Family-Friendly Halloween Events
Halloween Glow in the Park
October 12, 19, 25 & 26, 6 to 10 p.m.
At The Adventure Park at Virginia Aquarium, the trees take on an eerie glow during Halloween Glow in the Park. Get ready for a sky-high good time with ziplines and treetop obstacles, like cargo nets, swinging bridges and rope ladders, but with the added sparkle of twinkle lights—giving the outdoor aerial adventure park a magical glow. Halloween “Glow in the Park” will take place October 12, 19 and 26 from 6 to 10 p.m. A “Creepy Glow” event, with scarier decorations and spooky music, will take place on October 25. The park will also host an “Eyeball Scavenger Hunt” from October 11-30, where you can find all the “eyeballs” hidden in the park to collect a prize in the park store. It’s so fun, it’s frightening.
Witch of Pungo Festival
October 12, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Head over to Blue Pete’s Restaurant in Pungo for the Witch of Pungo Festival, a spooktacular, family-friendly celebration honoring Grace Sherwood, popularly known as the “Witch of Pungo.” Blue Pete’s will feature special beer deals on Witch of Pungo Pumpkin Ale. Enjoy medium readings, a kids’ scavenger hunt, DJ music and a visit from a costumed storyteller who will bring the tale of the Witch of Pungo to life.
Fins & Frights
October 18 & 19, 6 to 9 p.m.
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 ghoulishly festive, of course! Get ready for trick-or-treat stations, a haunted nature trail, Halloween-themed games and activities, and a costume contest.
Ghosts of Thoroughgood Past
October 18-20; 25-27, 6 to 10 p.m. (Fri.-Sat.) 6 to 9 p.m. (Sun.)
For a ghost-ified evening, head inland to Thoroughgood House, one of the oldest standing colonial homes in Virginia Beach. In October, this National Historic Landmark hosts evenings with the “Ghosts of Thoroughgood Past.” Haunted tours led by costumed storytellers explore the house and gardens. Ghostly tales and eerie happenings unfold every 30 minutes from 6 to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 6 to 9 p.m. on Sundays. Plus, enjoy cozy campfires and steaming hot cider to keep the chills at bay.
Ghoula Palooza
October 19, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
For a frightfully fun time, head to Great Neck Recreation Center for Ghoula Palooza. This free family-friendly event is packed with Halloween excitement, including bounce houses, a petting zoo and loads of kids’ games and activities—plus a DJ spinning festive tunes. Don’t forget your costume for a ghoulishly good trick-or-treating adventure.
Trunk or Treat
October 26, 3 to 4 p.m. (Sensory Friendly Hour), 4 to 8 p.m. (Main Event)
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, horse barn (and even the horses!) will be dressed up for Halloween. Bring the kids in costume and prepare to collect all the candy you can carry back to your car. A sensory-friendly hour will run from 3 to 4 p.m. with no flashing lights, fewer noises and a smaller crowd. The regular event will run from 4 to 8 p.m.
Old Point National Bank Wicked 10K Weekend
October 25 & 26, various times
Lace up your sneakers and head 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 in Oceanfront. Choose a 5K or 10K on Saturday at 8 a.m. or a breezy “Monster Mile” along 19th Street the day before (Friday at 6 p.m.) All runners earn a medal. Up for a challenge and an extra medal? Run the Monster Mile on Friday, then the 10K (Pumpkin Smash Challenge) or 5K (Bat’s Brew Challenge) on Saturday for bonus race bling. Oh, and don’t forget to flaunt your best costume!
Landstown Commons Trunk or Treat Cruise-In
October 26, 4 to 6 p.m.
The Car Club Council of Hampton Roads presents a car show with a twist at Landstown Commons Shopping Center. It’s part cruise-in, part trunk or treat and all parts fun. Come to the Landstown Commons Trunk or Treat Cruise-In in costume to get an up-close look at seriously cool cars and go trick-or-treating from trunk to trunk. A DJ will be on hand spinning fun and all your favorite spooky tunes. Car entry is from 3 to 4 p.m., with the event from 4 to 6 p.m.
Town and Treat
October 26, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
At the Town Center of Virginia Beach, the annual Town and Treat event promises a ghoulishly good time Enjoy beats from DJ Ponfetti, free cotton candy and mad science activity stations. There will be face painting, stilt walkers, photo booths and special costumed characters. Kids can compete in costume contests in categories like cutest, scariest and most creative costumes. There will also be prizes for the best family and dog costumes. A balloon artist will be there to twist up fun balloon animals and hats. Of course, there will also be trick-or-treating across retail shops.
Halloween Art Market and Costume Party
October 26, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
At the Virginia Beach Farmers Market on Dam Neck Road, get ready for an outdoor Halloween-theme event that celebrates local artists. The Halloween Art Market and Costume Party, organized by SHill Creations Studio and Korrine Maher Designs, will feature fabulous local artists and their art for sale. Come in your best costume for trick-or-treating at vendor tents.
Uncle Wiggily and the Haunted Woods
October 26, 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
In conjunction with the Children’s Theatre of Hampton Roads, Zeiders American Dream Theater presents two mid-day performances of Uncle Wiggily and the Haunted Woods on the Main Stage Theater. This family-friendly play for all ages follows Uncle Wiggily and his furry, forested friends as they embark on an adventure to solve the spooky mystery of the Haunted Woods.
PBJ: Halloween Spooktacular
October 27, 3 p.m.
At the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, get ready for a seriously spooky serenade courtesy of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra and the Governor’s School for the Arts Symphony Orchestra. The mid-afternoon event, PBJ: Halloween Spooktacular, is family-friendly and costumes are encouraged (yes, even for grown-ups!). The orchestras will play monstrous melodies.
Psycho in Concert: Film with Orchestra
October 27, 8 p.m.
Get ready for a scream-worthy night at the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts with a spine-tingling screening of Alfred Hitchcock's classic Psycho. Experience the ultimate thrill as Virginia Symphony Orchestra performs the chilling score live while the suspenseful horror film plays on the big screen. It’s guaranteed to be a night of unforgettable chills and thrills.
Halloween Events for Adults or Teens
Nightmare Mansion
Now through November 3
As one of Virginia’s longest-running haunted houses you can walk through, this is the place to go when you want to scream your head off this Halloween. Nightmare Mansion claims to be the world’s first live-streaming haunted house, so you can watch in real-time as visitors face their worst nightmares. Take the terror to the next level with an escape room experience called ESCAPE! Nightmare Mansion—designed to double the thrills and double the fear. It’s strictly adults-only for the haunted house. For the escape room, brave souls must be at least 15 years old.
Haunted Hunt Club Farm’s Festival of Fear
September 27 - October 31, Various days and times
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-tingling 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. Check the site for full details on dates and times.
Monet Haunt
October 18-19 & 25-26, 7:30 to 10:30 p.m.
Brace yourself for the ultimate fright fest at this year’s Monet Haunt, where an apocalypse-themed walk-through scare experience will send chills down your spine. Now in its 10th year, Monet Haunt is the adrenaline-filled scare fest that has every intention of haunting your dreams. Concession will be available as well as fun games for all who dare to visit.
Howl-O-Ween Pub Crawl & Pet Costume Contest
October 26, 3 to 6 p.m.
Head to the Virginia Beach Oceanfront for a dog-friendly Howl-O-Ween Pub Crawl between 30th and 33rd streets. The crawl starts at Aloha Snack then crawlers will make Smartmouth Brewing Pilot House for the next stop and wraps the pub crawl with a pet costume contest at Murphy’s Irish Pub. A portion of the entry fee for the pub crawl and costume contest will benefit the Virginia Beach SPCA, so you’ll be raising a glass for a great cause. Ages 21+.
Veuve Clicquot’s Yelloween at The Historic Cavalier Hotel
October 24, 6 to 10 p.m.
For bubbles and boos, get to Yelloween at The Historic Cavalier Hotel, Veuve Clicquot’s fabulous annual Halloween bash. Known for its iconic yellow label, Veuve Clicquot transforms the hotel’s Raleigh Room and Great Lawn into a haunted mansion where the champagne will be flowing all night long. Dress for tons of photo ops and a super-fun costume contest and enjoy live music by local band Littkeys. With plenty of champagne, signature cocktails and Halloween vibes, it’s the party of the season. Ages 21+.
Halloween Bar Crawl
October 26, 4 p.m. to 12 a.m.
The 7th annual Halloween Bar Crawl is a “crawl” across ten bars and restaurants along Atlantic and Pacific avenues on the Virginia Beach Oceanfront, like Baja Cantina, Chemistry, Harvest, Peabody’s, The Edge and plenty more. The night kicks off at The Bunker Brewpub. From there, it’s your call – go where you want, when you want and in whatever order you like. After you’ve hit the bars, head to the epic after-party, where heart-pounding music awaits. One more thing, there’s a costume contest and a cash prize. Ages 21+.
The Shack’s Halloween Party
October 26, 8:30 p.m.
One of the biggest and booziest Halloween parties in all of VB is on at The Shack on 8th, just off the famous boardwalk. Dress in costume or simply “dress to impress” at the Shack’s Halloween Party. It’s sure to be a wicked good time with a spooky theme: “The Spirits of Halloween.” Dance to live music and killer DJ sets and watch (or enter) a costume contest with $1,000 in cash prizes up for grabs. Make note this is a ticketed event. Ages 21+.
