Neighborhood Expert: Tips for the Vienna Halloween Parade

Laura Schwartz is a licensed Realtor in VA, D.C. and MD with McEnearney Associates in Vienna. You can follow Laura on Instagram at @LauraSchwartzRealtor or her Facebook page. Laura can be reached at 703-283-6120 or Laura@GuidingYourMove.com.

One week until Halloween! You know that means the 76th Annual Vienna Halloween Parade is this Wednesday at 7pm! Here are my best tips for enjoying the event and the holiday around town:

1. Trick or Treating is always the actual night of Halloween, regardless of day of the week. Most of the younger kids start right before it gets dark (around 530/6 p.m.). In my experience, most of the kids are done by 9 p.m., especially because it’s a school night.
2. The Halloween parade starts at 7 p.m., however, people put out chairs/blankets to reserve their spots along the route starting around noon the day of the parade (the Town asks that people not do it before then). Also please be mindful not to cover or block the sidewalk and benches.
3. If you have a flatbed truck, you can back into parking spaces at the shopping centers and sit high to get a better view.
4. Some of the groups in the parade are very loud. If you have someone who is noise sensitive, consider bringing something to help them enjoy the parade without the noise.
5. There are no food vendors except for the nearby restaurants so plan to bring food if you need it or support a local restaurant.
6. Kids in costumes can walk in the parade with an adult if they want to. Participants meet at 6 p.m. in the parking lot at United Bank (374 Maple Avenue E).
7. Depending on what part of town you live in, you should be able to find parking to easily get out. Many people park at Vienna Elementary, the library, the Giant shopping plaza, side streets, Walgreens shopping center, or the Fresh Market parking lot.

The parade route runs on Maple Ave from Branch Road to Center St. Bring extra blankets in case it’s cold. You can grab hot chocolate and food at the Vienna Shopping Center and Caffe Amouri is open until 7 p.m., so grab your hot chocolate on the way.

Here’s a map of the parade route and road closures (the first year we lived in Vienna I had no idea this was a thing and we tried to get take out that night… big mistake!)

ALSO NEW ADDITION:

I started a map of creative Halloween displays around Vienna. I’m sure I’m missing something so please let me know who I’m missing!

And one more thing: The Flagship Car Wash in Vienna is doing a “Tunnel of Terror” from 7-10 p.m. October 27-30. Tickets are $25 pre sale and $30 at the door and include a car wash!