Thursday/Oct. 24
K9s in the Garden. Halloween Happy Hour. 5-8 p.m. At The Garden, 1503 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria. Meet APD’s four-legged officers. Costume contest and prizes for people and pups. Happy hour brews and bites. $10 donation at entry, includes beer. Visit www.Alexandriapolicefoundation.org.
Friday/Oct. 25
Canine Halloween Cruise. 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. At Alexandria City Marina, 1 Cameron Street, Alexandria. Come out with your costumed canine and cruise along the Potomac River to some Halloween tunes. Halloween treats will be provided on board. Be sure to have your four-legged friend in their best costume. Admission: $24.99 for adults; $15.75 ages 2-11; infants and dogs ride free. Visit www.potomacriverboatco.com or call 703-684-0580.
Saturday/Oct. 26
6th Annual Halloween Pumpkin Hunt. 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. At Lee-Fendall House, 614 Oronoco St., Alexandria. Alexandria’s ghosts and goblins will fill the garden with hundreds of colorful toy-filled Halloween objects for local children to discover. Other activities include crafts to take home, a sticker station, temporary tattoos, spooky stories, a costume parade with prizes as well as drinks and refreshments. Every participating child receives a pumpkin, and one pumpkin in each of our pumpkin hunt sessions will have a certificate for a special prize hidden inside. Costumes are encouraged. Admission: $5 for adults; $15 ages 1-18; free for infants. Prices differ at the door. Visit the website: leefendallhouse.org
Old Town Trick-or-Treat. Begins at 11 a.m. Throughout Old Town Alexandria. Old Town is rolling out the orange carpet for all the ghouls and goblins this year. Visit Old Town in your spookiest get-ups to collect treats from participating restaurants, shops and attractions. Visit oldtownbusiness.org.
Carlyle House’s Wonderland. 12-4 p.m. At Carlyle House Historic Park. Cost is $5 (kids 0-12) and $1 (13 and over). Carlyle House will be hosting a Tim Burton-themed party on the front lawn of the house. Visitors will be able to interact with several characters from Tim Burton’s films (such as “Alice in Wonderland”) and play a variety of Burton-themed games. For those who wish to participate, at 2 p.m. there will be a costume contest. Burton films will be playing on the back terrace during the event. No refunds
Trick-or-Treating at Mount Vernon. 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. At George Washington’s Mount Vernon, 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Hwy., Mount Vernon. Admission: $16 for adults; $8 ages 11 and under. Participate in a scavenger hunt, take a wagon ride and create a boo-tiful Halloween craft during this unforgettable evening. Watch wool-carding and spinning, historic chocolate-making and fishnet-making demonstrations in the historic area. In order to burn off all of the extra excitement, try 18th-century dancing before greeting Martha Washington. Walk in a children’s costume parade—prizes will be awarded for the best George and Martha costumes. Call 703-780-2000 or visit mountvernon.org/halloween
Historic Cemetery Tour. Beginning at 5 p.m. Tour departs from the corner of Wilkes St. and S. Payne St., Alexandria. Enjoy a guided tour through several of Alexandria’s historic cemeteries. Learn about Alexandria’s famous residents, including those who fought in the Revolutionary War, Mexican War and Civil War. Private tours are available by request (prices will differ). Tickets can be purchased online or at the Alexandria Visitor Center. Admission: $15 for adults; $12 for senior citizens, students, active duty military and veterans; $8 for children; free for ages 6 and under. Visit the website: discoveralexva.com or visit
https://apm.activecommunities.com/novaparks/Activity_Search/3186
October 26-28
Poems and Stories of Edgar Allen Poe. 7 to 8:15 p.m. Tour begins at the Ivy Hill Cemetery Office, 2823 King St., Alexandria. Admission: $20. “Even in the grave, all is not lost!” The Guillotine Theatre presents “Poe in the Vault” at Ivy Hill Cemetery. This is a sell-out event in a most suitable environment. This ghost tour, accessible to those with limited mobility, begins at the Ivy Hill Cemetery Office and ends at the Receiving Vault, where actors from Guillotine Theatre will read from the works of Edgar Allan Poe. Seating is limited. RSVP to info@IHCHPS.org. Visit ivyhillcemetery.net
Sunday/Oct. 27
Trick-or-Treating with Dogs. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. At George Washington’s Mount Vernon, 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Hwy., Mount Vernon. Bring your dog to Mount Vernon for howl-o-ween fun. Enjoy a great photo opportunity in front of the Mansion, meet people from Washington’s world and enjoy treats for your pup (while supplies last). This event is for pups and their humans only. Price included in admission. Admission: $20 for adults and children ages 12 and up; $12 for youth ages 6-11; free for ages 5 and under. Visit mountvernon.org/doghalloween
Witchy Women. 1-3 p.m. At Historic Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria. Why were women the main targets of witch hunts? Hear about the ancient superstitions and misogynistic beliefs that aroused fear of women as natural evil-doers and led to their historic persecution as witches. Afterwards, enjoy a traditional English afternoon tea. The cost is $36 per person for the program and tea; $15 for program only. Reservations are required. Visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/green-spring.
Doggie Trick-or-Treat. 1-3 p.m. At The Dog Park, 705 King St., Alexandria. You and your family—especially your doggies—are invited to come to Old Town and trick-or-treat together. There will be treats, sales and a costume contest. Come to The Dog Park in Old Town Alexandria to get your map and have pictures taken, then tour the rest of the participating stores to get more treats and find a sale or two in town. Visit thedogparkva.biz
23rd Annual Del Ray Halloween Parade. 2 p.m. Begins at Mount Vernon Avenue, south of E. Bellefonte Ave., Alexandria. Witness a community’s creative spirit at Del Ray’s beloved annual Halloween Parade. Children, pets and strollers are invited to show off their finest and scariest Halloween garb as they strut up Mount Vernon Avenue past local businesses decked out for the spooky season. Following the parade, awards are given for Best Pet Costume, Best Decorated Business, Best Decorated Home and Best Decorated Stroller during a brief ceremony. Go to the website: visitdelray.com/halloween
Trunk-or-Treat. 5-7 p.m. At Fairlington United Methodist Church, 3900 King Street, Alexandria. The public is invited to wear Halloween costumes and trick-or-treat from car to car to receive candy and allergy-free treats. There will also be firepits with hotdogs for roasting and a gourmet s'mores bar. Free. Visit the website: www.fairlingtonumc.org
Oct 29-31
Special Halloween Ghost Tour. Oct. 29-30, 2019 at 7 p.m.; Oct. 31, 2019 at 6:30 p.m. Tour starts at the Alexandria Visitor Center, 221 King St., Alexandria. Discover Alexandria presents an extended version of its Ghosts of Alexandria tour offered only during Halloween week. Guests will explore haunted Old Town at twilight, learning more about the city’s history and lingering spirits. Dogs are welcome. Admission: $15 for adults; $12 for senior citizens, students, active duty military and veterans; $8 for children; free for ages 6 and under. Visit the website discoveralexva.com.
Wednesday/Oct. 30
Costume Halloween Shindig. 6:30 p.m. At Ivy Hill Cemetery, Vault area, 2823 King Street, Alexandria. Join in some cool air at the cemetery's vault, best costume awards, ghost tours, moonshine tasting, readings from Maribeth Decker, Sacred Grove, and some unexpected surprises. This event is for adults 21 and older. Cost is $35 per person (including drinks and food). Hosted by Volunteer Alexandria and Ivy Hill Cemetery.
The Frightful Science of Mary Shelley. 7-8:30 p.m. At Historic Huntley, 6918 Harrison Lane, Alexandria. If you dare, learn about “The Frightful Science of Mary Shelley” in a program at Historic Huntley. Come for a chilling Halloween celebration just for adults. Dean Howarth, the Natural Philosopher, will demonstrate Frankenstein's animation of the dead. Beverages and refreshments will be served. Cost is $22 per person. Visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/historic-huntley.
Oct. 30-31
Poe in Alexandria. 7:30 p.m. At The Lyceum, 201 S. Washington Street, Old Town Alexandria. Experience actor David Keltz as visionary author Edgar Allen Poe, recreating one of Poe’s 19th-century speaking engagements. This year’s program will feature the stories “The Man of the Crowd” and “The Black Cat” as well as the poems “To _ (I heed not that my earthly lot),” “Eldorado,” and “The Raven.” Light refreshments will be available with beer and wine for sale before the show. Cost is $15. Call 703-746-4994. Reserve online at AlexandriaVA.gov/Shop.
Thursday/Oct. 31
Trick or Treat. 4-6 p.m. At Carlyle House Historic Park, Alexandria. Free. Join in this All Hallow’s Eve for good old-fashioned trickery and treats. Bring your little ghosts, goblins, princesses and action heroes to one of Alexandria’s most haunted dwellings. We’ll be handing out candy. In case of inclement weather please call museum for status of the event.
Saturday/Nov. 2
Raven’s Night. 7:30 p.m. At The Birchmere, 3701 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria. Now in its 8th year, Raven’s Night creeps, slithers, and slinks its way back to The Birchmere. Keep your Halloween season going with a unique soirée featuring fusion belly dance, live music and a pre-show carnival. This year’s theme, Creature Feature brings the most iconic movie monsters to the stage. A sci-fi and fantasy fueled feast fit for all fandoms. Buy tickets at Ticketmaster.com or www.Birchmere.com.