Free Halloween Events for Kids in Washington DC in 2026
Free Halloween Events Near DC: Halloween Parades
The Great Halloween Lantern Parade & Festival
Baltimore, MD
Saturday, October 24, 2026
At the Halloween Lantern Parade & Festival, attendees can make their own lanterns, enjoy delicious food, dance, and visit the Artist Market. There's also a costume contest for kids. The parade includes illuminated floats, stilt walkers, marching bands, and more. Website
Del Ray Halloween Parade
Alexandria, VA
Sunday, October 25, 2026
Del Ray’s annual Halloween Parade starts at Mount Vernon Avenue, south of E. Bellefonte, and continues down to the Mount Vernon Recreation Center play fields. Costumed kids, pets, and strollers can march in the parade. Website
Town of Vienna Annual Halloween Parade
Vienna, VA
Wednesday, October 28, 2026
Hosted by the Town of Vienna and the Vienna Business Association, this annual Halloween parade gets everyone in the spooky spirit. Website
Free Halloween Events Near DC: Trunk-or-Treats and Trick-or-Treating Events
Trunk-or-Treat at Hilton McLean Tysons Corner
McLean, VA
Friday, October 23, 2026
Enjoy a trunk-or-treat and indoor movie screening of Hocus Pocus at the Hilton McLean Tysons Corner. Delicious food and drinks will be available for purchase. Website
Air & Scare at Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
Chantilly, VA
Saturday, October 24, 2026
Parking is $15
See the spooky side of air and space at the Air & Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. At this popular event, kids can enjoy trick-or-treating, creepy crafts, spooky science experiments, photo ops with Star Wars characters, and other Halloween-themed activities. Website
Old Firehouse's Festival of Frights and Trunk-or-Treat
McLean, VA
Saturday, October 31, 2026
Put on your Halloween costumes and visit the Old Firehouse in McLean for a night of live music, games, food, contests, and a trunk-or-treat. Website
Indian Head's Annual Trunk-or-Treat
Indian Head, MD
Saturday, October 31, 2026
Bring costumed kids to Village Green Park on Halloween evening for Indian Head's annual trunk-or-treat. Website
Mosaic Halloween Spooktacular
Fairfax, VA
Saturday, October 31, 2026
From store open to store close, stop by Mosaic District shops for trick-or-treating. At 6pm, enjoy Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire on the big screen in Strawberry Park. Website
Octoberfest and Trunk-a-Treat (at Grace Covenant Church Brookland)
Washington, DC
Saturday, October 31, 2026
Get ready for some fall fun at Grade Covenant Church's family-friendly Octoberfest! Bring the whole family and invite a friend or neighbor to enjoy the fun for all ages. There will be games and prizes for youth and adults and a trunk-or-treat for kids, with a "Most Creative Costume Contest." Please, no scary costumes (blood, fangs, and skulls). Website
Free Halloween Events Near DC: Halloween Festivals and Other Events
Pumpkin Race & Fall Festival (at North Creek Community Center)
Montgomery Village, MD
Saturday, October 3, 2026
Face off or watch as decorated pumpkins on wheels go head to head in this crazy pumpkin race. There are awards for best decoration and most innovative design, best themed pumpkin racer and driver duo, and other fun categories. Attendees can also enjoy live music, food, and lots of children's activities. Website
Lil' Pumpkins Fest (at BlackRock Center for the Arts)
Germantown, MD
Saturday, October 10, 2026
BlackRock Center for the Arts' Lil' Pumpkins Fest includes trick-or-treating, costume parades, a spooky dance party, an Artisan's Market, and a biergarten for the parents. Website
Halloween Family Fun Day (at RCC Hunter Woods)
Reston, VA
Saturday, October 17, 2026
The Halloween Family Fun Day is great for younger kids to enjoy a non-scary festival. Little ghosts and goblins can get in the spirit of Halloween with performances by Peter McCory, a famed one-man-band, at 12pm, followed by renowned magician Eric Henning at 1:15pm. Kids up to age 8 can try their skills at games until 2pm, and are encouraged to come in costume. Website
Lubber Run Community Center Pumpkin Walk
Arlington, VA
Saturday, October 17, 2026
Get ready for a fall evening filled with pumpkins, spooky surprises, and Halloween fun! Take a stroll along a trail of creatively carved and decorated pumpkins, with plenty of festive fun waiting along the way. Explore spooky attractions, get creative with Halloween-themed crafts, enjoy some sweet treats, and settle in for a silent movie to round out the evening. Website
Family Day: Halloween at the National Museum of the Marine Corps
Triangle, VA
Saturday, October 24, 2026
The National Museum of the Marine Corps hosts a spooktacular Halloween Family Day. Participants can enjoy a host of seasonal activities, a puppet show, a costume contest, and trick-or-treating. Website
Halloween Bark Bash @ One Loudoun
Ashburn, VA
Saturday, October 24, 2026
This event combines the best of pet shows and Halloween festivals. The festival includes a pet costume contest, trick-or-treating, dogs for adoption, a photo booth, and more. Website
Falls Church Halloween Carnival
Falls Church, VA
Saturday, October 24, 2026
The annual family-friendly Halloween Carnival in Falls Church features fun activities for kids ages 2-11, including games, inflatables, live music, costume contests, and snacks. Website
Hill Family Biking Kidical Mass Halloween Ride (in Capitol Hill)
Washington, DC
Saturday, October 24, 2026
Come dressed in your favorite Halloween costume for a ride around the spookiest blocks on the Hill with a rockin’ after-party. The ride will start at Lincoln Park by the Lincoln Statue and take a four-mile route. it will end at Eastern Market Metro Plaza for some spooky fun including live music from the Knox Engler Band and a costume contest with awesome prizes. Website
Harbor Halloween
National Harbor, MD
Sunday, October 25, 2026
Enjoy an afternoon of spooktacular fun for the whole family, including trick-or-treating at select stores and restaurants, kids' activities, a Halloween movie, a pet pawrade, and a chef pumpkin-carving contest. Website
Van Ness Main Street's Spooktacular
Washington, DC
Sunday, October 25, 2026
Parents and kids of all ages are invited to dress in their favorite costumes and gather at Forest Hills Playground for spooky-inspired activities followed by trick-or-treating. Website
Silver Spring Fall-O-Ween Holiday Crafts & Treats Fair
Silver Spring, MD
Sunday, October 25, 2026
In addition to a variety of sweets and desserts, this festival includes a day of crafts, treats, and spooky festivities that promise thrills for kids, pets, and the entire family. Website
Hill-O-Ween (at Eastern Market)
Washington, DC
Friday, October 30, 2026
This family Halloween festival at Eastern Market is an opportunity to gather as a community and make festive memories with friends and neighbors. Enjoy trick-or-treating, face painting, games, pumpkin decorating, a photo booth, refreshments, and more. Costumes are encouraged. Website
Monster Bash (at Takoma Park Middle School)
Takoma Park, MD
Saturday, October 31, 2026
The Monster Bash is Takoma Park's Halloween celebration starting with dancing and fun, followed by a Costume Parade and Contest, and ending with the Costume Award Ceremony and Celebration. Website
Great Falls Halloween Spooktacular
Great Falls, VA
Saturday, October 31, 2026
The annual Great Falls Halloween Spooktacular on the Great Falls Village Centre Green features a pet parade and costume contest, a ghostly haunted house, live music, and more. Kids are encouraged to wear costumes and trick-or-treat with local merchants from 5-7 pm. Website