October 13, 2015

Halloween 2015 Events in the Reston Area of Northern Virginia

By Charlotte Geary

This article is from 2015. Please refer to our 2016 Guide to Halloween Events.

This month is full of exciting Halloween events in Reston and the surrounding areas of Herndon, Vienna, Great Falls, Centreville, Tysons, and other parts of the DC area. Here is our huge list of activities for kids, teens, adults, and even dogs!

The Reston Farm Market

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2015

Fall Carnival Fun on the Farm and Boo-Stravaganza
6-10pm: Frying Pan Farm Park, 2709 West Ox Road, Herndon
Head to Frying Pan Farm for games, rides and tasty fair food. Admission is FREE, but there is a fee for carnival attractions.

From 6-8pm on Thursday, come to the Indoor Arena Barn dressed in your favorite costume for Boo-Stravaganza. Enjoy fun, games, a wagon ride, treats, and a small pumpkin. This program is for kids age 3-8. The cost is $10 per child for Boo-Stravaganza, and reservations are required.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2015

Fall Carnival Fun on the Farm
6-10pm: Frying Pan Farm Park, 2709 West Ox Road, Herndon
Head to Frying Pan Farm for games, rides and tasty fair food. Admission is FREE, but there is a fee for carnival attractions.

Pumpkins at Cox Farms

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2015

Pumpkins in the Park Festival
9am-1pm: Lake Fairfax Park, Reston
Enjoy activities for the whole family like our burlap sack slide, face painting, class demonstrations, carousel rides, food and outdoor fun. Tickets are $4.

Halloween Family Fun Day
12-2pm: Reston Community Center at Hunters Woods, Reston
Children up to the age of 8 and their adults are invited to dress in their costumes and enjoy carnival games, prizes, a one-man band, and a puppet show. FREE.

Merrifield Fall Festival
11am-5pm: Mosaic District, Fairfax
This annual festival features food vendors, a pumpkin patch, a beer garden, musical entertainment, craft vendors, local artists, and children’s activities. FREE.

Fall Carnival Fun on the Farm
12-10pm: Frying Pan Farm Park, 2709 West Ox Road, Herndon
Head to Frying Pan Farm for games, rides and tasty fair food. Admission is FREE, but there is a fee for carnival attractions.

Tysons Fall Harvest Festival
12-5pm: Lerner Town Square at Tysons II
This second annual family festival features the largest hay pyramid in DC, a petting zoo, pumpkin bowling, a candy walk, a hay maze, corn cannons, and a pumpkin smash. Kids 15 and under are FREE. Adult admission is $10-$25. Tickets available online.

Centreville Historic District Ghost Tour
2-3pm: 5714 Mt. Gilead Road, Historic Centreville
Travel through old Centreville with a ghostly guide from the town’s past who shares Centreville tales of murder, lost love and the sacrifices of war. For ages eight to adult. The cost is $5 per person.

Reston Station Family Movie Night: Hotel Transylvania
6pm: Reston Station Plaza, Reston
Come for a free movie under the stars. There will be food trucks and fun for the whole family. Beer and wine will be permitted on premises. In the event of inclement weather, the movie will be shown indoors. FREE.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2015

Fall Carnival Fun on the Farm
12-7pm: Frying Pan Farm Park, 2709 West Ox Road, Herndon
Head to Frying Pan Farm for games, rides and tasty fair food. Admission is FREE, but there is a fee for carnival attractions.

Horse-Drawn Hayrides at Reston Town Center
12-4pm: Reston Town Center
In honor of Reston Town Center’s 25th anniversary, Cornerstone will present horse-drawn hayrides, starting in front of Talbots.

The Herndon Halloween House on Spring Street

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2015

Halloween House & Trick-or-Treat Trail
6-8:45pm: Walker Nature Center, 11450 Glade Drive, Reston
This Halloween celebration for children will include carnival games, admissions, face painting, concessions, and costumed characters. Tickets sell out fast, so order them as soon as they are available: Oct 1 at 9am.

Bradley Farm Haunted House: Coal Mine
6-10pm: 13159 New Parkland Dr., Herndon
This haunted house is a fundraiser for Herndon-Reston FISH, which helps local residents through short-term crises. “Coal Mine” is a fun and terrifying Halloween event intended for older kids and adults.

Herndon Spooktacular
6:30-8pm: Herndon Community Center, 814 Ferndale Ave., Herndon
Children ages 3-8 are invited for this Halloween event, featuring ghoulish games, spooky crafts, and an amazing magic show. Children should wear their best their costume. Each participant will receive a special Halloween treat bag. Admission is $8-$11.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2015

Blood and Guts Run
9am-5pm: Bull Run Regional Park, Centreville
The event includes bands, food trucks, costume competitions, a DJ dance party, and a wild 5k zombie obstacle course.

Reston Zoo Boo
10am-4pm: Reston Zoo, 1228 Hunter Mill Rd., Vienna
This Halloween celebration includes a trick or treat trail, pumpkin patch hay rides, a petting zoo, and the Reston Zoo’s collection of animals to visit. Kids and adults are encouraged to wear costumes. Tickets are $11-$13.

Bradley Farm Haunted House: Coal Mine
1-10pm: 13159 New Parkland Dr., Herndon
This haunted house is a fundraiser for Herndon-Reston FISH, which helps local residents through short-term crises. On Saturday from 1-5pm, there is a less scary event for young children, as well as face painting, carnival games, and kids entertainment. From 6-10pm, there will be a f fun and terrifying haunted house event intended for older kids and adults.

Air and Scare
2-7pm: Udvar-Hazy Museum, Chantilly
Arrive in costume for safe indoor trick-or-treating, creepy crafts, spooky science experiments, and other Halloween-themed activities. The tiniest visitors can check out the Tot Zone to play dress-up and hear a story. Admission is FREE, but parking is $15.

Reston Station Family Movie Night: Hocus Pocus
7pm: Reston Station Plaza, Reston
Come for a free movie under the stars. There will be food trucks and fun for the whole family. Beer and wine will be permitted on premises. In the event of inclement weather, the movie will be shown indoors. FREE.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2015

Goblin Gallop 5K
8:30am: Fairfax Corner Shopping Center, 11945 Grand Commons Ave., Fairfax
Bring the family for a 1K fun run, a 5K race, glow in the dark shirts, moon bounce, face painting, refreshments, and prizes. Register online.

How to Draw Zombies
11am-12pm: Reston Regional Library, Reston
Cartoonist Paul Merklein shows students “How to Draw Zombies.” Merklein draws famous zombies from comic books, tv, and movies. Age 12-17. FREE, but register online.

Mystery Night: Murder on the Battery
7-10pm: Reston Regional Library, Reston
Meet colorful New York City characters, gather evidence and figure out whodunit. Refreshments are included. This event is for adults. FREE, but register online.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015

Halloween Scavenger Hunt
7-8:30pm: Reston Regional Library, Reston
There will be a Scary Scavenger Hunt in the Library where wits and daring are necessary to figure out clues that will lead you to scary items. Be prepared to see I Spy Haunted House! Costumes are encouraged but not required. Edibles included. Age 11-16. FREE, but register online.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2015

Vienna Halloween Parade
7pm: Maple Avenue, Vienna
This annual parade features bands, floats, performers, antique vehicles, and more. Kids are invited to walk in the parade in their Halloween costumes. No registration is required; meet at 6:30 p.m.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2015

Falls Church Halloween Carnival
6-8:30pm: Community Center, 223 Little Falls St.,Falls Church
Infants through sixth graders are invited to enjoy carnival games, a moon bounce, crafts, a haunted house, candy, and a live creepy creature show featuring the spookiest reptiles in nature. Entrance fee is $2 per child ages 2 and up, and free for adults and children under 2 years old.

Halloween at Lake Anne

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2015

Trick or Treat at Reston Town Center
12-4pm: Reston Town Center
Costumed children can visit participating retailers and the Information Center for treats and goodies on Halloween afternoon. Look for the pumpkin flyer in the window. The whole family can enjoy a spooky, magical performance for all ages by Turley the Magician at 1pm in Fountain Square. FREE.

Howl-o-Ween at Lake Anne
1-3pm: Lake Anne Plaza, Reston
Dogs, cats, and all kinds of pets are invited to this Halloween celebration for families. Festivities will include a pet costume contest, pet parade, live DJ, games, treats, prizes, and “yappy hour” at restaurants. FREE.

Trunk or Treat
3:30-4:30pm: Forest Edge Elementary School, Reston
Kids are invited to wear their Halloween costumes and trick or treat in the school parking lot. Hosted by Restoration Reston. FREE.

Halloween Pet Parade
4-4:45pm: Great Falls Village Centre Green, Great Falls
Bring your pet on a leash dressed up in its favorite costume. Parade begins at the East Parking Lot near Grandmother’s Back Room. Judging at 4:30, with prizes for special categories. Pets must be cleared from the area by 4:50pm. FREE.

Halloween Spooktacular
5-7pm: Great Falls Village Centre Green & Great Falls Shopping Center, Great Falls
Children up to age 12 are encouraged to wear their favorite Halloween costume, experience the Haunted House, and enjoy trick or treating with local merchants in a safe environment right in the heart of town. FREE.

Jazzart Masquerade
7-10pm: ArtSpace Herndon, 750 Center Street, Herndon
This Halloween extravaganza features live music from several Northern Virginia jazz performers, as well as complimentary hors d’oeuvres and soft drinks, and wine and beer for suggested donations. Design and wear an elegant mask or a spooky 1920’s retro costume and you might win a prize. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased online.

Kalypso’s Sports Tavern Halloween Party
9:30pm-close: Lake Anne Plaza
DJ Ortiz will spin, and there will be Halloween costume contests with cash prizes.

Markoff’s Haunted Forest

NORTHERN VIRGINIA AND DC-AREA HAUNTED HOUSES

These DC-area haunted houses are not for children or the faint of heart! These events are for teens and adults only.

Markoff’s Haunted Forest
Through Oct. 31: Dickerson, MD
This impressively horrifying outdoor adventure is a personal favorite. Convincing actors will frighten you along a haunted trail, zip line, canopy tour, or hay ride.

Fields of Fear at Cox Farms
Through Nov. 1: Centreville
This fall festival transforms into a nighttime scare fest, with a haunted hayride, bonfires, and the Cornnightmare Maze.

Scream City
Through Nov. 1: Washington DC
New this year! RFK Stadium’s parking lot will be transformed into two terrifying attractions: a Slaughter House and a Victorian Haunted House.

Shocktober
Through Oct. 31: Leesburg
This event offers four haunts in one location: Paxton Manor, the Haunted Well of Souls, the Last Ride, and the Fun Tunnel.

The Haunted Forest at Halloween Woods
Through Oct. 31: Sterling
Take a half-mile forest adventure along the haunted White Trail of Algonkian Regional Park.

Where are you planning to celebrate Halloween? Let us know in the comments!

Some Horrifying Guys Chased Me Through Markoff’s Haunted Forest

Tips for Getting the Most Out of the Cox Farms Fall Festival

Holiday Home Tour: The Wests’ Incredible Halloween Decorations

Halloween Cocktails: Psychotic Spirits & Bewitching Brews

Reston Events in October 2015

Photo credit: Charlotte Geary