It was a weekend of spooktacular Halloween events on the Hill! We attended three of them. There’s some serious creativity in this neighborhood. We’ll share the joy here with photos of the events and some of the phenomenal costumes we saw!
The 20th Annual Hilloween at Eastern Market (225 Seventh St. SE) took place Friday evening on the 200 block of Seventh Street SE, put on by the folks at child care center Kiddie University and camp Adventures on the Hill.
Kids trick-or-treated, played games and did activities at tables staffed by local businesses, schools and organizations. There were bouncy houses in the North Hall, a 3D selfie station on the North Plaza and a dance party under the farmers hood.
Added bonus: this year, Tunnicliff’s Tavern (222 Seventh St. SE) was selling food and [adult] beverages from their patio, which was also a great spot for people watching.
Howl-o-ween
Back after a brief hiatus due to a change of ownership over at pet supply and pet food shop Howl to the Chief (719 Eighth St. SE), the annual doggie costume contest at Lincoln Park brings out the best in furry-legged friends and their families.
This year’s highlights included a bullrider, Taylor Swift and her doggie friend Travis Kelce, a full Candyland set, The Lorax, the cast of the Pink Panther. Local stars included The Prince of Petworth and a little dog dressed as a ballot box, labelled “Vote for Betty! She’s all ears!”
The Wicked Witch of the West made an appearance with the Good Witch, Glinda. There was also a full porch pirate sequence and a posse of cowboys with a whole herd of their little doggies.
Winners received prizes, but every pooch got a treat bag in addition to the tremendous cheers from the crowd.
Hill Family Biking Halloween Ride
Every month, Hill Family Biking organizes a family-oriented ride through the District and area, helping families see how easy and fun it can be to ride where they live.
On Sunday, more than 350 riders participated in the Halloween Ride. Drawing on the Hill is Home Spooky Hill Map of neighborhood decorations, HFB took a 4.5-mile route along the scariest blocks on the Hill. The ride ended at Eastern Market Metro Plaza Park with candy, a performance from the Knox Engler Band and a costume contest.
Prizes were presented by WMATA General Manager Randy Clarke and by third-grader Rome.
The scariest costume by far was a [homemade] seven-foot crow, who indeed rode the full ride before arriving on the plaza and turning on the creepy red lights along his beak. A full group of “tired” folks tied cycling to our everyday feelings. A cute couple of cheetahs took the animal theme, while Luffy (from Japanese manga series One Piece) took the movie title. Children dressed as a bowl of frootloops, the toucon and a bowl of treats took the group title! Honorable mention must go out to the person who dressed as Lincoln Park and to the amazing family costumes –astronauts, Harry Potter.
