18 Halloween Events for Kids and Families

Spooky season has arrived! But there’s plenty of fun around town for youngsters who like things just a little less…spooky. Here’s our annual roundup of family-friendly Halloween outings in and near Arlington. From pumpkin carving and pet parades to putt putt, you’re sure to find lots of ways to get the wiggles out. For even more fall fun, check out our roundup of pumpkin patches and corn mazes worth a visit.

Kids Scavenger Hunt at Museum of Illusions

Thursday mornings, Oct. 26-Nov.2 10-11 a.m.

Be prepared to put your mind in a twist with Halloween-themed optical tricks, lighting effects, illusions and activities. Mini detectives 12 and under can enjoy a Halloween scavenger hunt. Explore the museum to find hidden Halloween stickers. Search for clues among the illusions, learn fun facts and take pictures of discoveries. Then transform into a spooky character at the face painting station, and get creative in the craft corner making an optical-illusion-inspired mask and prop to take home.  // 927 H Street NW, Washington D.C.

Halloween Animals Campfire & S’mores

Oct. 12, 6-7 p.m.

Bring the whole family to Long Branch Nature Center for an hour of kid-friendly activities. Stories, special animal guests, games, songs and of course, s’mores, will all be part of the  fun. Pre-registration is required for this event. The cost is $6. Long Branch Nature Center and Park, 625 S. Carlin Springs Road, Arlington

Meadowlark Halloween Scavenger Hunt

Oct. 12-31, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Kids can show off their costumes and head to this 95-acre botanical garden in Vienna to search for ghosts and goblins around the log cabin, children’s veggie garden and pavilion. Snap Insta-worthy photos and complete the Halloween Scavenger Hunt sheet to receive a prize. Tickets are $8 per hunter. Accompanying adults must pay regular admission prices. // 9750 Meadowlark Gardens Court, Vienna

Kids C.A.R.E Club Howl-o-Ween

Oct. 15, 5-6 p.m.

Head to the Animal Welfare League of Arlington’s Kids CARE Club (Creating a Responsible Environment) for this event for animal lovers. Youngsters ages 5-9 will learn to make their own dog treats and get a lesson on keeping pet friends safe on trick-or-treat night. The event is free and parents must attend with children. Space is limited, so be sure to register in advance. // 2650 S. Arlington Mill Drive (Shirlington)

Howl-o-ween at Gateway Park

Oct. 25, 3:30-5:30 p.m.

Don’t forget to dress up your pup for this Halloween-themed afternoon of dog-friendly activities, treats and fun in Rosslyn’s Gateway Park. Visit with pet-themed vendors and enjoy raffles, giveaways and pet portrait sketches on-site. To enter your furball in the dog costume contest, register at the Rosslyn BID table on site. // 1300 Langston Blvd. (Rosslyn)

Climb in Costume 

Oct. 25, 5-9 p.m.

Crystal City climbing gym, Movement, is hosting Boards & Brews Rendezvous. It’s a Halloween-themed meetup with spooky activities, climbing in costume and plenty of candy. // 1235 S. Clark St. (Crystal City)

Village at Shirlington Halloweekend Fun

Oct. 26, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Head to your favorite neighborhood shops in costume for a sweet Halloween adventure. Collect surprises and treats, enjoy a variety of activities and entertainment for children and pose for Insta-worthy photos next to festive Halloween decorations. Tickets are $5 per child. Proceeds go directly to the Arlington Food Assistance Center to help feed Arlington neighbors in need. // Campbell Ave. (Shirlington)

Halloweekend at the Perch 

Oct 26, 12-6 p.m.

The 2.5-acre sky park atop the Watermark Hotel in Tysons will be festively festooned for this family-friendly Halloween party—with a Beetlejuice twist. Say his name three times and immerse yourself in a world of black and white stripes, sandworms and all-things Halloween. Enjoy a spooky round of golf at Perch Putt, face painting that will make you look freshly deceased and a pumpkin pie-eating contest. Admission is free with a recommended donation to Miriam’s Kitchen. // Capital One Center, 1805 Capital One Drive, Tysons 

Falls Church Halloween Carnival 

Oct. 26, 1-3 p.m. or 3:30-5:30 p.m. 

Enjoy a spooktacular Halloween Carnival, complete with games, costume contests, inflatables and candy. Local elementary schoolers from Mount Daniel will be performing in front of the barn. First graders perform at 1:05 p.m. and second graders at 3:35 p.m., with costume contests immediately to follow. Kids get free entry if they’re under age 2 or 11 and under in costume. Pre-purchase wristbands for one of the two time slots at the Falls Church Community Center starting Oct. 23 or day-of at the Recreation and Parks Booth in Cherry Hill Park. In inclement weather the event will be moved inside the community center. // Cherry Hill Park, 312 Park Ave, Falls Church

Find several Halloween-themed events for children at the Arlington County Library. (Courtesy photo)

It’s a Halloween Good Time – Glencarlyn Library

Oct. 26, 1-2:30 p.m.

Little ghosts and superheroes can listen to a Halloween-themed story, take part in a pumpkin painting craft and enjoy a light snack. Costumes are encouraged at this Arlington Public Library event. Registration is required. // Glencarlyn Library, 300 S. Kensington St., Arlington 

Pumpkin Carving Bash at Potomac Overlook

Oct. 26, 1-3 p.m. 

Get in the Halloween spirit by carving or painting a pumpkin at Potomac Overlook park. The park will provide tools, paint and pumpkins; kids bring the creativity. The festive afternoon also includes candy, a Halloween craft, and visits from several spooky nocturnal critters from the nature center. $20 per pumpkin carver. Preregistration required. // Potomac Overlook Regional Park, 2845 N. Marcey Road, Arlington

Mount Vernon Trick or Treating and Parade

Oct. 26, 2-6 p.m.

Collect candy on the historic grounds of our first president’s estate and celebrate Halloween with 18^th-century entertainment and activities, including soap making and a blacksmith demonstration. Hear music of the Revolution at 2:30 p.m. on the bowling green, then catch a Punch & Judy puppet show at 3 p.m. Kids in costume can join a parade at 4 p.m. Tickets are $30 per adult and $25 per child. Members get a discount. // 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway, Mount Vernon

Dogma Bakery Trick or Treating

Oct. 26, 2-4 p.m.

Dress your doggie to the nines and join in Dogma Bakery’s annual Halloween-themed fundraiser benefitting Lucky Dog Animal Rescue—one of the many nonprofits currently helping with pet rescue operations in North Carolina in the wake of Hurricane Helene. This event features a canine costume contest (with the winner to be selected via votes on social media) and a scavenger hunt that allows pups to sniff out and collect treats. Interested paw-ticipants can donate and sign up in advance on the registration page. // 2772 S. Arlington Mill Drive (Shirlington)

Del Ray Halloween Parade

Oct. 27, 2 p.m.

A Del Ray tradition, this annual Halloween Parade—voted one of the nation’s top 10 by USA Today—is back, welcoming costumed children, pets and babes in strollers to march and show off their finest and scariest costumes. There are awards for best pet costume and best stroller decorations. Live in the neighborhood? You can also enter your home in the house decorating contest. // Mount Vernon Avenue, beginning at E. Bellefonte Avenue, Alexandria (Del Ray)

Teen Hangout: Spooky Crafternoon

Oct. 29, 4-5 p.m.

Teens and tweens can grab a few friends and head over to the Courthouse Library to create a pumpkin masterpiece during this crafty gathering. Whether you favor creepy designs, colorful patterns or anything in between, you’ll find all the supplies you need for mini pumpkin painting. No registration required. Admission is on a first-come, first-serve basis. // Courthouse Library, 2100 Clarendon Blvd., Arlington 

Mosaic Halloween Spooktacular

Oct. 31, 4-7 p.m.

Don your costume and head store to store for trick-or-treating. Then lay out a blanket, spread out that candy haul and enjoy Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire on the big screen in Strawberry Park. // Mosaic, District Ave., Fairfax

Halloween Bash on Columbia Pike

Oct. 31, 6-7 p.m.

Make time in your trick-or-treat schedule for this party for all ages featuring Halloween snacks, candy and drinks. Children can enjoy a story time and make a craft in the children’s area, while adults can make their own handmade soap to take home. No registration required, just stop by. // Columbia Pike Library, 816 S. Walter Reed Drive, Arlington

Nalls Produce

Through Nov. 2

Don’t feel like braving the crowds? Get your fill of fall fun, food and décor at this little family-owned-and-operated produce and garden center that started as a roadside wagon selling veggies on a dirt road. There’s enough here to occupy the kids for about an hour. Pick out a pumpkin, plus fresh produce, jams, honey, spices, plants and seasonal décor. Let the kids loose on Pumpkin Hill, a small area where they can climb over the pumpkin fort, run through tunnels and dig in the straw. Be sure to say hello to the pigs and pose for a photo in front of the Pumpkin Wall. Come back Nov. 2 to help Nalls create a giant jack-o’-lantern display to light up Beulah Street in Alexandria. They provide the pumpkins and kid-safe tools, you provide the creativity. // 7310 Beulah St., Alexandria