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Don't miss haunted happenings, colorful traditions and fall festivities this spooky season in DC.
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 from Oct. 17-19! 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
Experience the spooky side of air and space with the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center's annual Air & Scare (Oct. 25). 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
Mount Vernon welcomes the entire family to enjoy Halloween fun on Oct. 25. 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, inflatables and haunted props transform Navy Yard into a scene straight from your nightmares. The Halloween-night party features three DJs, three dance floors, themed cocktails, food trucks, a costume contest and some spooky surprises.
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 Nov. 1. 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
DC Improv
Treat yourself with a comical evening full of tricks as Die Laughing Productions presents an all-new Halloween murder mystery at DC Improv on Oct. 29. Performers and audience members investigate the neighborhood costume party while a murderer hides in plain sight. Try to solve the mystery while howling (as in laughing a lot, not actually howling like a werewolf, that would be weird) throughout.
DC Improv, 1140 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
Join the LEGO® Monsters for the ultimate Brick-Or-Treat Monster Party from Sept. 25 through Oct. 31 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
