From blood bag cocktails to virtual zombies and costumes that could win you cash, the D.C. area is finding plenty of ways to celebrate Halloween.
Bars, restaurants and entertainment venues are embracing the season with themed pop-ups, special dinners and parties that give you a reason to pull your costume out. The festivities range from a one-night speakeasy in Alexandria, Virginia, to rooftop dancing in the District, with fall shopping and arcade games in the mix, too.
Whether your plans call for a few scares or a few drinks with friends, here’s a guide to Halloween pop-ups and events around the region.
Themed Halloween bars and pop-ups in the DC region
Nightmare on the Avenue at Del Ray Pop-Up Bar
2312 Mt. Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, Virginia
For its fifth year, the Del Ray Pop-Up Bar is hosting Nightmare on the Avenue, an immersive and spooky pop-up with creepy props and tasty treats. Danielle Anderson, director of operations and managing partner at HomeGrown Restaurant Group, told WTOP this year’s pop-up bar, which was a “labor of love,” is themed after insane asylums.
Open seven days a week, the cocktail and food menu is chock full of references to horror films and other pop culture like “Jekyll & Gin” and “Redrum Sliders” with “Lil Monster Mocktails” available for those who would prefer nonalcoholic options. The pop-up is also hosting a family-friendly pumpkin carving event Oct. 24 and a costume contest at the adjacent Pork Barrel BBQ space on Halloween. Each evening, the bar is only open for those ages 21 and over after 8 p.m.
Frankenstein’s Mad Scientist Cocktail Lab at Puttery
800 F Street NW, D.C.
Through Oct. 31, the Penn Quarter indoor mini golf venue and cocktail bar, known as Puttery, is hosting a 90-minute Halloween experience, called Frankenstein’s Mad Scientist Cocktail Lab. The pop-up offers photo ops and interactive drinks available for purchase. Admission costs approximately $25 per person, which includes one cocktail.
Haunted Circus at Chicken + Whiskey
1738 14th Street NW, D.C.
If you’re a fan of freak shows and scary clowns, Chicken + Whiskey is hosting the Haunted Circus pop-up bar through Nov. 1. The bar is serving spooky cocktail specials alongside events with live DJ’s or karaoke.
The Haunting at Sense of Thai and Tiki Thai
Two locations: 20413 Exchange Street, Ashburn, Virginia, and 12100 Sunset Hills Road, Suite 107, Reston, Virginia
With over 40 locations worldwide, The Haunting is a massive pop-up that is inspired by haunted houses and horror movies. This is run by Miracle Cocktails Inc., the same company that hosts the Miracle and Sippin’ Santa pop-ups.
In the D.C. area, there are two locations that are hosting the pop-up: Sense of Thai in Ashburn and Tiki Thai in Reston. At The Haunting, expect themed cocktails, such as “Tangled Web,” “Poison Apple” and “Liquid Lobotomy.” The pop-ups run through Oct. 31.
The Boo Bar at Makers Union
1811 Library Street, Reston, Virginia
With costumes encouraged, expect several boo-sy drinks at this Halloween pop-up. Expect kooky decor and themed drinks such as “Zombies Just Want to Have Rum.”
The Boo Bar launches Oct. 9 and runs through Nov. 1.
Halloween pop-up at Honor Brewing
11250 James Swart Circle, Fairfax, Virginia
With festive cocktails served in collectible glassware, enjoy a spooky pop-up at Honor Brewing’s Fairfax location all month long.
The pop-up is hosting a horror-themed trivia on Oct. 21, and on the evening of Halloween, guests can expect a costume party with a live DJ, costume contest and a tarot card reader.
Royally Spooked at Royal Restaurant
730 N St Asaph Street, Alexandria, Virginia
Head to the rear patio of this Old Town restaurant for themed sips of cocktails named “Dead Man’s Colada” and “Final Girl.” Light bites include “swamp eggs,” or deviled eggs with bacon, dill and pickled shallots, as well as charcoal-colored black biscuit sliders with prosciutto di Parma and pimiento cheese. This eerie experience can be booked via OpenTable.
The Lair at Power Plant Live!
34 Market Place, Baltimore, Maryland
At Power Plant Live!, enjoy an immersive Halloween nightlife experience called The Lair. Running through Nov. 1, this wickedly decorated space features spooky drinks and theatrical surroundings.
Reservations are encouraged and can be made via OpenTable.
More Halloween-themed events to enjoy at DC-area restaurants and bars
Pumpkin Boulevard at Autoshop
416 Morse Street NE, D.C.
Pumpkin Boulevard is a Halloween market on Oct. 25 that brings together shopping, seasonal food and crafts in one location in Union Market District. This event includes three timed entries, at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Tickets cost approximately $5.
Haunted Mission at Beat the Bomb D.C.
2005 Hecht Avenue NE, D.C.
For an immersive, interactive experience, head to Beat the Bomb D.C. for limited-time Halloween games that allow teams to navigate through dark rooms and graveyards filled with obstacles. Every booking offers free photos and videos as well as full protective gear, including a hazmat suit, booties and goggles. The 60-minute experience is built for teams of two to six. Haunted Mission runs through Nov. 1.
Halloween party at SLY Rooftop
222 M Street NE, D.C.
For an experience with sky-high views, head to the Morrow Hotel’s SLY Rooftop for a ticketed Halloween bash with a premium open bar, food stations, a live DJ and a costume contest with a cash prize of $500. Admission on Oct. 31 costs approximately $113 per person.
Halloween party at Continues Arcade
1050 North Fayette Street, Alexandria, Virginia
For those ages 21 and over, head to the Continues Arcade for a scary good time. The party on Oct. 31 features themed drinks, live DJ performances and a costume contest with a prize of a $150 Continues Arcade gift card. Costumes are encouraged, but organizers said nudity, weaponry and lewd content aren’t allowed.
Ticket prices start at $30 for early admission and go up to $65 for admission with a drink pass.
“Dinner at Jôntaine Estate: A Halloween Experience” at Jônt
1904 14th Street NW, D.C.
On Oct. 31, the two-Michelin-starred restaurant Jônt presents “Dinner at Jôntaine Estate,” an evening themed around the return of a lord who has spent years away from society and who wants to host an extraordinary, lavish dinner with “curious surprises.” The restaurant is keeping the surprises under wraps, but the price is no mystery: $795 per person, including wine pairings. Reservations are available through OpenTable.
Halloween dinner at Del Mar
791 Wharf Street SW, D.C.
Dinner comes with a chance to win your next meal at Del Mar’s Halloween celebration on Oct. 31. The restaurant is offering a $70 three-course menu that includes a cocktail or mocktail, alongside a DJ and costume contest. The guest with the winning costume will take home a Fabio Trabocchi Restaurants gift card. Reservations are available through Resy.
Spooking Speakeasy at Matt & Tony’s
1501 Mt. Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, Virginia
Step into the shadows (or Alexandria, Virginia’s Del Ray neighborhood) for the Spooking Speakeasy at Matt & Tony’s. This one-night experience features sinister sips of themed cocktails. All guests who arrive in costume receive a complimentary spooky Jell-O shot. Reservations are available through OpenTable.
Halloween bar crawl and party at Alexandria Bier Garden
710 King Street, Alexandria, Virginia
Across three nights, celebrate Halloween in Old Town Alexandria. On Oct. 24, a bar crawl and DJ kick things off at 4 p.m., followed by live music at 9 p.m. and a costume contest at 11 p.m. Another party and bar crawl follow Oct. 30, with Halloween drink specials and live music beginning at 9 p.m.
The main celebration arrives Oct. 31, with DJs and a bar crawl starting at 4 p.m. By 9 p.m., guests can choose between live music and a DJ in the Hofbräu Bar, with the rooftop bar also open. The Halloween costume contest offers three $100 prizes for the most creative costume, the crowd favorite and scariest costume.
Halloween parties at Inca Social
Two locations: 2670 Avenir Place, Vienna, Virginia, and 1776 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia
Inca Social’s Vienna location is putting a charitable spin on Halloween with an Oct. 24 party hosted by The Lending Hand, an organization that offers holiday meal distributions to local communities. Beginning at 8 p.m., the evening includes a special dinner service, DJ, drink specials, costume contest and raffles.
On Oct. 31, both Inca Social locations will offer “Dinner Before the Afterlife,” with Halloween food and drink specials, dinner packages for groups of six or eight, and live DJs from 8 p.m. to midnight. The Vienna location is also celebrating a traditional Peruvian celebration, called Noche Criolla beginning at 8 p.m. that evening, adding live Peruvian music to the festivities.
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