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Mayor Bowser Urges Residents to Help Keep Trick-or-Treaters Safe, Invites Families to Fun, Free Halloween Events

(Washington, DC) – With Halloween approaching, Mayor Muriel Bowser is encouraging families to learn about and attend free, family-friendly Halloween events happening across all eight wards. The Bowser Administration is also urging the community to work together to keep kids and teens safe throughout the Halloween season, especially on Saturday, October 31, when many kids will be out trick-or-treating. 

Several District agencies are hosting free Halloween events, including the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR), DC Public Library (DCPL), Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), and the Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (ONSE). Additionally, the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice will deploy Halloween Safety Go Teams on Saturday, October 31, from 6 pm pm to 1 am, in 15 locations throughout the District. Safety Go Teams consist of non-law enforcement individuals who engage with families and monitor and de-escalate situations.

MPD encourages the following safety tips for Halloween weekend.

Drivers should:  

  • Be alert for trick-or-treaters, especially when it gets dark. Slow down on Halloween – slower speed saves lives.
  • Stay alert for pedestrians who may come out from between parked cars or behind shrubbery. 
  • Do not look at your phone when driving.
  • Never drive under the influence; use public transportation or rideshare services instead. If you see a drunk driver on the road, contact law enforcement. If traveling with a group, assign a designated driver. 

If your family and friends are trick-or-treating this Halloween, follow the below safety tips: 

  • Children should travel in small groups and be accompanied by parents or an authorized adult chaperone. 
  • Wear clothing that is bright, reflective, and flame-retardant. Parents/chaperones should ensure costumes have a reflective attachment to be easily seen in the dark. 
  • Only cross the street at street corners/crosswalks. Do not walk in between cars. 
  • Always look around in all directions before crossing the street. 
  • Stick to well-lit streets so you can see oncoming traffic. 
  • Children should never go into homes – stay on the porch or stoop when asking for treats. 
  • Children should avoid homes that do not have their outside lights turned on. 
  • Children should never go into strangers’ cars if approached. 
  • Children should stay within familiar areas and surroundings. 
  • Children should be aware of how to contact their parents/chaperones while out trick-or-treating. 
  • Children should use flashlights and stay on sidewalks. 
  • Parents should inspect all treats to make sure they are safe for consumption. 

Remember that while you are out enjoying Halloween activities, if you see something, say something: 

  • To report immediate threats or emergencies, call 911. 
  • To report anonymous tips or information, text to 50411. 
  • To report suspicious activity or behavior, call 202-727-9099. 

Upcoming DPR events: 

DPR Tennis Monster Smash

Barry Farm Haunted House

Halloween Trunk or Treat

Spooky Scary Trick or Treat Event

Roving Leaders Halloween Costume Skate Party

Mars Halloween Bash

Thriller Flash Mob

Haunted Hallway

Halloween Community Party

Ketcham Glow and Ghouls Bash

Benning Stoddert Halloween Costume Show-Off and Spook Trail

Riggs Halloween Bash 2026

  • Riggs LaSalle Recreation Center, 501 Riggs Road NE
  • Friday, October 30, 5 – 8 pm
  • RSVP: https://riggshalloweenbash2026.splashthat.com/

Scream Fest

Halloween Drive‑in Movie Night

Lafayette-Pointer Halloween Special

Roving Leaders Wheels Up, Hay Down

Halloween Hype

Upcoming DCPL Events

Trunk-or-Treat

  • Benning (Dorothy I. Height) Neighborhood Library, 3935 Benning Road NE
  • Thursday, October 29, 3:30 – 6:30 pm
  • RSVP Not required

Halloween Pumpkin Craft!

  • Southwest Neighborhood Library, 900 Wesley Place SW
  • Thursday, October 29, 3:30 – 5:30 pm
  • RSVP Not required

Outdoor Halloween Party

  • Georgetown Neighborhood Library, 3260 R Street NW
  • Thursday, October 29, 4 – 5 pm
  • RSVP Not required

Southeast Kids Halloween Party

  • Southeast Neighborhood Library, 403 Seventh Street SE
  • Thursday, October 29, 4 – 7 pm
  • RSVP Not required

Monster Mash Party

  • Parklands-Turner Neighborhood Library, 1547 Alabama Avenue SE
  • Thursday, October 29, 4 – 5:30 pm
  • RSVP Not required

Annual Children’s Harvest Festival

  • Bellevue (William O. Lockridge) Neighborhood Library, 115 Atlantic Street SW
  • Thursday, October 29, 4 – 6:15 pm
  • RSVP Not required

Monster Mash - Party

  • Capitol View Neighborhood Library, 5001 Central Avenue SE
  • Thursday, October 29, 4:30 – 7 pm
  • RSVP Not required

Fall Craft Hour

  • Petworth Neighborhood Library, 4200 Kansas Avenue NW
  • Thursday, October 29, 4:30 – 5:30 pm
  • RSVP Not required

Trick-or-Treat

  • Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, 901 G Street NW
  • Saturday, October 31, All Day
  • RSVP Not required

Used “BOO-k” Sale on Halloween at Shepherd Park Library - Friends Book Sale

  • Shepherd Park (Juanita E. Thornton) Neighborhood Library, 7420 Georgia Avenue NW
  • Saturday, October 31, 10 am – 4 pm and Sunday, November 1, 1 – 4 pm
  • RSVP Not required

Halloween Story Time

  • Francis A. Gregory Neighborhood Library, 3660 Alabama Avenue SE
  • Saturday, October 31, 11 – 11:30 am
  • RSVP Not required

Southwest Library Presents: Monster Movie Matinee

  • Southwest Neighborhood Library, 900 Wesley Place SW
  • Saturday, October 31, 12 – 1:30 pm
  • RSVP Not required

Fall Festival

  • Woodridge Neighborhood Library, 1801 Hamlin Street NE
  • Saturday, October 31, 12 – 5 pm
  • RSVP Not required

All About Bats in the District - A UDC Professor Bat Talk

  • Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, 901 G Street NW
  • Saturday, October 31, 1 – 2 pm
  • RSVP Not Required

Pumpkin Painting

  • Shepherd Park (Juanita E. Thornton) Neighborhood Library, 7420 Georgia Avenue NW
  • Saturday, October 31, 1 – 4 pm
  • RSVP Not required

District Horror Creatives Short Film Showcase - Cohort 5 Reboot

  • Northeast Neighborhood Library, 330 Seventh Street NE
  • Saturday, October 31, 3 – 6 pm
  • RSVP Required

Trick-or-Treat!

  • Petworth Neighborhood Library, 4200 Kansas Avenue NW
  • Saturday, October 31, 3 – 5 pm
  • RSVP Not required

Trick-or-Treat at the Library!

  • Lamond-Riggs/Lillian J. Huff Neighborhood Library, 5401 South Dakota Avenue NE
  • Saturday, October 31, 3 – 5 pm
  • RSVP Not required

MPD Halloween Safe Haven Events

MPD is also offering a series of child-safe, family-friendly events for Halloween – the District’s Halloween Safe Haven events.

View a full list of events for each police district below: 

First District

Haunted House  

  • 1D Station, 101 M Street SW 
  • Wednesday, October 28 through Friday, October 30, 5 pm – 9 pm 
  • Saturday, October 31, 4 – 8 pm 

Second District

Child Safety Event: Halloween

  • 2D Station, 3320 Idaho Avenue NW 
  • Friday, October 30, 3 – 5 pm

Trunk or Treat

  • 2D Station, 3320 Idaho Avenue NW 
  • Saturday, October 31, 4 – 7 pm 

Third District

Haunted House

  • 3D Station Garage, 1620 V Street NW 
  • Friday, October 30, 6 – 9 pm and Saturday, October 31, 6:30 – 9:30 pm

Fourth District

Haunted House / Trunk or Treat

  • 4D Station, 6001 Georgia Avenue NW 
  • Friday, October 30, 5 – 9 pm

Fifth District

Trunk or Treat

  • 5D Station, 1805 Bladensburg Road NE
  • Friday, October 30, 6 – 8 pm

Sixth District

Trunk or Treat

  • 6D Station, 5002 Hayes Street NE
  • Friday, October 30, 6 – 8:30 pm

Harvest Fest

  • 4551 Benning Road SE
  • Saturday, October 31, 12 – 3 pm 

Seventh District

Boo with the Blue: Trunk or Treat 

  • 2700 block of Jasper Street SE
  • Friday, October 30, 4 – 6 pm

MPD Youth and Family Engagement Bureau 

Haunted Maze & House

  • 5002 Hayes Street NE 
  • Friday, October 30 through Saturday, October 31, 6 – 10 pm 

Other upcoming Halloween events include: 

Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (ONSE) 3rd Annual Trunk or Treat Fall Festival  

  • ONSE Office, 100 42nd Street NE 
  • Friday, October 30, 4 – 7 pm 
  • RSVP here

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