A sample of local Halloween-related activities in the remaining days of October:
Haunted houses and trails
Markoff’s Haunted Forest – Open at night Oct. 21, 22, 27, 28, 29 and 31 – 19120 Martinsburg Road, Dickerson
The Haunted Forest returns for its 25th year in 2017 featuring the theme “Dia de los Muertos.” The forest offers two different trails and “The Town” to choose from. Trail 1 takes people through the “haunted abbey,” Trail 2 travels through “Hell’s Bridge into the caverns of the lost” and The Town takes guests to “the edge of the Field of Corn,” where the workers “at Onslaught Mills will take care of you in true Western fashion.” A pass to visit one of the trails is $30 online or $35 day of, while town passes are $25. The Haunted Forest opens nightly at dusk and the parking lot closes at 10:30 p.m. each night it is open.
Field of Screams Maryland – Open at night Oct. 21, 22, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 21 and Nov. 3 and 4 – 4501 Olney-Laytonsville Road, Olney
Field of Screams bills itself as the largest “scream park” in the Washington, D.C. region. It offers two haunted trails, as well as a haunted house and a haunted hayride. Tickets range from $20 for one haunted trail to $105 for a combined pass for all venues? Not sure of the right wording, but it sounded like the $105 pass is for just one part of the parkeach venue, with a fast pass that will enable you to cut lines. The Field of Screams website warns people to “expect long lines and waits on Friday and Saturday nights.”
Halloween parties and events
Halloween on Screen – Oct. 27-Nov. 2 – AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center, 8633 Colesville Rd., Silver Spring
Celebrate Halloween with some historically horrifying cinema. This Halloweekend, AFI theater is showing some eerie classics that range from “An American Werewolf in London” to” Night of the Living Dead.” General admission tickets range from $13 to $15, depending on the movie. AFI member passes are accepted at four of the movies except “Nosferatu,” which is part of a separate silent movie showcase.
Silver Spring Zombie Walk – Oct. 28 from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. – Beginning at 1115 East West Highway, Silver Spring
Zombies are invited to start their Halloween weekend night right at Denizen’s Brewing Co. kickoff party with a DJ, candy, costume contests and booze. The brewery will offer happy hour prices on beer when the walk begins at 9 p.m. Zombies can make their way to a screening of “Night of the Living Dead” at AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center.
Tapp’d Bethesda Two Nights of Fright – Oct. 27-28 at 8 p.m. – 4915 St. Elmo Ave., Bethesda
Boogeymen and booze will make these frightful nights hard to forget. Tapp’d has 40 beers on tap along with DJ’s, dancing and Halloween costume contests Friday and Saturday. It is offering prizes for the best, sexiest and scariest costumes and more than $1,000 in cash and prizes. Drink specials are expected.
Murder by the Book at Kentlands Mansion – Oct. 27-29 at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday – 320 Kent Square Road, Gaithersburg
A Taste for Murder Productions is hosting a seasonally spooky interactive play in a historic mansion Halloween weekend. This time, the murder mystery is based in a book store, where only some will live through the production based around the book “Roses are Dead and so are You.” Tickets are $35 per person or $60 for two; a sweet-tasting buffet is included. A Taste for Murder Productions recommends that only those ages 15 and older attend the production. Call 301-258-6425 for more information.
Pumpkin picking patches and hay rides
Butler’s Orchard – 22222 Davis Mill Road, Germantown – Open Tuesdays – Sundays, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Butler’s Orchard offers a slew of activities in addition to pumpkin picking. Children can jump in the hayloft barn, visit farm animals and navigate the straw maze. The farm offers a hay ride to the pumpkin patch, where families can select their pumpkins. The farm charges $7.25 per person for children and adults to participate in the pumpkin picking. Reservations can be made online in advance.
Rock Hill Orchard & Woodbourne Creamery – 28600 Ridge Road, Mount Airy – Farm open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays
This farm just north of the Montgomery County line offers apple and pumpkin picking. There are two corn mazes—one that’s nine acres and one that’s one acre. There also are free hayrides, a pumpkin cannon and apple cider donuts at the farm market. At the dairy farm, children can watch cows being milked with the farm’s robotic milker and pet the calves. At 4 p.m. on weekends, children can bottle feed the calves.
Halloween events and activities for children
Halloween Cookie Craft – Oct. 22 from 2 to 4 p.m. – Seneca Creek State Park – 11950 Clopper Road, Gaithersburg
Friends and family of all ages are welcome to decorate their own Halloween cookies to bring home. Park staff will provide cookies, icing and spectacularly spooky decorations. The event is free, but park staff request a donation of $5 for Friends of Seneca Creek State Park.
Not-So-Spooky Skate – Oct. 27 from 4 to 6:15 p.m. – Cabin John Ice Rink, 10610 Westlake Drive
Free instructional time for beginners, starting at 4:15 p.m., followed by a public skating period at 4:45 p.m. Dress in costume for trick-or-treating at the rink and to participate in a costume contest. There also will be Halloween crafts. A parent must accompany any skater younger than 6.
Halloween FunFest & Trunk or Treat – Oct. 28 from 6 to 10 p.m. – St. James Episcopal Church, 11815 Seven Locks Road, Potomac
For ghosts, wizards, goblins, superheroes and princesses of all ages. The schedule includes Haunted Catacombs at 6 p.m., Trunk or Treat at 6 p.m., a costume parade at 7 p.m. and a spooky organ concert at 7:30 p.m. There will be indoor children’s activities, warm cider, cold lemonade, popcorn. Admission is $5 per person, $20 maximum per family.
Spooky Saturday – Oct. 28, starting at 11 a.m. – Rockville Town Square
Dress in costumes and visit participating merchants for trick-or-treating, giveaways and specials. Later, there will be happy hour and late-night dining and drink specials.
Fall Frolic – Oct. 28 from 2 to 4 p.m. – Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd.
A Halloween-themed family event. There will be hands-on crafts, Halloween activities, studio visits, pumpkin decorating, face painting and trick-or-treating. A costume parade will be held at 3:30 p.m. Free.
Trick-or-Treating – Oct. 30 from 5 to 7 p.m. – Bethesda Row
Little ghosts and goblins are invited to an evening of music, frights, bites and “retail scare-apy.” Costumes are encouraged, but not mandatory. Trick-or-treating starts on Bethesda Lane (pick up a bag while supplies last) and continues around the Row with dozens of participating stores and restaurants. Includes candy, coupons, gifts with purchases, face painting and live music.
Compiled by Alex Carolan, Andrew Schotz and Andrew Metcalf
To recommend a public Halloween event for this list, let us know at editorial@moco360.media.