Updated for 2022!

Spooky Houses

Haunted Half Acre outdoor display (Falls Church City). 510 East Broad Street, Falls Church City, VA (residence across from Dulin Church). Morning through 10 p.m. Street parking available on Berry Street and environs. Free.

Halloween Home Light Display. A family in Vienna invites the community to view, from their cars, the family’s Halloween light display, located at 2528 Drexel Street, Vienna, VA, from October 17 to October 31. Hours are Sunday – Thursday, 6:45 – 9:30pm; Friday & Saturday, 6:45pm – 10pm. Free.

Recurring Events

State Fair of Virginia. Doswell.  September 23 – October 2, 2022.

Cox Farms Fall Festival (Centreville, VA). Market with apples, pumpkin patch, farm animals, corn maze, hay rides, entertainment, food, picnic grounds. Don’t miss swinging into the foam pit and don’t forget your free mini-pumpkin on the way out! Plenty of Halloween decorations but nothing scary. This is so much fun. Bring sunscreen! September 25 – October 31. Learn more and buy tickets.

Fields of Fear (Cox Farms, Centreville, VA) the night-time haunted attraction for the very brave among you and is not for kids under 12. The good news is that scaredy-cats like me can buy a separate ticket to the evening “Firegrounds” which gives access to Foamhenge, bonfires, music and food but no frights. This event runs on weekend nights from September 24 to November 6. Learn more and buy your tickets online.

Goblin Golf at Burke Lake Mini Golf Course. (Burke, VA).  Halloween decorations and a special treat. Weekends, October 1 – 30. 11 am – 5 p.m. $10/person. Register in advance online.

Ghost and Graveyard Tour. 7:30 p.m. Old Town Alexandria, $15. This event is still taking place during the pandemic. Weekends in October, including Halloween, at 8:30 and 9:00 p.m.

 

September Events

Friday, September 9

  • Adapted Park Explorers – Fall at Ellanor C. Lawrence Park. Adapted to the needs of children ages six to eleven with special needs, this program provides hands on nature activities – the topic is Pond Life. 11 am – Noon. $10/participant (parents not required to register but should be accessible during the program).

Saturday, September 10 – Harvest Moon; Mid-Autumn Festival

  • Fall Full Moon Hike at Huntley Meadows Park, Alexandria, VA OR Lake Accotink, Springfield, VA. Join a naturalist on a moonlit walk over the wetland boardwalk to observe wildlife there and along trails. 8:30 pm – 10 pm. $9/participant; register in advance.

Friday, September 16

  • Adapted Sights and Sounds of Fall Campfire. Ellanor C. Lawrence Park, Chantilly, VA. Bring your family to enjoy a campfire, s’mores and look and listen to animals that come out at night. This program is adapted to the needs of persons with disabilities. Ages 4 to Adult. 6 pm – 7:30 pm. $10 per person; register in advance online.

Sunday, September 18 – Oktoberfest

Thursday, September 22 – Autumn begins; Autumn Equinox at 9:03 pm EST

October Events

Sunday, October 1 – Pumpkin Spice Day

Saturday, October 8 – Haunted House Day

  • Adapted Park Explorers – Fall at Ellanor C. Lawrence Park. Adapted to the needs of children ages six to eleven with special needs, this program provides hands on nature activities – the topic is Reptiles and Amphibians. 11 am – Noon. $10/participant (parents not required to register but should be accessible during the program).
  • Parktober Fest at Ellanor C. Lawrence Park. Live music by The Walkaways and Kentucky Avenue, local food vendors, area artisans, nature crafts. 12 Noon – 5 pm. Free. 5040 Walney Road, Chantilly, VA.
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Sunday, October 9 –  Full Moon

  • Fall Full Moon Hike at Huntley Meadows Park, Alexandria, VA OR Lake Accotink, Springfield, VA. Join a naturalist on a moonlit walk over the wetland boardwalk to observe wildlife there and along trails. 7:30 pm – 9 pm. $9/participant; register in advance.

Monday, October 10 – Federal Holiday

Thursday, October 13 – National M&M Day

  • Potomac Railroad Experience. Take a three-hour narrated scenic train ride and see the beautiful fall foliage in West Virginia. Trip includes bus, transportation, admission for train, lunch in the premium dining car and trip chaperones. Ages 18 and older. 9:30 am – 6:30 pm. Register with Reston Community Center. $160.

Friday, October 14

  • Fall Carnival Fun at Frying Park Farm Park in Herndon, VA. 5 pm – 9 p.m. Admission is free; games, ride tickets and food will be sold.
Photo by Christine Krisza

Saturday, October 15

  • Colorful Pumpkins at Sully Historic Site, Chantilly, VA for ages 2 to adult. Play games, make a craft. The 45 minute program takes place at 10 am, 11 am, 1 pm and 2 pm. $8/each; register in advance.
  • Farm Harvest Days at Frying Pan Farm Park in Herndon, VA. Animals, games, activities. 10 am – 4 pm. Free admission; no registration required (see also Fall Carnival).
  • Fall Carnival Fun at Frying Park Farm Park in Herndon, VA. 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. Admission is free; games, ride tickets and food will be sold.
  • Halloween Haunt. Teens ages 12 to 18 can travel to Kings Dominion on this chaperoned bus trip (includes admission but not meals).  10:30 am  – 11 pm. $95 Reston teens; $143 non-Reston teens.

Sunday, October 16

  • Farm Harvest Days at Frying Pan Farm Park in Herndon, VA. Animals, games, activities. 10 am – 4 pm. Free admission; no registration required.
  • Fall Carnival Fun at Frying Park Farm Park in Herndon, VA. 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Admission is free; games, ride tickets and food will be sold.
  • Colors of the Forest. Join a naturalist at Lake Fairfax in Reston, VA to learn why leaves change color and other natural wonders. This program involves walking on a trail in the woods. 1 pm – 2:30 pm. $8/participant; register in advance.

Wednesday, October 19

  • Online program: Lights Out, Everybody: Mystery and Horror During the Golden Age of Radio. This Fairfax County Library Program features a talk by radio historian Steve Darnall. 7 pm – 8 pm. Free. Register online.

Thursday, October 20 –  Bela Lugosi’s Birthday

Friday, October 21

  • Mail Your Cards. 10 days until Halloween! Today would be an excellent day to mail Halloween greeting cards to loved ones. Maybe your Post Office has some Halloween stamps in stock!

Saturday, October 22

  • Halloween Family Fun Day, Reston Community Center Hunters Woods. 12 Noon – 2 pm Music, puppet show and games. Infants to 8 years old. Free but advance registration required.
  • Boo at the Pool – Reston Community Center turns its indoor pool into a floating Halloween party. Schedule: Tots 6 months to 3 years old, 12:30 pm – 1 pm, kids 4 -5 years old, 1:30 – 2 pm; kids 6-7 years old 2:30 pm – 3 pm; kids 8-9 years old 3:30 pm – 4 pm. $4 for Reston kids; $8 for others. Register in advance online.
  • Gone but Not Forgotten history program at Frying Pan Farm Park for ages 14 and up. Learn about how 18th century residents memorialized their dead. $10; register in advance.
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Sunday, October 23

  • Colors of the Forest. Join a naturalist at Ellanor C. Lawrence Park in Chantilly, VA to learn why leaves change color and other natural wonders. This program involves walking on a trail in the woods. 2 pm – 3:30 pm. $8/participant; register in advance.

Monday, October 24

  • One week until Halloween! This would be a good opportunity to find or put finishing touches on your costume, if you are dressing up. Also a good day to decorate!

Tuesday, October 25 – New Moon; Apple Day

Wednesday, October 26 – Pumpkin Day, Howl at the Moon Day

  • 76th Annual Halloween Parade, Maple Avenue, Vienna, Virginia, 7 p.m.

Thursday, October 27 –  Jack o’ Lantern Day, National Wicked Witch Day, Black Cat Day

  • Make a jack o’lantern. Today would be an excellent day to carve and light your pumpkin!

Friday, October 28 – National Skeleton Day, Chocolate Day

Saturday, October 29 – Frankenstein Friday, Cat Day, Happy Her-o-Ween!

  • Make a Scarecrow at Sully Historic Site, Chantilly, VA for ages 2 to adult. Bring old clothing to stuff with hay and pose with your new friend, play games, make a craft. The 45 minute program takes place at 10 am, 11 am, 1 pm and 2 pm. $8/each; register in advance.
  • Halloween on the Farm (all ages) – Trick or treat at Frying Pan Farm Park in Herndon, Virginia. Visit the farm animals, play games, tour the farmhouse. 1 hour-time slots: 5 pm – 6 pm;  6 pm – 7 pm; 7 pm – 8 pm. $10/child. Register Fairfax County Parktakes online.
  • Haunted Mini Golf at Oak Marr Recreation Center (Oakton, VA). 5 pm – 7:30 pm. $12/person. Wear costumes and win treats. Register online in advance.

Sunday, October 30 – Candy Corn Day, Visit a Cemetery Day

  • Colors of the Forest. Join a naturalist at Lake Fairfax in Reston, VA to learn why leaves change color and other natural wonders. This program involves walking on a trail in the woods. 1 pm – 2:30 pm. $8/participant; register in advance.
  • Halloween Tea: Spooky Victorians. Green Springs Gardens, Alexandria, VA. Lecture on Victorian spiritualism and fancy tea. 1 pm – 3 pm. $35/register in advance.
  • Haunted Mini Golf at Oak Marr Recreation Center (Oakton, VA). 5 pm – 7:30 pm. $12/person. Wear costumes and win treats. Register online in advance.

Monday, October 31 – Happy Halloween!

  • Halloween Crafternoonpalooza. This free program offers families with kids the supplies to make Halloween-themed crafts at Reston Community Center Hunters Woods. 12 pm – 1 pm. Advance registration is required.
  • Pumpkin Party on the Hill. Historic Huntley House, Alexandria, VA. Children 2 to 12 years old are invited to bring a pumpkin to paint, learn about pumpkins, listen to a story, taste pumpkin ice cream and make pumpkin playdough. 2:30 pm – 4 p.m. $9/participant; register in advance.

And so another Halloween ends…but the seasonal fun continues!

Please visit my winter seasonal blog, Cool Yule, celebrating the best of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s.