2020 Halloween Events For The Family Around Falls Church

Emily Leayman
·3 min read

FALLS CHURCH, VA — The coronavirus pandemic means Halloween will look different this year. Fairfax County's health department, which also covers the City of Falls Church, isn't recommending traditional door-to-door trick-or-treat, but the localities don't make decisions to host or cancel Halloween events.

Nevertheless, some events are happening in 2020 with safety precautions. We've rounded up some of the family-friendly events in the coming days in and around Falls Church.

Many events may require pre-registration due to attendance limits. The list includes some events that have already sold out. Let us know in the comments if we missed anything.

Halloween Pop-Ups: various locations in City of Falls Church

Oct. 31

The 2020 Halloween Carnival is canceled, but the Falls Church Recreation and Parks Department will host alternatives. There will be Halloween craft pop-ups on October 31 in three separate parks: scarecrow making in Frady Park (311 East Broad Street) pumpkin painting in Cherry Hill Park (312 Park Avenue) and birdhouse painting in Berman Park (236 Irving Street). Activities are geared toward children ages 1 to 13. Registration is open to City of Falls Church residents.

Hallow-Scream Scavenger Hunt: around City of Falls Church

Instead of the Halloween Carnival, the Falls Church Recreation and Parks Department will have a scavenger hunt. Between Oct. 23 and Nov. 1, six signs will be hidden in city parks. Each sign will have a letter. When you find all signs and unscramble the letters to reveal the Hallow-Scream code word, you will win a Hallow-Scream Scavenger Hunt t-shirt. The hunt is geared toward younger children.

Howl-O-Ween: Drive-Thru Blessing of the Pets and Halloween Fun: 3435 Sleepy Hollow Road, Falls Church, VA

This drive-thru event features fun for both kids and pets. Families will stay in their cars for blessing of the pets. There will be goodie bags for pets and trick-or-treat bags for kids. Costumes and face masks are encouraged. Register at www.sleepyhollowumc.org.

Old Firehouse Center's House of Terror and Family Trunk-or-Treat: 1440 Chain Bridge Road, McLean, VA

Oct. 24, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Old Firehouse will host its first haunted experience. Families with younger children can attend the trunk-or-treat. Attendees must wear face masks and will have a temperature check before entry.

Halloween Drive-up Movie Night: Lerner Town Square at Tysons II, 8025 Galleria Drive, Tysons, VA

Oct. 31, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

This event will feature socially-distant car trick-or-treating and two movies: "Scooby Doo Stage Fright" and "Beetlejuice." Attendees can also participate in a car decorating costume contest and costume contest. The Greater D.C./Virginia Chapter of the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation is hosting the event with funds helping IBD patients.

Drive-In at Mosaic: 8295 Glass Alley, Fairfax, VA

Oct. 31, 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

The Mosaic District will show "Casper" and "Hocus Pocus" at the drive-in series.

Potomac Overlook Regional Park Pumpkin Carving: 2845 Marcey Road, Arlington, VA

Oct. 28, 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Paint or carve a pumpkin with friends at Potomac Overlook Regional Park. Tools, paint and pumpkins will be provided. Pre-registration is required.

This article originally appeared on the Falls Church Patch