Halloween in Alexandria: ghost tours, Poe at the Lyceum, the Del Ray parade and parties for every age. 2026 has passed; the 2027 listings arrive in September.

Last checked Nov. 1, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Listings come from the city’s events calendar, Visit Alexandria’s Halloween page and each organizer’s own page; times and prices are as published.

Updated Nov. 1: Halloween 2026 has passed. This page will be refreshed for Halloween 2027 in September; for what is on now, see things to do this month.

Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, and Alexandria fills the week before it with historic house tours after dark, parties for children and adults, and a ride past the best-decorated houses in Del Ray. Trick-or-treat times, Old Town Trick-or-Treat, the police trunk-or-treat and the Del Ray Halloween Parade are on our trick-or-treat hours page; pumpkins and fall festivals are on our fall festivals page. This page covers everything else.

Before you go

  • City recreation events: register on the city calendar; questions to Alex311, 311 or 703-746-4311
  • Carlyle House: 703-549-2997 or carlyle@nvrpa.org
  • Police non-emergency: 703-746-4444; in an emergency, call 911

Haunted history in Old Town

  • Death Comes to Carlyle House, 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, at 121 N. Fairfax St. John Carlyle died in September 1780, and guides explain how the family would have mourned. Tours are self-paced; last entry is 7:45 p.m. Register through NOVA Parks.
  • Halloween Trivia Night at Carlyle House, 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28. Questions on Halloween facts, movies and food. $15 a person with snacks and mocktails; teams of up to six; register ahead on the NOVA Parks registration page.
  • Poe in Alexandria, 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29, and Friday, Oct. 30, at the Lyceum, 201 S. Washington St. Actor David Keltz performs Edgar Allan Poe. $25 from the Historic Alexandria shop.
  • Haunted Lantern Tours at the Lee-Fendall House, 614 Oronoco St., at 7 and 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, and Saturday, Oct. 31. About 45 minutes through the first and second floors by lantern light, with the house’s ghost stories. $20; 12 people a tour; recommended for ages 12 and up. Tickets.

The Apothecary Museum’s Oct. 30 poisons tour is sold out, according to the city calendar.

Parties and shows

When Event Where Cost
Saturday, Oct. 24, 8-10 p.m. Halloween Improv Comedy with the Auxiliary, 18 and older recommended The Lyceum, 201 S. Washington St. Free; donations welcome
Thursday, Oct. 29, 6-8 p.m. Halloween Trivia With Cats Mount Purrnon Cat Cafe, 109 S. Alfred St. Tickets
Friday, Oct. 30, 6 p.m. Halloween Decorations Bike Tour, about 6 miles through Del Ray and Rosemont, all ages Main Line Boulevard cul-de-sac Register
Friday, Oct. 30, 6:30-8 p.m. Paws and Potions, a witchy craft night with mulled wine and cats Mount Purrnon Cat Cafe Tickets
Saturday, Oct. 31, 8-11:30 p.m. Adults Only Halloween Party, 21 and older, DJ and costume contest Continues Arcade, 1050 N. Fayette St. Tickets

Royal Restaurant, 730 N. St. Asaph St., has turned its patio into a Halloween pop-up called Royally Spooked through Oct. 31, with decorations and seasonal drinks. A ticketed two-day Halloween bar crawl for adults 21 and over checks in at 715 King St. on Oct. 30 and 31 (organizer’s page).

The bike tour is listed by the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC). Bring lights; costumes are encouraged, and the ride stops eight to 10 times for photos.

City recreation center parties, Friday, Oct. 30

The city’s Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities throws four parties the night before Halloween:

  • Boo-Fest, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Charles Houston Recreation Center, 901 Wythe St. Free; costume parade and carnival games.
  • Family October Fest, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Patrick Henry Recreation Center, 4653 Taney Ave. $10; includes a haunted house.
  • Family Masquerade Ball, 6:30 to 9 p.m., Mount Vernon Recreation Center, 2701 Commonwealth Ave. $9.
  • HalloTeen Night, 7 to 9:45 p.m., William Ramsay Recreation Center, 5650 Sanger Ave. Free, ages 12-18.

Register for the paid events on the city calendar.

Halloween Saturday

On Oct. 31 the city’s Floating Pumpkin Patch at Chinquapin pool, Pumpkin Palooza at the Lee-Fendall House, Alexandria Fall-O-Ween at Carlyle and the free “This is Halloween” concert all run during the day; details are on our fall festivals page.

South of the city, George Washington’s Mount Vernon holds trick-or-treating around the estate from 2 to 5 p.m., with music, soap-making and blacksmith demonstrations, and George and Martha Washington. The estate says children can get a free meal at the Mount Vernon Inn Restaurant from 5 to 8 p.m. Details and tickets.

What this means for you

  • Book the small tours early: the lantern tours take 12 people at a time, and Carlyle House trivia teams are capped at six.
  • Old Town is busy all Halloween week; the free King Street Trolley and DASH buses save hunting for a space. See our getting around guide.
  • Daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 1.

Related guides: trick-or-treat hours, fall festivals and pumpkin patches and things to do this month.

Frequently asked questions

What Halloween events are in Alexandria this year?

Death Comes to Carlyle House on Oct. 24, Halloween trivia at Carlyle House on Oct. 28, Poe in Alexandria at the Lyceum Oct. 29-30, lantern ghost tours at the Lee-Fendall House Oct. 30-31, and city recreation center parties on Oct. 30.

Is there a haunted house in Alexandria, Virginia?

The city’s Family October Fest at Patrick Henry Recreation Center, 4653 Taney Ave., has a haunted house from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30. For something scarier, the Lee-Fendall House runs Haunted Lantern Tours recommended for ages 12 and up.

Are there Halloween events for adults in Alexandria?

Yes. Continues Arcade holds a 21-and-over Halloween party from 8 to 11:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, with a DJ and a costume contest, and Carlyle House hosts a Halloween trivia night on Oct. 28.

What are the trick-or-treat hours in Alexandria?

The city does not set official hours. Our separate trick-or-treat page lists Old Town Trick-or-Treat, the police trunk-or-treat and the Del Ray Halloween Parade.