As fall approaches and the leaves start to change, Washington, DC, transforms into a haven for spooky season enthusiasts. From classic movie screenings to doggie costume contests, there’s no shortage of activities to get you in the Halloween mood this year. Whether you’re a fan of Tim Burton’s eerie creations or prefer a more refined Día de los Muertos celebration, these events promise a memorable Halloween experience in the nation’s capital.
The Nightmare Before Bar
When: October 5 – November 3
Step into this immersive Halloween pop-up bar inspired by Tim Burton’s movies. Enjoy eerie cocktails, spooky activities, and prizes for those in costume!
Where: The National Union Building, 918 F St NW
Cost: $12 (Includes a Welcome Drink) Buy tickets – The Nightmare Before Bar – Washington DC – National Union Building
Beetlejuice Bash at Last Call Bar
Thirty-five years after Beetlejuice first graced our screens with his ghoulish charm, Last Call Bar in the Union Market District is celebrating with a 35-day milestone anniversary extravaganza. Starting NOW, this bar brings the afterlife to life with chilling $13 cocktails, strange and unusual drinks like the Ghost with the Most (a Mezcal Espresso Martini with dry ice) and the Go Ahead…Say it Three Times cocktail (featuring Hendrick’s Gin and Butterfly Pea-Infused Botanist).
The Beetlejuice Bash on October 26, 2024, will be the peak of the celebrations with a Costume Contest for the most supernaturally stylish and spooky specials throughout the night.
Where: Last Call Bar, Union Market District
Cost: Varies by item
Hallowine at Sixty Vines
When: October 1 – October 31
Celebrate spooky season with Hallowine Sips & Sweets at Sixty Vines in Foggy Bottom! Enjoy rotating wine flights paired with classic Halloween candies for a fun, festive wine-tasting experience. Each week features a different wine, including Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Rosé, and Cabernet Sauvignon, paired with Halloween treats.
Where: Sixty Vines, 2200 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Ste #300
Cost: Varies by flight
dLeña’s Día de los Muertos Celebration
When: October 1 – November 3
Enjoy Día de los Muertos-themed food and drinks, with a special dinner event on October 24th. Sip on cocktails like the Papel Picado Paloma and savor dishes such as mole and empanadas, all while honoring the rich culinary heritage of the holiday.
Where: dLena, 476 K St NW
Cost: Varies (Reservations recommended) Día de los Muertos Dinner Experience
Café du Paws Halloween | Dog Happy Hour
When: October 27, 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Celebrate Halloween with your furry friends at Café du Parc, featuring a doggie costume contest, Halloween treats, and more tail-wagging fun!
Where: Café du Parc, 1401 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Cost: Free to attend (donations to the Humane Rescue Alliance encouraged)
Fairmont’s 13th Annual Howl-O-Ween – My pick!
When: October 29th, 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Bring your costumed pup to Fairmont Georgetown for a chance to win prizes while enjoying Halloween-themed cocktails. Peanut butter doggie treats and prizes for the best costumes await!
Where: Fairmont Washington, D.C., Georgetown
Cost: Free to attend
Jônt’s Halloween Murder Mystery Dinner
When: October 31st (5:15 PM & 8:45 PM)
Solve a culinary mystery while enjoying a multi-course meal at Jônt, a Two Michelin-starred restaurant. Clue cards will help you figure out who committed the murder before dessert is served!
Where: Jont, 1904 14th St NW
Cost: $545 per person (Wine Pairings Included) Jônt Online Reservations | OpenTable
Calico’s 4th Annual Fall Harvest Festival
When: October 6, 1:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Calico’s urban backyard in Blagden Alley will host its annual fall fest with pumpkin painting, caramel apples, and cider donuts. Sip on hot mulled wine or Oktoberfest beers, and grab a pumpkin to paint while enjoying live festivities.
Where: Calico, Blagden Alley
Cost: Free to attend, all food and beverage sold a la carte
13 Nights of Halloween at Wunder Garten
Next Event: October 19th
Drink specials, costume parties, scary movies, and more! Wunder Garten is ready to bring the spooky season to life with 13 nights of Halloween fun.
Where: Wunder Garten
Little Blackbird’s Halloween Wine & Candy Pairings
When: October 31 – November 2
Why should kids get all the treats on Halloween? Little Blackbird indulges adults with a unique collection of wine, candy pairings, and cocktail pairings. Sip on 16 wine pairings or 5 cocktail options, perfectly paired with classic Halloween candies like Reese’s, Candy Corn, and Red Hots. Highlights include the Nerds Martini and Sour Patch Kids Margarita.
Where: Little Blackbird, 3309 Connecticut Avenue NW
Cost: Wine pairings from $16, cocktail pairings from $20
80s Halloween Murder Mystery Dinner at 1310 Kitchen & Bar
When: October 31, 7:00 PM – 10:30 PM
Step into the 80s for a night of mystery, music, and mayhem at 1310 Kitchen & Bar’s 80s Halloween Murder Mystery Dinner! Solve a wicked crime while enjoying family-style dishes like grilled salmon and flat iron steak and nostalgic desserts like mini-cookies and brownies. Don your best 80s gear for a costume contest, and be the first to unmask the culprit for a surprise Grand Prize.
Where: 1310 Kitchen & Bar, 1310 Wisconsin Ave NW
Cost: $90 per person (Dinner included; beverages sold separately)
Lulu’s Winegarden 2nd Annual Hallo-Wine Celebration
When: October 15 – October 31
Celebrate spooky season at Lulu’s Winegarden with $45 bottles of pumpkin-hued and blood-red wines, autumnal cocktails, and a special Bravoween Trivia Night. Sip on Orange Wines like sparkling French Chenin Blanc or crushable Oregon Pinot Noir, while enjoying terrifying trivia nights every Tuesday. Dress up as your favorite Bravolebrity for Bravoween on October 29th and compete for prizes!
Where: Lulu’s Winegarden, 1940 11th St NW
Cost: $45 per bottle (trivia is free)
Ambar Clarendon Halloween Costume Party
When: October 31, 9:00 PM – 1:00 AM
Celebrate Halloween at Ambar Clarendon with a spooky costume party, ghostly decorations, and specialty cocktails. DJ ALVAMP will spin Top 40 hits while guests enjoy eerie vibes and compete in the costume contest for a chance to win a $200 gift certificate. Don’t forget to vote for Best Costume using a QR code provided during the event! Signature Halloween cocktails like the Vampire Kiss and Blood Moon Margarita will be available from October 28 through November 3.
Where: Ambar Clarendon, 2901 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA
Cost: Free to attend (registration encouraged)
Lapop Halloween Costume Party
When: October 31
Join the underground vinyl cocktail lounge Lapop for a Halloween celebration in Adams Morgan. DJ My Friend Jack will spin a mix of international tunes while guests in the most creative costumes can win free shots and drinks. Sip on craft cocktails and enjoy the spooky atmosphere in this AdMo basement bar.
Where: Lapop, 1847 Columbia Rd NW, Washington, DC
Cost: Free to attend
Balos Halloween Night: Spooky Sips & Live DJ
When: October 31
Celebrate Halloween in style at Balos with a live DJ, spooky seasonal cocktails, and the restaurant’s signature napkin toss. Sip on festive drinks like the Autumn in Athens (rum, cinnamon liqueur, pumpkin spice, and apple cider) or the Pumpkin Spice Espresso Martini. Enjoy dinner in the lounge, bar, or dining room while soaking in the Halloween vibes.
Where: Balos, 1940 N St NW, Washington, DC
Cost: Varies by item (reservations recommended)
JINYA Ramen Bar: Halloween Costume Contests
When: October 31
Dress to impress at JINYA Ramen Bar’s Halloween costume contest! Celebrate with ramen and cocktails at any of their locations, including the brand-new spot at Union Market. The best-dressed guest at each location will win a gift certificate, so don’t miss out on the fun and delicious food.
Where: JINYA Ramen Bar (multiple locations, including the new location at Union Market)
Cost: Varies by order
Never Looked Better: Wizarding World Pop-Up
When: October 16 – Ongoing
Step into the Wizarding World at Never Looked Better, Blagden Alley’s underground bar, with a magical pop-up event. Featuring potion-inspired cocktails like the Suspicious Nargle (gin, cinnamon pumpkin syrup, and cream soda) and the Butterbeer (butterscotch syrup, rum, and sherry), this pop-up will transport you straight to Diagon Alley.
Where: Never Looked Better, 130 Blagden Alley NW, Washington, DC
Cost: Varies by item
New Heights Restaurant Halloween Celebration
When: October 10 – October 31 (Festive Libations)
Celebrate Halloween at Michelin Guide-recommended New Heights Restaurant with a festive three-course menu for $60 per person and spooky new cocktails like the Ghosted Old Fashion (bourbon, toasted marshmallow syrup, marshmallow garnish) and the daring Squid Ink Martini (gin, squid ink, garnished with an octopus leg). Don’t miss the Spider Chocolate Pot de Crème featuring an edible chocolate black widow for a haunting dessert!
Where: New Heights Restaurant, 2317 Calvert Street NW, Washington, DC
Cost: $60 per person (three-course menu), cocktails priced separately
Late Night: Boos & Brews at the Museum Oct. 24
When: October 24, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM / And seperate Spooky Tours ongoing
Explore the Museum’s exhibitions while sipping craft brews and enjoying spooky history tours. Dance to DJ Bo’s beats in the Great Hall and join the Costume Contest hosted by Little Bacon Bear for a chance to win prizes. Enhance your night with Aura Photography, Tarot Readings, and a screening of a classic silent horror film. Featuring local breweries like Crooked Run and Lost Generation, this event is packed with Halloween fun!
Where: National Building Museum, Washington, DC
Cost: $10-$25 (18+ only, registration required)
Morris American Bar: Halloween Masquerade Ball
When: October 25, 8:00 PM – 12:00 AM
Put on your mask and embrace the spooky season at Morris American Bar’s Halloween Masquerade Ball. Enjoy a live DJ, a custom cocktail menu, and a complimentary Lillet spritz upon arrival.
Where: Morris American Bar, 1020 7th St NW
Cost: $20 (Tickets available online)
HEIST: Halloween Weekend Events
When: October 25 – October 31
Dupont Circle’s subterranean club HEIST is hosting three festive Halloween events. Freaky Friday on October 25 kicks off the weekend with Y2K-inspired outfits. On October 26, get ready for a Beetlejuice-themed costume party, followed by the main event on October 31: HEIST Horror Night, where guests are encouraged to dress as classic horror characters.
Where: HEIST, 1802 Jefferson Pl NW, more information can be found on HEIST’s Instagram.
Cost: Free to attend (21+)
VERSUS: Navy Yard Halloween Bar Fest
When: October 26, 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Navy Yard’s Halloween Bar Fest is bringing spooky fun with DJs, drink specials, and a Halloween Bar Crawl across participating bars like Mission Navy Yard, Royal Sands, and more. Ticket holders will also receive a pair of Halloween sunglasses (while supplies last)!
Where: Navy Yard (Multiple participating bars)
Cost: $20 (Tickets available online)
Echostage: GLOW Halloween Line-Up
When: October 25 – November 2
Celebrate 25 years of GLOW at Echostage with five nights of spooky beats. The line-up includes Meduza (Oct. 25), Gorgon City (Oct. 26), Kaskade (Oct. 31), Cloonee (Nov. 1), and James Hype (Nov. 2). Dance the night away at North America’s #1 venue, decked out for Halloween.
Where: Echostage, 2135 Queens Chapel Rd NE
Cost: $25 – $55 (Tickets available online)
Museum of Illusions: Halloween Festivities for the Entire Family
When: October 10 – November 2
Get ready for a spooky experience at the Museum of Illusions in Washington, DC. Every Thursday evening in October, the museum will host Boo & Brew Happy Hours with Halloween-themed illusions, lighting effects, and a costume contest. Enjoy complimentary drinks, photo booths, and special projections. Starting October 26, kids ages 12 and under can join a Halloween Scavenger Hunt with fun activities like illusion face painting and craft corners.
Where: Museum of Illusions, 927 H Street NW, City Center
Cost: Varies by ticket (purchase online)
That’s your guide to getting into the spooky Halloween mood in Washington, DC. Mark your calendars and enjoy!
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