Things that make you go BOO! 🎃

Get ready to get spirited this Halloween season—literally! The DMV is packed with ghostly good times, creepy cocktails, and fang-tastic food, and the fun’s stretching all week long. Let’s be honest, you’ve already got the mask—now it’s time to match it with some killer plans. Plus, don’t miss the vibrant Día de los Muertos celebrations happening before and after Halloween. You won’t want to ghost these events ~ 

Ghostly Events:

1310 Kitchen & Bar: Get ready for a night of mystery and nostalgia at the 80s Murder Mystery Dinner at 1310 Kitchen & Bar on October 31st from 7:00 - 10:30 p.m. Step into a world of big hair, iconic 80s hits, and an unfolding crime where everyone is a suspect. While you enjoy a family-style feast, featuring dishes like Grilled Salmon, Flat Iron Steak, and nostalgic desserts, you’ll piece together clues to catch the culprit. There's a costume contest with a secret prize for the best-dressed, and the first to crack the case wins a surprise Grand Prize. Tickets are $90 per person (dinner included, beverages sold separately); 202.333.8232; 1310 Wisconsin Avenue NW; To make a reservation, click here.

1969 at Astro Beer Hall: Party like it’s the 1960s at 1969, Astro Beer Hall’s recently opened underground vintage bar. On Saturday, October 26th from 8:00 p.m. until close, the bar will host an eclectically spooky Halloween bash. In true sixties fashion, guests are required to bring out their go-go boots and bell bottoms for a chance to win a $200 Astro Gift Card. Attendees can capture the fun in the pop-up photobooth, stocked with festive Halloween and 1960s props; 4001 Campbell Avenue, Arlington, VA. For more information, click here.

All Set Restaurant & Bar: Saddle up for spooky season at All Set Restaurant & Bar with a hauntingly fabulous edition of the restaurant’s monthly drag brunch. On Saturday, October 19th, Citrine the Queen and other local performers will delight guests with seasonally appropriate costumes and lip syncs to Halloween favorite tunes. Diners can take in the show while enjoying New England brunch fare from All Set, including popular dishes such as the Maine Lobster Roll, Eggs Benedict, and Smoked Salmon Avocado Toast.  All Set will serve Mimosa Pitchers alongside specialty brunch cocktails including the Green Monster, a gin and cava-based cocktail which takes its name from the vibrant matcha powder included in the drink; 8630 Fenton Street, Silver Spring, MD. For more information, click here.

Ambar Clarendon: Ambar Clarendon invites guests to a spooky Halloween celebration complete with ghostly decorations and a costume party on Thursday, October 31st. Starting at 9:00 p.m. in the lower-level lounge, attendees can enjoy eerie decor, specialty cocktails, and a costume contest. DJ ALVAMP will be spinning Top 40 tracks from 9:00 p.m. - 1:00 a.m. The event is free and open to the public, but guests are encouraged to register online. The costume contest winner will receive a $200 gift certificate to Ambar Clarendon or a sister restaurant, and attendees can vote for the Best Costume. From Monday, October 28th through Sunday, November 3rd, Ambar Clarendon will also offer 4 signature Halloween-themed cocktails, priced from $14 - $15 each; 703.875.9663; 2901 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA; For more information, click here.

Baked by Yael: Join Baked by Yael on Saturday, October 26th for spooktacular cake pop decorating classes. Kids can attend the class from 3:00 - 4:30 p.m., and adults can enjoy the class from 5:00 - 6:30 p.m.; 202.234.9235. 3000 Connecticut Avenue NW. To sign-up for a class, click here.

Barrel Oak Winery & Brewery: Join Barrel Oak Winery & Brewery on Saturday, October 26th for a hauntingly fun day at our vineyard! Enjoy a one-of-a-kind Wine & Candy Pairing with wickedly delicious combinations that are sure to thrill your taste buds. Trick-or-Treat your way through themed stations, collecting wine samples, gourmet candies, and perhaps a few spooky surprises along the way; To purchase a ticket, click here.

The Boro: The Boro invites families (including furry friends!) for an afternoon of spooky fun in Boro Park. On Saturday, October 26th, from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m, get ready for a Halloween celebration packed with activities for everyone. A live DJ will set the vibe while you show off your best monster mash moves, and there will be a costume contest with gift card prizes for both pets and people! Families can enjoy pumpkin decorating, face painting, glitter tattoos, and Halloween-themed crafts. A palm reader will also be on hand to offer fortunes! Kids can trick-or-treat around the park, while adults can sip on signature cocktails available from nearby restaurants. The event is free, but registration is encouraged; 833.902.3746; 8350 Broad Street Tysons, VA; For more information, click here.

Calico: There is not need to head to the pumpkin patch this year, as guests can purchase pumpkins from Calico’s pop-up patch. On Sunday, October 20th and Sunday, October 27th, guests are invited to paint pumpkins at Calico. Guests can also enjoy Halloween Eve Trivia at Calico on Wednesday, October 30th from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.; 202.791.0134. 50 Blagden Alley NW. For more information, click here.

Del Ray Halloween Parade: Del Ray’s beloved Halloween tradition is back! The annual Del Ray Halloween Parade invites costumed children, pets, and babies in decorated strollers to march and show off their best Halloween attire. Enjoy a house decorating contest, pet costume contest, and stroller decorating contest. Join the fun on Sunday, October 27th at 2:00 p.m; 703.838.5005; begins at Mount Vernon Avenue, south of E Bellefonte Avenue; For more information, click here.

Hi-Lawn: The Rumpus Room Family Dance Party: Halloween Special is back at Hi-Lawn on Saturday, October 20th from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m! Bring the whole family for a day of spooky fun and dancing at DC’s favorite family dance party on the rooftop at Union Market. Rumpus Room is designed for kids 10 & under and their caregivers (no adults without children). Tickets are required for all, except non-walking babies; 202.902.2633; 1309 5th Street NE; To purchase a ticket, click here.

Jônt: Help the Jônt team solve a murder on Halloween Night! This high-stakes evening in the bustling restaurant will be the scene of a crime where an integral culinary member is found “murdered.” Guests are invited to solve the mystery while enjoying a multi-course meal ($545 per person, Wine Pairings Included) at the Chef's counter.  Dimmed lights, candles, and a few key props set the scene. The guests must piece together clues, interrogate suspects, and solve the mystery before dessert is served. Guests will be handed 'clue cards' with each course to help them piece together the murder and motives.

National Harbor: Harbor Halloween is back at National Harbor on Sunday, October 27th, with a lineup of family-friendly fun from 12:00 - 3:00 p.m. Highlights include Trick-or-Treating at nearly 40 locations from 12:30 - 2:30 p.m, and children in costume ride The Capital Wheel free with a paying adult (ages 10 & under). On the waterfront, enjoy a screening of Hocus Pocus 2 at 12:45 p.m., followed by a pumpkin carving contest and a Pet Pawrade at 2:30 p.m., where prizes will be awarded for the best costumes; 877.628.5427; 165 Waterfront Street National Harbor, MD; For more information, click here.

Lapop: Join Lapis’s underground vinyl cocktail lounge, Lapop, for a Halloween celebration on Thursday, October 31st. My Friend Jack will be DJing and spinning a mix of international tunes, and those in the most creative costumes will be eligible for free shots and drinks, at the bar team’s discretion. Grab your costume and sip on craft cocktails in the AdMo basement bar to celebrate Halloween this year in style.

Madhatter: Madhatter is hosting a Halloween Party on Thursday, October 31st from 7:00 p.m - 2:00 a.m. Come dressed to impress for the costume contest, where prizes will be awarded for the best male & female costumes. Plus, enjoy $1 Coors Light drafts while supplies last; 202.833.1495; 1319 Connecticut Avenue NW; For more information, click here.

Perry’s: Perry’s is celebrating spooky season with a special Halloween drag brunch on Sunday, October 27th, featuring frighteningly fabulous performances from the restaurant’s resident performers and a costume contest. To participate in the restaurant’s costume contest, guests are encouraged to come wearing their very best Halloween costumes (although costumes are not required to attend). Winners will receive complimentary tickets to another upcoming Perry’s drag brunch, a t-shirt, and bragging rights; 1811 Columbia Road NW. For more information, click here.

Royal Sonesta Capitol Hill: Royal Sonesta Capitol Hill is inviting DC pets and their owners to a special Howl-Ween Contest and Yappy Hour on Tuesday, October 29th. Guests are encouraged to suit and boot their pets in the most fur-ocious fashion, donning their most noble wear for an all-day photo contest from 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., complete with a royal photoshoot featuring a regal throne fit for a king or queen. From 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.,Royal Sonesta will host a special Yappy Hour, during which the royal photoshoot will still be available for photos, along with complimentary cocktails, light bites, dog-friendly treats, and a Trick Contest with prizes from Fable Pets! All proceeds from the bar will go towards supporting a local shelter.

Smithsonian’s National Zoo: Get ready for a wild Halloween at Boo at the Zoo on Friday, October 18th - Sunday, October 20th from 6:00 - 8:30 p.m! Dress up in your best costume and explore 30 trick-or-treat stations while enjoying spooky scenes and watching the Zoo’s animals interact with Halloween-themed surprises. Tickets include after-hours access to the Elephant Community Center, Small Mammal House, and Reptile Discovery Center, plus a souvenir tote bag for collecting treats. Members get early entry at 5:00 p.m., so join today! Looking for more thrills? Don’t miss Night of the Living Zoo; 202.633.2614; 3001 Connecticut Avenue NW; For more information, click here.

Spooky Spirits & Gob-lins:

Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken: Spooky treats are back at Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken. Now through October 31st, Halloween Mini Doughnut Boxes are available for preorder for all Halloween festivities. The box includes spookily decorated miniature versions of the Candy Apple, Pumpkin Pie, Honey Bun, and Vanilla Glazed doughnuts. Select full sized flavors are also available for purchase through the end of October; Multiple Locations. For more information, click here. 

Atlas Brew Works: Atlas Brew Works is excited to offer specials at all three taproom locations throughout the day on Thursday, October 31st. Celebrate Halloween with $6.66 pints of Silent Neighbor, Festbier, and other select fall beers all day long. Pair these drink specials with award-winning Andy’s Pizza for purchase at the Navy Yard and Alexandria Brewery & Tap Room locations. All three locations will also host a costume contest at 8:00 p.m. with the first place winners walking away with a $50 Atlas Brew Works gift card.

Balos: Celebrate Halloween at DC's hottest restaurant with a live DJ, spooky seasonal cocktails and Balos's infamous napkin toss! Enjoy dinner in the lounge, bar, or dining room with seasonal offerings including "Autumn in Athens" with Diplomatico rum, Roots cinnamon liqueur, pumpkin spice, apple cider, and lemon;  "Pumpkin Spice Espresso Martini" made with Grey Goose Vodka, Liqueur 43 Copa de Oro, For Five Espresso, and pumpkin spices, and more.

Era Wine Bar: Join Era Wine Bar on Halloween for $10 wicked wine glasses all night long, as well as half off signature cocktails. Come in costumes or as you are; 3300 Rhode Island Avenue, Mount Rainier, MD.

Joon: Start the celebration early this Halloween at MayBar at Joon with an all day happy hour beginning at 11:30 a.m. Enjoy specialty seasonal cocktails such as “The Original Sin” with apple cider cinnamon infused bourbon, apple cider, lemon juice and an amaro blend along with $5 beers, $8 glasses of wine, and $10 cocktails. Dishes from Chef Chris Morgan are also available including Focaccia Pizza.

Little Blackbird: Why should kids have all the fun on Halloween? Little Blackbird in Cleveland Park is treating adults to wine and cocktail pairings with candy from October 31st - November 2nd. With 16 wine pairings and 5 cocktail options, enjoy unique combinations like Chardonnay with Candy Corn or a Reese’s Old Fashioned. Wine pairings are $16 (with a 3 or 6 oz pour) and cocktails are $20 (with a 4 or 6 oz pour). For a lighter taste, try a 1.5 oz pour for $4. Celebrate Halloween with a fun, grown-up twist on your favorite treats; 202.244.6550; 3309 Connecticut Avenue NW; For more information, click here.

New Heights Restaurant: New Heights Restaurant is introducing festive new libations and a three-course menu for $60 per person. In keeping with the bewitched month, the restaurant’s culinary and cocktail team has created a dessert of Spider Chocolate Pot de Crème, available October 10th through Halloween, sporting an edible chocolate black widow ($12) and a Ghosted Old Fashion, bourbon, toasted marshmallow syrup, angostura bitters with a haunting marshmallow garnish, ($16) available from October 10th through December 31st. For an on-the-dark side cocktail, adventurous patrons will want to order the Squid Ink Martini, gin capers brine dry vermouth, squid ink, and garnished with a marinated octopus leg ($16), available October 10th through December 31st; 2317 Calvert Street NW.

Opal: Opal will be bringing back the Halloween fun, turning the restaurant into a Zombie Za Pizza Pop Up on Halloween.  Offered for lunch and dinner, dine in and take out on Thursday, October 31st, Chef Colin McClimans and team will be slinging pies all day, perfect for the kids to pop by to fuel up pre or post Trick or Treating.  Other menu items will also be available, including Wood Fired Oysters, Tuscan Kale Risotto and a Smashburger.

Show of Hands: Celebrate the season at Show of Hands with Beverage Director Nick Ferrel's inventive Fall/Halloween cocktail lineup! Indulge in the Campari Cloud, where fall flavors meet cotton candy for a playful twist, or savor the Oh Piece of Candy, inspired by banana salt water taffy. For a tangy kick, try the Chartreuse Shock, complete with a homemade chartreuse pop rock rim, or embrace the sweet heat of Hot Tamales, a crushable low-ABV option. End the night with the Lokum Martini, a Turkish Delight-inspired treat, or the nostalgic Raisinette, evoking movie theater favorites. Finally, sample the Wonka Caps, featuring five unique sodapop flavors, or the Tootsie Pop 20th Century, served with a Cocchi Americano lollipop. All cocktails are $14.