WASHINGTON — Don’t make holiday plans until you’ve read WTOP’s Halloween Freebies list. We’ve loaded it with trick-or-treating destinations, parades, festivals, costume and pumpkin carving contests and other events and giveaways going on through Nov. 1, 2014:
The cost of admission is a non-perishable food item at the maze on Morrissette Drive in West Springfield. And you can get your picture taken free with some scary characters such as Freddy Krueger and Michael Myers. It’s open Oct. 24, 25 and 31 and Nov. 1.
From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, some retailers in D.C.’s Mount Vernon Triangle area will hand out goodies to trick-or-treating “mini monsters” (kids in costume), and you can get a free Polaroid of your child. There will also be free pumpkin painting, face painting, games, apple cider, popcorn and musical entertainment.
It’s free to participate and it’s good to look bad at the Silver Spring Zombie Walk, which starts at 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25. Zombies should gather at 8 p.m. along Selm Road, next to Jackie’s Sidebar.
From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, head to Market Common Clarendon for trick-or-treating, a petting zoo, samplings from retailers and musical performances.
On Saturday, Oct. 25, the annual parade starts at 10 a.m. and travels along Columbia Pike. The Fall Festival includes live entertainment, a Kids Zone and more than 100 vendors selling their wares at a community market.
Put on your costume and head to Pentagon Row for free treats while they last at participating merchants from 1 to 5 p.m. Oct. 25. Several shops and retailers are offering special deals as well. For example, Bonefish Grill will have coupons good for a free appetizer.
The 89th Annual Mummers Parade starts at 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25. What’s a “mummer”? A person in costume! In the past, the parade has attracted crowds of more than 70,000 people.
You’re invited to march in costume (your dog, too!) in the parade that starts at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26. It begins at Mt. Vernon Avenue, south of E. Bellefonte. After the parade, refreshments will be handed out, along with goodie bags for kids while they last. There will also be musical entertainment and games for kids.
Bring your own carving tools to the bar for a pumpkin carving party starting at 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26. Ten free pumpkins will be available on a first- come, first-serve basis, but feel free to bring your own. Bar patrons will help pick a winner.
Enjoy trick-or-treating and Halloween activities at local businesses from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26.
From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26, select stores and restaurants will hand out goodies to trick-or-treaters. Kids 12 and under dressed in costume get a free child’s ride on the Capital Wheel with an adult purchase. There will also be a big-screen showing of “Hocus Pocus” on the plaza at 11:15 a.m.
The parade of glamorous costumed and high-heeled drag queen racers starts at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 28, at 17th and P Streets NW, followed by the race itself (a D.C. tradition since 1986) at 9 p.m.
After 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 28, get a free kids meal with an adult entree purchase. Kids are also encouraged to wear their Halloween costume and take part in games at each restaurant.
Kids are invited to walk in costume in the parade, which will feature the Washington Redskins Marching Band. It starts at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 29, on Maple Avenue. If you’re marching, meet at 6:30 p.m. in the parking lot of United Bank at 374 Maple Avenue East.
This month’s A People’s Choir group sing-a-long will have a Halloween theme. Costumes are welcome. The fun starts at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 29, at Stetson’s.
The annual contest starts at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30. Thirty free pumpkins and carving tool kits will be available, first-come, first-served. Prizes will be awarded for “Most Local-Themed Pumpkin” and “Most Ghoulish Gourd.”
Mosaic District’s night of fun from 5-9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30, includes trick-or-treating at participating businesses as well as special activities and deals. Treat bags will be given out first-come, first-served at the information table on the Target corner of District Avenue and Strawberry Lane.
Adoption fees will be waived for all orange and/or black cats, dogs and small pets. Otherwise, adoption fees will be half off during the shelter’s Halloween Adopt-a-Thon Oct. 30-Nov. 2. There will also be hands-on fun with bunnies, guinea pigs and other animals, as well as games and treats.
Signs in store windows will let you know which merchants will be handing out goodies at Springfield Town Center from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31. Free trick-or-treat bags will be handed out to the first 500 children to claim them at Guest Services.
Kids can wear their costume and pick up treats at Bull Run Regional Library in Manassas at 10:30 a.m., or at Chinn Park Regional Library at 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31.
Participating IHOP locations will give away free Scary Face Pancakes to kids age 12 and younger from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Halloween, Friday, Oct. 31. They can use strawberries, candy corn, cookies and whipped cream to add a face to their pancake.
Get a free doughnut of your choice while supplies last when you wear a costume to a participating Krispy Kreme location on Friday, Oct. 31.
Show up in costume and you can bowl a free game at King Pinz Luxury Lanes & Sports Grill, in Leesburg, from 9 p.m. to midnight Friday, October 31.
Dress in your best costume, and get your cat or dog dressed too, for this event from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31. There will be a costume contest, games for pets and adults and other “tricks and treats.”
Bring your pup to the Fairmont for trick-or-treating from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31. All dogs will get free peanut butter doggie biscuits baked by the hotel’s pastry chefs.
Admission is free to this Day of the Dead style party at The Yards from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1. There will be roaming street performers, face painters, live mariachi bands, fortune tellers and a celebrity “graveyard.”
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