Trick or treating is on this year —and we have that from Dr. Anthony Fauci. “This is a time that children love. It’s a very important part of the year for children,” Dr, Fauci told CNN’s State of the Union this weekend.
It’s a big change from last year, when activities were cancelled or moved online. The Hill LOVES Halloween, and so there are spooky decorations down every street and activities all over the Hill, from the annual Hilloween event to the DC Public Libraries.
Many adult events will require proof of vaccination, and it’s Halloween! So masks are a doubly-required part of the look.
So, if you’re looking for events to celebrate one of the Hill’s favorite days, look out below! Check back often, as this list is constantly updating as we learn about more events.
We want to include you! If you have an event to add to this list, please email the details to Liz@HillRag.com
Hawk and Dove Trick or Treat & Family Halloween Contest
Oct. 31 | 3 p.m. 329 Pennsylvania Ave. SE | free
Come trick or treat at Hawk and Dove and show off how eerily creative your whole family can be! Head over to the local bar and restaurant at 3 p.m. on Halloween. The most creative family costume wins a prize!
Trick or Treating | Halloween | Sunday, Oct. 31 | 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. [varies]
Dr. Fauci has deemed it safe to trick or treat this year, so after a sparse 2020, Halloween is back on. Halloween falls on a Sunday, but it’s a school night, so you can expect trick-or-treaters from all over the DMV to arrive as early as 5:30 or 6 p.m. seeking candy and the Hill’s famous decorations!
If you’re new to the Hill, know that the area is a popular destination for area trick-or-treaters. Those who live on major streets can expect hundreds of visitors (Skull Mansion on the relatively busy 12th Street SE will hand out 700 pieces of candy in three hours; houses on East Capitol could meet more than a thousand trick or treaters).
Trick or treaters, note: it might not be the handing out of treats this year, because, pandemic; some folks will use the “COVID chute”; some will leave candy on a surface for you to pick up. If you are handing out treats, you’ll be popular, so be ready. When you’re done, turn off your lights and consider hanging a sign saying “out of candy” on your gate or doorway.
Streets known for their decorations include East Capitol Street near Lincoln Park, and Walter Street SE, which often closes down for the night.
Literary Pumpkin Walk | Free | Various Locations, online voting | Oct. 23-31
Neighbors pick a favorite book or literary character and create a pumpkin, scarecrow, or full-on front yard scene around that idea.
In the before times, the Capitol Hill Community Foundation (CHCF) would gather around our kitchen tables to share a book-themed meal as part of the annual Literary Feast.
With that off the table, CHCF continues the other Halloween tradition that started in 2020. This self-guided tour of book-themed pumpkins and scarecrows across the Capitol Hill neighborhood is a celebration of the season (and our favorite books!) and it raises money for local schools.
Find the map here. Take a walk and choose your favorite! Then vote (online) for your favorite design. The winning household will get to designate $1,000 towards a Capitol Hill public school of their choosing.
Capitol Riverfront Halloweekend
The Capitol Riverfront BID has geared up for a spooktacular weekend of Halloween chills and thrills. All are free and open to the public!
Movie: Addams Family | 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 28 | Yards Park (355 Water St. SE) | Free
Settle in for The Addams Family On Thursday, October 28th, gather with friends, neighbors, and your “altogether ooky” family at 6:30 pm on the Yards Park Great Lawn for a viewing of *snap snap* The Addams Family (1991).
Tricks & Treats/ “Boo”ze and Barks | 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 29 at Sandlot Southeast (71 Potomac Ave. SE) | free
On Friday, October 29th, head over to the Sandlot Southeast with your su”pup”heros and “Bark”ensteins for Tricks + Treats – an early evening of “boo”ze and barks between 4:00 pm and 6:00 pm with a Pet Portrait Station, Pet Costume Contest, and other fun treats.
The 8th Annual Pumpkins in The Park | 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, October 30th | Canal Park (Second and L Streets SE) | free
The park will once again be transformed into the neighborhood’s very own pumpkin patch as the community is invited to go pumpkin-picking, enjoy live music, snag a take-home decorating kit (while supplies last), and even have your pumpkin professionally hand-painted.
Costumes and Treats
Day of the Dead at The Wharf | Sunday, October 24 | 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. | 1100 Maine Ave SW
Celebrate the Day of the Dead – Dia de los Mertes – at the Wharf. There will be live Latin music, street food, a beer garden, face painting, sugar skull decorating, and more to District Pier in partnership with Modelo and Fiesta DC. Plus, win a prize for most authentic outfit! More info here.
HillOween at Eastern Market
Friday, Oct. 29 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. | Eastern Market (North Carolina and Independence Avenue SE) |Free
Organizers have announced that the annual and very popular Hilloween event will take place from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Friday October 25th, usually under the farmer’s hood and on the plaza.
Details are still forthcoming but COVID-19 restrictions will be implemented. Find a way to incorporate a face/nose mask into your costume! Masks really are all the rage this season.
Everyone is welcome, whether you wear your costume or not! Info is updating at hilloweendc.com
Payne Fall Fest
There will be a bake sale, a giant slide, games and crafts, pumpkin decorating, a raffle and silent auction, friendly local businesses, and more!
The event takes place on the Payne Elementary Playground at the corner of 15th and C Streets SE (301 15 St. SE). Admission is free and open to all.
Sunday, Oct. 24| 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. | VADP (L at 11th Street SE)
Start planning your costume for District Dog and VADP’s Howl-O-Ween Yappy Hour. There will be pupaccinos, doggie beer, and more! Peanut Butter Pawtraits will be on sale, with all money going to benefit the park.
Howl-O-Ween Costume Contest with Howl to the Chief
Saturday, Oct. 30 1:30 p.m. | Lincoln Park (East Capitol St. between 11th and 13th Streets, steps near green square) | Free
The Howl-o-ween Doggy Costume Contest takes place starting at 2 p.m. Saturday October 30th in Lincoln Park. Registration begins at 1:30 p.m. in the park, or earlier online. All are welcome to watch the doggone spooky parade of pups in costumes!
The parade is also a contest, with prizes for best group -(2 or more with pet(s) in costume); best individual -1 person with pet(s) in costume; Funniest; Best Homemade and a new category this year, Best Trick For Treat Contest.
There will also be a Parade of Adoptable Dogs and Rural Dog Rescue will be at the event will their adorable adoptable pets.
Howl to the Chief gift bags will be distributed while supplies last. Registration begins at 1:00 p.m. in the park, or save time and pre-register at Howl to the Chief (733 Eighth St. SE) or online www.howltothechief.com
PumpkinPalooza and Doggie Costume Contests with NoMA BID
Wednesday, Oct. 28 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. | Alethia Tanner Park (1150 First St. NE) | Free
PumpkinPalooza is back! Join the NoMa Business Improvement District on Thursday, October 28th from 4-7 p.m. at Alethia Tanner Park (227 Harry Thomas Way NE) for live entertainment, food, music, a seasonal scavenger hunt and, of course, our “pick-your-own” pumpkin patch! This year’s event will also include a special performance by award-winning children’s entertainer, The Great Zucchini, as well as the return of our kid’s costume contest, sponsored by Red Bear Brewing. Don’t miss out on this free, family-friendly event!
We are also excited to share that a screening of “Hocus Pocus” will join the lineup of fall festivities! The movie will begin at 6:30 p.m.
Please be sure to register here to reserve your pumpkins (limit of 3 per family) or to let us know you’ll be joining us for the movie! A limited number of “day-of” pumpkins will be available at the event while supplies last.
Halloween Trick or Treat (& Reading!) For Dogs and Kids
| 301 Tingey St. SE [enter from Water St] | Saturday, Oct. 30, | 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
A fun and spooky event at Steadfast Supply from local children’s publisher, Lola and Pear. Authors Angela Kissel will be reading “Rosie to the Rescue” and Allison McGill will be reading “Duke Finds A Home.” There will be treats, a photo booth and book readings! Kids, kids at heart, puppies and puppies at heart welcome.
Halloween Trick-or-Treat at Lansburgh Park
| 1098 Delaware Avenue | Sunday, Oct. 31, | 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Join your neighbors on Halloween for some trick-or-treating in Lansburgh Park.
DC Public Libraries
Book or Treat | Northeast Neighborhood Library (330 Seventh St. NE) | daily October 25 to 31 | 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. |
Visit the library the week before Halloween and trick or treat for a free book.
Halloween Parade and Party | Shaw (Watha T. Daniel) Neighborhood Library |
Thursday, October 28 | 4:00 p.m. to 6 p.m. |
Join everyone at Shaw Library for Halloween fun for the whole family!
In A Dark Dark Wood Indoor Family Campfire Experience | Southeast Neighborhood Library |Meeting Room | Sat Oct. 30 | 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Drop-In for a magical visit to a “dark, dark, wood”. . For a few special days the Southeast Library meeting room will be transformed into a starlit autumn campground, complete with trees, forest sounds and scents and a glowing LED campfire. Grab your family and flashlight, and head down to the library for a full sensory experience. “Roast marshmallows” and share stories by the campfire, fish in the stream, take a wagon hay ride, explore caves and tunnels, and don’t forget to watch out for bears!
DC DPR
It’s Halloween in DC and the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) is hosting events in all eight wards for the 2021 Halloween season! Each event involves candy, costumes and games for kids.
Sign up today and make plans to attend one of our themed events taking place
at various locations throughout the Hill. This year, DPR is requiring registration for each event (at the link).
Rosedale “Spooky” Halloween Night
Halloween Candy Giveaway And Festivities | Rosedale Rec Center | Wednesday, October 27 | 6pm – 8pm
Haunted Walk Through at Arthur Capper | Arthur Capper Rec Center | 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m Friday, Oct. 29
Enjoy A Haunted Walk Through As We Celebrate Halloween safely. Treats, costumes, fun!
Trick or Treat Pit Stop at Sherwood | Sherwood Rec Center | Friday, October 29 4 p.m.-7 p.m.
Make A ‘Pit Stop’ For Treats And Festivities
Nightmare on Childress Street | Trinidad Recreation Center
Date: Thursday, October 28 | 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Fun-Filled Halloween Activities, costumes, treats for kids up to 19 years old
Field Trips to Pumpkin Patches
Usually, elementary schools arrange a trip to a pumpkin patch sometime in October, when area farms are laid out as fall festivals with slides, mazes, photo ops and treats. School field trips aren’t happening this year -but if you can get ahold of a car, you can still go! Here are the two most popular with the ES crowd:
Cox Farms — 5621 Braddock Rd, Centreville, VA
Cox Farms’ Fall Festival is back this year daily through November 7. The fun includes a 20-minute hayride, so many fall-themed slides, goat village, tractor museum and more. Of course you can buy cider, donuts and popcorn As you exit, you get to choose your perfect (free!) pumpkin from the pumpkin patch.
Butler’s Orchard — 22222 Davis Mill Rd, Germantown, MD
Butler’s Orchard’s Pumpkin Festival takes place Wednesday through Sunday through October 31. Admission includes a visit to the pick-your-own-pumpkin patch and a slew of other activities, including the hayride, a corn maze, jump pads, farm animals, giant slides and way more. Space is more limited than usual so buy tickets ahead of time online.
More Adult
Congressional Chorus Nightmare on G St | Church of the Epiphany (1317 G St. NW) | Friday, Oct. 29 & Saturday, Oc. 30 | Various Times | $40 preferred $30 general
The Congressional Chorus is back with live, in-person concerts, starting with A Nightmare on G Street, a Halloween-themed extravaganza premiering Friday, October 29 and Saturday, October 30.
The Chorus’ first live, in-person concert since 2019, audiences will enjoy the unique blend of song and dance, featuring newly commissioned rap and poetry by Kosi. Jam out with the live band for choral performances of vintage Halloween hits like Monster Mash, Time Warp, and Thriller. Encounter spooky voices from the underworld, and hear the lament of La Llorona (“The Weeping Woman”).
Audiences will have four chances over the two dates to catch the show, which will run as a series of miniature concerts lasting 50 minutes, each with limited capacity audiences: Friday, October 29, at 7:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m and Saturday, October 30, 2021 – 7:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. at the Church of the Epiphany (1317 G St. NW). Tickets online; proof of vaccination required; costumes encouraged.
Hi-Lawn Halloween Prom | Saturday, Oct. 30 6 p.m. to midnight | $10 advance, $15 door | 21+
Recently nominated for a RAMMY Award as ‘best pandemic scene’, the lawn on the roof at Union Market is a great place to celebrate Halloween outdoors. Get ready for a bomb 90s prom on the roof! Dress up and dance to live tunes from DC’s 90s cover band Uncle Jesse, plus a glow-in-the-dark afterparty with DJ Free Candy. Tickets required.
Nightmare in Navy Yard | Saturday, Oct. 30 8 p.m. | DC Water Headquarters (125 O St. SE)| $45-65
Scorpio Entertainment presents an open-air, pop-up Halloween celebration featuring an open bar, food trucks, special FX, animatronics, and award-winning DJ Tezrah! Proof of vaccination required. Tickets and info at www.nightmareinnavyyard.com/
Soul Strolls | Historic Congressional Cemetery | Friday, Saturday Oct. 18, 19 & Oct. 35, 36 | Regular departures from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. | $12 kids, $25 adults
Trespass into the past and discover the secrets of some of Congressional Cemetery’s “residents.”
Soul Strolls, the Cemetery’s annual twilight tours, explore the stories of individuals buried at the historic cemetery through guided tours and costumed interpreters. Experience the history of this hallowed ground exactly the way it should be experienced in October – in twilight and darkness, happening upon vignettes and individuals under the guidance of one of our “Dozen Decent Docents.”
Soul Strolls take place over four nights, October 18th-19th and October 25th to 26th. Hour-long tours depart every 15 minutes between 7 and 10 p.m. for Friday tours, and 6 and 10 p.m. for Saturday tours.
Beer, wine, and cider will be for sale at the cash bar in the Chapel. Adult tickets are $25; children 12 and under are $12. Attendees can arrive early to grab a glass of wine and browse the HCC gift shop.
For more information and to buy tickets, please see the Soul Strolls website:
https://congressionalcemetery.ticketleap.com/soul-strolls/
Paint, Sip N Scare ( Costume Halloween Party) | Fri, October 29, 2021
6:30 PM – 8:30 PM EDT | 1220 H St. NE | $40
Wearing a costume is optional, but why not? It’s Halloween season and you know what time it is. Come out and enjoy a two hour paint session on a Pre-Stencilled canvas with one free cocktail ! Great music, great vibes and more drink and food options for purchase ! A great place to start your Halloween TGIF activities. Tickets online here
