Spooky season has arrived! But there’s plenty of fun around town for the tiniest youngsters who like things just a little less…spooky. Here’s our annual roundup of family-friendly Halloween outings around Arlington. These shorter, closer-to-home activities are sure to get the wiggles out—and still get you back home for nap time. For even more fall fun, check out our roundup of pumpkin patches and corn mazes.
Rosslyn Fall Fest
Kick off the season Oct. 4 from 1-6 p.m., at this free-to-attend festival with fun for both parents and kids. Sip local brews, enter a pie eating contest, watch a pumpkin carving demo and decorate pumpkins. Littles can also bounce in inflatables and try their hand at lawn games. Enjoy live music, including Blair’s West from 3:30-6 p.m. and nosh on comfort eats and seasonal sweets from food trucks. This event takes place at Rosslyn’s new pop-up park, NOW, which is an acronym for its cross streets: Nash Street, Oak Street and Wilson Boulevard. 1401 Wilson Blvd., Arlington (Rosslyn)
Meadowlark Halloween Scavenger Hunt
Show off your costumes and take part in a self-guided Halloween scavenger hunt throughout the month of October at this 95-acre botanical garden in Vienna. Kids can search for ghosts and goblins around the log cabin, children’s veggie garden and pavilion. Snap photos and complete the scavenger hunt sheet to receive a prize. (On your way to the Children’s Garden, check out the seasonal Book Walk featuring The Spider, by Elise Gravel, a playful read about creepy crawlies.) Tickets are $8 per hunter. Accompanying adults must pay regular admission prices. 9750 Meadowlark Gardens Court, Vienna
Don your costume and head to Lubber Run Community Center where you can trick or treat from car to car. Each trunk will be festively decorated at this walk-through event. Youth trick or treaters must register for a 30-minute timeslot and be accompanied by an adult. The event runs from 2-5 p.m. on Oct. 18. Note that the first half hour is sensory friendly, for new trick or treaters or those who welcome a calmer environment. 300 N. Park Drive, Arlington (Buckingham)
Nalls Produce
Don’t feel like braving the crowds? Stop by this family-owned and -operated produce and garden center to occupy the kids for about an hour. Little visitors can climb, dig in straw and scamper through tunnels on Pumpkin Hill. Pick out a pumpkin, sip fresh apple cider and enjoy seasonal snacks. Be sure to say hello to the chickens and pose for photos in front of the Pumpkin Wall. 7310 Beulah St., Alexandria
Kids can build their own Halloween fun at this attraction inside Springfield Town Center. Come wearing your costume through Oct. 31 to get a special treat. Team up with a master model builder for a special Halloween Build, take on the Monster Rocker scavenger hunt and mix magical ingredients in the Potion Kitchen. You can also catch the exclusive 4D LEGO Movie, The Great Monster Chase. Tickets start at $24.99 per person. 6563 Springfield Town Center, Springfield
Hocus Pocus at Met Park
Gather your favorite blankets and little ghouls and goblins for a bewitching evening under the stars. Metropolitan Park hosts a special Halloween-themed Met Park Movie Night Oct. 24 at 7 p.m. featuring the cult classic Hocus Pocus. Well-behaved, leashed dogs are welcome. Lawn chairs may be used on the surrounding sidewalk, but not the grass. Bring a picnic or buy something to snack on from one of the on-site vendors. 1330 S. Fair St., Arlington (National Landing)
Saturday Morning Halloween Cartoons
Feeling nostalgic about the Saturday mornings of yore? Indulge that craving for sugary breakfast cereal while watching Halloween cartoons on the big screen at Arlington Drafthouse. Even the cereal bar is haunted with special Halloween-themed cereals. Show up dressed in costume (extra points for those dressed as cartoon or cereal characters) and compete in fun contests to win prizes. Attendees can even choose which cartoons you watch. Moms and dads can enjoy a specialty brunch cocktail such as The Sonny, a white Russian topped with Cocoa Puffs. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. on Oct. 25. 2903 Columbia Pike, Arlington (Columbia Pike)
Halloween Family Campfires
Bring the whole family out for a series of engaging evenings of storytelling, activities, special animal guests and games in Arlington nature centers and parks. Register ahead of time for any of three different Halloween options. Parks & Rec will provide the marshmallows, chocolate and graham crackers. On Oct. 25, sign up for the Halloween Animals Campfire at Long Branch Nature Center. On Oct. 26, listen to stories of Virginia’s haunted past at the Fort C.F. Smith Park Virginia Ghosts Campfire. Or head over to Gulf Branch Nature Center on Halloween night, Oct. 31, for a Spooky Animals Campfire. All family campfires are $7 per participant. Various locations.
Pumpkin Carving Bash at Potomac Overlook
Get in the Halloween spirit by carving or painting a pumpkin at Potomac Overlook. The park will provide tools, paint and pumpkins; kids bring the creativity. This festive afternoon on Oct. 21 from 1-3 p.m. also includes candy, a Halloween craft, and visits from several spooky nocturnal critters from the nature center. $20 per pumpkin carver age 4 and up. Preregistration required. 2845 N. Marcey Road, Arlington
Falls Church Halloween Carnival
Enjoy a spooktacular Halloween Carnival Oct. 25 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m., complete with games, costume contests, inflatables and candy. Entry to the carnival is free this year, but families are asked to pick one of two timeslots (1 to 3 p.m. or 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.) so that all have an opportunity to participate. In the event of inclement weather, the fun will take place inside the community center. Cherry Hill Park, 312 Park Ave, Falls Church
Collect candy on the historic grounds of our first president’s estate and celebrate Halloween with 18th-century entertainment and activities. See sparks fly at a blacksmith demonstration, make soap the old fashioned way, and see a historic baking demonstration. At 3 p.m., listen to musical stories from a traveling musician. Kids in costume can join a parade at 4 p.m. This event is Oct. 25 from 2-5 p.m. Tickets are $30 per adult and $25 per child. Members get a discount. 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway, Mount Vernon
Shirlington’s Trick or Treat Trail
Head to the Village at Shirlington in costume on Oct. 25, 2-5 p.m. for a sweet Halloween adventure. Pick up a map highlighting participating businesses where you can collect candy. On Oct. 26, 3-5 p.m. bring pups in costume to Dogma Bakery, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary in Arlington. Get your pup a treat and enter the pet costume contest to support Lucky Dog Animal Rescue. Campbell Ave., Arlington (Shirlington)
Halloween on the Farm
Head to Frying Pan Farm Park in Herndon to trick or treat, visit with the animals, create crafts and play games. This program costs $12 and runs in one hour time slots on Oct. 25 at 4:30, 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. Register for your spot ahead of time on the website. 2709 West Ox Road, Herndon
Del Ray Halloween Parade
A Del Ray tradition, this annual family-friendly Halloween Parade—voted one of the nation’s top 10 by —returns Oct. 26 at 2 p.m. Costumed children, adults, pets and babies in strollers can march and show off their finest and scariest costumes. The festivities include awards for best costume, best pet costume and best stroller decorations. You can also enter your home or business in the best decorated house and business contest. Mount Vernon Avenue, beginning at E. Bellefonte Avenue, Alexandria (Del Ray)
Halloween Storytime
Introduce children 5 and under to the joy of reading and get started on those listening skills during Halloween-themed story times at the Arlington Public Library. This event includes read-aloud stories, songs, rhymes and games. Stop by Central Library for an outdoor Halloween story time Oct. 28 at 10:15 a.m. Or cozy up in your PJs later that day during Halloween Pajama Storytimes at Cherrydale Library (5 p.m.) and Glencarlyn Library (6 p.m.).
Halloween Eve at Capital One Center
The sky-high 2.5-acre urban park atop Capital One Center in Tysons will be festively festooned for this family-friendly Halloween party from 3 to 7 p.m. Oct. 30. Play a spooky round of golf at Perch Putt, enter a pumpkin pie-eating contest and try a paint and sip activity at Stellina Pizzeria. Note: There may be scary creatures lurking throughout Capital One Center, so beware. For a less startling activity, visit with adoptable puppies decked in Howl-o-ween costumes from Wolf Trap Animal Rescue. Admission is free, but some activities may carry a fee. Capital One Center, 1805 Capital One Drive, Tysons
Keep the Halloween spirit going just a little longer. This annual, community pumpkin carving event lights up Beulah Street in Alexandria the weekend after Halloween with an after-dark Jack-o-lantern display. Nalls Produce provides the pumpkins, you provide the creativity. Either stop by Nov. 1, 11-4 p.m. and carve there (kid-safe carving tools provided). Or pick up your pumpkin Oct. 31, carve it at home, and drop it back off by Nov. 1 at 4 p.m. Then drive by Saturday or Sunday night to see them all lit up. 7310 Beulah St., Alexandria