As the air starts to chill, autumn leaves create a scenic canopy above red brick sidewalks in Old Town. Art festivals add to the seasonal spirit as locals load up at and fall festivities pop up in Old Town, Del Ray and beyond. Sip local cider, stroll King Street for seasonal finds and Halloween treats. Dating back to 1749, Alexandria’s history is filled with remarkable stories and mysterious legends embedded in the brick-lined streets and centuries-old sites. This spooky season, embark on a lantern-led ghost tour, hear chilling stories at historic sites and show off your costumes at Halloween events around town.

2nd to 31st

Carnival of Curiosities Art Exhibit

Del Ray Artisans Gallery

Colasanto Center

2704 Mount Vernon Avenue

Welcome one and all to the Carnival of Curiosities art exhibit at Del Ray Artisans where we’ll explore all things carnival and circus related, from fun foods and silly games to quirky costumes, haunted attractions, terrifying oddities, and magical slights of hand! Step right up! But beware, not everything is as it seems.

Opening Reception: Friday, October 2 from 7-9pm. Come back for an encore on Friday, October 30, between 7-9pm, where we’ll reveal the People’s Choice Award! Guests are encouraged to don their most creative mask or carnival-inspired attire for an evening of music, drinks, snacks. Mingle with artists one more time before the exhibit closes.

Gallery hours are Thursday 12-6pm, Friday 12-9pm, Saturday 12-6pm, and Sunday 12-6pm. The gallery is free, open to the public, and accessible.

2nd – 30th

6 pm – 7 pm

Poisons at the Apothecary

Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum
105-107 S. Fairfax Street

Explore the sinister side of medicine on the Apothecary Museum’s Poisons Tour. This one-hour tour explores several different types of poisons, their historic uses at the Apothecary, and what we know today. Recommended for adults. Tour is 6-7pm. Please arrive a few minutes early to check-in. The doors will be locked once the tour begins. https://shop.alexandriava.gov/Events.aspx

3rd

10 am – 6 pm

The 30th Annual Art on the Avenue

Held each fall on Mount Vernon Avenue between Hume and Bellefonte Avenues, Art on the Avenue strives to reflect the diversity of the Del Ray community through the artists and their work. This year’s festival will feature over 350 local and regional artists, live music, international food, children’s activities, a pie-baking contest, and more.

The event, voted by Virginia Living readers as the best art festival in Northern Virginia, is volunteer-run, with support from the local business community. Art on the Avenue is free and open to all. For more information, visit artontheavenue.org

10th

Support Ayuda – Live Music & Performance Art Benefit

2–6 PM

Galactic Panther Art Gallery

1303 King Street

Galactic Panther Art Gallery will host an afternoon of live music and performance art by Rob Parrish, Lou Black Trio and New Passengers. All proceeds from the event benefit will go to support Ayuda, which provides legal, social and language services to low-income immigrants in DC, Maryland and Virginia. Founded in 1973, Ayuda has served more than 150,000 low-income immigrants and provides assistance in areas including immigration law, family-based immigration, asylum, removal defense, naturalization and other humanitarian immigration matters.

10TH – 17TH

7th Annual Old Town Oyster Week

Join the Ultimate Oyster Celebration

Old Town Oyster Week is a premier annual event held every October, showcasing the best local oysters, shucking competitions, and exclusive specials.

Be sure to pick up your oyster passport at a participating location and get as many stickers as you can for an entry in our oyster week raffle (winners drawn at the Murphy’s closing ceremony)!

Check out the week full of events listed below to create a jam-packed oyster week celebration:

10th

7th Annual Oyster Shucking Competition

11 am – 1 pm

Daniel O’Connell’s

112 King Street

Annual Restaurant Shucking Competition! Come cheer on your favorite restaurant!

12th

Beat the Bartenders Guinness Pour Competition

6 pm – 9 pm

Daniel O’Connell’s

Join us in the O’Sullivan Room to challenge your favorite bartenders to a pour-off.

13th

Themed Trivia at Murphy’s

7 pm – 10 pm

Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub

713 King Street

Join us at Murphy’s for a fun-filled trivia night featuring Irish Music trivia.

14th

Personalized Pints & Picking the Pints Perfect Name

6 pm – 8 pm

The Commodore

220 North Lee Street

The pints will be flowing with the ripple machine to top your pint with a personalize picture at the Commodore. And submit your suggestions …

15th

Get Yourself Perfect Pint Certified!

6 pm – 8 pm

Cooper Mill

10 Duke Street

Join us at Cooper Mill to check your pint pouring skills and learn more about the perfect pint.

11th

6th Annual Ethiopian Fall Festival – (Photo uploaded)

1:00-7:00 pm

Chinquapin Park

3210 King Street

The Ethiopian Fall Festival is a community celebration bringing together residents and visitors from across Alexandria and the greater DMV area to experience Ethiopian culture through traditional music and dance, Ethiopian food, youth performances, local vendors, cultural presentations, and family-friendly activities.

24th

Old Town Trick-or-Treat

11 am – 4 pm

Hosted by Pippin Toy Co.

1310 King Street

For more than a decade Old Town Alexandria has rolled out the red – or in this case orange – carpet to trick or treaters from all over the DMV. With the closing of Old Town Business, this year, Pippin Toy Co. is stepping in to keep this beloved tradition alive. Start at Pippin Toy Co. to grab your map. Then spend the day trick or treating at some of your favorite businesses and historic attractions while enjoying all the thrills and chills Old Town Alexandria, the DMV’s Halloween hub, has to offer. Old Town Trick-or-Treat, Halloween Trick-or-Treating for the littlest ghouls and goblins.

Highlights include:

Participating locations include Red Barn Mercantile, Penny Post, Pippin Toy Co., Pacers Running, Made in ALX, 529 Kids Consign, Mint Condition, Eries Interiors, Nothing In Between Studio, Mudhouse Coffee, Ms. Moxie’s Moon Shop, Old Town Books, AR Workshop Alexandria, The World Crafted on King, Long Dark House, ERA, Pure Barre Alexandria, Lowery’s Dial, The Spice and Tea Exchange, Interior Instincts, The Old Town Shop, Eliana Curated, Lee-Fendell House Museum and Garden, Boxwood, Salon deZEN, Visit Alexandria Visitor’s Center, Carlyle House Historic Site, Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum.

Participants can expect drink specials for young and old alike at Mudhouse Coffee and fun activations for kids at The Spice and Tea Exchange, Lowery’s Dial, and Lee-Fendall House Museum and Garden.