FRIDAY/ OCT. 25
Trick or Treat Critters and Craft, a program for children grades one and two. Find out more about the mysterious creatures associated with Halloween: bats, owls and spiders. Then decorate a trick or treat bag to take home. Held at the Gulf Branch Nature Center, 3608 N. Military Road, from 4:30-5:30 p.m. $5 fee. Reservations required. Call 703-228-3403.
"Nightmare on Washington St.," a haunted house experience presented by Tapestry Theatre Company, will be held on Friday, Oct. 25, and Saturday, Oct. 26, from 6 p.m.-midnight. $10. Not suitable for children under 10. Games provided for younger children. Call 703-960-3398 or visit www.tapestrytheatre.com.
Children's Halloween Hunt will be held on Friday, Oct. 25, at 6:30 p.m., at Pohick Bay Regional Park, located at 6501 Pohick Bay Drive in Lorton. Children 6-10 will find spooky fun and a costume contest, with programs for the younger children early in the evening and programs for the older children later on. Call 703-339-6104.
SATURDAY/ OCT. 26
Nightmare on Washington St., presented by Tapestry Theatre Company, will be held on Friday, Oct. 25, and Saturday, Oct. 26, from 6 p.m. to midnight. $10. Not suitable for children under 10. Games provided for younger children. Call 703-960-3398 or visit www.tapestrytheatre.com.
Historic Alexandria Hauntings: A Family-Friendly Trick or Treat. Ghoulies and ghosties and things that go bump in the night take over Old Town's Market Square for a family-oriented event with unexplained occurrences and strange tales. Old Town Alexandria. 6:30-10 p.m. $7 adults in advance, $10 at the door. $3 per child 10 and younger. 703-838-4242.
HiBall Events' Halloween Monster Bash. Clarendon Ballroom, 3185 Wilson Blvd. $10 until 10 p.m. Area's Largest Halloween Party nine years running! Features multiple DJs, Monster Costume Contest, party favors, giveaways and more. www.hiballevents.com.
Haunted Halloween Hike will take place on Saturday, Oct. 26, at 7:30 p.m. at Potomac Overlook Regional Park, located at 2845 N. Marcey Road in Arlington. Tickets went on sale on Oct. 12 at Potomac Overlook Regional Park nature center. $5. Includes a scary walk followed by a s'mores cookout. Not recommended for children younger than 5. Call 703-528-5406.
SUNDAY/ OCT. 27
The Sorcerer's Halloween Tea will be held on Sunday, Oct. 27, from noon-1:30 p.m. at the Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City. $38. Children are encouraged to come dressed as their favorite character from the Harry Potter novels. Food, storyteller and magician. For reservations, call 703-412-2760.
YMCA Arlington Halloween Trick or Trot 5k, a 5-kilometer race hosted by the YMCA Arlington, is open to all runners. Everyone is encouraged to wear a costume. Start at YMCA Arlington, down 13th Street North to Quincy and onto the Custis bike trail. Oct. 27 at 8:30 a.m. $12 YMCA member before 10/18, $15. YMCA member after 10/18, $15. YMCA nonmember before 10/18, $18. YMCA nonmember after 10/18, $25 race day. To have a registration form mailed or faxed to you, call 703-525-5420 or visit www.racepacket.com
Call Chris Godesky at 703-525-5420, Ext. 21, or e-mail to cgodesky@ymcadc.org.
WEDNESDAY/ OCT. 30
Halloween Eve Bat Celebration for children grades two to four. Come for an afternoon dedicated to celebrating the wonderful world of bats. Learn amazing bat facts, and make a bat to bring home just in time for Halloween. Held at the Gulf Branch Nature Center, 3608 N. Military Road, from 3-4:15 p.m. $1 fee. Reservations required. Call 703-228-3403.
Food, drink, music and Halloween fun to benefit St. Coletta's school for mentally disabled children and adults will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 30, from 6-10 p.m., at King Street Gardens Park (King Street and Diagonal Road). $30 for advance ticket purchase (before Oct. 28) and $40 after and at the door. 18 and over. Costumes are encouraged, but not required. There will be a costume contest. Call 703-683-3686.
WEDNESDAY/ OCT. 31
Ballston Common Mall will be hosting its sixth annual Halloween Trick or Treating Event on Thursday, Oct. 31, from 5-7 p.m. Children of all ages are invited to trick or treat throughout the mall free of charge. Harry Potter Costume Contest at 6 p.m. in food court, strolling wizard, McGruff the Crime Dog, Sparky the Fire Dog, children's fingerprinting. Call 703-243-6346.