π Autumn is in the air, pumpkins are everywhere and so many communities along Route 1 are throwing fabulous, kid-friendly fall festivals and seasonal events this year! So carve out some time and check out these fun (mostly free) fall events happening in Maryland’s Mount Rainier, Brentwood, Bladensburg, Hyattsville, Riverdale Park, College Park, Greenbelt, Laurel, Upper Marlboro and Washington, D.C.
Many thanks to π΅ Music Together SoHy for sponsoring this Guide!
Fall Festivals, Pumpkins & Halloween Fun!Β
College Park Day
Join your friends, neighbors and the entire City of College Park community at the 9th Annual College Park Day Festival! We love this festival! Huge bouncy houses, pumpkin painting, live music, food and beverages (including the adult kind π for purchase)! Read about our timeΒ here!
When: Saturday, October 6th, 12-6pm
Where: College Park Aviation Museum, 1985 Corporal Frank Scott Dr, College Park
Cost: Free!
37th Annual Kinderfest
Festivities, programs and entertainment at this fall festival for the whole family! Carnival games, costumed characters, dancers, hay rides, magician, pony rides, roving clowns, scarecrow workshops & more!
When: Sunday, October 7th, 12-5pm
Where: Watkins Regional Park, Upper Marlboro, Maryland
Cost: Free!
Festival del Rio
Bring the family and celebrate the outdoors and the Anacostia River. From hands-on activities, crafts, entertainment, delicious ethnic food and more, there’s something for everyone! Experience the outdoors with new eyes as you join nature walks, boat trips, and see local fish and birds close up. All activities are conducted in Spanish.
When: Saturday, October 13th, 11am-4pm
Where: Bladensburg Waterfront Park, Bladensburg
Cost: Free!
A Taste of Latin Culture
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by enjoying the diversity and richness of Hispanic culture. Enjoy live music, crafts, food, games, face painting, dancing and colorful displays.
When: Saturday, October 13th, 11am-2pm
Where: Langley Park Community Center, 1500 Merrimac Dr, Hyattsville
Cost: Free!
Celebrate Africa!
Bladensburg Waterfront Park will transform into an African marketplace when artists, storytellers, dancers and food vendors from Senegal to Somalia converge to celebrate Africa! Come dressed as your most glorious African garb and stroll the marketplace where kente cloth weavers and leatherworks will practice centuries-old art. Storyteller, sacred drumming, dancing, fashion show & more!
When: Sunday, October 14th, 12-5pm
Where: Bladensburg Waterfront Park, Bladensburg
Cost: Free!
Harvest Festival
Enjoy fall family fun with hands-on activities in the garden and open hearth kitchen. Create autumn crafts, snack on seasonal treats, get your face painted, explore the open hearth kitchen and more! Refreshments and activities available while supplies last.
When: Sunday, October 14th, 12-3:30pm
Where: Riversdale House Museum, Riverdale Park
Cost: $4/person
10th Annual American Indian Festival
Celebrate the rich and diverse cultures of Native Americans at the 10th Annual American Indian Festival. Featuring live music, drumming, singing, dancing, storytelling, interactive exhibits, demonstrations, American Indian games, archery and more!
When: Saturday, October 20th, 10am-4pm
Where: Jug Bay Natural Area, 16000 Croom Airport Road, Upper Marlboro
Cost: Free!
Fall Fest
Join for hay rides, games, amusements, pumpkin patch, pumpkin carving and live music!
When: Saturday, October 20th, 2-5pm
Where: Schrom Hills Park, 6751 Village Park Dr, Greenbelt
Cost: Free!
Calabash Carnage: Family Pumpkin Carving
Celebrate Halloween and have lots of fun at the Brentwood Arts Exchange! Your family is invited to join us for a Pumpkin Carving Workshop. Use your imagination and create your own designs.When: Saturday, October 20th, 2-4pm
Where: Brentwood Arts Exchange, Brentwood
Cost: Free! (Pumpkins are $5/each)
Pumpkin Walk
Come out and enjoy the beautiful decorated pumpkins on the Greenbelt trails!
When: Saturday, October 20th, 6pm
Where: Schrom Hills Park, Greenbelt, Maryland
Cost: Free!
Children’s Halloween Party
Lots of fun crafts and games! Prizes and free lunch to children 12 and under. All children must be accompanied by an adult.
When: Sunday, October 21st, 1-3pm
Where: American Legion Laurel Post 60, 2 Main Street, Laurel
Cost: Free!
Spooky Kid Disco
Come in costume and rattle your bones!
When: Sunday, October 21st, 3pm-4:30pm
Where: College Park Arts Exchange, 4711 Knox Rd, College Park
Cost: Free!
Halloween on the Farm
Join Old Maryland Farm for a Halloween & Fall themed event. Enjoy hayrides, games, crafts, live creepy crawly animals and a costume contest (must be registered by 5:45pm; winner announced at 6pm).
When: Saturday, October 21st, 4-7pm
Where: Old Maryland Farm, 301 Watkins Park Drive, Upper Marlboro
Cost: $4/person
MallOWeen – Mall at Prince George’s
Free, safe indoor trick or treating. Get another use from those costumes! Come dressed up (or not). All our vendors will be handing out treats for the kids. Plus, many will have treats for the adults, too.
When: Wednesday, October 24th, 5-8pm
Where: The Mall at Prince George’s, Hyattsville
Cost: Free, register here.
Pumpkin Carving
This popular Greenbelt event is a family favorite! Come on out and decorate a pumpkin to be used on the Pumpkin Walk.
When: Friday, October 26th, 4-7pm
Where: Roosevelt Center, 131 Centerway, Greenbelt
Cost: Free!
Halloween Thing
Featuring haunted hallways, moon bounce, arts and crafts, games, face painting, costume parade, raffle and so much more!
When: Saturday, October 27th, 10am-12pm
Where: College Park Youth & Family Services, 4912 Nantucket Rd, College Park
Cost: Free!
Spooky Fest
Spooky Fest will start with a Spooky Storytime at 12:30 followed from 1-3 by the Monster Mash Dance Party, photobooth, seasonal crafts to take home and a costume contest for ages 12 & under.
When: Saturday, October 27th, 12:30-3pm
Where: University Town Center, Hyattsville
Cost: Free!
Scream in the Square
We’re feeling spooky this year and we’re celebrating by showing a classic, family friendly Hallloween movie! Please bring blankets and chairs for seating arrangements. Costumes always encouraged!
When: Saturday, October 27th, 6pm
Where: Riverdale Park Station, Bear Square, Riverdale Park
Cost: Free!
Pumpkin Walk
After the Pumpkin Carving at Roosevelt Center on Friday, come out and enjoy the beautiful decorated pumpkins on our Greenbelt trails! A Greenbelt tradition!
When: Saturday, October 27th, 6-9pm
Where: Northway, Greenbelt
Cost: Free!
Community Halloween Dance Party!
Come celebrate the season and Ally Theatre’s 2nd Birthday! Food, music and dancing with DJ RR! Costumes fun but not required.
When: Saturday, October 27th, 7-11pm
Where: Joe’s Movement Emporium, Mt. Rainier
Cost: $10-$15
Mount Rainier Halloween Parade & Costume Contest
Dress up your family in their Halloween finest and bring them to Joe’s Movement Emporium for the Mount Rainier Halloween Parade and Costume Contest! This is a casual and informal contest mostly geared for kids 10 and under; each category round participant will win something. All kids receive a goodie bag and candy plus glowstick to use on Halloween Night.
When: Sunday, October 28th, 11am-2pm (Costume contest at 11am, 12:30pm Halloween parade)
Where: Joe’s Movement Emporium, Mount Rainier
Cost: Free!
El Dia de los Muertos Celebration
Join us for an evening of music, dancing and crafts in celebration of Latin American heritage, including special performances by the DC-basd band Los Gallos Negros and dancers from the Maru Montero Dance Company.
When: Thursday, November 1st, 5:30-8:30pm
Where: National Portrait Gallery, DC
Cost: Free!
Unknown says
I was hoping info on local, recommended pumpkin patches would be included. Any chance of adding that?