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Oct 6, 2026

Top Things to Do This Halloween in Alexandria, VA 2026

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From Halloween festivals and spooky bar crawls in Del Ray to legends of howling ghost pirates along the Old Town waterfront, Alexandria, Virginia is packed with Halloween festivities and spooky happenings. Visit bookstores with chilling reads and haunted historic locations with ghost stories to share, then dine in globally inspired cafes and restaurants serving fall-themed drinks and food. Wander the city past centuries-old homes and shops decorated with delicate cobwebs, pumpkin displays, and other fall touches before following a lantern-lit guide on a ghost tour through Old Town’s most haunted corners. Named a Travel + Leisure Top 10 Best City in the U.S. 2026 and a Condé Nast Traveler Top 2 Best Small City in the U.S. 2026, Virginia is a historic, cosmopolitan city with picturesque autumnal views across the Potomac River.

Check out these Top Halloween Events in Alexandria…

Table of Contents

no.1
Spooky Bars and Restaurants
no.2
Halloween Costumes and Parade Events
no.3
Trick or Treat Events
no.4
Get Goosebumps on a Ghost Tour
no.5
Stroll Past Historic Buildings in Halloween Decorations
no.6
Spooky, Horror, and Halloween Inspired Book Titles
no.7
Halloween Events in Alexandria
Dine By Category

Spooky Bars and Restaurants

The front of O'Connell's decorated in faux cobwebs, hay, gravestones, and other Halloween decorations. Experience Halloween nightlife in Alexandria through spooky bar crawls and murder-mystery dining experiences at cozy restaurants and bars across the city.

  • September 19 to November 1—Nightmare on the Avenue: Wander into the Del Ray Pop-up Bar during spooky season for a Halloween-themed takeover serving spooky foods like Zombie Brain Chunks, Scream Beans, and Spider Pretzels. Enjoy seasonal spirits and cocktails with names inspired by your favorite movies and music, such as The Blood Moon, The Wicked Flame, Life of a Show-Ghoul, Sanderson Sisters, and Here’s Johnny.
  • October 1 to October 31—Royally Spooked Halloween Pop-up at Royal Restaurant: Step onto Royal Restaurant’s haunted patio to experience a Halloween pop-up filled with eerie décor, spooky-inspired drinks, foods, and so much more.
  • October 10—HalloQueen Drag Brunch at King & Rye: Be thrilled by live entertainment and a luxurious meal, and unleash your inner monster, diva or mythical creature for a costume contest unlike any other.
  • October 30-31—Halloween Bar Crawl at The Light Horse: Haunt the bars in Alexandria by grabbing your friends and throwing on your most hilarious, horrifying, or out-of-this-world costume for a two-day bar crawl with seasonal drinks and unforgettable bar hopping fun.
  • September to December—The Dinner Detective True Crime Murder Mystery Dinner Show at Sheraton Suites: This murder mystery dinner experience invites you into a night of laughter, mystery, and audience-driven intrigue. Enjoy a full dinner while a hilarious crime unfolds around you—but stay alert. The culprit is hiding in plain sight, and before the night is over, you could find yourself named a Prime Suspect.

Halloween Costumes and Parade Events

A group of people dressed in Halloween costumes from The Wizard of Oz.

In Alexandria, Halloween parades, costume parties, and festivals are a part of how our personality-packed neighborhoods embrace the spooky season. Check out these festive costume events across the city.

  • October 25—30th Annual Del Ray Halloween Parade: Children, pets and decorated strollers are invited to march and show off their costumes during this beloved annual parade ending with live music and an award presentation.
  • October 31—Alexandria Fall-O-Ween at John Carlyle Square: Wrap up spooky season with a family-friendly celebration at John Carlyle Square, complete with a costume parade, arts & crafts from local artisans, Halloween-inspired desserts, a beer garden, and family-friendly activities.

Trick or Treat Events

A group of people dressed in various costumes at the Del Ray Halloween parade.

Discover family-friendly Halloween trick-or-treating throughout Alexandria, where local shops, historic sites, and vibrant neighborhoods welcome all ages to experience seasonal fun.

  • October 16,17,18—Sticker Treat Halloween Sticker Crawl sponsored by Penny Post: Alexandria is a Halloween hub and this year Penny Post wanted to level up the fun this spooky season! Wander into Alexandria’s most beloved businesses for unique collectible Halloween stickers from locations across Old Town.
  • October 24—Old Town Trick-or-Treat sponsored by Pippin Toy Co.: Spend the day trick or treating at some of your favorite businesses and historic attractions across Old Town Alexandria. Start your route at Pippin Toy Co. to grab your map, then follow the route to beloved spots like Pacers Running, Old Town Books, AR Workshop Alexandria, The Spice and Tea Exchange, Visit Alexandria Visitor’s Center, Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum and more!
  • October 26—Doggy Trick or Treat: Hosted by The Dog Park, you and your furry friends are invited to dress up in your favorite Halloween costumes and join a festive trick-or-treat adventure through Old Town Alexandria.
  • October 31—Trick-or-Treating at Mount Vernon: Collect candy around the historic grounds and celebrate Halloween with 18th-century entertainment and activities. Hear live musical performances, see soap-making and blacksmith demonstrations, and meet George and Martha Washington.
A woman in historical dress holds a lantern at night beside a brick house decorated with orange lights, cobwebs, pumpkins, and a blue skeleton for Halloween.

Get Goosebumps on a Ghost Tour

Get spooked on a stroll withAlexandria Colonial Tours’ new Ghost & Pirate Tour, Ghost & Graveyard, or Holiday Haunts Tour. Uncover the hidden legends of Alexandria’s historic pubs with Nightly Spirits and gather your gang for a spine-chilling challenge at Escape Room Live. Wander to Alexandria’s Visitors Center to hear chilling stories of ghostly sightings in the old Ramsey house. Did you know of Alexandria’s most famous ghost stories, The Female Stranger, which has enchanted visitors for nearly 200 years. Some say they still see her holding a candle in the Gadsby’s Tavern where she died…

Get Spooked

Stroll Past Historic Buildings in Halloween Decorations

Two pedestrians looking at Halloween decorations on historic homes in Alexandria.

Dating back to 1749, Alexandria’s history is filled with remarkable stories and mysterious legends embedded in the brick-lined streets and centuries-old homes. In Old Town, visit the independent boutiques, shops, restaurants, and historic homes like Carlyle House and Alexandria’s Visitors Center that embrace the haunting season with fun, ghoulish, and pumpkin-faced decor.

Spooky, Horror, and Halloween Inspired Book Titles

Interior of Old Town Books.

From spooky love stories at Friends to Lovers to witchy and magical reads at Old Town Books, explore a range of chilling stories this Halloween. Their new venture, Fabled Ice Cream, spotlights beloved literary stories through imaginative flavors such as “Jane Eyre Grey” and “Wuthering Bites.” Visit the newly opened black-owned business, Long Dark House, has a unique focus on horror, science fiction, and “strange stories.” Alexandria offers the ideal setting for a storybook-inspired getaway.

Halloween Events in Alexandria

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DATES:
10/14/2026AND11/14/2026
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