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The DC area has a wealth of events and festivals for all ages and preferences.
Visiting the wondrous O Museum in the Mansion is quite the experience, especially when you journey through the historic venue on a scavenger hunt. View the Mansion in its finest Halloween attire as you search through its many themed rooms and secret doors for seasonal and Halloween-themed prizes. You can also bring along your own shopping bag and purchase goodies from the mansion.
2020 O Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
The family-favorite event of the season returns! No tricks here – explore the National Zoo for trick-or-treating and enjoy after-hours access for animal viewing, a dance party, fun vignettes, tasty treats and much, much more family fun.
Smithsonian’s National Zoo, 3001 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008
NoMa celebrates Halloween with its annual pumpkin-centric, free-to-all event. Held in Alethia Tanner Park, PumpkinPalooza offers live entertainment, a seasonal scavenger hunt, food, music and of course, its famous pick-your-own pumpkin patch.
Alethia Tanner Park, 227 Harry Thomas Way NE, Washington, DC 20002
Explore the National Building Museum at night for quite the fright. Take part in a spooky history tour, sip on local brews, participate in a costume contest, get mystical insights with tarot readings and enjoy a classic silent horror film at Boos & Brews.
National Building Museum, 401 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20001
Experience the spooky side of air and space with the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center's annual Air & Scare. Come in costume to this free event and enjoy creepy crafts, spooky experiments and other Halloween-themed activities for the whole family.
Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, 14390 Air and Space Museum Pkwy, Chantilly, VA 20151
Join the Smithsonian American Art Museum for a a free-to-attend day of Día de los Muertos activities meant for the entire family to enjoy, including traditional Mexican folk dance by Corazon Folklorico, a mariachi performance by Mariachi Aguila DC and a showcase of different Latin American music genres and dances with Sol y Rumba. Attendees ages 12 and younger can enjoy face painting throughout the day, while visitors of all ages can participate in hands-on craft activities.
Smithsonian American Art Museum, 8th and G Streets NW, Washington, DC 20004
Join Kick Axe Throwing for the ultimate spooky axe bash. Enjoy festive drink specials and unleash your inner lumberjack with zombie axes and pumpkin targets. Head upstairs to Throw Social for more wicked fun, complete with a costume contest, live music and more.
Kick Axe/Throw Social, 1401 Okie Street NE, Washington, DC 20002
Mount Vernon welcomes the entire family to enjoy Halloween fun. Festivities include candy-collecting in special Mount Vernon treat bags, an 18th-century baking demonstration and magic show, a straw bale selfie station, live music and much more.
George Washington’s Mount Vernon, 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway, Mount Vernon, VA 22121
Special effects, animatronics and haunted props transform Navy Yard into a scene straight from your nightmares. The Halloween party features a DJ, open bar, dance floor and a costume contest.
Capital Turnaround, 700 M Street SE, Washington, DC 20003
Join Off the Mall Tours to explore Georgetown’s beautiful Oak Hill Cemetery with historic tales and haunting ghost stories. Dating back to 1848, the graveyard is comprised of the notable and notorious, from confederate spies to union generals, educators to architects, Civil War to Cold War. Costumes are not only welcome, but encouraged.
Oak Hill Cemetery, 3001 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
With Halloween just around the corner, don’t forget about Día de los Muertos (translation: “Day of the Dead”), a Mexican tradition of honoring past ancestors that features lavish celebrations. The National Museum of the American Indian hosts a free, day-long event in observance of the holiday on Oct. 27. Visitors can take in dance performances, enjoy artist and food demos, participate in coloring activities and mask-making, learn about fascinating Mexican traditions, leave photos and mementos to their loved ones and much more.
National Museum of the American Indian, 4th Street SW, Washington, DC 20560
Treat yourself with a comical evening full of tricks as Die Laughing Productions presents an all-new Halloween murder mystery at DC Improv. Performers and audience members will investigate the neighborhood costume party while a murderer hides in plain sight – will you solve the murder?
DC Improv, 1140 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
Join the LEGO® Monsters for the ultimate Brick-Or-Treat Monster Party all month long at LEGO Discovery Center Washington, DC! Enjoy fun games, LEGO activities and an interactive potion kitchen. Plus, get an exclusive look at the 4D ‘The Great Monster Chase’ movie.
LEGO Discovery Center, 6563 Springfield Mall Suite 12004, Springfield, VA 22150
Join the National Portrait Gallery for El Día de los Muertos with live music, Mexican folk-dance performances, workshops and crafts. Enjoy face painting, altar decorating and a stunning live video projection by artists MasPaz and Guache on the G and 9th Street façade.
National Portrait Gallery, 8th and G Streets NW, Washington, DC 20001
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