Don’t tell me that after the pumpkin patch field trips, classroom parties, and all the other activities that require multiple costume-washings, all you’ve got planned for the weekend is some measly trick or treating! Come on. Caffeinate yourself and check out all this fun that won’t conflict with your neighborhood candy begging.
FRIDAY OCTOBER 30
3rd Annual Halloween Rocks! Kentlands Downtown
Friday 3-7pm. An enormous trick-or-treat, concert, and family festival in the Kentlands Market Square with merchant-led Trick or Treat and Festival Activities. The Great Zucchini headlines at 5pm and Rocknoceros rocks it at 6pm. Plus a mini-carnival! Proceeds benefit The Treatment and Learning Centers (TLC), organized by Andy’s Parties.
Halloween at Turtle Park
From 5:30pm-6:30pm, children can enjoy drinks and cupcakes, a Haunted Playground, and a costume parade. Two holiday movies are screened starting at 6:30pm, first It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown, followed by Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. Rain Date for the playground and parade is October 31, 11am-12n. 45th and Van Ness Streets, NW Washington, D.C. (202) 282-2198
Ghost Ship Barry Gets Scary
Friday 6-10pm, RSVP required by calling 202-433-0280. Join the crew and the U.S. Navy Museum’s Education Dept. for spook-tacular fun and a cool craft at the Washington Navy Yard. (No costumes.) 805 Kidder Breese Street, SE Washington Navy Yard, Building 76, Washington, DC 20374. Be prepared for a good scare!
SATURDAY OCTOBER 31- HALLOWEEN
Halloween at the National Medical Museum
Saturday 10am-1pm. The National Museum of Health and Medicine and Family Magazine will host family-friendly Halloween activities for ages 5 and up. Children will be able to participate in a costume contest (with prizes!) and skeleton crafts (make a dancing macaroni skeleton, a medieval plague mask, and a skeleton wall hanging) as well as join in a Halloween-themed family yoga demonstration by Shakti Yoga. Free! At Walter Reed, 6900 Georgia Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. 20307
Halloween Rock-N-Romp at McGinty’s
Saturday 1-3pm featuring Olivia Mancini and the Mates and When We Were Pirates. Cool indie rock for kids and their parents…and a promise not to play the Hokey Pokey. McGinty’s Public House in Downtown Silver Spring, 911 Ellsworth Dr., Silver Spring. 301-587-1270. $7 for parents, free for kids.
Downtown Silver Spring Monster Mash
Saturday 2-5pm. Scavenger hunt, hayrides, moonbounce, facepainting, costume contest, pie eating contest. Totally free.
Fall Frolic at Glen Echo Park
Saturday 1-4pm. It’s all about fall fun for families with toddlers and children. Decorate a pumpkin and create a fancy trick-or-treat bag, make a tamoborine and join the costume parade. Make a Halloween spider, get your face painted, and go trick-or-treating at the Park’s galleries and theaters. Walk through our Pumpkin Promenade and pick up prizes as you follow the path from beginning to end. Admission is free along with most art activities, pumpkins and facepainting require a $1 ticket.
SUNDAY NOVEMBER 1
Camp JCC Carnival and Expo
Sunday 1-3pm. Just because Halloween’s on the Sabbath doesn’t mean that you’ll miss out on all daytime carnival fun! There’s pony rides, s’mores, face painting, a moon bounce, clowns and carnival games. Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington, 6125 Montrose Rd., Rockville. 301-348-3883. $10 per kid or $20 per family.
ALL WEEKEND
“Go, Dog. Go!” at the Adventure Theatre in Glen Echo
Friday at 10:30am, Saturday-Monday at 11am and 1:30pm, Wednesday at 10:30am (through Nov. 8.) Based on the story by P.D. Eastman, the play’s a crack up. We saw it the last time Adventure Theatre put it on and my then four year old was in heaven. 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for kids 12 and younger, by calling 301-634-2270 or at the website.
