Dear first-timer who’s looking for information about Halloween around Capitol Hill, District of Columbia: WELCOME! This neighborhood takes its spooky celebrations very seriously, and we hope you will join all the fun and be delighted.
Dear old-timers: HIGH-FIVES! LET’S ROLL. I see all your decorations going up early and I’d like to send a special shoutout to the house at the corner of 9th and E Streets, NE. Congratulations on putting up your decorations the third week of September. Respect.
Streets To Visit This Season
You can never go wrong with East Capitol Street (more about this street under Trick-or-Treating, Halloween). Make a point to visit Walter Street, south of Independence and between 12th and 13th Streets SE. Talk about spirit! The neighbors really go all out and there are lights strewn across the street for that European flair. The street is blocked off on Halloween night, making it a really nice place to go with little ones.
Hitchcocktober
Celebrate Hitchcocktober at The Miracle Theatre! On Fridays at 7 p.m., from October 18 to November 22, you can catch some of the best movies by The Master of Suspense. For more information and to see the lineup, visit TheMiracleTheatre.com
The Angelika Pop-Up at Union Market is also doing Hitchcocktober. For three Wednesdays during the month of October, catch one of three movies by the master, starting at 7 p.m. More info? Click here.
Soul Strolls
The hippest cemetery does the coolest things for Halloween. You may have missed the fun over at the Dead Man’s Run, but you can catch scandalous highlights and stories from those we once called neighbors from their, um, own mouths. Soul Strolls are dusktime walks through the history and lore of our beloved Congressional Cemetery. They will take place the two weekends leading up to Halloween and you can reserve your spot here.
Constitutional (n): Votes for Women:
On Saturday, October 19, join Eastern Market Main Street’s libation-filled tour of the neighborhood. You’re encouraged to dress up as your favorite sister suffragette, so it’s basically Halloween themed! More info here.
Hill-O-Ween!
One of the most beloved Hill traditions is back on Friday, October 25 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.! Hill-o-Ween turns the 200 block of 7th Street SE into a spooky, ooky, kid-friendly Halloweenie wonderland, complete with face painting, a photo booth, hay rides, moon bounces and so much more! (We’ll be there!)You can keep track of the event over on Facebook.
By the way, if you love the littles and want to help the neighborhood fun, you can volunteer. Click here to find out more.
HOWLoween!
Dog parents also get their own beloved Hill tradition, courtesy of Howl to the Chief, where doggies don their spooky best and parade around Lincoln Park for fame, glory and TREATS! Part fashion show, part good ol’ Lincoln Park fun, the costume contest starts at 2 p.m. on Saturday, October 26. You may register Fido starting at 1 p.m. the day of the contest. For more information, click here.
Labyrinth Taste of Horror Celebration
On Saturday, October 26, Labyrinth celebrates all things spooky by giving out discounts to patrons in costume all day. More details here.
Thriller on H Street!
Back by popular demand, one of the most fun things you may end up doing this Halloween season. The Joy of Motion Dance Center cordially invites you to a dance workshop on Saturday, October 26 starting at 6 p.m. During the workshop, plan to make some money moves: Learn choreography to a mashup of holiday favorites, such as Michael Jackson’s Thriller and My Family by Migos –a song featured in the new Addams Family movie. More information and sign-up here. Wear your coolest costume!
A Murder Mystery and Halloween Bash
On Sunday, October 27, Wisdom whisks you away to Bloodworth Falls, where someone is sure to die. You get to solve a mystery and win prizes! The cost is $45 per person and you’re encouraged to dress in original Halloween costume. For more information, go to the event’s Facebook page.
Bewitching Cocktails
The Night Witch at Suburbia flies in the weekend of October 18-20, promising three days of special themed cocktails hosted by The Mixtress herself, Gina Chersevani. With drinks like The Beyoncé, a mix of Cotton and Reed Rum, Green Tea and Maple Limeade or the Selena, Sombra Mezcal, Concord Grapes, Salty Vanilla Peanut Syrup and Citrus, it’s bound to be bewitching.
Spooky Storytime!
On October 29, enjoy an outdoor Spooky Story Time from 6-8 p.m. at Rosedale Recreation Center, hosted by Rosedale Library Friends and Capitol Hill Outfitters. No one can bring a story to life quite like a librarian, so prepare to be thoroughly spoOoo0o0Oked! For more details, visit Libraryween.
Halloween night (Thursday, October 31)
Here’s the drill: If you have younger children, get your Trick-or-Treating started early. On October 31, the sun will set at 6:10 p.m., but it will start getting dark a half-hour before, so your best bet with toddlers and young school aged children is to head out between 5:15 and 5:30 p.m. East Capitol Street is always a great street for everyone: There is loads of candy and even trick-or-treating for the attending adults. Some of the larger houses, such as the one on the north side in the 900 block, invite trick-or-treaters into their yard for added chills and thrills.
The Potomac Avenue Garden, 1200 Potomac Avenue SE, will be handing out treats between 5-7 p.m. this year. Go visit them and tell them we say hello! Who knows, your treat may be that you get a new garden plot just in time for spring 😉
The Southeast library will have a Halloween party starting at 4:30 p.m. on Halloween night. There will be games, treats and more!
Do good on Halloween
This message comes from our friends at Good Neighbor Capitol Hill: Do you have any outgrown Halloween costumes? You can donate them to Afghan refugee children. Drop off clean costumes in good condition in the entrance hallway of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church by October 15, so the costumes can be distributed before Halloween. For more information, contact karen.getman@gmail.com
Haunted Disco
On Thursday, October 31, Haunted Disco, a mega haunted pop-up disco is coming to the DC Water office space and bringing chills, thrills, tunes, foodz and…. an abduction?! From the press release:
Haunted Disco, a pop-up Halloween Night dance party at the new HQ0 Waterside in Navy Yard, will feature 2 DJs on two levels of the 17,000 square foot space, complete with open bar, food, light show, special FX, and the ultimate party twist, a midnight abduction!
“It will be haunted house meets nightclub,” says DJ and producer Edward Daniels. “Let’s just say that not all guests who enter the party will make it home that night.”
For more info and tickets, click here.
Pumpkin Painting Party
The Whole Foods Kid’s Club (is it only one kid in the club? Yuk, yuk!) will hold a pumpkin painting party on Saturday, October 26 at the H Street Location. The painting party goes from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and all you need to do is buy a pumpkin to participate.
Halloween Week at Fit4Mom
If you’ve ever wanted to work out with your baby, in a costume, and to the beat of a spooky soundtrack, Fit4Mom DC has you covered. (Can I borrow a baby?) On Wednesday, October 30, there will be a special playgroup at the Rumsey Aquatic center after the 10:30 a.m. class that’s open to everyone, and there will be seasonal crafts! Click here for more information.
Fall Festivals
What is fall and spooky time without a pumpkin patch and a piece of hay stabbing you somewhere through your clothing? That’s right! Enjoy the joys of autumn’s bounty at these rockin’ places:
Maury Elementary Fall Festival: Next Saturday, October 19, 2019, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., get ready to celebrate all things FALL with Maury! The proceeds help Maury kids go to space camp. A $25 bracelet gets you food, face paint and a chance to cover the principal or one of the staff in silly string. What more could you want? There will also be carnival games and a haunted house! More info here.
DC Bridge Park’s FREE FALL FESTIVAL On Saturday, October 19, from 4-8 p.m., join the DC Bridge Park for the annual Taste of The Harvest. There will be s’mores, cooking demos, dinner, garlic planting, live performances and more! You are encouraged to RSVP at bridgepark.org/harvest
This event will take place across the river, at 1901 Mississippi Ave SE Washington DC. 20019.
Frager’s Fall Festival: This Saturday, October 14, celebrate the best of the season at Frager’s. There will be a free cookout, a costume contest, pumpkin painting and carving and a lot more! Check out the Facebook event page for more information.
Payne Elementary Fall Festival: Support the Payne Elementary PTA and enjoy all the fall things on Saturday, October 26, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be bounce houses, CHILI, pumpkins, baked goods and one of the best school playgrounds around. Best of all, admission is free!
Harvest Fest: On Saturday, October 26, from 12-2 p.m., join the neighbors in ANC 6B07 for Harvest Fest! There will be a costume parade led by the Potomac Gardens’ marching band! Meet at 14th and K Streets SE to join in the fun.
Tyler Elementary’s Fall Festival will take place on Saturday, November 16. Watch this space for updates.
Post-Halloween Sleepover
This one is for the museum fans! The Smithsonian National History Museum is hosting a post-Halloween Sleepover on Saturday, November 2. for children 8-14 years old, costume encouraged! The fine print: “There must be at least one adult for every three children in any group that registers. Chaperones must be 21 years or older. No adults without children.” You can register here or call 202-633-3030.
Side Yards Carnival AND The Bone Yards
That’s right! You can keep celebrating this season of mischief at The Yards’ Side Yards on Saturday!
In the afternoon, from noon to 2 p.m., come with your pooch and celebrate at the Bone Yards! Costume contest, fun Halloween activities and more spooky ookiness than you can shake a paw at.
From 5-9 p.m., you can catch circus performances and live entertainment in a fun carnival atmosphere when the Yards transforms into The Side Yards. The event is free and you can access The Yards via metro. The official address is 355 Water Street SE.
Too much candy? Donate your extras!
The DC Dentist, 509 11th Street SE, wants your excess candy to send it to our troops overseas. They will be taking your candy starting Friday, November 1, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call 202-544-3626.
Dia de Muertos at La Cosecha
Ready to enjoy a multi-day, multi-sensory journey through Latin America as you celebrate el Día de los Muertos? La Cosecha, 1280 4th Street NE, will have pan de muerto, an altar, and all kinds of delicious goodies from Peru to Mexico for you to enjoy. More details? Click here.
CLEAN UP ALL THOSE CANDY WRAPPERS!
Tomorrow is the month Clean-up Capitol Hill event. More info below:
DID WE MISS AN EVENT? SEND US AN EMAIL! info@thehillishome.com