Weekend picks in and around Washington, DC

The biggest and best Halloween guide is here! From here until Halloween there are many fun events happening, especially this weekend and next! We’ve bee updating it almost daily as events roll in.

Fall is here, which means there’s plenty of fruit to pick, perfect pumpkins to be found and fall festivals happening every weekend!

We are so thrilled that we were able to update the theatre and musical productions blog post with in-person shows!

Thanks for all of the love on our first reel! Hopefully it got you excited for the fun holiday events at Gaylord National.

Maryland STEM Festival lasts through November 14 with several family friendly events including a parade, fair and more.

Artechouse: Life of a Nueron through November 28

Van Gosh: The Immersive Experience through January

Family-friendly drive in movies from DC Party Box; Spooktober themed!

Maryland Renaissance Fair– final weekend to get your turkey leg!

Luchadora at Adventure Theatre through October 31

LuminoCity at Roer’s Zoofari immersive light festival through January 2

Friday
Howl-O-Ween at Gateway’s Interim Dog Park!: 3:00pm-7:00pm
The Rosslyn BID and the Rosslyn Dog Owners Group (R-DOGS) are teaming up for a Halloween themed evening of dog-friendly activities, treats and fun in celebration of Rosslyn’s new Interim Dog Park at Gateway Park West. Rosslyn’s pet community is invited to enjoy local pet-themed vendors, speakers, a social media dog costume contest and giveaways! Plus, raffle tickets will be sold to help raise funds for the addition of agility features to our dog park!

Halloween Festival at Confetti: 5:00pm-8:00pm
It’s spooky season and the party is brewing at Confetti! Get your child’s costume ready – they’re launching a series of community holiday parties with a fun filled Halloween Extravaganza! Kids will enjoy an evening full of creating memories with friends, sugar cookie decorating, pizza and spooky snacks (enjoyed outside), age-appropriate Halloween games, a costume contest, and a glow-in-the dark dance party.  Costumes are strongly encouraged! This drop-off event has two sessions, one for ages 6+ and one for ages 10+.

Halloween Family Movie Night: 5:00pm-7:00pm
DPR is hosting family movie night; Hocus Pocus at Joseph Cole Recreation Center.Click here for all of DPR’s Halloween events throughout DC.

Saturday
Mount Vernon Harvest Days: 9:00am-5:00pm
Celebrate the crisp autumn season with 18th-century activities and demonstrations at the Farm at Mount Vernon. Join for a fall celebration featuring 18th-century farming demonstrations. During this event, you can: Explore the Farm, Meet General Washington, View demonstrations of 18th-century cooking, candle making, surveying, and coopering (making and repairing buckets and barrels), Visit with the Farrier to learn how horseshoeing was performed in the 18th century, Watch 18th-century spinning demonstrations & Learn about textile production.

Halloween in the Garden: 10:00am-4:00pm
Join for a family-friendly Halloween festival at the beautiful 30 acre park.  With timed-entry tickets and activities spread out across the park, there will be lots of room for everyone.  More than 50 local businesses and organizations will be there handing out treats for the kids, plus there will be fun and games, a DJ dance party, food trucks, and more!   Dress up the whole family and come enjoy a spooktakular day at Annmarie! THIS IS A MASK-ON EVENT; masks are required for all guests over the age of 2.  Click here for detailed event and safety information and register in advance.

Barracks Row OctROWberfest: 11:00am-9:00pm
Come out to support our local businesses this October to celebrate Munich-style. Join for live music from a traditional Oompah band and more fun.

Chevy Chase Art Walk: 12:00pm-5:00pm
Guests are invited to visit the work of 43 local artists in 22 different home and studio settings around Chevy Chase DC and Maryland.  Artists whose work is both two and three dimensional will be exhibiting during an expanded event over two consecutive days. This talented group will offer work in a wide range of media including abstract and representational painting, sculpture, jewelry, pottery, ceramic art, photography, fabric art, mixed media and video. Don’t forget to pick up your Prize Passport which will be offered at each of the Studios – collect stamps from 9 studios with chances to win one of three cash prizes!  The walk will be held rain or shine while observing Covid protocols, specifically wearing masks indoors.  The Art Walk is free and open to the public. 

Spooky Pooch Howl-o-ween Celebration: 3:00pm-5:00pm
Hightail it to Hillwood Estate, Museum & Garden with your four-legged friend for some Halloween fun! Inspired by Marjorie Post’s affection for dogs and the memorial dog cemetery she created at Hillwood, we welcome you and your four-legged friend to join us for Halloween fun! Explore the gardens and participate in the annual costume competition. Strut your mutt and size up the other canine contestants. 

Rock the Park: 4:00pm-10:00pm
The new and improved Franklin Park will host its inaugural concert series, Rock the Park DC. Presented by the DowntownDC BID, the free, family-friendly outdoor music series features a diverse line-up of live music and DJ sets from local favorites to international headliners. Curated by Abby O’Neill and Adrian Loving, this series will cover a wide spectrum of genres including jazz, soul, R&B, reggae, hip-hop, electronic and soulful house music. These concerts will be held rain or shine! Lawn chairs and blankets are welcome. See you there!

Halloween Festival at Confetti: 5:00pm-8:00pm
It’s spooky season and the party is brewing at Confetti! Get your child’s costume ready – they’re launching a series of community holiday parties with a fun filled Halloween Extravaganza! Kids will enjoy an evening full of creating memories with friends, sugar cookie decorating, pizza and spooky snacks (enjoyed outside), age-appropriate Halloween games, a costume contest, and a glow-in-the dark dance party.  Costumes are strongly encouraged! This drop-off event has two sessions, one for ages 6+ and one for ages 10+.

Sunday
Mount Vernon Harvest Days: 9:00am-5:00pm
Celebrate the crisp autumn season with 18th-century activities and demonstrations at the Farm at Mount Vernon. Join for a fall celebration featuring 18th-century farming demonstrations. During this event, you can: Explore the Farm, Meet General Washington, View demonstrations of 18th-century cooking, candle making, surveying, and coopering (making and repairing buckets and barrels), Visit with the Farrier to learn how horseshoeing was performed in the 18th century, Watch 18th-century spinning demonstrations & Learn about textile production.

Chevy Chase Art Walk: 12:00pm-5:00pm
Guests are invited to visit the work of 43 local artists in 22 different home and studio settings around Chevy Chase DC and Maryland.  Artists whose work is both two and three dimensional will be exhibiting during an expanded event over two consecutive days. This talented group will offer work in a wide range of media including abstract and representational painting, sculpture, jewelry, pottery, ceramic art, photography, fabric art, mixed media and video. Don’t forget to pick up your Prize Passport which will be offered at each of the Studios – collect stamps from 9 studios with chances to win one of three cash prizes!  The walk will be held rain or shine while observing Covid protocols, specifically wearing masks indoors.  The Art Walk is free and open to the public. 

Free the Trees at the Palisades Rec Center: 1:00pm to 3:00pm
Join the Little Falls Watershed Alliance to save our native plants from non-native invasive plants.  Using hand tools, to remove strangling vines and smothering bushes to give native plants a chance to breathe and grow. Meet at the parking lot and bring gloves or clippers or use ours. Dress to protect from angry vines and thorns.  Pre-approved for MCPS SSL hours.  Kids ages 13 and under MUST be accompanied by an adult supervisor.

Día de los Muertos at the Wharf: 2:00pm-5:00pm
Celebrate the Day of the Dead at The Wharf with live music, street food, a beer garden, face painting, sugar skull decorating, and more to District Pier in partnership with Modelo and Fiesta DC. Plus, they will be giving out prizes for most authentic outfit!

25th Annual Del Ray Halloween Parade: 2:00pm
The 25th Annual Del Ray Halloween Parade will take place on Mount Vernon Avenue beginning at E. Bellefonte Avenue. Contests for Best Decorated House, Best Decorated Business, Best Group Costume and Best Pet Costume will take place online click here  to enter. Other favorite traditions — including the Halloween Scavenger Hunt on the Avenue, and the Halloween costume drive for children in need, will take place throughout the month of October. To limit crowding, they are encouraging FREE advance registration at multiple entrance points.

Mask making at The Loft Collective: 3:00pm or 4:00pm
They’ll supply the basic mask, fur and feathers, paint and pastels, glitter and glue. You bring your ideas! Ages 4-10, parent attendance encouraged with younger children. COVID safety policies in effect: please pre-register so we can manage numbers, and masks are required indoors at all times. 

Date nights:
Grief & Ghost Tours at Lee-Fendall House: Saturday & Sunday from 7:00pm-9:00pm
Celebrate Halloween with a look at Victorian mourning traditions coupled with stories of tragic deaths and mysterious occurrences at the Lee-Fendall House. Customs such as draping the mirrors after a death, funeral practices, hair mementos, mourning clothing, and séances will be explored. These tours offer a rare opportunity to see the house after dark! Tickets are $15 per person. Tours groups will be limited to 10 participants and tickets must be purchased in advance.

Halloween Hayride & Haunted Bonfire: Saturday from 7:30pm-11:30pm
Enjoy a tractor driven hayride in the darkness with demons and devils. You will then gather around a HAUNTED bonfire where you can enjoy roasting hotdogs, marshmallows and making s’mores (all will be provided and included in the ticket)!  Sing songs, play games, tell frightening stories or just socialize and enjoy the stars and the open night air. Other dates and times available.

Plan ahead:
Jeff Kinney Big Shot Drive Thru: Tuesday, October 26
Natural History at Home: Paleo Portraits: Saturday, November 13