Halloween In Alexandria: Ghost Tours, Haunted House, More

ALEXANDRIA, VA—Alexandria residents hardly have to go out of town to enjoy some spooky fun during the week leading up to Halloween.

From ghost tours to costume contests and Edgar Allan Poe readings in the cemetery, there are many choices for both adults and children during the week leading up to Halloween.

Here are some events to mark your calendars for on the final days of October:

Ghosts & Grief Halloween Tours at Lee-Fendall House

Friday, Oct. 27, 7 p.m., 7:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Lee-Fendall House, 614 Oronoco St., Alexandria, VA 22314

Celebrate Halloween with a look at Victorian mourning traditions coupled with stories of supernatural encounters at the Lee-Fendall House with special nighttime tours. Learn more about the rituals and customs behind our modern-day funeral practices. Customs such as draping the mirrors, how long a widow would mourn for her husband or children, social expectations and dress will be explored. Admission is $8 in advance, $10 at the door and free to members.

Trick-or-Treating at Mount Vernon

Friday, Oct. 27, 2017, 3:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. (Saturday, Oct. 28 is sold out)

George Washington’s Mount Vernon, 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Hwy., Mount Vernon, VA 22121

Participate in a special scavenger hunt, take a wagon ride on the 12-acre field, and create a boo-tiful Halloween craft in this unforgettable evening. Watch wool carding and spinning, historic chocolate-making, and fishnet making demonstrations in the historic area. In order to burn off all the extra excitement, try 18th-century dancing in the upper garden before greeting Martha Washington. A children’s costume parade around the Mansion will begin at 5 p.m. and prizes will be awarded for the best George and Martha costumes! Trick-or-Treating at Mount Vernon takes place rain or shine. Tickets are $12 for adults and $6 for kids 11 and under.

Bark or Treat Canine Cruise

Friday, Oct. 27, at 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Alexandria City Marina, 1 Cameron St., Alexandria, VA 22314

Come out with your costumed canine and cruise to some Halloween tunes along the Potomac. Owners are encouraged to dress their dogs in costumes, and treats will be provided. Tickets are $18 for adults and $12 for kids up to 11. Dogs are free.

The Gadsby’s Tavern Ghost Tour

Friday, Oct. 27, from 7 p.m.-9 p.m.;

Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, 134 N. Royal St., Alexandria, VA 22314

Follow your colonial-costumed guide through the eerie Alexandria streets, visit a cemetery and enter one of the most haunted buildings in Old Town. You’ll hear the tragic story of the Female Stranger, and visit the very room where this mysterious woman was transformed into a ghost! Portions of the proceeds benefit Gadsby’s Tavern Museum. Tours start every half hour. Admission is $20 for adults and $10 ages 7-17.

Ghostly Tales at Carlyle House

Saturday, Oct. 28, 7-10 p.m.

Carlyle House, 121 N. Fairfax St., Alexandria, VA 22314

Join storytellers from Alexandria's Footsteps to the Past on the front lawn of Carlyle House for ghostly tales of Alexandria's past. S'mores kits will be available for purchase. Along with the ghost stories, there will be a photo booth set up inside Carlyle House, as well as snacks for sale. Admission is $5.

Zombie Escape at Carlyle House

Saturday, Oct. 28, 2017, 6:30 p.m.-10 p.m.

Carlyle House, 121 N. Fairfax St., Alexandria, VA 22314

Bring your wit to an escape-the-room style event inspired by The Walking Dead. The Zombie Apocalypse. D.C. was one of the first cities to fall when the apocalypse began. As such, Alexandria was a close second due to proximity. However, your group has managed to survive by barricading off a hotel. For a while the supplies were enough to keep your group going. But now, they are dwindling at a fast rate. To keep your group afloat, several of you have volunteered to head out on a supply run. Now, you must navigate your way through zombie infested territory to claim what supplies are on your list and make it back to your base safely. Your group will have 20 minutes to crack a series of puzzles and physical feats to obtain all the supplies needed for your survival group back at the hotel. Admission is $30 for ages 13 and up. Tickets are nearly sold out.

Howl-O-Ween Costume Contest

Saturday, October 28 at 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Lena's Wood-Fired Pizza & Tap, 401 E Braddock Rd, Alexandria, VA 22301

Come out for the launch of the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria's pet calendar and to strut your mutt in their scariest (but really cutest) costumes. Everyone who registers will receive tickets to vote for their favorite costumes, and the three entries who receive the most votes will receive gift cards from Alexandria Restaurant Partners and others. Contest entry is $25, and a ticket to attend is $10. All registration fees and ticket purchase donations benefit the AWLA, and Lena's Wood-Fired Pizza and Tap is donating an additional 15 percent of the food and drink sales from the event. Complimentary dog treats and fresh water will be available.

Nightmare on King Street

Saturday, Oct. 28, Judging at 11 p.m.

Daniel O’Connell’s, 112 King Street, Alexandria, VA 22314

Don’t miss Daniel O’Connell’s "Nightmare on King Street" Halloween Party. Live music by Driven to Clarity. Prizes for Best Female Costume, Best Male Costume, and Best Group Costume. Judging starts at 11 p.m. Admission is free.

Halloween Pumpkin Hunt

Saturday, Oct. 28, 2017, 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.

Lee-Fendall House, 614 Oronoco St., Alexandria, VA 22314

Alexandria’s ghosts and goblins will fill our garden with hundreds of colorful toy-filled pumpkins for local children to discover. Other activities include crafts to take home, a sticker station, temporary tattoos, spooky stories, a costume parade with prizes as well as drinks and refreshments. Every participating child receives a pumpkin—one pumpkin in each of our pumpkin hunt sessions will have a certificate for a special prize hidden inside. Costumes are encouraged. Tickets are $5 for adults and $15 for kids ages 1-10. Infants are free.

Del Ray Halloween Parade

Sunday, Oct. 29, 2 p.m.

Mount Vernon Avenue, south of East Bellefonte Avenue to the Mt. Vernon Recreation Center play fields at Mount Vernon and Commonwealth Avenues

See some of Del Ray's spookiest costumes and decorations during this annual community favorite. Children, pets, and strollers in costumes are invited to march in the parade. At the end, children get goodie bags, and refreshments such as hot dogs, apple cider and cookies will be available. Mars Rodeo will provide live entertainment in addition to Goblin Games and activities for the children. Afterward, families can head to the Spooky Bean Haunted Halloween Graveyard at Bean Creative, from 5 p.m.-8 p.m. It will be located in the grassy lot next to their business at Mount Vernon and East Del Ray Avenue.

Doggie Trick-Or-Treat

Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017 at 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

The Dog Park, 705 King St., Alexandria, VA 22314

Trick-or-treat isn't just for the kids. Bring your dogs and whole family to Old Town for trick-or-treat. There will be treats, sales and a costume contest. Come to The Dog Park in Old Town Alexandria to get your map and pictures taken, then tour the rest of the participating stores to get more treats and find a sale or two in town.

Special Halloween Ghost Tour

Monday, Oct. 30, 8:15 p.m.

Alexandria Visitor Center, 221 King St., Alexandria, VA 22314

The Halloween Ghost Tour starts at the Alexandria Visitor Center and wraps through the back roads of Old Town stopping at places like The Christmas Attic, John Douglas Brown House, Old Presbyterian Meeting House, and many more. The Halloween Ghost Tour takes visitors past Christ Church to other less-visited stops like the Freedom House. At each stop guides cover a brief background of the location, what horrible event occurred there, and what modern day paranormal phenomenon was detected. Guests are guaranteed to leave with the chills! Admission is $12 for adults; $10 for senior citizens, students, active duty military and veterans, $5 for children and free for ages 5 and under.

Poe in Alexandria

Oct. 30 and 31, 2017 at 8 p.m.

The Lyceum, 201 S. Washington St., Alexandria, VA 22314

Come to The Lyceum: Alexandria’s History Museum for two unforgettable Halloween evenings with America’s earliest master of the macabre, Edgar Allan Poe! Actor David Keltz returns to The Lyceum’s lecture hall to re-create Poe’s visit to Virginia in 1849, shortly before his death. Individual works performed each year vary, but the program always includes a chilling story or two such as “The Black Cat,” “The Cask of Amontillado,” or “The Tell-Tale Heart,” along with well-known poems “The Raven” and “El Dorado.” Keltz’s performance has been lauded by The Poe House and Museum in Baltimore, The Poe Museum in Richmond, and the Poe National Historic Site in Philadelphia. Admission is $15.

Trick-or-Treating at Carlyle House

Tuesday, Oct. 31, 5 p.m.-7 p.m.

Carlyle House, 121 N. Fairfax St., Alexandria, VA 22314

Bring your little ghosts, goblins, princesses and action heroes to one of Alexandria’s most haunted dwellings for a fun evening of free trick-or-treating. The event is free.

Edgar Allan Poe Readings in the Vault

Saturday, Nov. 4, 7-8 p.m. (Oct. 28 event is full)

Ivy Hill Cemetery, 2823 King Street, Alexandria, VA, 22302

Presented in Ivy Hill Cemetery's receiving vault, the closest thing Alexandria has to catacombs, the Guillotine Theater Company will perform some of Edgar Allan Poe's best readings. Seating is limited; please RSVP to info@IHCHPS.org or 703-549-7413 x112. A $10 donation is suggested.

SEE ALSO: Halloween 2017: A Look At The Forecast For Alexandria

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