11 Ways to Celebrate Halloween in DC This Year

Costume contests, spirited bar crawls, and more.

The fall season is officially upon us, and with it has brought a bevy of seasonally appropriate events designed to both thrill and delight. It’s the most spooktacular time of the year, and the DMV has prepared more than its fair share of opportunities for you to get properly freaked out or party the scares away for Halloween and Día de los Muertos.

From haunted houses and bone-chilling ghost tours around DC to adorable animal costume contests, we’ve rounded up the best festivities to get you in the Halloween spirit so that you can spend the spookiest weekend of the year having fun.

Every Friday in October
14th and U Street
Legacy DC, a popular clothing and weed gifting shop, is celebrating Halloween with scary movies all month long. Every Thursday at 8pm in October, the 14th and U gallery will showcase cult-classic horror films on a 150-inch projector. Tickets are $5 and allow guests to (trick or) treat themselves to popcorn, candy, and a free herbal gift.
Cost: $5

Don a costume for prizes

All month long
Multiple locations
Whether you’ve been plotting your costume for weeks or just want to throw something together, there are plenty of ways to dress up around DC this Halloween. Harvey’s is hosting a proper costume contest on October 27. Categories include Best Overall, Best Couple, and Best Homemade costume, and of course there will be food and drinks to keep the party rolling. On October 28 and 29, you’ll get two more opportunities at Wilson Hardware. The weekend will kick off with a Haunted Hardware Costume Party on Friday, where you’ll be able to dance to a DJ’s beats and enter for the chance to win. The following night, join Thriller on Wilson for more music and take another shot at entering a second costume contest win. Finally, for a more low-key celebration, stop by any RASA location on Halloween night for a free mango lassi or pumpkin chai soft serve with any purchase when you come in with your best costume on.
Cost: Varies

Saturday, October 29
Dupont Circle
The 24th annual Nightmare on M Street bar crawl celebrates Dupont’s newest bars with DJs, drink specials, raffles, giveaways, and party favors. You’ll get cover-free admission to bars like Public Bar and Decades, plus $3 beers, $4 wicked shots, and $5 rail drinks all day long. And make sure you come dressed to impress—this is one of the biggest costume competitions in town.
Cost: Tickets start at $12

Take some spooky swings

Thursday, October 27 – Monday, October 31
Various locations
Swingers Dupont has big plans for the spooky season, and it goes beyond Halloween-themed mini golf. The adult mini golf course will also offer a Trick-or-Treat prize wheel, in which the trick will be a shot of tequila and the treat will be a Cookie Duo. During the five-day celebration, Swingers will also be adding a specialty cocktail to their menu, cheekily called Witch, Please. CitySwing, a driving range aimed at making golf more inclusive and accessible, is also offering a Halloween-themed series of events from October 27 to October 31, offering 30 minutes of free play on CitySwing’s golf simulators to anyone wearing a costume.
Cost: Varies

The Mansion on O & O Street Museum
The Mansion on O & O Street Museum

All month long
Dupont Circle
The historic Mansion on O and O Street Museum will be decked out for Halloween all month long. So there’s no better time to visit for a holiday-themed scavenger hunt. The themed rooms hold Halloween and autumnal treasures to search for as you wind through the space.
Cost: $35

Wednesday, October 26
Downtown
Die Laughing Productions is putting on an all-new Halloween murder mystery at DC Improv this year with plenty of opportuity for audience engagement. You’ll be looking into a murder at a neighborhood costume party, and all eyes are on you—both as the suspect and as the potential star detective.
Cost: $25

NoMa Business Improvement District
NoMa Business Improvement District

Thursday, October 27
NoMa
NoMa is at it again with its annual pumpkin-centered celebration called PumpkinPalooza at Alethia Tanner Park. At the event, you’ll enjoy live entertainment, a scavenger hunt, food and beverage, and yes, a pop-up pumpkin patch so you can take home a future jack-o-lantern.
Cost: Free

Saturday, October 29
Rosslyn
Before gearing up for a spooky Saturday night, stop by Assembly Rosslyn for a daytime party you won’t want to miss. The food hall will be bumping with live music, face painting, photo opps with classic Halloween characters, and of course, trick or treating for the kiddos, all while eating from vendors like Great Lake Diner, Charo’s Taqueria, and more.
Cost: Free

Saturday, October 29
14th Street
Eighties Mayhem: Halloween Dance Party at Black Cat is back yet again, where you can groove out for five hours to all ‘80s music courtesy of ​​DJ Steve EP and DJ Missguided. This year’s theme is Beetlejuice, so bonus points if you’re donning some stripes.
Cost: $15 in advance, $20 at the door

Scorpio Entertainment
Scorpio Entertainment

Saturday, October 29
Navy Yard
This waterfront neighborhood will be transformed into a haunted scene during Halloween weekend thanks to a lot of special effects, props, and animatronics. The party will include a DJ, open bar, large dance floor, and once again, a costume contest.
Cost: Tickets start at $20

Tuesday, November 1
Le Droit Park
Once the Halloween festivities wind down, rally for one last celebration to honor Dia de los Muertos. The rooftop hot spot El Techo will be offering its Taco Tuesday special of three tacos and a marg or beer for $20, plus the bar is serving up skull-shaped drinks that serve eight partygoers for $75.

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Lulu Chang is a native Texan with high aspirations of eating her way through the northeast (and beyond). When she's not exploring the culinary scene in DC, you can find her adjusting the height of her standing desk or otherwise searching for a new project. Follow her on Instagram.