Hey y'all! Many, MANY Halloween celebrations going down this weekend so our list is full of them. It's also Howard Homecoming Weekend! *woot woot* I'm not an HU alum (sadly, my college's alumni weekend is also this weekend and I'm definitely not as excited for it LOL) Each year, WHUT proudly hosts FamFest, which is a celebration for families to attend during Homecoming weekend. We attended in 2023 and had a great time! This year's event will be held on Saturday (10/25) from 11am - 3pm and is centered around Mind, Body, & Soul with activities to go along with each. There will be WHUT giveaways, PBS gaming and coloring stations, a Kiddie Corner, and creative arts with Words Beats Life as well as a DC Divas activation, STEM stations with Miss Michy and a whole bunch of other activities and things for kids to engage with. No, you don't have to be an alum and it's free to attend as well. It's always a great, family-friendly way of getting kids on a college campus. Start them early! Anyways, happy planning for this weekend!
Sarah Acors
Creator of 4DMV Kids & Founder of BCB DMV+
Upcoming Events
10/23 | DC Statehood Teach-In [Virtual]
This Thursday (10/23) at 6:30 pm, there's a Home Rule, Whole State: DC Statehood Teach-In hosted by Harriet's Wildest Dreams. This virtual teach-in will highlight what statehood means for the District, the history of the fight for statehood, the ins and outs of the DC Council, and more. Register through the link below.
Top Activities This Weekend
Washington, DC
- Thursday (10/23) at 6:30 pm | “Howard News” Children’s Book Event at Sankofa Cafe in NW
- Saturday (10/25) at 11:00 am | FamFest 2025 at Howard University in the Lower Quadrangle “Valley” in NW
- Includes performances, arts & crafts, STEM stations & more!
- Saturday (10/25) at 11:00 am | Garlic Planting Party & Bulb Sale at the Washington Youth Garden at the US National Arboretum in NE
- Includes family-friendly art activities, food tastings, garden tours & more. Costumes are encouraged!
- Saturday (10/25) at 12:00 pm | October Late Skate at Anacostia Park
- Includes family fishing & boat rides, a pumpkin patch, arts & crafts & more! + free skate rentals
- Saturday (10/25) at 1:00 pm | Fall Book Fest at Conway Health and Resource Center in SW DC
- Dress like your favorite book character! Includes free food, giveaways, storytimes, and many other engaging activities.
- Saturday (10/25) at 1:00 pm | Earth & Planets Laboratory Open House in NW DC
- Explore interactive activities, meet the scientists, enjoy tasty science snacks, and get a rare behind-the-scenes peek at the historic “Atom Smasher.”
Maryland
- Saturday (10/25) at 11:00 am | Waterfront Art Festival at Bladensburg Waterfront Park
- Explore a variety of artworks from talented local artists, ranging from paintings to jewelry, photography and sculpture, and everything in between. Immerse yourself in the vibrant art market while enjoying live music and the scenic views of the Anacostia River. Grab tasty food and treats, create some art of your own, or take a relaxing boat tour!
- Saturday (10/25) at 1:00 pm | Fall Frolic at Glen Echo Park
- Activities include decorating a Trick-or-Treat bag and other crafts, a festive fall photo-op (say that 10 times!), a costume contest, and Trick-or-Treating at our resident art studios and galleries.
Northern Virginia
- Saturday (10/25) at 12:00 pm | 30th Annual Art Safari at Torpedo Factory Art Center
- Art Safari returns for a day of hands-on activities for kids and families. Art Center artists will lead budding art enthusiasts through exciting and creative projects on all three floors of the Art Center.
- Saturday (10/25) – Sunday (10/26) at 12:00 pm | Water Park Fall Market at National Landing
- Includes face painting, pumpkin painting, tons of shopping from local artisans, delicious food, fun live music and so much more!
Halloween Fun
Washington, DC
- Friday (10/24) at 7:00 pm | The Addams Family (2019) Screening at Yards Park in SE
- Saturday (10/25) at 10:00 am | Just Drop In: Architectural Eras/Styles – Haunted House Decorating at the National Building Museum ($)
- Explore spooky fun while designing your own haunted house inspired by real architectural styles like Gothic and Victorian! Kids will use craft materials to build eerie creations while learning how different buildings are shaped and styled.
- Saturday (10/25) at 12:00 pm | Pumpkins in the Park at Canal Park in SE
- Includes seasonal festivities from pumpkin decorating (while supplies last), a giant moon bounce, and mobile photo booth to a roaming magician, and seasonal beverages* for purchase.
- Saturday (10/25) at 12:30 pm | Little Goblins Parade at Stead Park in NW
- Includes trick-or-treating down 17th Street to a party at Stead Park with games, music, crafts, and snacks!
- Sunday (10/26) at 11:00 am | Halloween Edition of The Rumpus Room Family Dance Party at HiLawn in NE ($) (Best for ages 10 & under)
- Sunday (10/26) at 12:00 pm & 1:00 pm | Halloween Craftapalooza! at Made with Love DC in NE ($)
- Paint a predrawn Halloween canvas, paint a pumpkin, make Halloween jewelry or headbands, and make Halloween ornaments!
- Sunday (10/26) at 1:30 pm | 2025 Brookland Halloween Parade and Party in NE
- Sunday (10/26) at 2:00 pm | Fall Fun Day at Mitchell Park in NW
- Includes a haunted house, pumpkin painting, costume parade & more!
- Sunday (10/26) at 2:30 pm & 4:30 pm | NSO Family Concert: Halloween Spooktacular at The Kennedy Center ($)
- Halloween celebration concert featuring ghoulishly attired National Symphony Orchestra musicians performing spooky fun classics—new and old.
- Sunday (10/26) at 3:00 pm | Sherman Circle Spooktacular 2025 in NW
- Enjoy FREE live entertainment featuring Teatro de la Luna, Inspired Dance Collective, Tara Hoot, WowWheelz, Mr. Rob, and MORE!
Maryland
- Friday (10/24) at 6:00 pm | Pink-O-Ween at Baden Community Center in Brandywine ($) (Best for ages 5+)
- Put on your favorite costume for an evening of sweet treats, fun games, a costume contest, festive crafts.
- Friday (10/24) at 9:30 pm | Halloween Skate Night at Herbert W. Wells Ice Rink in College Park ($)
- Saturday (10/25) at 10:00 am | MonsterFlash Community Event at Twinbrook Library in Rockville
- Enjoy a bilingual storytime & Halloween bus experience.
- Saturday (10/25) at 10:00 am | Halloween Concert with Mr. Gabe at People’s Book Takoma
- Saturday (10/25) at 1:00 pm | Halloween on Ice Party at Bowie Ice Arena ($)
- Wear a costume or bring a canned good for free admission.
- Saturday (10/25) at 2:00 pm | Ride MonsterFlash! Not-so-Spooky “Haunted” Bus at Germantown Library
- Explore the Halloween themed bus, enjoy crafts, STEM activities, storytime & dance party!
- Saturday (10/25) at 3:30 pm | All Ages Spooktacular Live Music Show at Bobby McKeys Dueling Piano Bar at National Harbor ($)
- Includes live music, buffet and costume contest!
- Saturday (10/25) at 5:00 pm | Halloween Parade and Trunk or Treat in Mount Rainier
- Saturday (10/25) at 5:30 pm | Family Flights and Frights: Trick-or-Treat at the College Park Aviation Museum ($)
- Enjoy an evening filled with trick-or-treating in the gallery, and spook-tacular games and crafts. Come dressed in your favorite costumes and get ready for a high-flying Halloween adventure.
- Saturday (10/25) at 6:30 pm | Spooky Movie Night on the Patuxent River in Upper Marlboro ($)
- Saturday (10/25) & Sunday (10/26) | Trolley-ween at National Capital Trolley Museum in Colesville ($)
- Info for Sunday’s event
- Saturday (10/25) & Sunday (10/26) | Halloween Eye Spy Train at Wheaton and Cabin John ($)
- Sunday (10/26) at 12:00 pm | HalloWheaton at Marian Fryer Town Plaza in Wheaton
- Includes free s’mores roasting, pumpkin painting, costume contests, Halloween crafts, face-painting, photo ops, and more!
- Sunday (10/26) at 12:30 pm | Harbor Halloween at National Harbor
- Sunday (10/26) at 1:00 pm | Movies on the Potomac: Harbor Halloween Edition featuring Hocus Pocus at National Harbor
Northern Virginia
- Friday (10/24) at 7:00 pm | Met Park Movie Night – Hocus Pocus at Metropolitan Park in Arlington
- Saturday (10/25) at 9:00 am | Spooky Town Books at Old Town Books Junior in Alexandria
- Includes storytime, in-store trick or treating, a chance to spin the prize wheel with any book purchase, and treats from Fabled Ice Cream and Nicole’s Kitchen!
- Saturday (10/25) at 10:00 am & 1:00 pm | Cauldron Inspired Cake Pop Making at Tiny Chefs in Alexandria ($) (Best for ages 4-14)
- Saturday (10/25) at 1:00 pm & 3:30 pm | Halloween Carnival in Falls Church ($)
- Free admission, two timeslots to choose from, and fall fun ranging from carnival games, to bounce houses, and fall eats and treats await at Cherry Hill Park.
- Saturday (10/25) at 2:00 pm | Floating Pumpkin Patch at Chinquapin Recreation Center ($)
- Dive in to pick your very own real pumpkin from the pool, then decorate it! Other themed fun will include swimming, a floating obstacle course, an underwater obstacle course, and Halloween treats.
- Saturday (10/25) at 2:00 pm | Spook-Fest! at Ellen Burke Branch Library in Alexandria
- Includes face painting, games, treats, and crafts! Costumes are encouraged.
- Sunday (10/26) at 2:00 pm | 29th Annual Del Ray Halloween Parade
- Children, pets, and decorated strollers are invited to march and show off their costumes! This parade ends with live music and an award presentation at the Mount Vernon Rec Center field.
- Sunday (10/26) at 2:00 pm | Learn to Letterbox: Halloween Edition at Potomac Overlook Regional Park in Arlington ($) (Best for ages 7+)
- Letterboxing is a family-friendly, scavenger hunt-style adventure that takes you to interesting locations around the world, solving clues and searching for hidden treasures!
- Sunday (10/26) at 3:00 pm | Happy Halloween! Family Friendly Wood + Canvas Workshop at AR Workshop in Alexandria ($)
Maryland STEM Festival
Prince George’s County
- Saturday (10/25) at 1:30 pm | STEM Lab: Introduction to Personal Genetics at Fairmount Heights Library (Best for teens & adults)
- Learn, share, and reflect together about genetics in relation to health, ancestry testing, and law enforcement, among other topics.
Montgomery County
- Saturday (10/25) at 11:00 am | Rapunzel’s Tower at Kensington Park Library (Best for ages 6-12)
- Rapunzel needs a new tower to live in! Can you design and build a new tower out of newspaper and tape for her? Who can build the tallest tower for her that can stand up and withstand wind?
- Saturday (10/25) at 3:00 pm | Science Saturday – Ooey, Gooey Science at Davis Library in Bethesda (Best for ages 6+) ♥
- All about Slime!
- Sunday (10/26) at 2:00 pm | Radical Reptiles with Reptile Smiles at White Oak Library (Best for ages 4-12)
- Engage with a variety of reptiles while learning fun, quirky facts about their biology, environment, and more.
More Maryland Events
- Saturday (10/25) at 10:00 am | 9th Annual STEM Festival at Maryland International School in Elkridge
- Includes student exhibitions, interactive experiences, food trucks & book fair!
- Saturday (10/25) at 10:00 am | Morgan State STEM Expo in Baltimore ♥
- Exciting day of STEM-featuring activities, games, hands-on workshops & much more!
- Saturday (10/25) at 11:30 am | Halloween STEAM Stations at Savage Branch Library in Laurel (Best for ages 3-7) ♥
- Build a glow web, make a witch’s brew, mix a potion, and more!
Sensory Friendly & Accessible
- Saturday (10/25) at 8:00 am | Sensory-Friendly Family Morning at George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate ($)
- Saturday (10/25) at 10:30 am | Story Time for the Spectrum at Chevy Chase Neighborhood Library in NW DC (Best for ages 2-8)
- Sunday (10/26) at 8:30 am | Sensory Friendly Morning at Planet Word Museum (Best for ages 10+)
For Older Kids & Teens
Washington, DC
- Friday (10/24) – Saturday (10/25) at 7:30 pm | Twilight in Concert at the National Theatre ($)
- Saturday (10/25) at 1:00 pm | District Arcade 2025 at MLK Memorial Library
- Free celebration of video games and game makers from the DMV area!
- Saturday (10/25) at 6:30 pm | The Crossover: Ten Years Later with Kwame Alexander at Planet Word Museum ($)
- Newbery Medal-winning book turned Disney+ TV series, The Crossover is a young adult novel in verse about twin brothers and their journey through adolescence, exploring themes of family, identity, and sibling relationships both on and off the basketball court.
Maryland
- Friday (10/24) at 4:00 pm | Teen Life Lab: Money Talks at Bowie Library
- Teens will learn the 50/30/20 budgeting rule and practice managing money through real-life simulations. They’ll explore how to spend wisely, save effectively, and plan a budget, as well as learn how to write a check and make future investments.
- Friday (10/24) at 4:00 pm | Teen Drop-In Sewing Workshop at Gaithersburg Library (Best for ages 12-17)
- Saturday (10/25) at 1:30 pm | WIE are Makers – Paper Circuits Workshop at UMD College Park ($) (Best for grades 7th -12th)
- Tickets are $25 per person.
- Saturday (10/25) at 2:00 pm | Intro to GIMP Digital Art at Quince Orchard Library in Gaithersburg (Best for ages 8-12)
- Saturday (10/25) at 7:00 pm | Immortals Uprising at Tucker Road Community Center ($) (Best for ages 7-17)
- Step into the shadows for an evening full of eerie thrills and dark elegance. Experience the chilling Vampire Lair Maze, transform into one of the night’s most feared creatures at our Vampire Transformation Station, compete in the Best Vampire Contest, hang out in a bat-themed mausoleum, and indulge in delicious refreshments and candies while supplies last.
This Week's Book Recommendation
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More Halloween Fun!
More events just added! Check out the full list linked below to start planning.
Updated
Maryland STEM Festival Events
See the list linked below for Maryland STEM Festival events grouped by age & interest with workshops and activities for older kids & teens too. Stay tuned for updates to this blog as the month-long celebration continues.
Updated
