For those who crave the sounds, sights and tastes of Halloween, Montgomery County offers much more than the standard trick or treating, decorated homes and costume parties. A variety of county-based groups have created scary and not-so-scary holiday-themed entertainment geared to everyone from the tiniest tots to grownups whose motto, like Peter Pan’s, is to never grow up!
Saturday & Sunday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. to Oct. 29
Montgomery Parks’ Cabin John Miniature Train will be dressed up as “Trainslyvania.” Geared to kids ages 8 and younger. Passengers will spy items in the woods—scary sights, sounds and creatures–as they ride through the park.
Friday, Oct. 27 &/or Saturday, Oct. 28, 7 p.m.-2 a.m.
Glow necklaces, drink specials and access to five of Bethesda’s best bars, raffle entry for great prizes and pictures of the event. Must be 21 years or older to participate.
Sunday, Oct. 29, 3 p.m.
New Orchestra of Washington will present Mozart’s Requiem in D minor (mass for the dead), featuring Cathedra, National Cathedral’s professional choir, plus two contemporary works by Javier Alvarez and Emmanuel Arias Y Luna, featuring the Aerolius Quartet, NOW’s new string quartet in residence.
Friday, Oct. 20, 7:30 p.m.
Fascinating Speaker Series: Speaker: Karen Lottes, MC Historical Society Speakers’ Bureau, tells ghostly tales about some of the area’s “haunted places.”
Saturday & Sunday, Oct. 21 & 22, 28 & 29, noon-5 p.m.
Trolleyfest includes museum admission and trips to Pinson’s Pumpkin Market, 12:30 to 3:50 p.m. (Pumpkin tokens available in Museum Shop). Decorate pumpkins to take home. Visitors also can tour Street Car Hall with a docent, learn about the role of street cars in developing communities, and see the antics of Harold Lloyd in silent film comedies featuring street cars.
Oct. 13, 14, 20-22, 27-31, opens at dusk, patrons must be in parking lot by 10:30 p.m.
Get spooked with a hike through the woods, hayrides, a haunted bus, scary movies and fortunetelling.
Friday, Oct. 13, 6:30-9:30 p.m.
Film starts at 7:30 p.m. Celebrate Friday the 13th with seasonal brews and the chilling classic movie. Wear a costume and enter to win tickets to the next Scary Film.
Saturday, Oct. 14, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Children will enjoy a bounce house, face painting, cookie decorating and crafts, the Chix n Stix and Kona Ice food trucks and live music from Appalachian Mountain Ramblers. Purchase a pumpkin from our Pumpkin Patch to take home to decorate.
Sunday, Oct. 22, 2-4 p.m.
Join staff for an afternoon of decoration Halloween cookies to take home. Cookies, icing and “batty” decorations supplied.
Thursday, Oct. 26, 1 & 8 p.m.
Actor and storyteller David Dossey, a former Gettysburg tour guide, entertains with legends and stories of the supernatural from the Civil War. Recommended for ages 12-plus.
Friday, Oct. 27, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Hijinks and chills ensue when people become stranded at an isolated station as a legendary phantom train approaches. Pizza dinner. Photo ID required to purchase alcohol.
8 p.m. Friday & Saturday, Oct. 27; 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 29
A Taste for Murder Productions presents Dean Fiala’s interactive murder mystery as part of the Murder at the Mansion Dessert Theater. Audience help solves a crime while enjoying a dessert buffet and non-alcoholic beverages; cash bar available, photo ID required. Recommended for ages 18-plus.
Sunday, Oct. 29, 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
An afternoon of ghoulish fun with themed art activities, games, a costume parade, trick-or-treating, photo ops with a showcase of live, live animal ambassadors, 2 p.m. canine costume contest. Costumes encouraged but not required. Complimentary snacks. Recommended for families with young children.
Oct. 14, 15, 21, 22, 28 & 29, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Celebrate the harvest with traditional autumn activities including Hayrides, Twisted Corn Maze Playground, Corn Box Spider Web, Straw Maze Corn Hole Game, Giant Slides, Pumpkin Coach Ride. Jump in the Hayloft, Visit Barnyard Buddies, Pedal Tractors. Pumpkin Cannon (Oct. 21, 22, 28, 29), Pony Rides Face Painting, Apple Slingshot, Pick Your Own Pumpkins 65 cents/pound
Saturday, Oct. 28, 1-4 p.m.
At Glen Echo Park Partnership’s annual Halloween-themed family event, adults and children explore the arts through hands-on crafts, Halloween activities, trick-or-treating and visiting open studios. Pick a pumpkin from the Pumpkin Patch and decorate it at a craft table ($2/pumpkin). Face painting and other free craft activities and trick or treating (1 to 3:30 p.m.). Stroll through the park’s open studios and galleries, including Glen Echo Pottery, the Art Glass Center, Photoworks, Yellow Barn Studio & Gallery, SilverWorks. The celebration ends with a costume parade through the Park at 3:30 p.m. (weather-permitting).
Thursdays & Sundays, 6:30-9 p.m.; Fridays & Saturdays, 6:30-9:30 p.m. through Nov. 4
Four terrifying haunts in one location. Take a 30-minute walk on the Trail of Terror, a tour of the new Lusion Manor haunted house, a ride on the Hades Hayride or shoot at zombies at the Zombie Paintball Apocalypse.
Oct. 22, pre-show reception 7 p.m., show 8 p.m.
The Forgotten Opera Company presents a concert medley of the macabre, featuring selections highlighting the spooky side of opera and operetta. The show celebrates all things frightening, gory, ghoulish or worthy of being condemned for. Audience costumes are highly encouraged.
Oct. 27, 4:00-6:15 p.m. All children must be accompanied by an adult.
The “Not-So-Spooky” skating session takes place on a fully lit rink, and features a costume contest with prizes. Treats for all.
Friday, Oct. 28, 6-8 p.m., rain or shine
A spooky nature hike, magic show by D’s Magic, games and hands-on activities.
Saturday, Oct. 28, 2-4 p.m.
Come in costume for an afternoon of Halloween fun with D’s Magic strolling magician and magic show, Squeals on Wheels petting zoo, kid friendly haunted house, pumpkin painting, scarecrow making, crafts and games.
Tuesday, Oct. 31, 10-11:30 a.m.
Designed just for tiny children and their parents. Come in costume and enjoy a morning of crafts, games, refreshments and Halloween fun.
Oct. 27-Nov. 2
Seasonally-appropriate films include “Night of the Living Dead” Oct. 28-Nov. 2, “Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror Oct. 27; “Phantasm: Remastered” Oct. 28-Nov. 1 and “Suspira” Oct. 27-31.
Oct. 28, 6 p.m.-1 a.m.
6 p.m. Halloween tunes with DJ Kenny Megan, candy, costume contests, walk starts at 9 p.m.
Saturday & Sunday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., to Oct. 29
Montgomery Parks’ Wheaton Miniature Train & Carousel will be dressed up as “Trainslyvania.” Geared to kids ages 8 and younger. Passengers will spy items in the woods—scary sights, sounds and creatures–as they ride through the park.
Oct. 27, 4:45-6:15 p.m.
The “Not-So-Spooky” skating session takes place on a fully lit rink, and features a costume contest with prizes. Treats for all.