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Best Free Halloween Events Near DC for Kids and Families

National Harbor turns spooktacular at Harbor Halloween. Photo courtesy of the National Harbor Facebook page
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10/2/22 - By Jennifer Swope

Halloween doesn’t have to cost money to be memorable. After all, you can put the kiddos in a sheet with holes (a la Charlie Brown) or another homemade costume and go trick-or-treating without spending a dime! But the fun doesn't have to last for only one night. There are so many free Halloween events near DC throughout the month of October to keep the kids entertained without breaking the bank. From parades to trunk-or-treats to festivals, these free Halloween events near DC offer a ton of spooky, festive fun for DC families.

For even more spooky and not-so-spooky fun, check out our Halloween Events and Activities Guide for Kids in Washington, DC and our roundup of top Halloween events in DC for kids and families. Happy hauntings!

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The Great Halloween Lantern Parade & Festival lights up Baltimore. Photo courtesy of creativealliance.org
The Great Halloween Lantern Parade & Festival lights up Baltimore. Photo courtesy of creativealliance.org

Free Halloween Events Near DC: Halloween Parades

The Great Halloween Lantern Parade & Festival

Baltimore, MD
Saturday, October 22, 2022
At the Halloween Lantern Parade & Festival, attendees can make their own lanterns, enjoy delicious food, dance, and visit the Artist Market. There will also be a costume contest for kids. The parade will include illuminated floats, stilt walkers, marching bands, and more. READ MORE

Town of Vienna Annual Halloween Parade

Vienna, VA
Wednesday, October 26, 2022
Hosted by the Town of Vienna and the Vienna Business Association, this annual Halloween parade gets everyone in the spooky spirit. The theme for 2022 is "Time Machine: Vienna in the Past, Present, and Future."  READ MORE

Del Ray Halloween Parade

Alexandria, VA
Sunday, October 30, 2022
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. Awards will be given for Best Pet Costume, Best Decorated Business, Best Decorated Home, and Best Decorated Stroller. READ MORE
Air & Scare is back at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center! Photo courtesy of the event
Air & Scare is back at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center! Photo courtesy of the event

Free Halloween Events Near DC: Trunk-or-Treats and Trick-or-Treating Events

Towson Trunk-or-Treat

Towson, MD
Saturday, October 15, 2022
Young and old can go from car to car to collect treats at Towson's free annual Trunk or Treat. There will also be carnival games, a bounce house, a costume parade, and more. Prizes will be awarded for best costumes and best decorated cars. READ MORE

FCPD & Friends Trunk-or-Treat

Fairfax, VA
Monday, October 19, 2022
The Fairfax County Police Department, along with local businesses and organizations, will host a free trunk-or-treat for kids. READ MORE

Focus Family Academy's 6th Annual Trunk-or-Treat

Fairfax, VA
Saturday, October 22, 2022
Focus Family Academy's 6th annual Trunk or Treat features a haunted maze, inflatables, a costume contest, games, and of course, trunk-or-treating! READ MORE

Halloween Trunk-or-Treat at Premier Martial Arts

Gainesville, VA
Saturday, October 22, 2022
Put on your costumes and head to Premier Martial Arts for a trunk-or-treat and other Halloween fun for the whole family. READ MORE

OFC's Festival of Frights and Trunk-or-Treat

McLean, VA
Saturday, October 29, 2022
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. READ MORE

Trunk-or-Treat at Vine Church

Dunn Loring, VA
Sunday, October 30, 2022
Children and parents will have a delightful time trick-or-treating from car to car, as they meet neighbors and enjoy treats. Don't forget to wear a costume!  READ MORE

Air & Scare

Chantilly, VA
Saturday, October 29, 2022
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, and other Halloween-themed activities. READ MORE

Floris UMC Trunk-or-Treat

Herndon, VA
Saturday, October 29, 2022
The parking lot of Floris United Methodist Church will be full of decorated cars with lots of candy and goodies for costumed kids. READ MORE

Trick-or-Treat Expedition

National Harbor, MD
Saturdays & Sundays through October 30, 2022
Cheerfully spooky characters pop up along this trail to add some smiles and laughs as children receive some candy. READ MORE
Bring your little pumpkin to the Lil' Pumpkins Fest. Photo courtesy of BlackRock Center for the Arts
Bring your little pumpkin to the Lil' Pumpkins Fest. Photo courtesy of BlackRock Center for the Arts

Free Halloween Events Near DC: Halloween Festivals and Other Events

Burke Nursery Fall Farm Market & Pumpkin Patch

Burke, VA
Daily, October 1-31, 2022
Burke Nursery offers a small play area for kids with festive photo backdrops. There are also plenty of pumpkins, gourds, Halloween decorations, and more available for purchase. Be sure to try the apple cider donuts! READ MORE

Pumpkin Race & Fall Festival

Montgomery Village, MD
Saturday, October 8, 2022
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. READ MORE

Halloween Family Fun Day

Reston, VA
Saturday, October 22, 2022
The Halloween Family Fun Day is great for younger kids to enjoy a non-scary festival. Little ghosts and goblins will get in the spirit of Halloween with performances by Peter McCory, a one-man band, and Bob Brown's Puppets. There will also be carnival games and treats. Kids are encouraged to come in costume. READ MORE

Grab a Treat on 49th Street

Washington, DC
Thursday, October 27, 2022
Kids are invited to the Deanwood Recreation Center for pumpkin decorating and other ghoulish activities. READ MORE

Hilloween 2022

Washington, DC
Friday, October 28, 2022
This family Halloween festival at Eastern Market is is an opportunity to gather as a community and make festive memories with friends and neighbors. There will be trick-or-treating, face painting, games, pumpkin decorating, a photo booth, refreshments, and more. Costumes are encouraged. READ MORE

Lil' Pumpkins Fest

Germantown, MD
Saturday, October 29, 2022
BlackRock Center for the Arts' Lil' Pumpkins Fest includes trick-or-treating, a photo booth, lil' pumpkin painting, free pumpkins for kids under 11, a beer garden, and a costume parade. READ MORE

Halloween Bark Bash

Ashburn, VA
Saturday, October 29, 2022
This event combines the best of pet shows and Halloween festivals. The festival includes a pet costume contest, socially distanced trick or treating, dogs for adoption, a photo booth and more. READ MORE

Harbor Halloween

National Harbor, MD
Sunday, October 30, 2022
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. READ MORE

Great Falls Halloween Spooktacular

Great Falls, VA
Monday, October 31, 2022
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 . READ MORE

Jack-o'-lantern Walk

National Harbor, MD
Daily through October 30, 2022
Stroll through a display of dozens of creatively decorated and carved jack-o'-lanterns. Snap a few photos for inspiration to carve your own at home. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Floris United Methodist Church
Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center
Burke Nursery and Garden Centre
Deanwood Recreation Center
Great Falls Village Centre
Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center