22 spooky, pumpkin-centric, otherwise-autumn-themed events for your fall calendar
Nothing says fall in the District like haunted alleys, small-batch cider, and drag queens racing in high heels.
Humidity, mosquitos, and sunburns are out; leaf peeping, turtlenecks, and haunted corn mazes are in. Fall in the District is a special time of year, full of cider donuts, pumpkin patches, and the occasional government shutdown. Here’s our guide to making the most of it – including festivals, concerts, cemetery tours, and So. Many. Oktoberfests.
SEASONAL CLASSICS
OCTOBER 10
National Gallery Nights’ Día de los Muertos Celebration
Set your alarms! These events are so popular (and committed to equal access) that you have to enter a lottery to get in. On October 10 celebrate Día de los Muertos with the Afro-Mexican beats of East Los Angeles’s Las Cafeteras, folk arts and crafts, and Latino art throughout the gallery. (National Gallery of Art, East Building;6-9 pm, FREE)
OCTOBER 19-20
Georgetown Fall Market
This event has everything you need to get you into the fall spirit – pumpkin painting, face painting, live music, and cozy fall food specialties. When you’re finished with the market, wander down Georgetown’s cobblestone streets, or visit Dumbarton Oaks for peak fall foliage. (3217 P Street NW; 11am-4pm; FREE)
OCTOBER 19-20
Mount Vernon Fall Harvest Festival
Turn back the clock and experience an 18th-century fall at George Washington’s historic home. Learn how horseshoes were made, sample bread freshly baked in a traditional clay oven, and help make soap the same way they did in the 1700s. (3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway Mount Vernon, Virginia; 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Kids $11, Adults $24)
OCTOBER 29
37th Annual 17th Street High Heel Race
Cheer on drag kings, queens, and community members as they tear (totter?) down 17th Street NW in pumps and platforms in this iconic District tradition that’s been held the Tuesday before Halloween for decades. Or, if you’re feeling bold, strap on your stilettos and enter the race – just make sure to arrive early to fill out the registration forms. (17th Street, between R and P Streets NW near Dupont Circle; 9pm; FREE)
NOVEMBER 2
The Cider Ride
Choose your own cycling adventure with 10-, 30-, and (gulp) 60- mile rides (with a kids option!) through Prince George’s County trails and Washington D.C.’s neighborhoods at the Washington Area Bicyclist Association’s fundraiser. Whatever journey you choose, you’ll start and end at metrobar, where bikers will gather afterwards to celebrate fall weather and sore glutes with cider and donuts. (metrobar, 8:30am;$30-$90)
NOVEMBER 2
Adams Morgan Fall PorchFest
Wander from stoop to stoop and catch some of the city’s best musical acts, including go-go, funk, blue grass, and pop. This year will feature almost 100 bands at over 20 locations and you can expect drink and food specials throughout one of D.C.’s liveliest neighborhoods. (Various locations in Adams Morgan, 2-6pm, FREE)
KEEP THE KIDS ENTERTAINED
OCTOBER 18, 19, 20
Boo at the Zoo
Wear your favorite costume and make your way through 30 trick-or-treat stations while checking out the zoo’s animals. Keep an eye out for playful skeletons and other spooky creatures roaming the main walkway. Your ticket also gets you after-hours access to the Elephant Community Center, Small Mammal House, and Reptile Discovery Center, plus a souvenir tote bag to stash your treats. (National Zoo; 6 pm; $35)
OCTOBER 25
Spookyville: Haunted Alley
Alleys are spooky enough in the offseason, but for Halloween this Takoma Park alley will have even more scares and surprises. If you prefer food over frights there’s a fish fry, s’mores, and a “no tricks, just treats” baking contest. The day before there’s a pumpkin carving and painting party – bring your own pumpkin, they’ll supply the rest. (Alley behind 715-71 Van Buren St NW; 6pm; FREE)
OCTOBER 26
Hill Family Biking – Halloween Ride
Costumed bikers wind through the spookiest blocks of Capitol Hill on their way to Eastern Market for a live band and a costume contest. Start planning your ensemble now – there will be prizes for scariest, funniest, and most transportation themed costumes. Just make sure your getup won’t get caught in your gears! (11th and E Capitol St NE; 4-5:30pm; FREE)
SEPTEMBER 28-OCTOBER 27
Reston Fall Fun Fest
Kids will go crazy for the bounce houses, inflatable slides, and the train ride at this gem for D.C.-area families held Saturdays and Sundays and one Monday in October. Each ticket comes with a free pumpkin and petting zoo access. Parents can enjoy the farm store packed with harvest-fresh goods like local honey, blueberry pie, and autumn blooms. (10800 Baron Cameron Ave, Reston, VA; 10am – 6pm; $5 parents, $20 kids)
OCTOBER 24
PumpkinPalooza
The green lawn at Eckington’s Alethia Tanner Park morphs into a veritable pumpkin patch where kids can pick their own gourd while parents enjoy the pop-up beer garden. The whole family (including your dog!) can participate in a costume contest, live music, and a screening of the beloved Halloween movie “Hocus Pocus.” (Alethia Tanner Park; FREE)
SPOOKY SEASON
SEPTEMBER 20-NOVEMBER 2
Twenty acres of horrors includes chainsaws and spider infested woods, a haunted hayride, and a creepy corn maze. If you need a break from frights you can reset your nervous system with a bonfire and a dance floor. During the day, there’s a family-friendly fall festival with slides and an occult-free hayride. (Cox Farms in Centreville, VA; 7:30pm-11pm; $30-$40)
OCTOBER– NOVEMBER 2
Fill up with food and drink at the “gloriously creepy carnival” where you can enjoy a bonfire, ghouls, and live bands before plunging into the haunted forest. Every bend in the trail is so frightening that kids under 12 aren’t allowed. You can also take a 10-minute wagon ride to the edge of the property to visit a haunted Western town – but beware, zombies! (19120 Martinsburg Road, Dickerson, MD; 6:30pm; $20-80, with free options)
OCTOBER 25
Get ready for a wickedly fun night out at the National Zoo’s adults-only (21+) Halloween bash! Sip on cocktails from the open bar, enjoy thrilling circus acts, and dance to a live DJ across two entertainment stages. Snap spooky pics at the photo booth and, if you’re feeling daring, get a flash tattoo to commemorate the night. Don’t miss the chance to explore the Reptile Discovery Center, open from 7 to 9 p.m. (National Zoo; 7 p.m.; $65)
OCTOBER 26
Billed as D.C.’s biggest Halloween party, revelers can expect two dance floors, fog machines, strobe lights, lasers, over 50 animatronics, and a Ghostbusters themed pop-up bar. And if experiencing “Paranormal Activity” and “The Exorcist” in virtual reality isn’t scary enough for you, there’s also a five-hour-long open bar. (Capital Turnaround; 8pm-2am; $49.99, $79.99 VIP Upgrade)
OCTOBER 27
Murder and Mayhem: Tragic Deaths at Congressional Tour
This peaceful cemetery belies the harrowing deaths many of its occupants are linked to, including a tragic steamboat accident and the plot to assassinate Lincoln. You’ll hear about these misfortunes and murders throughout D.C. history on this tour. (Congressional Cemetery; 12:00pm-1:30 pm; $5)
OKTOBERFESTS
SEPTEMBER 20-OCTOBER 13
Wunder Garten's 10th Annual Oktoberfest Festival
Get a taste of authentic German food while sipping classic Märzen-style brews from Bavaria’s oldest breweries at this month-long celebration of German traditions. Compete in stein holding contests and show off your best Bavarian attire for on-the-spot prizes. (Wunder Garten; FREE)
OCTOBER 5
The Great Oktoberfest
Enjoy unlimited tastings of wine, seltzer, and German and American brews. Challenge your friends in the game zone, dance to live entertainment, and hit the full pour station when you’re ready for more. To soak it all up, stop by one of many food trucks from local vendors. (The Stacks Lot at Buzzard Point; 2 p.m. $45-$60)
Oktoberfest Weekend at the Wharf
A rendition of Bavaria’s spirited celebration filled with beer, competitions, and merriment is coming to The Wharf for another year. Don your dirndl and lederhosen and learn polka on the pier or try your hand at stein hoisting.You can also cheer for the fastest wiener dogs in the 12th Annual Wiener 500 Dachshund Dash. (The Wharf; various times; FREE)
FOOD & DRINK
OCTOBER 12
Snallygaster
Experience an all-day celebration of craft brews, featuring over 450 rare and small-batch beers and ciders from 175 top producers. Sample local food trucks, enjoy live music, and take a break for games at this family-friendly event. Tickets include unlimited beer, wine, and cocktail tastings. (7th and Pennsylvania, 3rd and Constitution;12 pm; $75+)
OCTOBER 19
Adams Morgan Apple Festival & Pie Contest
While the 16 competition slots were all claimed in less than 15 minutes, you can still attend the pie baking contest – judged last year by DC notables such as Phil Mendelson and Brianne Nadeau – and sample heirloom apples at this beloved neighborhood event. (outside of The Line Hotel; 12pm; FREE)
NOVEMBER 2
DC Beer Fest
Hop on over to Nats Park where dozens of the region’s best craft breweries will be pouring your favorite brews, including seasonal favorites like pumpkin beer and Oktoberfests. Food trucks serving empanadas, poutine, tacos, and dumplings are also on tap, along with DJs and dueling pianos. (Nats Park; 12pm-3pm, 5pm-8pm; $55)
