15 Spooktacular Halloween Events in Washington, D.C. for Families

By Kim Humphrey
Posted Oct 14, 2020 Holidays Things to Do DC/MD/VA

Are we trick-or-treating this year, or not? No one seems to have a solid answer. The good news is, there are still plenty of family-friendly Halloween events happening around the Washington, D.C. area where the kids can get their fill of spooky fun (and a few virtual events too).

 

Check out our spooktacular roundup of our top picks for Halloween fun in D.C., Maryland and Virginia for 2020. 

 

Air & Scare at Home
Now - October 31st
Admission: FREE
Virtual

The Smithsonian Air and Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center's uber-popular annual tradition has gone virtual this year. We know, it won't be the same, but there's still plenty of fun to be had. Join in the fun starting NOW by entering the virtual costume and pumpkin decorating contests (entries due by October 25th) - they even have some super fun aviation and space-themed pumpkin carving stencils on their site; download instructions for some hands-on Halloween activities to do at home with an Air and Space twist; join in a variety of virtual programming starting October 20th, including Halloween-themed story times, live chats and more.

 

{SOLD OUT} Boo at the Zoo Drive-Thru at Smithsonian's National Zoo
October 24th & 25th, 4:30 - 9:30 p.m.
Admission: $45 per car for FONZ members / $45 per car for non-members
Washington, D.C.
An annual Halloween tradition with a 2020-twist, Boo at the Zoo will be a special drive-thru experience this year where kids (and their grown-up companions) will experience Halloween entertainment and get candy from the comfort of their own car. Cars will enter the Zoo's Connecticut Avenue entrance and follow a four-mile path along the side of the Zoo, while viewing witches, vampires and other spooky sights along the way.

 

Cox Farms Self-Driven Hayride
Fridays - Mondays Through November 2nd
Admission: $20 per car
Centreville, VA
Cox Farms' famous fall festival is dark this year due to COVID-19 but guests can experience their epic hayride like never before - from the comfort of their own cars! Drive through the corn stalks, past those famous aliens, under troll bridge and more, while munching on Cox Farms' signature kettle corn and sipping apple cider. There's even a place where you can park briefly at the end to take your annual "How Tall This Fall?" photo.

 

Día de los Muertos Weekend Festival at American Indian Museum
October 31st & November 1st, 2 - 3 p.m.
Admission: FREE
Virtual
Learn all about this Mexican holiday, how it differs from Halloween, and the meaning behind the beautiful decorations at this year's virtual event for kids and families. There will be a step-by-step demonstration of how to create paper marigolds, as well as a culinary presentation about mole, a signature sauce associated with the celebrations.

 

Dumbarton House Virtual Walking Tour: Spirits of Georgetown
October 24th, 7 - 8 p.m.
Admission: $10 + $1.50 service fee
Washington, D.C.
A Washington, D.C. tour guide will take you out on the spooky streets of Georgetown to learn about local hauntings and happenings!

 

Fairmont Washington, D.C. Halloween Boxes To-Go
October 30th, 4 - 6 p.m.
Admission: $15 for Pups / $20 for Kids
Georgetown, Washington, D.C.
The Fairmont Georgetown is offering Halloween Boxes To-Go for children and canine companions on Friday, October 30th. Drive through the hotel's driveway to pick them up between 4 - 6 p.m. in your best costume and be entered to win overnight stays, dinners and other prizes. Boxes include yummy treats and Halloween-themed toys/activities.

 

HALLOWFEST at Six Flags America
Select Fridays (5 - 10 p.m.) and Saturdays & Sundays (1 - 9 p.m.) through November 1st
Admission: $29.99+
Upper Marlboro, MD
Ride coasters in total darkness with creepy fog, eerie lightning, and sinister music as your backdrop. Experience the nighttime show, "Battle of the Damned," held in their Six Flags' Stunt Arena featuring the cast from Stunt Show and their Song/Dance performers. Facial coverings are required for all guests 3 years old and up. 

 

Halloween Drive-in Movies at Park Up DC 
Throughout October
Admission: $25 - $37 with CertifiKID Deal (Save up to 36% Off)
Washington, D.C.

Enjoy a family-friendly Halloween flick from the comfort of your car at Park Up DC's drive-in movie experience at RFK Stadium. Movies playing throughout the month of October include Hocus Pocus, The Addams Family, The Sixth Sense, SCREAM, SCREAM2,The Haunted Mansion, Little Shop of Horrors, Zombieland, Tales From the Hood, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Corpse Bride, Monster House, Frakenweenie, Goosebumps, Casper and more.

 

Halloween Drive-Up Movie Night at Lerner Town Square @ Tysons II
October 30th, starting at 6 p.m.
Admission: $20/person or $45/vehicle
Tysons, VA 
The Greater D.C./Virginia Chapter of the Chron's & Colitis Foundation is hosting a family-friendly, Halloween-themed drive-up movie night featuring a double feature - Scooby-Doo! Stage Fright and Beetlejuice - plus physically distanced car trick-or-treating. Cars will travel a specific route to stations where volunteers will safely distribute unopened candy and treats. There will also be prizes for the best car decorations and costumes, so be sure to come decked out! 

Nightmare Alley: Drive Thru Haunt at Workhouse Arts Center

Fridays, Saturdays and Select Sundays, October 2nd - 31st, 7 - 11 p.m.
Admission: $60 per car
Lorton, VA
Northern Virginia's first-ever immersive, completely contactless haunted drive-thru! The Workhouse has been taken over by zombies, swamp creatures, creepy clowns, scary dolls and other inhabitants only nightmares are made of. Drive through 13 totally terrifying scenes and experience the chills and thrills from the safety of your car.

 

Pumpkins in the Park at Canal Park

October 24th, 12 - 4 p.m.
Admission: Free
Washington, D.C.
For the seventh year, the northern block of Canal Park (2nd Street, SE at K Street, SE) is transforming into a (socially-distanced) pumpkin patch! Come pick your pumpkin and take home a decorating kit to get your craft on or have your pumpkin painted by local artist Painted Palettes. Submit your decorated masterpiece into the "CapRiv Great Pumpkin Challenge" for the chance to win a gift card to a neighborhood restaurant. This event is free but 

 

Shocktober Virtual Haunted House + Ghost Hunt
Select dates October 23rd - 31st
Admission: $19 for one / $79 for viewing party for 10-49 viewers with CertifiKID Deal (Save 24% Off)
Virtual
Shocktober's popular haunted house benefiting The Arc of Loudoun (a non-profit supporting people with disabilities and their families) that takes place at Paxton Manor in Leesburg, Virginia every year has gone virtual this year, making it fully accessible to anyone and everyone all over the world! Prepare for TEN hours of terror, and experience Shocktober like never before - straight to your TV in a virtual walk through Carlheim Manor and the Well of Souls. Note: All attractions are PG-13, designed to be extremely scary and intense. Not recommended for young children.

 

The St. James Halloween Spooktacular

October 31st, 5 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Admission: $10 for members / $15 for non-members (children 3 and under are free)
Springfield, VA
The massive sports, entertainment and wellness center is hosting a socially-distanced family movie night on Halloween evening inside their Field House. Admission includes trick-or-treating from 5 - 6:30 p.m. (pre-wrapped candy only), Halloween activities and fun, one slice of pizza, one bag of popcorn and a spot in the Field House to watch Hotel Transylvania starting at 7 p.m. Masks required. 

 

Town of Vienna Halloween Wave Parade
October 31st at 10 a.m.
Admission: FREE
Vienna, VA
Due to COVID-19 health precautions, this year's event will be a "wave" parade consisting of 10-15 floats visiting all four quadrants of Vienna. Spectators are encouraged to don costumes and wave from the sidewalks near their homes as the parade passes by. The parade will step off from the Vienna Community Center at 10 a.m. and the route will be released to the public on October 29th after 3 p.m. 

 

{SOLD OUT} Trick-or-Treating at Mount Vernon
October 31st, 3:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Admission: $8 for members / $10 for non-members
Mount Vernon, VA
While this year's event will, unfortunately, not include the traditional trick-or-treating in Mount Vernon's historic area, guests will be treated to Halloween-themed Punch & Judy shows, chocolate-making demonstrations, and musical entertainment, and will receive a Halloween to-go craft and a bag of candy upon exit. Social distancing and face coverings are required both indoors and outdoors. Costumes with masks are encouraged. 

___

 

Need costumes? Save 20% your entire order at HalloweenCostumes.com!

 

---

 

CertifiKID was founded by a mom with a passion for helping parents provide the best experiences for their children on a budget. From outings to adventures, classes to camps, theater to sporting events, amusement parks to getaways, CertifiKID provides the best family-friendly experiences at unbeatable prices. Sign up for family-friendly deals in your area and start saving!