Mid-Atlantic Communities: Free Halloween Events

Communities across the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area will host free Halloween activities on Saturday, October 31. Local governments and civic groups in Virginia, Maryland, and the District have scheduled trick-or-treat walks, parades, and festivals for families. The events are free to attend, though some specific activities require registration.

In Northern Virginia, the counties of Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William will host trick-or-treat events until 9 p.m. on Saturday. Fairfax will also offer a weekday event on Friday, October 30, where residents can visit public buildings for candy. The Sherwood Center at 3740 Blenheim Blvd. will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. The Historic Blenheim at 3610 Blenheim Blvd. will operate from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Fairfax Museum and Visitor Center at 10209 Main St. will host visitors from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fairfax City Hall at 10455 Armstrong St. and the Green Acres Center at 4401 Sideburn Rd. will both be open from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 5 p.m., respectively.

McLean will hold a Family Trunk or Treat event on Saturday at the McLean Community Center and Old Firehouse at 1639 Center St. The event runs from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and includes music, games, and a costume contest. Participants must register in advance for the costume contest.

The District of Columbia will hold free events in all eight wards on Saturday. The mayor’s office has asked drivers to slow down and yield to pedestrians. Key locations include Reservoir Park, which hosts a Wheels Up, Hay Down event at 12 p.m. The Lamond-Riggs Library and Lillian J. Huff facility at 3901 South Dakota Ave. NE will host a trick-or-treat event at 3 p.m. The Emery Heights Recreation Center at 5701 Georgia Ave. NW will host a Halloween Hype festival at 6 p.m. Grace Covenant Church in Brookland at 3100 18th St. NE will host a Trunk-a-Treat and Oktoberfest from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Organizers for the church event requested that attendees wear costumes that are not scary.

Maryland will host two major free community celebrations on Saturday. Takoma Park will hold a Monster Bash at Takoma Park Middle School at 7611 Piney Branch Rd. The day begins at 1 p.m. with a DJ and magic show. A parade and costume contest will run from 2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., traveling from Piney Branch Rd. and Philadelphia Ave. to Maple Ave. Live music will follow from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Indian Head will host a Trunk-or-Treat event at Village Green Park at 100 Walter Thomas Rd. from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Organizers across the region provided these specific times and addresses for the upcoming weekend. Families can plan their routes based on these local schedules. The events conclude with the end of the listed operating hours for each venue.