Gaithersburg Family-Friendly Fall Activities 2026

Gaithersburg $

18 holes of mini golf plus face painting, crafts, and candy

Boo at the Zoo

Oct 16 – Oct 18

Washington 17 mi $$

After-hours trick-or-treating, skeleton scenes, and indoor animal exhibit access.

Illustration of a pumpkin patch with orange pumpkins, a red wheelbarrow, a wooden farm stand and two scarecrow figures (Butler's Orchard 46th Annual Pumpkin Festival)

Butler's Orchard 46th Annual Pumpkin Festival

Sep 19 – Nov 1

Germantown 5 mi

Features hayrides, jump pads, corn mazes, and pick-your-own pumpkins.

Illustration of a witch in a pointed hat reading a book in an orange armchair beside pumpkins, a lamp and black cats (Halloween Tricks, Treats and Trees)

Halloween Tricks, Treats and Trees

Oct 24 – Oct 25

Columbia 17 mi $

Nature-themed Halloween stations and activities for all ages.

Illustration of a fall festival with a tractor, striped pumpkin booths, hay bales and orange trees (Clark's Elioak Farm Pumpkin Patch & Fall Festival)

Clark's Elioak Farm Pumpkin Patch & Fall Festival

Sep 19 – Nov 8

Ellicott City 19 mi $

Features petting farm animals, Enchanted Forest attractions, and hayrides.

Illustration of a giant pumpkin float rolling down a town street past costumed figures, with orange balloons and confetti (Vienna Halloween Parade)

Vienna Halloween Parade

Wed, Oct 28

Vienna 16 mi

Community Halloween parade marching down Maple Avenue since 1946.

Illustration of a toy tractor pulling a wagon of costumed figures past pumpkins, autumn trees and a red barn (Temple Hall Farm Pumpkin Patch & Sunflower Fields)

Temple Hall Farm Pumpkin Patch & Sunflower Fields

Sep 26 – Nov 1

Leesburg 18 mi $$

Pick-your-own pumpkins and sunflowers with farm activities.

Illustration of a miniature carnival at dusk with a glowing ferris wheel, a small carousel, game booths and jack-o'-lanterns (Germantown October Fest)

Germantown October Fest

Germantown

Features a parade, beer garden, live music, and free carnival.

Illustration of a fall festival street with big pumpkins in front, striped booths, and small figures under orange trees (7th Annual Halloween Bark Bash)

7th Annual Halloween Bark Bash

Ashburn 15 mi

Outdoor pet festival featuring a dog costume contest and adoptable rescues.

NoMa PumpkinPalooza

Washington 19 mi Free

Free pumpkin patch, alpaca selfies, costume parade, and outdoor movie.

Illustration of a Halloween parade on a town street at dusk with a giant smiling pumpkin float and costumed children (Great Falls Community Halloween Party)

Great Falls Community Halloween Party

Great Falls 11 mi Free

Trick-or-treating, a haunted house, and a dog costume parade.

Illustration of a small Ferris wheel, striped tents and a decorated booth with pumpkins on a grassy fairground in autumn (Larriland Farm Fall Festivities)

Larriland Farm Fall Festivities

Sep 12 – Nov 1

Woodbine 13 mi $

Family-owned pick-your-own farm featuring seasonal crops, hayrides, and mazes.

Howard County Truck or Treat

Cooksville 15 mi $

Trick-or-treat from decorated trucks and emergency vehicles.

Illustration of an orange tractor pulling a wooden hay wagon with costumed characters past pumpkins, trees and a red barn (Gaver Farm Fall Fun Fest)

Gaver Farm Fall Fun Fest

Sep 4 – Nov 1

Mt. Airy 17 mi $$

Over 65 farm attractions including a seven-acre corn maze.

Halloween on the Farm

Fri, Oct 23

Herndon 18 mi $

Trick-or-treat, visit farm animals, and explore a decorated farmhouse.

Illustration of two costumed trick or treaters with candy buckets on a dusk street of glowing houses and carved pumpkins (Trick or Treat on Main Street)

Trick or Treat on Main Street

Sun, Oct 25

Sykesville 20 mi

Community trick-or-treating with local merchants and Sykesville Police.

Rosslyn Howl-O-Ween

Fri, Oct 23

Arlington 18 mi

Dog-friendly Halloween celebration with a costume contest and pet vendors.

Illustration of clay figures in costumes mingling among striped market tents and pumpkin displays under orange autumn trees (Rosslyn Fall Fest)

Rosslyn Fall Fest

Sat, Oct 3

Arlington 18 mi Free

Neighborhood block party with live music, axe throwing, and pumpkin decorating.

Illustration of small costumed figures and a witch playing on a sunny lawn with pumpkins, hay bales, a tent and orange trees (Trick or Treat Beyond Market Street)

Trick or Treat Beyond Market Street

Sun, Oct 25

Reston 15 mi

Daytime trick-or-treating for little ghouls and goblins.

Illustration of a Halloween craft scene with clay kids, a friendly ghost, bats and glowing pumpkins under party bunting (Trick or Treat at Tudor Place)

Trick or Treat at Tudor Place

Washington 18 mi $$

Outdoor trick-or-treating, crafts, and games in historic Georgetown gardens.

Illustration of costumed clay children and a witch playing among pumpkins, hay bales and tents on an autumn lawn (Annual Trick or Treat Festival at Warehouse Cinemas!)

Annual Trick or Treat Festival at Warehouse Cinemas!

Mon, Oct 26

Frederick 23 mi $

Haunted Hallway, trick-or-treat vendor spaces, and costume contests for charity.

Illustration of tiny clay musicians playing on a hay stage among pumpkins, bunting and striped booths in autumn (Old Firehouse's Festival of Frights and Trunk or Treat)

Old Firehouse's Festival of Frights and Trunk or Treat

McLean 15 mi Free

Free family trunk-or-treat with live music, games, contests, and candy

Illustration of a fall festival in a town square with a red roofed gazebo, striped booths, pumpkins and orange trees (Falls Church Halloween Carnival at Cherry Hill Park)

Falls Church Halloween Carnival at Cherry Hill Park

Falls Church 18 mi Free

Bounce houses, carnival games, and treats for kids up to eleven.

Illustration of two small ghosts and a witch with a black cat carrying pumpkin buckets on a street of cozy houses at dusk (Organic Canvas™ 3rd Annual Pumpkin Carving Paint + STEM + Sip)

Organic Canvas™ 3rd Annual Pumpkin Carving Paint + STEM + Sip

Sat, Oct 17

Mount Rainier 19 mi $

Features pumpkin carving, painting, a STEM station, and mocktails for kids.

Illustration of a giant pumpkin on a stand in a grassy field near striped booths with small figures and pumpkins (Hill Family Biking Halloween Ride)

Hill Family Biking Halloween Ride

Washington 21 mi Free

Costume bike ride ending with live music and a costume contest.

Pumpkin Palooza

Alexandria 25 mi $$

Family fall celebration featuring pumpkin decorating, crafts, face painting, and games.

Illustration of a child in a witch costume holding a pumpkin bucket on a leafy sidewalk lined with glowing houses at dusk (Family Flights and Frights: Trick-or-Treat at the Museum)

Family Flights and Frights: Trick-or-Treat at the Museum

College Park 19 mi $

Trick-or-treat among museum aircraft with games, crafts, and experiments.

Illustration of a sunny autumn lawn with pumpkins, hay bales, a small tent, a witch and costumed children under orange trees (Oakland Mills Association Fall Festival)

Oakland Mills Association Fall Festival

Sat, Oct 3

Columbia 20 mi Free

Features a live performance showcase by School of Rock Columbia.

Pumpkin Painting

North Bethesda 8 mi Free

Includes pumpkin decorating and a same-day complimentary brunch voucher for kids.

Dog Trunk or Treat

Sterling 14 mi Free

Canine costume trunk-or-treat featuring free puppucinos, photo ops, and vendors.

Haunted Trip

Fri, Oct 16

McLean 14 mi $$$

Haunted evening journey exclusively for 5th through 8th graders.

Illustration of costumed figures mingling among striped festival booths, pumpkins, and orange autumn trees at dusk (Pumpkin 'n Friends Fall Festival)

Pumpkin 'n Friends Fall Festival

Sat, Sep 26

Falls Church 18 mi Free

Fall celebration featuring pumpkin decorating, a petting zoo, and live DJ music.

Illustration of costumed figures near striped booths and pumpkin displays on a grassy town square with orange autumn trees (The Harvest Circle: Fall Equinox Celebration)

The Harvest Circle: Fall Equinox Celebration

Sat, Sep 26

Washington 18 mi $$

Community gathering featuring a cacao ceremony, somatic movement, and sound healing.

Trolleyween Weekend

Colesville 10 mi

Unlimited historic streetcar rides and a themed scavenger hunt with prizes.

Illustration of clay figures walking past striped market stalls and pumpkins on a paved square with orange autumn trees (Main Street Fall Festival)

Main Street Fall Festival