Fall and Halloween Events – 2023

Recurring Events

Busch Gardens “Howl-o-Scream” (Williamsburg, VA). Select nights, September 8 – October 31. Learn more and buy tickets.

Cox Farms Fall Festival (Centreville, VA). September 16 – November 7. Learn more and buy tickets. Visit to purchase apples and pumpkins and explore the area’s most amazing group of autumn and Halloween-themed attractions, including a pumpkin patch, farm animals, corn maze, hay rides, live entertainment, food for sale, and 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 too scary. Fun for kids of all ages. Tip: wear sunscreen!

Fields of Fear (Cox Farms, Centreville, VA) Weekend nights, September 22 to November 4. Learn more and buy your tickets online.  This night-time haunted attraction for the very brave among you and is not for kids under 12. Scaredy-cats like me can buy a separate ticket to the evening “Firegrounds” which gives access to Foam Henge, bonfires, music and food but no frights for a reduced price.

State Fair of Virginia. Meadow Event Park, Doswell, VA (near Kings Dominion).  September 22 – October 1, 2023. Learn more and buy tickets. Agricultural and animal exhibits, concerts, games, demonstrations and carnival rides. Free parking. Military discount.

Kings Dominion – Halloween Haunt (Doswell, VA). Select nights, September 22 to October 29. Scary attractions at night. Learn more and buy tickets.

Kings Dominion – The Great Pumpkin Fest (Doswell, VA). Saturdays and Sundays, during the day, September 23 – October 29. Celebrate Halloween with Snoopy and the Peanuts friends. Learn more and buy tickets.

Busch Gardens – Halloween Spooktacular (Williamsburg, VA). Saturdays and Sundays during the day, September 23 – October 29. Celebrate Halloween with Sesame Street friends. Learn more and buy tickets.

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 with Fairfax County Parks.

Ghost and Graveyard Tour. 7:30 p.m. Old Town Alexandria, $15. Weekends in October, including Halloween, at 8:30 and 9:00 p.m.


September 2023 Events


Monday, September 4Labor Day, Federal Holiday

Celebrate the official last day of summer at Kings Dominion. The park is open 11 am to 8 pm and Soak City is open 12 pm to 7 pm.

Sunday, September 10Grandparents Day

Monday, September 11Patriot Day

Wednesday, September 13National Twilighters Day (the movie), Supernatural Day (the TV show)

Thursday, September 14Virginia Day, New Moon

Saturday, September 16 – Rosh Hashanah, Oktoberfest

  • Cox Farms Fall Festival opens today. See Recurring Events, above.

Thursday, September 21Mabon

Friday, September 22 

  • State Fair opens today. See Recurring Events, above.

Saturday, September 23Autumn Equinox at 2:49 a.m., First Day of Fall

  • Autumn Equinox Crafts and Tea – 1 pm, Reston, VA, $15. Join your favorite blogger in Reston for a celebration of fall, creativity and magic along with tea and refreshments. Register on Eventbrite.

Monday, September 25 – Yom Kippur

Friday, September 29Harvest Moon, Mid-Autumn Festival

Saturday, September 30Nat. Hot Mulled Cider Day


October 2023 Events


Sunday, October 1Pumpkin Spice Day

  • Pumpkin Spice Magic and Afternoon Tea – 1 pm, Reston, VA, $15. Join your favorite blogger in Reston for a celebration of all things pumpkin spice, crafts and magic, along with tea and refreshments. Register on Eventbrite.

Wednesday, October 4Pumpkin Seed Day

Saturday, October 7 

  • 25th Anniversary of Charmed Celebration and Tea –  1 pm, Reston, VA, $15. Join your favorite blogger in Reston to celebrate the introduction of the Sisters Halliwell to TV and popular culture, along with tea and activities. Register on Eventbrite.

Sunday, October 8Haunted House Day

Monday, October 9 – Federal Holiday, Indigenous Peoples Day

Thursday, October 12 – Diwali

Friday, October 13 Friday the 13th, Nat. M&M Day

  • Celebrate Friday the 13th at the Firegrounds – 7:30 pm, Cox Farms, Centreville. Join your favorite blogger for Foam Henge, bonfires, music and more. Buy your own ticket and meet up at the Firegrounds. Register on Eventbrite.

Saturday, October 14New Moon

  • Solar Eclipse. Today, an Annular Solar Eclipse will occur (at 11:59 am in Reston Virginia, where it will appear as a partial eclipse). The moon will partially block the sun and cast a shadow on Earth. The eclipse will reach it’s magnitude at 1:18 pm. The eclipse will conclude at 2:38 pm, lasting a total of 2 hours and 39 minutes. Never look at the eclipse without eye protection!

Thursday, October 19 – National Apple Day

Friday, October 20 –  Bela Lugosi’s Birthday

Photo by Daisy Anderson on Pexels.com

Saturday, October 21

  • Mail Halloween Cards. 10 days until Halloween!

Monday, October 23 – National Horror Movie Day

Wednesday, October 25National Apple Day

  • 77th Annual Halloween Parade, Maple Avenue, Vienna, Virginia, 7 p.m. Free. Route 123 is closed in the Town of Vienna for this fun, family-friendly event with some impressive floats.

Thursday, October 26National Pumpkin Day

Friday, October 27Frankenstein Friday, Jack o’ Lantern Day, National Wicked Witch Day, National Black Cat Day

Saturday, October 28 – Full Moon, National Skeleton Day, National Chocolate Day, Happy Her-o-Ween!

  • Halloween Moon Crafts and Tea – 1 pm, Reston, VA, $15. Join your favorite blogger and get a little witchy as we celebrate Halloween, Samhain, creativity and magic along with tea and refreshments. Register on Eventbrite.
  • 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 29

  • 5th Annual Samhain Witch Market, Diversity Thrift (1407 Sherwood Avenue, Richmond, Virginia). 4 pm – 9 pm. Outdoor vendor booths, performances and food for sale. $8 cash entrance fee; kids free.
  • 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 30Nat. Candy Corn Day, Visit a Cemetery Day

Monday, October 31Happy Halloween!  Magic Day, Caramel Apple Day, Samhain

  • Great Falls Pet Parade, 4 pm, followed by Trick or Treating, music and entertainment 5 pm – 7 pm.

Spooky Houses to Visit

Haunted Half Acre outdoor display (Falls Church City). 510 East Broad Street, Falls Church City, VA (residence across from Dulin Church). A creative man creates a Halloween wonderland in his front yard. Open until 10 p.m. nightly. Street parking available on Berry Street and environs. Free; donations accepted.

Halloween Home Light Display.  Each year, 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 mid-October to Halloween night.  Lights are on Sunday – Thursday, 6:45 – 9:30pm; Friday & Saturday, 6:45pm – 10pm. Free.


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.