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Top Free Halloween Events in DC 2025: Festivals, Parades, Trunk-or-Treats, and More

Light up the night at Baltimore's Great Halloween Lantern Parade. Photo courtesy of Creative Alliance
Light up the night at Baltimore's Great Halloween Lantern Parade. Photo courtesy of Creative Alliance
9/26/25 - By Stephanie Shipman

A family friendly Halloween doesn’t have to cost money to be memorable. There are many free Halloween events in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia throughout the month of October to keep kids entertained without breaking the bank. From Halloween parades and festivals to trunk-or-treats and trick-or-treat events, these free Halloween events offer a ton of spooky—and not-so-spooky—fun for DC families.

For even more Halloween events, check out our Halloween Events and Activities Guide for Kids in Washington, DC, which includes our ultimate roundup of the best Halloween events near DC for kids and families. Happy hauntings!

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The Town of Vienna Annual Halloween Parade gets everyone in the Halloween spirit. Photo courtesy of the event
The Town of Vienna Annual Halloween Parade gets everyone in the Halloween spirit. Photo courtesy of the event

Free Halloween Events Near DC: Halloween Parades

Town of Vienna Annual Halloween Parade

Vienna, VA
Wednesday, October 29
Hosted by the Town of Vienna and the Vienna Business Association, this annual Halloween parade gets everyone in the spooky spirit.  READ MORE

The Great Halloween Lantern Parade & Festival

Baltimore, MD
Saturday, October 25
At the Halloween Lantern Parade & Festival, attendees can make their own lanterns, enjoy delicious food, dance, and visit the Artist Market. There's also a costume contest for kids. The parade includes illuminated floats, stilt walkers, marching bands, and more. READ MORE

Del Ray Halloween Parade

Alexandria, VA
Sunday, October 26
Del Ray’s annual Halloween Parade starts at Mount Vernon Avenue, south of E. Bellefonte, and continues down to the Mount Vernon Recreation Center play fields. Costumed kids, pets, and strollers can march in the parade. READ MORE
Gather up goodies at OFC's annual trunk-or-treat. Photo courtesy of the McLean Community Center
Gather up goodies at OFC's annual trunk-or-treat. Photo courtesy of the McLean Community Center

Free Halloween Events Near DC: Trunk-or-Treats and Trick-or-Treating Events

Trunk-or-Treat at Chesapeake Baysox Stadium

Bowie, MD
Saturday, October 18
Join the Chesapeake Baysox for its annual evening of trunk-or-treating filled with candy, costumes, and a whole lot of fun. READ MORE

Victory Christian Ministries International Trunk-or-Treat

Washington, DC
Sunday, October 19
Families are invited to put on their costumes and collect yummy treats at VCMI's annual free trunk-or-treat. READ MORE

Trunk-or-Treat at Hilton McLean Tysons Corner

Mclean, VA
Friday, October 24
Enjoy a trunk-or-treat and indoor movie screening of Hocus Pocus at the Hilton McLean Tysons Corner. Delicious food and drinks will be available for purchase. READ MORE

Old Firehouse's Festival of Frights and Trunk-or-Treat

McLean, VA
Saturday, October 25
Put on your Halloween costumes and visit the Old Firehouse in McLean for a night of live music, games, food, contests, and a trunk-or-treat. READ MORE

Air & Scare at Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center

Chantilly, VA
Saturday, October 25
Parking is $15
See the spooky side of air and space at the Air & Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. At this popular event, kids can enjoy trick-or-treating, creepy crafts, spooky science experiments, photo ops with Star Wars characters, and other Halloween-themed activities. READ MORE

Trunk-or-Treat at Manassas Park Community Center

Manassas, VA
Saturday, October 25
Decorated vehicles line up in the parking lot of the Manassas Park Community Center, and families can stop at each one to receive a Halloween treat (or trick)! READ MORE

Trunk-or-Treat at Burke United Methodist Church

Burke, VA
Sunday, October 26
Burke United Methodist Church invites families for a free trunk-or-treat, where kids can wear their costumes and go car to car to collect Halloween treats. READ MORE

Indian Head's Annual Trunk-or-Treat

Indian Head, MD
Friday, October 31
Bring costumed kids to Village Green Park on Halloween evening for Indian Head's annual trunk-or-treat, hosted by Bridge Church. READ MORE
Enjoy spooktacular fun at Harbor Halloween. Photo courtesy of the National Harbor Halloween Celebration
Enjoy spooktacular fun at Harbor Halloween. Photo courtesy of the National Harbor Halloween Celebration

Free Halloween Events Near DC: Halloween Festivals and Other Events

Burke Nursery Fall Farm Market & Pumpkin Patch

Burke, VA
Daily, October 1-31
Burke Nursery offers a small play area for kids with festive photo backdrops. There are also plenty of pumpkins, gourds, Halloween decorations, and more available for purchase. Be sure to try the apple cider donuts! READ MORE

Lil' Pumpkins Fest (at BlackRock Center for the Arts)

Germantown, MD
Saturday, October 4
BlackRock Center for the Arts' Lil' Pumpkins Fest includes trick-or-treating, costume parades, a spooky dance party, an Artisan's Market, and a biergarten for the parents. READ MORE

Pumpkin Race & Fall Festival (at North Creek Community Center)

Montgomery Village, MD
Saturday, October 4
Face off or watch as decorated pumpkins on wheels go head to head in this crazy pumpkin race. There are awards for best decoration and most innovative design, best themed pumpkin racer and driver duo, and other fun categories. Attendees can also enjoy live music, food, and lots of children's activities. READ MORE

Hilloween (at Eastern Market)

Washington, DC
Friday, October 31
This family Halloween festival at Eastern Market is an opportunity to gather as a community and make festive memories with friends and neighbors. Enjoy trick-or-treating, face painting, games, pumpkin decorating, a photo booth, refreshments, and more. Costumes are encouraged. READ MORE

Monster Bash (in Takoma Park, MD)

Takoma Park, MD
Saturday, October 25
The Monster Bash is Takoma Park's Halloween celebration starting with dancing and fun, followed by a Costume Parade and Contest, and ending with the Costume Award Ceremony and Celebration. READ MORE

Family Day: Halloween at the National Museum of the Marine Corps

Triangle, VA
Saturday, October 25
The National Museum of the Marine Corps hosts a spooktacular Halloween Family Day. Participants can enjoy a host of seasonal activities, a puppet show, a costume contest, and trick-or-treating. READ MORE

Halloween Bark Bash @ One Loudoun

Ashburn, VA
Saturday, October 25
This event combines the best of pet shows and Halloween festivals. The festival includes a pet costume contest, trick-or-treating, dogs for adoption, a photo booth, and more. READ MORE

Van Ness Main Street's Spooktacular

Washington, DC
Sunday, October 26
Parents and kids of all ages are invited to dress in their favorite costumes and gather at Forest Hills Playground for spooky-inspired activities followed by trick-or-treating. READ MORE

Harbor Halloween

National Harbor, MD
Sunday, October 26
Enjoy an afternoon of spooktacular fun for the whole family, including trick-or-treating at select stores and restaurants, kids' activities, a Halloween movie, a pet pawrade, and a chef pumpkin-carving contest. READ MORE

Great Falls Halloween Spooktacular

Great Falls, VA
Friday, October 31
The annual Great Falls Halloween Spooktacular on the Great Falls Village Centre Green features a pet parade and costume contest, a ghostly haunted house, live music, and more. Kids are encouraged to wear costumes and trick-or-treat with local merchants from 5-7 pm. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Victory Christian Ministries International, DC
Hilton McLean Tysons Corner
Manassas Park Community Center
Burke United Methodist Church
Burke Nursery and Garden Centre
Great Falls Village Centre