Halloween 2023
Halloween has come to Virginia Beach, and we’re celebrating all things thrills and chills this year in America’s favorite beach city. From family-friendly events to spooky fun and straight-up frights, we’ve got it all. No matter what your style is, here’s what to do and where to go in Virginia Beach when you’re ready to celebrate Halloween.
Family-Friendly Halloween Events
Halloween Glow in the Park
Multiple Dates Through October 28
At The Adventure Park at Virginia Aquarium, the trees take on an eerie glow during Halloween Glow in the Park. Get ready to have a sky-high good time with ziplines and treetop obstacles, such as cargo nets, swinging bridges and rope ladders, but with the added sparkle of twinkling lights giving the outdoor aerial adventure park an extra-special magical glow. The park also pipes in high-energy music to take this seasonal treetop experience to the next level (music themes range from “80s Mixtape” to “Epic Movie Music”). The “Glow in the Park” will take place September 29-30, October 6-7, 13-14, 20-21 and 27-28. Creepy Glow events, which feature scarier decorations and spooky music, take place on October 13 and 27.
Fins & Frights
October 20 & 21
Fins & Frights returns to the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center, much to the delight of aquarium-loving families across the Commonwealth and beyond. Come dressed in your favorite Halloween costume to explore the aquarium, which will be spooktacularly festive, of course! Get ready for trick-or-treat stations, photo ops, Halloween-themed games and activities, and – new this year – a fun trivia game show on a big screen where guests can test their Halloween knowledge.
Trunk or Treat
October 21
Got kids who love horses? Bring them to the Trunk or Treat event presented by the Virginia Beach Police Mounted Patrol. This family-friendly event will take place at the horse barn for the mounted patrol officers. The grounds and horse barn will be decorated for Halloween. Even the horses will be wearing costumes, so dress up the kids and get ready to collect all the candy you can carry back to your car. A sensory-friendly hour will run from 3-4 p.m. and will have no flashing lights, fewer noises and a smaller crowd. The regular event will run from 4-8 p.m.
Old Point National Bank Wicked 10K Weekend
October 27 & 28
Lace up your running shoes and head on over to the Virginia Beach Convention Center for tricks, treats and the starting line for an unforgettable 10K Halloween run along the ocean on the famous three-mile boardwalk. Choose a 5K or 10K. There’s also a Monster Mile that runs along 19th Street and a Mini Monster 1K for kids. All runners earn a medal. Up for a challenge? An extra medal, too? Run the Monster Mile on Friday, then the 10K (Pumpkin Smash Challenge) or 5K (Bat’s Brew Challenge) on Saturday for extra race bling.
Landstown Commons Creepy Car Show
October 28
The Car Club Council of Hampton Roads presents a car show with a twist at Landstown Commons Shopping Center. Cars will be decked out in their finest (or scariest) at the Landstown Commons Creepy Car Show, where you can get a close-up look at cool cars and have fun at the trunk or treat event to follow. There will be awards for cars, as well as a costume contest with prizes for adults, kids and animals.
Town and Treat
October 28
At the Town Center of Virginia Beach, the annual Town and Treat event will feature a costume contest at the Fountain Plaza, face painting, free cotton candy, science activity stations, and of course, trick-or-treating across retail shops at the open-air shopping center. Come in costume and bring trick-or-treat bags for candy. There will also be a DJ spinning tunes, an opportunity to touch a fire truck, and a balloon artist making fun balloon animals and hats for little ones. Keep your eyes open for photo ops with Spider-Man and Barbie.
Halloween Market
October 28
The monthly market put on by the Saturday Society near Mount Trashmore Park will take on a decidedly spooky theme for its October Halloween market. Come hungry to enjoy delicious treats from food trucks, including Potato Peeps, Flippin’ Hangry and Ghost Kitchen. In need of some java or an energy drink to fuel your Halloween fun? Beach Bum and Wired Up will be on-site serving caffeinated drinks. You’ll find more than 70 local market vendors selling vintage duds, baked goods, artisan-made jewelry and home décor. You can also participate in costume contests for kids, adults, families and pets. Don’t forget to bring a candy bag for a “tent or treat” event.
Halloween Spooktacular Heroes & Villains
October 29
At the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, get ready for a spooky serenade courtesy of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra and the Bay Youth Symphony Orchestra, which is made up of student musicians from the Hampton Roads area. The mid-afternoon event, Halloween Spooktacular, is family-friendly and costumes are encouraged (yes, even for grown-ups!). The orchestras will play seasonal melodies and scores from favorite flicks featuring (you guessed it) heroes and villains.
Halloween Events for Adults or Teens
Nightmare Mansion
Now through November 5
As one of Virginia’s longest-running haunted houses you can walk through, this is the place to get ready to scream this Halloween. Now in its 30th season, Nightmare Mansion also claims to be the world’s first live-streaming haunted house, so you can watch live as visitors get the scares of their lives. It’s even open nine months a year, getting its scary start very early each year – in March! An escape room experience called ESCAPE! Nightmare Mansion runs from October 1 through November 12. It’s adults-only for the haunted house. For the escape room, participants must be at least 15 years old.
Haunted Hunt Club Farm’s Festival of Fear
September 29 - October 31
Get ready to feel chills at Hunt Club Farm, which eerily transforms after dark into Haunted Hunt Club Farm. The farm’s “Festival of Fear” features four spine-chilling attractions, including Haunted Hayride, Forbidden Fields, Death Alley and Village of the Dead. More than 70 actors – all with a “talent for terror,” as the farm describes – will be on hand to maximize the fear factor. When you’re ready to scream, doors open at 7 p.m. on weekends and select weeknights in October.
Monet Haunt
October 20 & 21; 27 & 28
Get ready for a circus theme at this year’s Monet Haunt, a walk-through scare experience that just might leave you with nightmares. Friends, this definitely isn’t your typical three-ring circus. Now in its 9th year, Monet Haunt aims to fill you with fear. For those who aren’t ready for jump scares and satanic screams, there’s a Halloween carnival that’s more fun than fear – with plenty of food, carnival games and prizes.
Landstown Horror
October 20 & 21; 27 & 28
Eager for a serious scare? Then get yourself to Landstown Horror for a night of terror that you will absolutely wish you could forget. This haunted walk-through experience features a maze of horrifically scary scenes with realistic handmade props and grisly costumed actors at the ready for jump scares. Be forewarned, friends.
Life With the Afterlife: True Tales of the Paranormal with Ghost Hunter Amy Bruni
October 21
Make plans to attend this enlightening evening with real-life ghost hunter Ami Bruni at the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts. Hear hair-raising tales of her experiences at some of America’s most haunted places.
Howl-O-Ween Pub Crawl & Pet Costume Contest
October 21
Make your way to the Virginia Beach Oceanfront for a fun and decidedly dog-friendly Howl-O-Ween Pub Crawl that will take place between 30th and 33rd streets. The crawl starts at Aloha Snacks. Crawlers will make Murphy’s Irish Pub the next stop, then wrap up the pub crawl at Smartmouth Pilot House with a pet costume contest. A portion of the entry fee for the pub crawl and costume contest will benefit the Virginia Beach SPCA. Ages 21+.
Veuve Clicquot’s Yelloween at The Historic Cavalier Hotel
October 26
If you’re not familiar with Yelloween, it’s the annual Halloween party hosted by Veuve Clicquot, the champagne maker known for its widely recognizable yellow label. Naturally, the bubbly will be flowing at this celebration, as Veuve Clicquot transforms the Cavalier Hotel’s Raleigh Room and Great Lawn into a haunted mansion. Come dressed in costume and get ready for photo ops and live music, as well as tarot card and palm readings. There will be plenty of champagne, signature cocktails and a super-fun costume contest, too. Ages 21+.
Halloween Bar Crawl
October 27 & 28
The 6th annual Halloween Bar Crawl is two days of “crawling” more than 10 bars and restaurants along Atlantic and Pacific avenues on the Virgina Beach Oceanfront. Check in is at The Bunker Brewpub and other venues include local favorites like Harpoon Larry’s Oyster Bar, LunaSea and Sandbar Surf Bar. Once you’re done crawling, head to the after party at Peabody’s Nightclub where heart-pumping music will welcome you. Go where you want, when you want, in the order you want, over two days. Just be sure to go in costume (this is an event where you’ll want to dress to impress – oh, and there’s a costume contest, too). Ages 21+.
The Shack’s Halloween Party
October 28
One of the biggest and booziest Halloween parties in all of VB takes place at The Shack on 8th, just steps from the world-famous boardwalk. Dress in costume or simply “dress to impress” at the Shack’s Halloween Party, suggest the organizers. Either way, you’re sure to have a good time at this popular party with a spooky theme: “Horrors of Shack Hospital.” Dance to live music and talented DJs and watch (or enter) a costume contest with $1,000 in cash prizes. Make note, this is a ticketed event, but the entry fee does include a free “BOOZEter” shot. Ages 21+.
