There’s Still Time To Catch Fall Festivals Around Alexandria

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Fall is a great time to get outside in Alexandria and take in the rich offering of festivals.

The changing colors of autumn provide a scenic background for fall and harvest festivals, which have contests ranging from costume contests to Halloween parades. Fall is also the season for pumpkin patches, trunk or treat and other events.

Here are a few festivals and events in and around Alexandria worth putting on the calendar:

1. Late Shift: Masquerade at Torpedo Factory Art Center: Oct. 14, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Torpedo Factory Art Center, 105 N. Union St., Alexandria, VA

Put on your favorite fall colors, sip your pumpkin-spice latte and enjoy the cooler weather during this fall masquerade with DJ sets spinning October and Halloween music. Costumes are optional but encouraged. The best dressed attendees will win a special prize.

2. Old Town North “Chalk Walk”: Oct. 15, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Montgomery Park, 901 N. Royal St., Alexandria, VA

The Old Town North Alliance will host its first "Chalk Walk" through multiple sites in Old Town North. Artists will be positioned throughout the neighborhood and will create works of art either on flat plaza surfaces or on building walls. Attendees can see the artists in action or visit finished works. Beverages including beer and food trucks will be available at Canal Center Plaza. The event also features a dedicated Kid Creation area.

3. Mount Vernon Flea Market - Arts & Crafts Bazaar: Saturday, Oct. 15, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

8717 Fort Hunt Rd, Alexandria, VA

This monthly indoor and outdoor market offers flea market, antique, vintage, arts and crafts, gifts and yard sale items. Attendees can also enjoy food from Bill's BBQ Grill.

4. Paws in the Park: Sunday, Oct. 16, 11 a.m.

Oronoco Bay Park, 100 Madison St, Alexandria, VA

This free festival features an entertainment stage, vendors, food, drinks and adoptable animals. Well-behaved, leashed pets are welcome at the event. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria. The festival was previously known as Alexandria Love Your Pet Day.

5. Del Ray Halloween Scavenger Hunt: Starting Oct. 22

Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, VA

Head to Mount Vernon Avenue to search for Halloween-themed items in Del Ray’s decorated businesses. Four randomly-selected winners will receive a $50 gift card to their favorite Del Ray business. The Del Ray Business Association will release scavenger hunt details closer to the event.

6. Shiloh Baptist Church Trunk or Treat: Saturday, Oct. 22, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Shiloh Baptist Church, 1401 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA

Dress up in a costume and come out for this socially-distanced drive-thru trunk or treat. Residents can sign up to be a participating trunk to hand out treats to children. Best Decorated Car and Best Costume prizes will be awarded.

7. Passionately Pets' 15th Birthday Pawty: Sunday, Oct. 23, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Pat Miller Neighborhood Square, Mount Vernon and Oxford Avenues, Alexandria, VA

Join Passionately Pets to celebrate its 15th anniversary. There will be a pet costume contest, live music, food, pet vendors, other fun and freebies. This event will raise money and awareness for Project Second Chance. Well behaved, leashed dogs are welcome.

8. Halloween Cookie Decorating Class: Oct. 25, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Lost Boy Cider, 317 Hooffs Run Drive, Alexandria, VA

This 90-minute class teaches attendees to decorate a half dozen cookies in three Halloween designs. While decorating cookies, enjoy Lost Boy Cider's selections of cider. Tickets start at $60.

9. Trunk or Treat: Tuesday, Oct 25, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Faith Fellowship Assembly of God, 7800 Telegraph Road, Alexandria, VA

Faith Fellowship will join Boy Scouts Troop 1519 and local Girl Scout Troops to provide a family night. Come in costume for trunk or treat, games and hot dogs. The rain date is Oct. 27.

10. Harry Potter Halloween Fest: Oct. 28, 7:30 p.m. or 9 p.m., Oct. 29 11 a.m. or 12:30 p.m.

Boxwood, 128 South Royal Street, Alexandria, VA

Celebrate Harry Potter with a magical cookie decorating workshop with Sugarcoated Bakery, craft your own magical dragon egg using Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, and enjoy zero proof potion by Umbrella Dry Drinks. A special movie screening and more will be part of the event. Tickets start at $65.

11. 2nd Annual Carlyle Halloween Stampede: Oct. 29, 2 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Carlyle neighborhood, Alexandria, VA

This bar crawl features festive cocktails, party favors, costume contests, photos, giveaways and more. Each participating restaurant will have a drawing for prizes. A shuttle will be provided by King Street Trolley. Dogs are invited too for a dog costume contest. Tickets cost $10 and will be donated to ALIVE!

12. 5th Annual Halloween Bar Crawl: Oct. 29, 4 p.m. to 12 a.m.

The Light Horse, 715 King Street Alexandria, VA

Join this Halloween-themed bar crawl for food and drink specials and a costume contest. Each ticket comes with a $1,000 grand prize costume contest entry, two drinks or shots, a cup with the first 400 check-ins, waived cover charges at participating locations, professional photographers, food and drink specials, after-parties and a custom Halloween badge. Single tickets are $15 each.

13. Halloween Improv Show: Saturday, Oct. 29, 8 p.m.

Alexandria History Museum at the Lyceum, 201 S Washington St, Alexandria, VA

Auxiliary Improv will put on a show with more laughs than scares. This unscripted performance will be made up on the spot. The suggested donation to attend is $10. The event is recommended for ages 18 and up.

14. Boos & Brew Along the Ave: Saturday, Oct. 29

Del Ray restaurants, Alexandria, VA

Dress up in your Halloween costume and crawl around to participating restaurants' Halloween parties. Restaurants with their own Halloween parties will include Piece Out, Pork BBQ, Nightmare on the Avenue pop-up bar, Del Ray Pizzeria, Evening Star Cafe, Kaizen Tavern, Matt & Tonys and Barkhaus.

15. Old Town Family Trick or Treat: Oct. 29, 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Throughout Old Town Alexandria, VA

Various shops and restaurants will be handing out candy to little ghosts and goblins. Maps will be provided.

16. Trick or Treating at Mount Vernon: Oct. 29

George Washington's Mount Vernon, 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Hwy, Mt Vernon, VA

Bring the children to greet General Washington and collect candy, enjoy a puppet show, music, magic and a costume parade.

17. Trunk-or-Treat Halloween Party: Saturday, Oct. 29, 10 a.m.

Peace Evangelical Lutheran Church, 6362 Lincolnia Rd, Alexandria, VA

Come in costume for trunk or treat with decorated cars as well as Halloween activities like a scavenger hunt, corn hole, sidewalk chalk, bubbles and craft station.

18. Del Ray Halloween Parade: Sunday, Oct. 30, 2 p.m.

Begins at Mount Vernon Avenue, south of E. Bellefonte Avenue, Alexandria, VA

One of Del Ray’s favorite traditions is the annual Del Ray Halloween Parade. Children, pets and strollers in costumes are invited to march and show off their finest and scariest Halloween garb. Awards are given for Best Pet Costume, Best Decorated Business, Best Decorated Home and Best Decorated Stroller.

19. Community Fall Festival: Sunday, Oct. 30, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Rose Hill Baptist Church, 4905 Franconia Road, Alexandria, VA

This event will include trunk or treat, children's games, pumpkins, and other treats.

20. Old Town Doggie Trick-or-Treat: Oct. 30, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

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

Bring your costumed dog over to The Dog Park to receive Halloween goodie bag full of treats for your dog. After registering, enjoy a walk around Old Town to receive boo bags at participating locations while supplies last.

21. Trick or Treat: Monday, Oct. 31

Around Alexandria, VA

Trick or treat doesn't have a set time in the City of Alexandria. So you can expect children to visit homes for candy during the evening hours of Halloween, which falls on Monday, Oct. 31.