Halloween Events This Week in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia

The best Halloween events happening this week in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia include Poe in Alexandria, HAUNT at the Workhouse Arts Center, trick or treating at Mount Vernon, free Halloween festivals in DC, Fairfax County home haunts, Markoff's Haunted Forest, Haunted Field of Screams, and several Halloween night parties. This guide focuses on events happening from October 26 through November 1, so there is still time to make Halloween weekend plans. You can also explore Northern Virginia homes for sale or browse Team DDA's Northern Virginia area guides while discovering more communities and things to do throughout the region.

Halloween Trivia at Carlyle House

When: October 28, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Where: Carlyle House Historic Park, Alexandria
Cost: $15

Start Halloween week with a spooky trivia night in Old Town Alexandria.

Carlyle House is hosting Halloween themed trivia covering movies, food, general Halloween knowledge, and more. Registration includes snacks and mocktails, and teams are limited to six people. Advance registration is required because capacity is limited.

This is a good midweek option if you want Halloween atmosphere without committing to a haunted attraction.

Poe in Alexandria

When: October 29 and 30 at 8 p.m.
Where: Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum
Cost: $25, with discounted admission for Historic Alexandria members and volunteers

One of the most interesting Halloween events this week brings Edgar Allan Poe back to Old Town.

Actor David Keltz portrays Poe during a performance inspired by the author's 1849 visit to Virginia. The evening includes stories, poetry, literary commentary, and other material connected with the master of the macabre.

Doors open at 7:15 p.m., and advance tickets are strongly recommended.

For anyone who prefers creepy history and storytelling over jump scares, this is one of the week's standout events.

HAUNT: Dark Encounters at Workhouse Arts Center

When: October 30, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Where: Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton

For a scarier Northern Virginia experience, HAUNT at Workhouse Arts Center returns for its final scheduled night of the season.

This year's Dark Encounters theme revolves around mysterious recovered footage from a fictional 1996 road trip involving local legends and unexplained disappearances. The attraction combines live performers, effects, and an outdoor haunted experience.

Workhouse is also offering Historic Flashlight Tours from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. These focus on the real history of the former Occoquan Workhouse and its correctional facility rather than fictional ghost stories.

If you want both horror and genuine local history in the same night, this is a strong choice.

Costume Carnival in Washington DC

When: October 30, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Where: Gateway Pavilion at St. Elizabeths
Cost: Free

Families looking for a free DC Halloween event can head to Events DC's Costume Carnival.

The outdoor celebration includes music, Halloween activities, and a costume contest for children and families. Events DC confirms the celebration is open to the public.

This could be an easy Friday evening option before Halloween itself arrives on Saturday.

Family Halloween Events in Alexandria

Alexandria has several additional activities on October 30.

The Family Masquerade Ball at Mount Vernon Recreation Center runs from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. with dancing, refreshments, and a costume contest.

At Patrick Henry Recreation Center, Family October Fest runs from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. with games, crafts, snacks, prizes, and a haunted house.

Teens ages 12 to 18 can also attend HalloTeen Night at William Ramsay Recreation Center from 7 p.m. to 9:45 p.m.

Trick or Treating at Mount Vernon

When: October 31, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: George Washington's Mount Vernon

For one of the region's most distinctive family Halloween experiences, head to Trick or Treating at Mount Vernon.

Children can collect candy throughout the historic grounds while families enjoy a costume parade, blacksmithing, spinning and weaving demonstrations, magic, Punch and Judy performances, apple butter making, historic baking, and opportunities to meet interpreters portraying George and Martha Washington.

The costume parade begins at 3:30 p.m.

As another bonus, children ages 12 and younger can receive a free kids meal at the Mount Vernon Inn Restaurant from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. with the purchase of an adult entrée.

Dupont Circle Fall Festival and Halloween Costume Contest

When: October 31, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Dupont Circle Park
Cost: Free

For free Halloween fun in downtown DC, Dupont Circle's Fall Festival combines Halloween with live bluegrass music.

Activities include pumpkin and gourd decorating, cornhole, live music, and separate costume contests for children, adults, and pets.

Prizes include up to $100 to spend at participating Dupont Circle restaurants.

Being steps from the Dupont Circle Metro station also makes this one of the easier options for visitors who would rather skip Halloween parking.

Halloween at the DAR Museum

When: October 31, 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Where: DAR Museum in Washington DC
Cost: Free

For a quieter family activity, Halloween at the DAR Museum offers crafts, printmaking, Halloween luminaries, treats, and a scavenger hunt through the museum's period rooms.

Costumes are encouraged.

Registration is recommended, although walk ins are accepted.

This is a good morning option before heading to another Halloween event later in the day.

Fairfax County's Halloween Home Haunts

You do not necessarily need tickets to find something creepy in Fairfax County.

Visit Fairfax's updated 2026 guide highlights eight privately decorated Halloween homes throughout the county. These displays range from elaborate lighting and hundreds of pumpkins to walkthrough graveyards and home built haunted attractions.

A few to know about include:

610 Spring Street in Herndon: The Historic Herndon Halloween House celebrates its 21st year with an Oddities theme. The graveyard is open for walkthroughs October 30 and 31 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

13204 Stone Heather Drive in Herndon: This family oriented display features thousands of purple and orange lights, more than 200 pumpkins, witches, inflatables, animated decorations, and a spooky walkway.

3006 Rosemoor Lane in Fairfax: The Hollyween Memorial Cemetery features handmade props, a graveyard, mausoleum, skeletons, and Halloween displays.

8604 Bound Brook Lane in Mount Vernon: The Carnival of Horrors includes several walkthrough scenes with creepy props and themed areas and is scheduled through October 31.

Remember that these are private residences. Stay out of yards and displays unless homeowners specifically invite visitors through, keep noise reasonable, and never block driveways.

Haunted Lantern Tours in Old Town Alexandria

When: October 30 and 31 at 7 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Where: Lee Fendall House
Cost: $20

Old Town is already atmospheric after dark.

Add lantern light and ghost stories inside a historic house and things get even more interesting.

The Haunted Lantern Tours at Lee Fendall House explore the building's history and ghost stories during approximately 45 minute tours through the first and second floors.

Families looking for something less spooky can visit Pumpkin Palooza at the same property on Halloween from noon to 2 p.m., with pumpkin decorating, crafts, face painting, and games.

Markoff's Haunted Forest in Maryland

When: October 31 and November 1, 6 p.m. to midnight
Where: Calleva Farm in Dickerson, Maryland

If you are willing to make the drive into Montgomery County, Markoff's Haunted Forest is one of the region's major outdoor haunted attractions.

The experience is built around a long haunted trail through the woods, along with a separate attraction called The Town. The site also has a midway area with food, drinks, entertainment, music, and gathering areas.

The Halloween weekend schedule includes both Saturday night and Sunday night, which makes this a useful option if Halloween itself sells out.

Haunted Field of Screams in Maryland

When: October 29, 30, and 31
Where: Maryland

Another option for people who actually want to be scared is Haunted Field of Screams.

The attraction is open October 29 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., then October 30 and Halloween night from 7 p.m. until close to midnight.

Tickets are date and time specific, so advance reservations are a good idea for Halloween weekend.

Bennett's Curse in Maryland

For an indoor haunted attraction, Bennett's Curse is celebrating its final season at Eastpoint Mall in Dundalk.

The attraction combines four themed experiences into one continuous route, including Halloween 3D, The Crypt, House of the Demons, and Ravenbrook Asylum.

Bennett's Curse continues beyond Halloween through November 8, so this is another option if your Halloween night schedule is already full.

Halloween at Song Dog Farm in Maryland

When: October 31, noon to 6 p.m.
Where: Boyds, Maryland

For something much less frightening, Halloween at Song Dog Farm Distillery includes pumpkin painting, crafts, a photo booth, and separate costume contests for dogs and children.

The dog costume contest is scheduled from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., followed by the children's costume contest from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.

This offers a more relaxed Montgomery County alternative to the major haunted attractions.

Halloween Night for Adults in DC

Adults who want Halloween nightlife have plenty of choices in Washington.

One option is House of Hex at Dirty Habit DC, which runs October 31 from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. The 21 and older event includes a DJ, costume contest, themed food and drinks, interactive elements, and a complimentary drink with admission.

Destination DC also lists Halloween night events including Nightmare in Navy Yard, a Rocky Horror Picture Show screening with a live shadow cast at Lincoln Theatre, and an Eighties Mayhem Halloween dance party at Black Cat.

If you are browsing ticketed parties through Eventbrite, confirm the venue, age requirements, refund policy, and exact start time with the organizer before purchasing.

What Should You Do This Halloween Weekend?

If you want family friendly Halloween fun, start with Mount Vernon, Dupont Circle, the DAR Museum, Pumpkin Palooza, or one of Alexandria's recreation center celebrations.

If you want local spooky history, choose Poe in Alexandria, Haunted Lantern Tours, or the Workhouse flashlight experience.

If you want a serious haunted attraction, look at HAUNT, Markoff's Haunted Forest, Haunted Field of Screams, or Bennett's Curse.

If you want something free and close to home, take a drive around Fairfax County's decorated home haunts or head into DC for the Dupont Circle festival.

If you want Halloween nightlife, DC has parties running well into Halloween night.

The Bottom Line

Halloween falling on a Saturday gives the DC region a packed weekend of events.

You can spend the afternoon trick or treating at a historic estate, walk through a neighborhood home haunt in Fairfax County, explore a haunted forest in Maryland, hear Edgar Allan Poe performed in Old Town Alexandria, or head into Washington DC for a costume party after dark.

Because Halloween weekend is one of the busiest weekends for these attractions, check the official event page before leaving home. Ticket availability, weather, parking, and entry times can change quickly.

Debbie Dogrul Associates, known as Team DDA, is one of Northern Virginia's leading real estate teams, serving buyers and sellers throughout Fairfax County, Arlington, Alexandria, Loudoun County, Prince William County, and communities including Fairfax, Burke, Vienna, Reston, McLean, Tysons, Springfield, Centreville, Herndon, and Clifton.

Ready to explore more of Northern Virginia? Connect with Team DDA when your next weekend outing starts turning into thoughts about your next move.