FRIDAY
2
OCTOBER
Family Halloween Events in Northern Virginia
Northern Virginia is where the Washington region does Halloween, and the best of it is run by county parks: gentle, ticketed, capped events at $12 to $20 a head. Fairfax County has posted 2026 dates for Frying Pan, Burke Lake and Clemyjontri. Cox Farms sells two very different tickets — read which one before you buy.
Season: Oct 3–Oct 31 · Updated September 30, 2026 · refreshed weekly
- Halloween on the Farm: Frying Pan Farm Park, Herndon — Oct 23–24, $12 per person
- Ghost Town: Burke Lake Park, Fairfax Station — Oct 24–25, $20 advance / $25 day-of
- Goblin Golf: Burke Lake Park — the first three October weekends, $12 per person
- Sensory-Friendly Trick-or-Treat: Clemyjontri Park, McLean — Sunday, Oct 18, 11am–5pm, $20 per trick-or-treater
- Vienna Halloween Parade: Maple Avenue, Vienna — Wednesday, Oct 28, 7pm; free to watch
Fairfax County parks run the best of it
Three Fairfax County Park Authority events carry the family season, all with 2026 dates and prices posted. They are gentle, ticketed and capped: $12 to $20 a head, designed for children rather than tolerant of them.
Halloween on the Farm — Herndon, VAVisit official site →
Trick-or-treating on a working farm, with the animals, crafts, games and a tour of the decorated farmhouse.
Dates
- Friday, Oct 23, 5–8pm — one-hour slots at 5, 6 and 7
- Saturday, Oct 24, 4:30–7:30pm — slots at 4:30, 5:30 and 6:30
Tickets
$12 per person in advance until 11:59pm Thursday, Oct 22, then $15 day-of. Ages two through adult, so the grown-ups need tickets too.
Know before you go
- Registration is open
- Children must be with a registered adult
Who it's for
Toddlers and early-elementary kids — one hour, early evening, low-key
Skip if
You want to arrive when you like — entry is a fixed one-hour slot
Ghost Town — Fairfax Station, VAVisit official site →
A daytime carnival in a county park: themed activity areas, the miniature train, the carousel, crafts and mini golf, costumes encouraged.
Dates
- Oct 24 and 25, 11am–5pm
Tickets
$20 in advance, on sale until two days before; $25 on the day. Under-twos are free but must be with a paying adult, and the one admission covers everything.
Know before you go
- Online registration sold out in 2025 — treat the advance ticket as the plan, not the discount
Who it's for
Toddlers and the easily spooked — it is explicitly not-spooky
Goblin Golf — Fairfax Station, VAVisit official site →
The park's mini-golf course done up for Halloween, with costumed characters along the holes and treats included.
Dates
- Oct 3, 4, 10, 11, 17 and 18
- 50-minute sessions from 11am
Tickets
$12 per person — the same for adults, youth and seniors, up from $10 the year before.
Who it's for
Kids who can hold a putter — short, bounded and low-commitment
Clemyjontri's sensory-friendly trick-or-treat
Clemyjontri Park in McLean runs a Sensory-Friendly Trick-or-Treat on Sunday, Oct 18. The park it happens in is the region's default for mixed-ability groups on any other autumn weekend too.
Sensory-Friendly Trick-or-Treat — McLean, VAVisit official site →
A trick-or-treat at a fully accessible “boundless” playground — ramps up to the elevated play components, rubber safety surfacing instead of mulch, lowered monkey bars and four color-themed play areas.
Dates
- Sunday, Oct 18, 11am–5pm
Tickets
$20 per trick-or-treater
Know before you go
- Park entry and parking are free year-round, 7am to dusk — an 81-space lot with overflow at Langley Forks Park across the street
- The Liberty Swing is Virginia's first wheelchair-accessible swing, and not every chair fits
- Accessible restrooms with baby changing tables at the picnic pavilion
- Carousel and trackless train are $4 per person per ride on weekdays and $5 at weekends and on holidays, with no unlimited option — the train has a wheelchair-accessible caboose car
- The carousel runs weekends only through late October, 9:30am–3:30pm
Who it's for
Mixed-ability groups, wheelchair users, and children who need a quieter Halloween
Skip if
It sells out or the date doesn't suit — the playground itself is free any other day
Parades and trick-or-treat trails
Three free street events round out the season: Vienna's parade, Reston Town Center's retailer trail and Del Ray's Sunday parade.
Vienna Halloween Parade — Vienna, VAVisit official site →
A half-mile parade down Maple Avenue that has run annually since 1946, rain or shine, co-hosted by the Town of Vienna and the Vienna Business Association.
Dates
- Wednesday, Oct 28, 7pm — the Wednesday before Halloween
- About an hour and a half end to end
Tickets
Free to watch
Who it's for
Any age, and the pick if you want Halloween without a ticket
Trick or Treat Beyond Market Street — Reston, VA
A retailer trick-or-treat trail across 35-plus shops and restaurants, with face painting, characters, stilt walkers, games and live music.
Dates
- Sunday, Oct 25, noon–3pm
Tickets
Free, and the giveaways and trick-or-treat bags come with it
Who it's for
Costumed kids who would rather walk a shopping street than a farm
Del Ray Halloween Parade — Alexandria, VA
A Sunday-before-Halloween tradition run by the Del Ray Business Association, with a stroller contest, a pet costume contest and a kids' zone, ending in live music and awards.
Dates
- Sunday, Oct 25 — the Sunday before Halloween
Tickets
Free
Who it's for
Families with a dog or a decorated stroller — both have a contest of their own
Cox Farms: two completely different tickets
Cox Farms in Centreville sells two events that share a farm and nothing else: a daytime family festival and a night haunt for teenagers. Both are online-only and both sell out.
Cox Farms Fall Festival — Centreville, VAVisit official site →
The region's biggest fall operation: nine-plus giant slides (the Safari Slide runs 180 feet across eight lanes), the twenty-minute hayride, the Cornundrum corn maze, Foamhenge, a Kiddie Zone, Goat Village and milking demos.
Dates
- Sept 19 – Nov 8, closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays
- 10am–6pm in September and October, last entry 5pm
- 10am–5pm in November, last entry 4pm
Tickets
$15, $20, $25 or $30 per person by date tier. Everyone two and older pays the same — no child, senior or group rate, under-24-months free — and a patch pumpkin is included.
Know before you go
- Tickets are online-only and date-specific; there is no box office
- Busy dates sell out, so buy ahead
- Parking is free, and re-entry is allowed with a wristband through the main entrance
Who it's for
Families who want a whole day out, toddlers included
Skip if
You are watching the budget — everyone over two pays full price
Fields of Fear — Centreville, VA
The night event at the same farm, aimed at teenagers and adults — a separate ticket, not an add-on to the daytime festival.
Dates
- Fridays and Saturdays, Sept 25 – Nov 7, plus Sunday, Oct 11
- 7:30–11pm, last entry 10pm
Tickets
$25 to $45 by date
Know before you go
- Entry times are assigned at check-in rather than when you buy — arriving after 7pm can land you a 10:30 or 11:30pm slot
- The farm publishes a “Too Scary?” page routing people back to the daytime festival
Skip if
Your child is under 12 — the farm's own line. Under 14 needs an adult chaperone
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Upcoming Halloween events in Northern Virginia
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Kids are always outgrowing their clothes! Bring your child's lightly used and clean costumes to swap for a new-to-you costume at the Kings Park Library! We will also be accepting donated costumes in the week prior to the event. No Registration Required. An All-Ages Family Event
SATURDAY
3
OCTOBER
Read and craft with your friends on the Carlyle House front lawn for Family Fun Day on the first Saturday of the month from March-November!
A Taste of Fall in Every Bite! Please join us to make Cookie Mix in a Jar 🍂 Perfect for Fall! 🎃 Easy to Make! 🍪 Delicious to Enjoy! A cozy homemade treat for the season! Registration Required.
SUNDAY
4
OCTOBER
YIKES! at SPARK! is a Halloween themed art market on October 4. SPARK! is a fun inclusive outdoor market with handpicked art and food vendors, and programming including poetry, music and art making. Meet your neighbors, build community and be inspired at SPARK! Hang out with us the first Sunday of the month at the new…
Join the Friends of Reston on Sunday, October 4th, for the 6th Annual Fall 5K to help raise funds for their scholarship and enrichment programs. All proceeds for this event support the Friends of Reston, a 501(c)(3) supporting organization of Reston Association.New this year, Friends of Reston is excited to announce th…
MONDAY
5
OCTOBER
Join the Halloween bash that’s perfect for toddlers. Wear your costume on a walk along the trails. Meet a couple of fun characters and a real Corn Snake. Decorate a pumpkin and collect a goody bag to take home. No frights at this fest! Register by October 2. Ages 18-35 monthsOffered on both October 5th and 6th, content…
Stop by the information desk for a Halloween Themed Scavenger Hunt!
TUESDAY
6
OCTOBER
Celebrate Halloween with Virginia Cooperative Extension Master Food Volunteers, who will demonstrate how to make some spooky desserts!
WEDNESDAY
7
OCTOBER
Ready for a creative adventure? Weave a spooktacular craft in time for Halloween. For students in grades 4 to 6. Space is limited. Please only register age-appropriate students.
SATURDAY
10
OCTOBER
Join us to create a spooky Halloween Lantern to light up your home!
We have a special guest and theme for our weekly storytime. Celebrate spooky season with the Allen Violin Studio! Join us for a story with dramatic musical interpretation and hear violin students play seasonal pieces to set the tone. Space is limited to 25 children with up to two caregivers per child. Ask at the Inform…
Join us in making Halloween themed slime! Use your creativity and learn the science behind how slime is made. All materials provided. Registration required. Ages 6-12.
Enjoy stories, songs and rhymes for the whole family at this interactive storytime. All ages welcome! --- Tips for a Successful Storytime Sit, sing, & listen to stories together. The more you participate in storytime, the more children will participate, enjoy, and learn from storytime. Please be timely. Storytimes are…
MONDAY
12
OCTOBER
Letterboxing is a family friendly scavenger hunt style adventure that takes you to interesting locations all over the world solving clues and searching for hidden treasures! Participants will learn where to find the clues, how to decipher them and receive hints on what to look for. Then off on an adventure around the p…
Fold a Snapping Jack-o-lantern, a bat, a cat and a pumpkin . Registrations encouraged, walk-ins welcome. Ages 6 - 12+.
TUESDAY
13
OCTOBER
For kids in Kindergarten - Grade 5 Join us for an evening of building fun with LEGOs. Your LEGO creations will be displayed on the shelves in the Columbia Pike Children's Area for everyone to admire until next month's Builders' Club! This October, join us to make a spooky haunted house and enjoy some early Halloween ca…
Join the fun! Learn to draw a pumpkin and cat using oil pastels. All materials provided. Adults. Preregister.
THURSDAY
15
OCTOBER
Enjoy a fun cooking demonstration with Virginia Cooperative Extension Master Food volunteers and learn some tasty new recipes featuring pumpkin!
FRIDAY
16
OCTOBER
Ever wonder which spooky local legends roam these woods after dark? Join us for an after-hours nature walk exploring the DMV’s most haunting creatures, from the Clifton Bunny Man to the Maryland Snallygaster. You’ll uncover the origins of these eerie...
SATURDAY
17
OCTOBER
Join us at Lubber Run Community Center as we host Pumpkin Walk in celebration of Halloween!
Storytime for Ages 0-5 years Join us for stories, songs, movement and early literacy fun all about Halloween. Feel free to wear a costume for this storytime. Registration Registration required for all children (including siblings) attending.
Celebrate Halloween by learning about the cool critters that take the spotlight in the spooky season. From spiders and toads to bats and owls, there are so many fun animals to learn about in October. Search for animals hiding in the woods and create a fun craft. Enjoy a Halloween treat. Register by October 14.Ages 3-5.…
A Boo-tiful Day of Family Fun! Costumes, carnival treats and spooky fun await. Little ghosts and goblins can enjoy a festive day of games, goodies and live performances the whole family will love. Infant – 8 Years Old • Registration required All children must be accompanied by a parent/caregiver (18+) throughout the ev…
Embrace the magic of the season by attending this enchanting event at Family Recreation Area, Franconia Rec Center. Join in activities and adventures the entire family will enjoy:Monster mash dance party Costume parade (wear your best costume!) S'mores Seasonal drink Popcorn Carousel ride Scavenger hunt
Get ready for an evening where science meets Halloween! Explore, experiment, build, create, and discover at the 11th Annual Spooky Mad Science Expo. This family-friendly event brings STEM to the community with hands-on activities, demonstrations, and opportunities to meet STEM professionals. Come curious and show off y…
(3-6 yrs.) This nocturnal wildlife and local lore program features a craft, a twilight walk into the forest, trick or treating, animal activity stations and a campfire with spell-binding stories and s'mores. The stories are ‘not so scary’ as we don’t want to frighten you and will take place during the last half hour of…
(5-Adult) Discover the states of matter through dry ice science as we make bubbling concoctions, screaming spoons and Boo bubbles. Children must be accompanied by a paying adult, registered in the program.
SUNDAY
18
OCTOBER
(14-Adult) Hear hair-raising stories of hauntings and ghost hunters that pose dilemmas for caretakers of the past. Learn why historic sites with supernatural reputations can become haunted by ghost stories that misrepresent historical fact and reduce historical figures to mere spooks and specters. Hear how Green Spring…
TUESDAY
20
OCTOBER
(Adults) Join us for a festive and thought-provoking adults-only Halloween date night at the nature center. Learn about nature's spooky adaptations. Activities, walk (weather permitting) and light refreshments.
WEDNESDAY
21
OCTOBER
Get into the spooky spirit with paper folding fun! Learn how to create Halloween-themed origami like jack-o’-lanterns, black cats, and ghosts. This hands-on workshop is perfect for all ages—whether you’re a beginner or an experienced folder. Bring your creativity and celebrate Halloween with us at the library! This pro…
Get ready for unforgettable spooky family fun! Upton Hill Regional Park's Mini Golf course and Climb UPton have been transformed into haunted Halloween attractions, creating the perfect setting for a night of festive excitement. Bring your family and...
Going from Virginia Beach to Bristol, Virginia, Susan Schwartz discusses the history and the hauntings around that history from her book of the same title. Susan has been an avid writer for around 25+ years doing everything from writing freelance articles to editing manuscripts for other authors. Published in fiction,…
For families with children of all ages Halloween Storytime is for children of all ages and an accompanying adult. We encourage everyone to wear their costumes to this fun and interactive program. Halloween Storytime combines themed read-aloud stories, songs, rhymes, fingerplays and flannel boards and introduces childre…
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FAQ
Which Northern Virginia Halloween events are free?
The three street events: Vienna's parade down Maple Avenue, Reston Town Center's trick-or-treat trail and the Del Ray parade in Alexandria. Everything run by the county parks is ticketed, at $12 to $20 a head.
Do you need to book ahead?
For the county events, yes. Ghost Town sold out online in 2025 and costs $5 more at the gate; Halloween on the Farm is capped by one-hour slots and rises to $15 day-of; Cox Farms has no box office at all.
What's best for a three-year-old?
Ghost Town at Burke Lake: explicitly not-spooky, daylight hours, and the train, carousel and mini golf all come with the one ticket. Halloween on the Farm is the runner-up if an hour is all your child will give you.