Lil’ Pumpkins Halloween Party
Oct. 16, 10-11 a.m.
This event is geared towards 18- to 35-month-old toddlers who can walk along the trails, paint a pumpkin and also take home a bag of goodies. // Walker Nature Center: 11450 Glade Drive, Reston; $7-$9
Costume & Candy Crawl
Oct. 20, 11 a.m-1 p.m.
Put some extra thought into your little one’s outfit this year, because at this trick-or-treat event there will be a costume contest, face painters and balloon artists, too. // Purcellville Gateway: Route 287 and Route 7, Purcellville; Free
Trick-or-Treat at Bull Run Plaza
Oct. 20, noon-2 p.m.
In addition to costumed little ones, there will be balloon artists on hand at this free event. // Bull Run Plaza: 11010-11760 Sudley Manor Drive, Manassas; Free
Third Annual Howl-O-Ween Paw-ty
Oct. 20, noon-5 p.m.
The name alone already promises fun in store for both you and your cleverly-costumed pooch. Curious canines can meet the county’s K-9 unit, while families will enjoy the magic show, obstacle course, face painters and ice cream stall. You may even be tempted to venture into the dog adoption stalls and look for a new family member to take home. // Northern Fauquier Community Park: 4155 Monroe Parkway, Marshall; Free
Trick-or-Treat at Bristow Center
Oct. 20, 1-3 p.m.
For free, let the kids get dressed in their best costume, stock up on some candy and even take home a balloon animal. // Bristow Center: 10260-10494 Bristow Center Drive, Bristow; Free
Monster Mash: Extreme Pumpkin Edition
Oct. 20, 3-7 p.m.
This is an afternoon full of Halloween-themed events, from classics like trick-or-treating and pumpkin carving workshops, to less traditional celebrations that involve making your own slime and seeing a 6-foot 3D mummy cake made by Jason Reaves, a Food Network winner. // Village at Leesburg: 1602 Village Market Blvd. SE, Leesburg; Free
Air & Scare
Oct. 21, noon-5:30 p.m.
Of course kids should come in their costume and expect to do some trick-or-treating, but this event offers so much more, from Halloween-themed crafts to a monster puppet show to “Spooktivity Stations.” // Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center: 14390 Air and Space Museum Parkway, Chantilly; Free ($15 for parking)
Springfield Plaza Trick-or-Treat
Oct. 21, noon-4 p.m.
Have the costumed little ones trick-or-treat while listening to a live DJ, then document the moment by hopping into a photo booth. // Springfield Plaza: 7206 Old Keene Mill Road, Springfield; Free
Spooky Tots
Oct. 25, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
At this event, little ones can fill their bags with sweets and giveaways, have a balloon animal made, get their face painted, listen to music and more. // Fairfax Corner: 11900 Palace Way, Fairfax; Free
BOO-stravaganza
Oct. 26, 6 p.m.
For $10 per person, little ones can play Halloween games, say hello to the animals, go on a wagon ride and, of course, take home their own treat bag.// Frying Pan Farm Park: 2709 West Ox Road, Herndon; $10
Haunted Happenings
Oct. 27, 10 a.m.-noon
There will be costume contests for both kids and pets at this community event, with games and where shop owners will offer candy from their stores. // Historic Manassas: 9431 West St., Manassas; Free
The Annandale Parade
Oct. 27, 10 a.m.-noon
This 68-year-old tradition has all the charm of a small-town parade. From clowns to book characters, marching bands to international dancers, take in the sights and sounds of the Annandale community. Kids are more than welcome to come in their Halloween costumes, too. // 7000 Columbia Pike, Annandale; Free
Mall-O-Ween at Dulles Town Center
Oct. 27, 11 a.m.
With horse-drawn hayrides, a magic show, face painting, crafts and mall-wide trick-or-treating, the Dulles Town Center is pulling out all the stops for this event. // Dulles Town Center: 21100 Dulles Town Circle, Dulles; Free
Trunk-or-Treat
Oct. 27, 11 a.m.-noon
Neighborhood not the best for trick-or-treating? No problem. Park the car and let the little ones go from one vehicle to the next asking for candy in Lorton Library’s parking lot. // Lorton Library: 2124, 9520 Richmond Highway, Lorton; Free
Old Town Winchester’s Spooktacular
Oct. 27, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
At this event, you can show off your pet’s costume during the 11 a.m. parade, then let the little ones ask for treats from the surrounding stores through 4 p.m. // Loudoun Street Mall: 1 N. Loudoun St., Winchester; Free
Trick-or-Treating at the Reston Town Center
Oct. 27, noon-4 p.m.
The Guest Center and all retailers with a pumpkin flyer in their windows will be handing out candy, and Scrawl Books will be hosting Curious George for story time, too. // Reston Town Center: 11900 Market St., Reston; Free
Fall-O-Ween
Oct. 27, 1-4 p.m.
Take in puppet shows, learn how to make your own scarecrow, decorate small pumpkins, trick-or-treat, check out a hay maze and more at this free event. // Market Common Clarendon: 2800 Clarendon Blvd., Arlington; Free
Halloween Campfire
Oct. 27, 6 p.m.
For $10, Gather ’round the campfire for spooky ghost stories made a little sweeter by s’mores. // Burke Lake Park: 7315 Ox Road, Fairfax Station; $10
Halloween Carnival
Oct. 27, 6-8:30 p.m.
With carnival games, a moon bounce, a haunted house and loads of candy, what takes this carnival a level above? How about a live reptile show, featuring some of the creepiest and spookiest creatures found in nature? // Falls Church Community Center: 223 Little Falls St., Falls Church; $2 per child
Boo at the Zoo
Oct. 27-28, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Among the animals, little ones can go trick-or-treating, asking attending area businesses for candy. Tickets cost $20 per person, though children under 2 are free. // Roer’s Zoofari: 1228 Hunter Mill Road, Vienna; $20
Town Center Trick-or-Treat
Oct. 28, noon-2 p.m.
Take your trick-or-treating excursions out of the neighborhood and into a shopping center, where there will also be crafts, balloon art and hay rides. Hurry over before all the candy runs out. // Brambleton Town Center: 42395 Ryan Road, Brambleton; Free
Trick-or-Treating at Carlyle House
Oct. 31, 5-7 p.m.
Kids will love the abundance of candy, games and crafts—you’ll love that it’s all free. Spend All Hallow’s Eve at one of Alexandria’s most haunted dwellings, which is also hosting a number of other Halloween-themed events. // Carlyle House Historic Park: 121 N. Fairfax St., Alexandria; Free
Mall-O-Ween
Oct. 31, 5:15-7:30 p.m.
A spooky science lab will accompany face painters and balloon artists at this mall-wide trick-or-treating event. // Fair Oaks Mall: 11750 Fair Oaks Mall, Fairfax; Free
Truck or Treat
Oct. 31, 5:30-7 p.m.
Costumed kids can grab candy from decorated cars at this event, a potentially safer alternative to walking around a dimly lit neighborhood at night. // Manassas Park Community Center: 99 Adams St., Manassas Park; Free