Arlington libraries run a scavenger hunt, a storytime and two pet parties Saturday, Oct. 31, and MoCA Arlington holds a free Día de los Muertos picnic Nov. 1.

Last checked Oct. 27, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Every event comes from the organizer’s own page, linked below, and from Arlington County’s Halloween in Arlington page.

Halloween is Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026, and Arlington’s day itself is mostly small, free and family-sized: four library events, nature center programs and, the next evening, MoCA Arlington’s Día de los Muertos picnic. The run-up events, including Pentagon MMA’s trunk-or-treat and Met Park’s dog costume contest, ran Oct. 22-25. Hours for trick-or-treating on the night, the Clarendon road closures and free bus rides are on our separate trick-or-treat hours page. For anything unsafe, call police non-emergency at 703-558-2222, or 911 in an emergency.

Updated Oct. 27: the Oct. 21-25 events have passed; MoCA Arlington’s Nov. 1 Día de los Muertos picnic is added.

What this means for you

  • Dogs in costume: library pet parties at Courthouse Plaza, 11 a.m., and Glencarlyn Library, 2 p.m., Oct. 31.
  • Little ones: Halloween Storytime at Aurora Hills Library, 10:30 a.m. Oct. 31.
  • Día de los Muertos: MoCA Arlington’s free evening picnic, 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1.
  • Pumpkins after: they go in the green curbside cart or a county food scrap drop-off bin.

Already happened

Pentagon MMA’s trunk-or-treat and the Pumpkin Splash & Safety Bash at Long Bridge (Oct. 24), MoCA Arlington’s Howl-ween at Met Park (Oct. 22), the Aurora Hills origami workshop (Oct. 21) and MoCA’s Calavera Masks day at Met Park (Oct. 25) have all taken place. We will list them again when the 2027 dates are out.

Halloween Day, Saturday, Oct. 31

Arlington Public Library has four events, all listed on its Halloween calendar:

Time Event Where
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Halloween Scavenger Hunt: find the hidden characters for a small prize. No registration. Central Library children’s area, 1015 N. Quincy St.
10:30 to 11 a.m. Halloween Storytime for all ages; costumes encouraged. No registration. Aurora Hills Library, 735 18th St. S.
11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Howl-O-Ween Pet Party: leashed, vaccinated pets. Canceled in bad weather. Courthouse Plaza, 2100 Clarendon Blvd.
2 to 4 p.m. Halloween Bark Party: costume contest 2 to 3 p.m., storytime for dogs at 3, awards at 3:30. No dog needed. Glencarlyn Library Community Garden, 300 S. Kensington St.

The county’s nature centers also run owl, pumpkin and campfire ghost story programs that day; they are listed with times on our trick-or-treat hours page.

Día de los Muertos, Sunday, Nov. 1

  • Día de los Muertos Celebration: An Evening Picnic, 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1, on the lawn of MoCA Arlington, 3550 Wilson Blvd. Free. Mariachi Estrellas, folklórico dance from Los Quetzales, a Catrina parade anyone in costume can join, an ofrenda by artist David Amoroso (bring a photo of a loved one), calavera masks, tissue paper flowers, lotería and food trucks. The galleries stay open late. It is presented with Arlington Arts. MoCA Arlington.

For adults 55 and older

The Department of Parks and Recreation’s 55+ program has its own Halloween run, listed on the county’s Halloween activities page: Halloween Appetizers on Tuesday, Oct. 27, Haunted Prague on Oct. 29, and Spooky Stories and Oktoberfest on Oct. 30. A 55+ membership is needed; times and centers are on each listing.

Haunted houses and parades

We have not found a public haunted house or a Halloween parade in Arlington for 2026. Arlington County runs no countywide Halloween festival. Fall festivals, hayrides and pumpkin patches in and near Arlington are on our fall festivals and pumpkin patches guide. Running a trunk-or-treat or a haunted house that is open to the public? Send it through our contact page and we will add it.

After Halloween

Pumpkins can go in the green curbside organics cart or one of the county’s 24 on-street food scrap drop-off bins, the county’s Halloween page says. Cart rules are on our trash and recycling guide.

Related guides: trick-or-treat hours, things to do this month and parks and trails.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a trunk-or-treat in Arlington, Virginia, in 2026?

Pentagon MMA’s free trunk-or-treat was Saturday, Oct. 24. We have not found another public trunk-or-treat in Arlington before Halloween.

What Halloween events are at Arlington libraries on Oct. 31?

A scavenger hunt at Central Library from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., a storytime at Aurora Hills at 10:30 a.m., a Howl-O-Ween pet party at Courthouse Plaza at 11 a.m. and a Bark Party at Glencarlyn Library at 2 p.m.

Where can I take my dog in costume on Halloween in Arlington?

Arlington Public Library holds a Howl-O-Ween Pet Party from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Courthouse Plaza and a Halloween Bark Party with a costume contest from 2 to 4 p.m. at Glencarlyn Library on Saturday, Oct. 31.

Does Arlington have official trick-or-treat hours?

No. The county says trick-or-treating usually starts around sunset, just after 6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31. Our trick-or-treat page has the details and the Clarendon road closures.