, and other seasonal cheer ($35).
4. Family Mystery Day
Library of Congress | October 21
Teens and young children can solve mystery stories at the Library of Congress this month during the Family Mystery Day writing workshop and scavenger hunt. There will also be storybook character appearances from children’s novel Dead Wednesday, a teenager-friendly author chat with writers Delilah S. Dawson and Kayvion Lewis, and opportunities to browse the collections (free, but timed-entry passes are required).
5. Lil’ Pumpkin Festival
BlackRock Center for the Arts | October 21
This pumpkin-themed jamboree in Germantown is all about spooky fall fun. The rain-or-shine event will include trick-or-treating, pumpkin painting, hourly dance parties, costume parades, music by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, and a movie screening of Pooh’s Heffalump Halloween Movie. Also, there’s an artisan’s market and biergarten for adults (free for all kids activities, $5 for the dance party).
6. Family Costume Party
Children’s Science Center at Fair Oaks Mall | October 21
Here’s an educational way to commemorate Halloween. Children can visit the “Haunted Lab” to make ooey-gooey slime, watch a mad scientist STEM educator dissect an experiment, and engineer a launcher for spiders; there’s a costume contest for prizes, too ($15).
7. Harbor Halloween
National Harbor | October 22
This annual fall party returns with outdoor activities for families and pets. Kids can go trick-or-treating, take a free ride on the Capital Wheel if they come dressed in costume, watch a showing of Hocus Pocus on the plaza, and cheer on local chefs in a pumpkin-carving contest. For dog lovers there’s a Pet Pawrade (free).
8. NSO Family Concert: Halloween Spooktacular
Kennedy Center | October 22
Appropriate for ages 5 and up, this musical performance for Halloween and Día de los Muertos will feature a ghostly attired National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Emil de Cou. Prior to the show, youngsters can grab sweets at trick-or-treating, and play instruments in the Haunted Hall Musical play space ($18+).
9. Hill-O-Ween
Eastern Market | October 27
Capitol Hill’s family fright night is back at Eastern Market. Details of this year’s event have yet to be announced, but previous festivities have included DJ tunes for little ones, face painting, wagon rides, giveaways, moon bounces, and of course a ton of cool costumes (free).
10. Air & Scare
Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center | October 28
This creepy Air and Space Museum extravaganza out near Dulles airport is already sold out for the outdoor portions of the day, but indoor tickets are still available. Scare attractions for all ages inside include a sing-along, puppet show, Star Wars-themed story time, paper airplane flying, and lots more (free).
11. Fall Frolic
Glen Echo Park | October 28
If you are looking for something artsy to do with your family for Halloween, this crafty event at Glen Echo Park is for you. Kids (and adults) can come styled in their best costumes, and together can decorate trick-or-treat bags for the kids. Afterwards, children can load up their designed bags with tasty snacks from the resident art studios and galleries (free).
12. Trick-or-Treating at Mount Vernon
Mount Vernon | October 28
Visit the historic Mount Vernon grounds to collect sugary 18th-century-style treats. Kids can participate in a costume parade, gather goodies in a special Mount Vernon treat bag, meet General and Lady Washington, learn about 1700s magic, and watch a puppet show ($15 for youth, $25 for adults).
13. Frankenskate
Ridge Road Recreational Park | October 28
Bring a pair of roller skates to the Inline Rink at Ridge Road Recreational Park in Germantown for a spin in your best Halloween costume. A live DJ will be bumping throwback songs at the Frankenskate party while kids play lawn games, and munch on candies (free).
If you enjoyed these events, please don’t forget to share this post with a friend on social media, and sign up for our newsletter for more things to do.
Briana A. Thomas is a local journalist, historian, and tour guide who specializes in the research of D.C. history and culture. She is the author of the Black history book, Black Broadway in Washington, D.C., a story that was first published in Washingtonian in 2016.
