Halloween is here, and Northern Virginia and DC are celebrating the entire weekend. Whether you’re looking to win a costume competition, walk your dog through a pet costume parade, or avoid the holiday crowds altogether, this weekend has an event for you. Paint a sugar skull to celebrate Day of the Dead, grab a mask for an Art Deco masquerade, enjoy a one-man historical performance, and more from October 30 to November 2.
Poe in Alexandria
October 30, 8 p.m.
Join actor David Keltz on a journey of storytelling through a recreation of Edgar Allen Poe’s visit to Alexandria in 1849, and performances of the master of the macabre’s short stories and poems. The performance is an annual tradition, one that Keltz has been perfecting for more than 20 years. The Lyceum: 201 S. Washington St., Alexandria, $25
Art Deco Masquerade
October 30, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Disguise yourself in an intricate costume or an embellished mask to celebrate Halloween and the centennial of the Art Deco movement. Hosted by the Art Deco Society of Washington, this event includes live music from Brandon Woody’s Big Band, movie screenings of Frankenstein and The Black Cat, after-hours access to museum exhibitions, a costume contest, and food and drink vendors. National Building Museum: 401 F St. NW, Washington, DC, $20
Double Exposure: Investigative Film Festival
October 30 through November 2
Attention all internet sleuths interested in the behind-the-scenes of investigative storytelling. Grab festival passes or individual showing tickets to this film festival showcasing stories covering themes like governmental authority, whistleblowing, national identity, and more. Journalists and filmmakers will also hold Q&As discussing the investigative and filmmaking process. Screenings include Eugene Jarecki’s The Six Billion Dollar Man, a deep dive into WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, and Kali’s We Bloom in Spring, which follows the women in Myanmar’s fight for democracy. Multiple area locations, starting at $17.53
Stranger Things Halloween Party
October 31, 8 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
Stop by Astro Beer Hall’s 1969 Bar in your best Stranger Things themed costume to win a $100 gift card. Sip on themed cocktails like the Mind Flayer Margarita or the Upside Down dressed in your best demodog, Vecna, or Eleven costume. Dance to retro 80s music and grab a keepsake from the photobooth. Astro Beer Hall: 4001 Campbell Ave., Arlington, free
Brews and Boos
November 1
At this Halloween event, hosted by Hot 99.5’s Elizabethany, make sure you up your costume game: the first-place costume contest winner gets a $2,000 cash prize, and second and third receive $1,000 and $500 gift cards, respectively, to use at any Villagio Hospitality Group location. 2 Silos Brewing: 9925 Discovery Blvd., Manassas, free
Alexandria Fall-O-Ween
November 1, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Bring the whole family to this Halloween celebration featuring arts and crafts, holiday treats, a costume parade, and a beer garden. Walk through the pet costume parade with your dressed up furry friend, paint pumpkins, and browse through local artisan booths. 300 John Carlyle St., Alexandria, free
Purcellville Artisan Tour
November 1–2, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Explore Purcellville’s artisan community through an eight-stop tour featuring 18 different local artisans. From vineyards and craft breweries to painters and jewelry makers, this tour allows participants to discover and support local artists. Multiple area locations, free
Autumn Day
November 1, noon to 2 p.m.
Cascades Marketplace will offer hayrides, a petting zoo, crafts, face painting, balloon art, a costume contest, and more. Bring nonperishable canned goods to donate to the seasonal food drive supporting Backpack Buddies, Galilee United Methodist Church’s nonprofit program dedicated to feeding students at Loudoun County elementary and middle schools. Cascades Marketplace: 21000 Southbank St., Sterling, free
Hip Hop Halloween Bar Crawl
November 1, 2 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Pick out your most extravagant costume and get ready to dance during this annual spooky bar crawl. Stop by nine bars through U Street for drink specials, free holiday-themed swag, a costume contest with a $250 cash prize, and DJs spinning Hip Hop, R&B, Afrobeats, and more. Multiple area locations, starting at $10
Celebración Día de los Muertos
November 1, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Celebrate the Day of the Dead with live music, cultural performances, Modelo beer gardens, sugar skull decorating, and a community light procession. The waterfront event, hosted by the Mexican Cultural Institute and Fiesta DC, will have performances from La Unica, Sol y Rumba, Ballet Folklorica El Tepeyac, and Fundación Elena, with special guest Carolina Cruz of Telemundo DC. The Wharf: 760 Maine Ave. SW, Washington, DC, free
DC Print Fair
November 2, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Support a local artist at this annual fair that celebrates and showcases prints across several mediums like woodblock, linocut, letterpress, and screen print. Browse booths full of works from local artists like Catherine Rubin from Fairfax and Julia Fouser from Chantilly. Eastern Market: 225 7th St. SE, Washington, DC, free
Churchill
November 2, 1 p.m.
Go back in time during this one-man show. Veteran British actor David Payne portrays Winston Churchill after being awarded an honorary US citizenship by President John F. Kennedy. The show blends elements of the Netflix series The Crown and the biographical film The Darkest Hour to give audiences a glimpse into Churchill’s relationship with Queen Elizabeth II and his wife Clementine, his struggles with Britain’s politicians, and his experiences during the Boer War. Capital One Hall: 7750 Capital One Rower Rd., Tysons, starting at $83
Feature image courtesy The Wharf
