Skip to main content
Meetings
search search search search search search
search
Home

MAP IT

mapit icon close icon

Mount Vernon

Mount Vernon

Ways to Celebrate Halloween & Día de los Muertos In & Around Washington, DC



The DC area has a wealth of events and festivals for all ages and preferences.

Looking for a spooky good time? Check out these frightfully fun Día de los Muertos and Halloween-themed events and activities in and around DC. If you’re eager to do a little more than trick-or-treating or face-painting to honor these two holidays, we’ve got plenty of options for you.
 

Your ultimate guide to fall in Washington, DC

01

Enjoy a DC ghost tour – Ongoing

This Halloween season, consider a fright-inducing walking ghost tour through Washington, DC. These tours, many of which are year-round, will have you delightfully spooked as you attempt to walk from haunt to haunt in some of DC's oldest neighborhoods.

02

Six Flags Fright Fest presented by Snickers – Sept. 16 – Oct. 29

This spooky celebration at Six Flags America returns with the haunted attractions, entertainment and shows and roller-coaster thrills that the DMV area has come to expect. The 2022 edition runs on select days from Sept. 16 through Oct. 29. Families will also want to check out the Kids BOO Fest, held on select dates.
Select Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays |  Tickets
Six Flags America, 13710 Central Avenue, Bowie, MD 20721

03

Death Comes to Tudor Place – Oct. 3 – Nov. 5

Uncover almost 200 years of mourning customs and burial traditions through a guided tour with artifacts, decor and documents. The exhibit also explores the funerary customs of enslaved and free domestic laborers who lived and worked at Tudor Place, reflecting generations of inherited customs and collective values.

Tickets
Tudor Place, 1644 31st Street NW, Washington, DC 20007

04

Boo at the Zoo – Oct. 20-22

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.
5:30-8:30 p.m. |  Tickets
Smithsonian’s National Zoo, 3001 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008

05

PumpkinPalooza – Oct. 26

NoMa celebrates Halloween with its annual pumpkin-centric 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.

4 p.m. |  Free admission
Alethia Tanner Park, 227 Harry Thomas Way NE, Washington, DC 20002

06

Beat The Bomb's Halloween Monster Mash and Mask-Off – Oct. 27-29

Partake in the world's craziest team game this Halloween for a bloody good time! Enjoy a treat with themed cocktails and half off drinks from 7-9 p.m. but expect some tricks in the game rooms. Plus, play the game in your craziest mask and enter the social media contest to win up to $1,000.
Tickets
Beat the Bomb, 2005 Hecht Avenue NE, Washington, DC 20002

07

Halloween Treasure Hunt at the Mansion on O – Oct. 27-31

Visiting the wondrous Mansion on O & O Street Museum 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.

Reserve
The Mansion on O Street, 2020 O Street NW, Washington, DC 20036

08

Artloween Bash – Oct. 27

Artomatic, a DC-based arts organization, hosts the first edition of this new kind of Halloween celebration at Black Cat. The goal of Artloween Bash is to offer the most art-centric party in the DMV area. Festivities will include a creepy art exhibit, a raffle with an exclusive Halloween-themed painting as the winning prize, a dance party and of course, a costume contest.
8 p.m. |  Tickets
Black Cat, 1811 14th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009

09

Art Cart: Tricky Tree Hats – Oct. 28

Hirshhorn Museum celebrates the fall season and Halloween with a special edition of its Art Cart series, which offers creative activities for kids and parents throughout the year for free. The tree-inspired event will allow you to take a close look at Hiroshi Sugimoto’s Two Circles and use nature-inspired books and materials to create your own wearable works of art.
10 a.m. – 1 p.m. |  Free admission
Hirshhorn Museum, Independence Avenue & 7th Street NW, Washington, DC 20560

10

Air & Scare – Oct. 28

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. While the outdoor portion is sold out, the indoor activities do not require tickets.

10 a.m. – 3 p.m. |  Free admission
Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, 14390 Air and Space Museum Pkwy, Chantilly, VA 20151

11

Off the Mall Tours: Lesser-Known Notables of Oak Hill Cemetery – Oct. 28

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.
11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. |  Tickets
Oak Hill Cemetery, 3001 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20007

12

Día de los Muertos Family Day – Oct. 28

Join the Smithsonian American Art Museum for a day of Día de los Muertos activities meant for the entire family to enjoy. Take in live performances from Ballet Folklorico Mi Herencia Mexicana, Mariachi Aguila DC and Sol y Rumba. Take part in themed crafts, face painting (ages 12 and younger) and a scavenger hunt through the Many Wests: Artists Shape an American Idea exhibit.

11:30 a.m. 3 p.m. |  Free admission  |  Register
Smithsonian American Art Museum, 8th and G Streets NW, Washington, DC 20004

13

Trick-or-Treating at Mount Vernon – Oct. 28

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.
2-6 p.m. |  Tickets
George Washington’s Mount Vernon, 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway, Mount Vernon, VA 22121

14

Sketch Night of Frights at DC Improv – Oct. 28

Sketch Night of Frights

Muahaha ... DC's favorite comedy troupe presents a frightful night of sketch comedy. Join Bad Medicine for Halloween-themed, high-energy entertainment featuring characters, music, thrills and chills.
7 & 9:30 p.m. |  Tickets
DC Improv, 1140 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20036

15

Nightmare in Navy Yard – Oct. 28

Nightmare in Navy Yard

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. 
8:30 p.m. |  Tickets
Capital Turnaround, 700 M Street SE, Washington, DC 20003

16

Eighties Mayhem: Halloween Dance Party at Black Cat – Oct. 28

Get groovy and spooky with five hours of ‘80s beats at Black Cat, one of DC’s most popular clubs for locals. Come ready to jam out in costume for an added thrill. The Ghostbusters-themed party features two DJs spinning classics from everyone’s favorite decade. Tickets always sell fast for this annual event.
9 p.m. |  Tickets
Black Cat, 1811 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20009 

Partner Content
Partner Content