Spooky season is upon us, and Fairfax County has no shortage of events to check out as Halloween approaches.
Upcoming festivities at local libraries, parks and neighborhoods range from parades and costume contests to pumpkin patches, races and more.
Friday, Oct. 24
- Halloween House and Trick-or-Treat Trail (Walker Nature Center, 11450 Glade Drive, Reston): Meet a creative cast of characters with apple cider, popcorn and games. From 5:45 to 8:45 p.m. on Oct. 24 and 25.
- Haunted Mini Golf (3136 Jermantown Road, Oakton): Oakmont Golf Center is welcoming all shapes and sizes of werewolves, vampires and goblins for a spooky night of mini golf! Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door. Sessions are also available from 4-9 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 25.
- Teen Halloween Trivia Night (Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre): Get into the Halloween spirit with spooktacular trivia! Registration is required. Takes place from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 25
- Halloween at The Boo-ro (Boro Park, 8350 Broad Street, Tysons): Join the family-friendly Halloween celebration featuring a pumpkin patch, trick-or-treating and live music. Event is free and runs from noon to 2 p.m.
- Halloween on the Farm (2709 West Ox Road, Herndon): Trick or treat at Frying Pan Farm Park, visit animals and tour the farmhouse. Registration can be completed online for $12.
- Spooktacular Halloween Runs (South Run Rec Center, 7550 Reservation Drive, Springfield): Enjoy music, candy and other Halloween fitness fun with a Monster Mash 5K Dash, Fun Run 1-Mile and Spooktacular Tiny Tot Trot. Come in your best costume. Starts at 3:30 p.m.
- Old Firehouse’s Festival of Frights (1440 Chain Bridge Road, McLean): The McLean Community Center’s Old Firehouse is asking locals for their best Halloween costumes for a night of frights, live music and contests from 5 to 8 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 26
- Ghost Town (Burke Lake Park, 7315 Ox Road, Fairfax Station): Not ready for a scary Halloween? Have no fear. Burke Lake Park is serving up a festive Halloween event, sans the scares. Tickets cost $20 in advance, increasing to $25 at the door. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- “Pride & Prejudice & Zombies” Tea Party (Pohick Regional Library, 6450 Sydenstricker Road, Burke): Join the dual celebration of Halloween and Jane Austen’s 250th birthday with a movie tea party screening from noon to 2 p.m.
- Trick or Treat on Market Street (Reston Town Center): Bring your little ghouls and goblins for a special trick-or-treat event from noon to 3 p.m. at participating retailers and restaurants.
Monday, Oct. 27
- Let’s Create for Halloween (Richard Byrd Library, 7250 Commerce Street, Springfield): Create arts and crafts with library materials for Halloween. From 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 28
- Unitarian Universalist Halloween Festival (1625 Wiehle Avenue, Reston): The Unitarian Universalist Church is hoping you’ll join the family friendly event with a moonbounce, cotton candy, a costume contest and more. The free event will take place from 4 to 6 p.m.
- Teen Pumpkin Carving (Centreville Regional Library): Carve your own pumpkin — whether it’s cute or spooky — just in time for the holiday. From 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 29
- Vienna Halloween Parade (Maple Avenue): Vienna’s 79th annual Halloween Parade returns! The theme, “Broadway on Maple,” nods to Vienna’s theater and arts community. Themed costumes are encouraged. The parade starts at 7 p.m. on Maple Avenue and runs from Branch Road to Center Street. Maple Avenue will be fully closed from 6:30-11 p.m., and new for this year, temporary fencing will be in place to expand the seating area and protect plants along the street.
Thursday, Oct. 30
- Halloween Eve at Capital One Center (1803 Capital One Drive, Tysons): Celebrate Halloween with a costume party, festive food and drinks, live music, a pumpkin pie eating contest, and more from 3-7 p.m. Admission is free, except for paint-and-sip sessions at Stellina Pizzeria that are available for $60.54.
- Halloween Fun for All (Thomas Jefferson Library, 7415 Arlington Blvd, Falls Church): Kick off Halloween with an inclusive event. Come in costume and receive candy and a mystery prize. All day event.
- Halloween Storytime (Kings Park Library, 9000 Burke Lake Road): Bring a blanket and some snacks to enjoy a spooky story time! From 10:30 to 11:15 a.m.
Friday, Oct. 31
- Halloween Parade (Centreville Library, 14200 St. Germain Drive): Enjoy Halloween-themed stories and activities. Costumes are encouraged! From 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
- Halloween at The PARC (8508 Leesburg Pike, Tysons): Celebrate Halloween at The PARC, a residential community. Trick-0r-treating, live music and seasonal treats will be available from 4 to 7 p.m.
- Mosaic Halloween Spooktacular (District Avenue, Merrifield): Stop by your favorite shps for trick-or-treating and “Ghostbusters Frozen Empire” on the big screen. From 4 to 7 p.m.
- Spooky Slime (Sherwood Regional Library, 2501 Sherwood Hall Lane, Alexandria): Make spooky Halloween slime in your costume! Registration is required. 4:30 to 5:15 p.m.
Recurring
- Meadowlark’s Halloween Scavenger Hunt (9750 Meadowlark Gardens Court, Vienna): Take part in a self-guided scavenger hunt, searching around the log cabin, garden and pavilion. Ends Oct. 31.
- Apokalypse (Workhouse Arts Center, Lorton): Face your fears with the Apokalypse in the Kingdom of Shadows. Runs until Nov. 1 over the weekends.
FFXnow also has an events calendar with additional festivities to look forward to.
For community members who can’t make it to a specific event, Visit Fairfax, the county’s tourism agency, has compiled list of the season’s most decorated homes and most haunted locations. Beware, it’s bound to get spooky.
