Updated October 21, 2025
If you are like me, fall is my favorite season so I am always searching for fall-themed things to do. This autumn events guide to the Washington, DC/Maryland area will make that a lot easier. Keep reading for a list of 2025 events and places that I am updating on an ongoing basis. First, I’ll tell you about U.S. Ghost Adventures, which is perfect for the spooky season.
U.S. Ghost Adventures
Wherever you are in the country, a U.S. Ghost Adventures tour is likely nearby. They host ghost tours and pub crawls in over 100 cities, plus offer overnight stays at four of America’s most haunted houses. In the DC and Maryland area, the closest is the Welty House in Gettysburg, PA, now the Brickhouse Inn. Gettysburg is thought to be extremely haunted as a result of the gruesome death and violence that took place during the Battle of Gettysburg, which had the highest number of casualties of any Civil War battle.
In and around the DMV area, you can take tours in Washington DC, Maryland (Baltimore, Annapolis, Frederick, Easton, Berlin, Salisbury, and more), Virginia (Alexandria, Richmond, Charlottesville, and more), Pennsylvania (Gettysburg, Philadelphia), and Harpers Ferry in West Virginia.
Most recently, I took the Haunts, Spirits, and Poltergeists Walking Tour in Washington, DC. The tour was led by a local (and his service dog!) who took us to sites like the White House, Decatur House, and the Hay-Adams hotel and told stories of their hauntings. It was an easy walk with a lot of interesting history, both haunted and not.
Along with a U.S. Ghost Adventures tour or overnight stay, here is a complete rundown of autumn events in the DC/Maryland area.
Haunted Houses
AVFD Station 7 Terror Trail in Gambrills, MD (Terror Trail $25, Boo Loop $10)
Bennett’s Curse Haunted House in Dundalk, MD ($35 general admission timed ticket)
CornStalker’s Trail of Terror in Waldorf, MD
Laurel’s House of Horror in Laurel, MD ($30 for haunted house, $30 for escape rooms)
Leechwoods Haunted Trail…a Horror Experience in Damascus, MD
Markoff’s Haunted Forest in Dickerson, MD (starting at $25)
The Nevermore Haunt in Baltimore, MD (starting at $25.86)
Shady Rest Haunt in Flintstone, MD
Park’d N’ Pumpkin: The Nightmare Through the Park: October 17, 2025 from 7-10 pm at Druid Hill Park (Free)
Halloween & Costume Parties
The Black Cat Ball: October 4, 2025 at 7 pm at Westminster Hall & Burying Ground
Howl-O-Ween Bar(k) Crawl: October 15, 2025 from 5:30-7:30 pm at The Yards, DC
Zen West Halloween Drag Brunch: October 19, 2025 from 12-3 pm at Zen West in Baltimore ($23.04)
Trick or Treat Bar Haunted Halloween Pop-Up (Baltimore and DC): October 3-31, 2025 at Cross Street Public House in Baltimore and Fathom Gallery 14th Street in DC. ($15.90 for 90 minute block)
Halloween Nights Fun: October 24-November 1, 2025 (except for October 31) at the Mansion on O St. Multiple entry times. ($45.25, add-ons available)
Halloween Baltimore 2025: October 25, 2025 from 7 pm-1 am at the Maryland Science Center, Baltimore ($61.65 general admission, $110.62 VIP)
Official Boos & Brews Bar Crawl: October 25, 2025 at 6 pm starting at Power Plant Live! in Baltimore (From $14.09)
Club Juke: Sinners Halloween Experience: October 25, 2025 at 9 pm at Ivy City SmokeHouse (starting at $39.49)
Haunted Halloween Happy Hour: October 30, 2025 from 6-11 pm at The Continent DC (from $12.51)
The Haunted Ballroom – Halloween Weekend: October 31, 2025 from 7 pm-2 am at Clarendon Ballroom, VA
Halloween Costume & Dance Party: October 31, 2025 from 6-10 pm at Peabody Heights Brewery, Baltimore
Baltimore Bike Party Halloween Ride & Afterparty: October 31, 2025 at 7 pm in Baltimore (Free)
Power Plant Live’s Heroes vs Villains: Halloween Multiverse War: October 31, 2025 at 8 pm at six themed parties across Baltimore ($11.21 early bird general admission)
Cheers! A Little Gay Halloween Party: October 31, 2025 at 6 pm at Chesapeake Wine Company, Baltimore ($15 presale, $20 at door)
Halloween Haunted Beer Gardens: October 31, 2025 at the Mansion on O St., Washington DC. Multiple entry times. ($25 for non-members, add-ons available)
Farms and Pumpkin Picking
Baugher’s Orchards and Farms: Westminster, MD
Brookfield Pumpkins: September 27-October 31, 2025 in Thurmont, MD (Free admission)
Buppert’s/ Doran’s Chance Farm: Marriottsville, MD
Butler’s Orchard 45th Annual Pumpkin Festival: September 20-November 2, 2025, Wednesdays-Sundays, Germantown, MD
Fall Festival Days at Chapel Hills Farm and Nursery: Weekends in October in Perry Hall, MD
Clark’s Elioak Farm: April 1-November 2, 2025 in Ellicott City, MD ($8 admission, add-ons available)
Gaver Farm Fall Fun Fest: August 29-November 2, 2025 from 10 am-6 pm daily in Mount Airy, MD
Knightongale Farm: September-October 2025 in Harwood, MD
Maryland Corn Maze: September 13-November 2, 2025 in Gambrills, MD ($17.95 online for day ticket, $19.95 at the door)
Fall Festival 2025 at Montpelier Farms: September 13-November 2, 2025 in Upper Marlboro, MD
Rock Hill Orchard: Mount Airy, MD
Summers Farm Fall Festival: September 13-October 31, 2025 in Middletown, MD
Weber’s Cider Mill Farm: Parkville, MD
Wildberry Farm + Market’s Fall Field Market: Saturdays from September 6-November 29, 2025 in Crownsville, MD
Fall Leaf Peeping
Shenandoah National Park: Only about an hour and a half drive from Washington, DC, the Shenandoah’s over 200,000 acres of land is the ideal place to experience fall.
Great Falls Park: This park in Maryland and Virginia offers hiking trails of different difficulty levels and scenic overlooks of Great Falls where you can appreciate the fall scenery.
C&O Canal National Historical Park: Biking or walking along the C&O Canal is an easy way to view the fall leaves.
U.S. National Arboretum: If you want to enjoy the fall colors within the city, check out the Arboretum for a picnic or leisurely walk.
Rock Creek Park: This urban oasis in DC offers a break from city life and a great way for locals to be immersed in the beauty of autumn.
Seneca Creek State Park: At this park in Gaithersburg, Maryland, you can look at the colorful leaves from hiking paths, or on a canoe or kayak.
Catoctin Mountain Park: A short drive from the city in Thurmont, Maryland, is Catoctin Mountain Park, a part of the Appalachian Mountains System.
Harpers Ferry National Historical Park: Harpers Ferry, known for its Civil War history, is also a great place to view the fall colors of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Federal Hill Park: Baltimore’s Federal Hill Park has not only one of the best views of the city, but also beautiful fall leaves.
Festivals & Markets
Towson Fall Festival: September 7, 2025 from 11 am-7 pm at the Towson Courthouse Gardens (Free)
Mosaic Fall Festival: September 27-28, 2025 from 11 am-6 pm at Mosaic District, Fairfax VA
Charm City Spooktacular Night Market: October 3, 2025 from 6-10 pm in Fells Point, Baltimore
Harvest Festival: October 4, 2025 from 11 am-4 pm in Derwood, MD ($20 per car)
DC WitchFest 2025: October 11, 2025 from 11 am-4 pm along the 3400 block of 11th Street NW DC (Free entry)
Greektown Fall Festival: October 12, 2025 from 12-4 pm in Baltimore
Garden Glow at LaDew Topiary Gardens: October 15-18, 2025 from 5-9 pm in Monkton, MD ($50 for adult non-members)
Mercury Mart, October Edition: October 18, 2025 from 12-5 pm at the Mercury Theater in Baltimore (Free)
Makers Valley Fall Festival: October 18, 2025 at 11 am at Boordy Vineyards, MD ($10 car pass)
Woodridge Library Fall Festival: October 19, 2025 from 1-5 pm at the Woodridge Neighborhood Library and Langdon Park, DC (Free)
Palisades Pumpkin Festival: October 21, 2025 from 3-6 pm at the Palisades Neighborhood Library, DC (Free)
The Great Halloween Lantern Parade: October 25, 2025 from 4-9 pm in Baltimore (Free)
Halloween at the Wildberry Field Market: October 25, 2025 from 9 am-12 pm in Crownsville, MD
Fall-o-Ween Artisan Market: October 25, 2025 from 11 am-4 pm at Stonebridge Potomac Town Center, Woodbridge VA
Ottobar Halloween Market: October 26, 2025 from 12-5 pm in Baltimore
Silver Spring Fall-O-Ween @ Veterans Plaza: October 26, 2025 from 12-5 pm at Veterans Plaza (Free)
Oktoberfest Events
Dupont Circle Oktoberfest: September 6, 2025 from 12-3 pm at Dupont Circle Park, DC
Delegation of German Industry & Commerce Oktoberfest: September 17, 2025 at the Decatur House, DC
10th Annual Oktoberfest at Wunder Garten: September 19-October 12, 2025 at Wunder Garten DC (Free entry)
Alexandria Oktoberfest: September 27, 2025 from 11 am-6 pm at John Carlyle Square in Alexandria, VA
Oktoberfest at The Wharf: October 2, 2025 from 2-7 pm at The Wharf DC
Das Best Oktoberfest: October 3, 2025 from 12-5 pm at the Maryland State Fairgrounds
Oktoberfest at Yuma: October 4, 2025 from 3-5 pm at the Yuma Center, DC ($40)
Mobtoberfest: October 5, 2025 from 12-6 pm at Mobtown Brewing Company, Baltimore
Oktoberfest at The Worthington: October 18, 2025 at 12 pm in Baltimore
2025 Oktoberfest: October 18, 2025 from 1-10 pm at M St. SE, DC
Events for Kids
Zoo BOO!: October 3-31, 2025 from 10 am-4 pm at The Maryland Zoo (Free with zoo admission)
Spooky Science: October 11, 2025 from 12-4 pm at the Maryland Science Center, Baltimore
Trick or Treat at the Baltimore Streetcar Museum: October 25, 2025 from 11 am-5 pm in Baltimore
Trick or Treat at Tudor Place: October 25, 2025 from 10 am-1 pm at Tudor Place ($10 child members, $15 child non-members, $5 adults)
SPOOKTACULAR on Van Ness Main Street: October 26, 2025 from 10 am-5 pm at Forest Hills Playground
Halloween Toddler Time: October 30, 2025 at 10 am at the B&O Railroad Museum, Baltimore
Food, Drink, & Art Events
Gourds & Ghouls Paint & Sip: September 11, 2025 at 6 pm at Heavy Seas Brewery in Halethorpe, MD ($42)
Spooky October Showcase Exhibition: October 3, 2025 from 5:30-8:30pm opening reception; exhibit open through October 31 at Baltimore Art Gallery
Witches Brew: Mixology at the Zoo: October 23, 2025 from 6-10 pm at the Maryland Zoo, Baltimore
Fundraisers
Pumpkins for Pups- Crafting for a Cause BARCS Fundraiser: September 21, 2025 at 1 pm at Heavy Seas Brewery in Halethorpe, MD ($65)
Meowtoberfest: October 4, 2025 from 12-4 pm at Manor Hill Brewing, MD
BARCStoberfest: October 25, 2025 from 10 am-2 pm at Patterson Park, Baltimore
Cafe du Paws Halloween | Dog Happy Hour: October 26, 2025 from 2-5 pm at Café du Parc, Washington DC
Other Events
Boardwalk Halloween Movie Series: October 10, 17, & 24, 2025 at The Yards Boardwalk, DC
Halloween Whodunit 3: October 29, 2025 at 7:30 pm at The DC Improv Comedy Club ($25)
Pumpkin Smash: November 2, 2025 from 10 am-12 pm at the Maryland Science Center, Baltimore
Let me know in the comments what your favorite fall events are and how you plan to celebrate this year!
If you liked this, check these out:
Postcard Cabins: Relax & Refresh in a Tiny Cabin
Fall Foliage and Halloween Spirit in the Poconos, Pennsylvania
A Complete Guide to Christmas in Washington, DC
A Complete Guide to Christmas in Baltimore
Pin it for later:
