Best Neighborhoods to Trick-or-Treat on Halloween in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia

Looking for the best places to trick-or-treat in the DC area? Here are 13 great neighborhoods for trick-or-treating 2023.

There's nothing more exciting for kids than going trick-or-treating on Halloween. Luckily for DC-area children, there are tons of great neighborhoods to trick-or-treat in Northern Virginia, Maryland, and DC. Residents of these neighborhoods love to do it up, from extravagant decorations and crazy costumes to haunted houses and tons of candy.

We did research and interviewed local parents to put together this list of 13 great neighborhoods to trick-or-treat in the DC area, all of which are sure to put your family in the spooky spirit. For more Halloween fun this month, check out our Halloween Events and Activities Guide for Kids in Washington, DC, which includes our list of the top Halloween events in DC for kids and families. Happy Halloween!

Best Neighborhoods to Trick-or-Treat on Halloween in Northern Virginia

1. Old Town Alexandria — Alexandria

With all of its ghost tours and old Colonial houses—some of which are said to be haunted—Old Town is festive enough on its own. But the homeowners on Lee Street take it up a notch with over-the-top decorations, making it one of the best places in the area for trick-or-treating 2023. The street is closed off to traffic to make it extra safe for little ones, and the houses are close together, which means you can visit more of them in a shorter time.

When you're finished on Lee Street, hit up the stores on King Street. Many of them give out candy as well!

 
Great Falls hosts an annual Halloween Spooktacular on the Village Green. Photo courtesy of fairfaxva.gov

2. Great Falls

Great Falls hosts an annual Halloween Spooktacular on the Village Green that takes place this year from 4-7pm. It features a haunted house, a pet parade and costume contest, spooky live music, and more. Kids can also trick-or-treat from local merchants before hitting the neighborhoods for traditional trick-or-treating.

3. Ashton Heights — Arlington

For decades, the homes on N. Jackson Street have gone all out with Halloween decorations. There's a rusty old hearse driven by a skeleton, an entire house decorated to look like a pirate ship, a clown riding a tricycle, and lots more. And, of course, the candy flows.

4. The Ponds of Burke Centre — Burke

The Ponds neighborhood is full of families that create a festive atmosphere during Halloween. There are lots of decorated houses, with two in particular that compete to see which can decorate the most. One year, one of them carved a 400-pound pumpkin into a jack o' lantern with a chainsaw, while its next-door neighbor put out a 20-foot-tall skeleton. And trick-or-treaters can amass quite the candy haul!

RELATED: Best Free Halloween Events Near DC for Kids and Families

Costumed kids flock to Rodgers Forge to trick-or-treat. Photo courtesy of the Rodgers Forge Community Association

Best Neighborhoods to Trick-or-Treat on Halloween in Maryland

5. Rodgers Forge — Baltimore

Kids come from miles away to trick-or-treat in this Towson neighborhood just north of Roland Park. Homes are decorated like crazy, and because most of them are townhouses, it's easy to hit up a lot of them in a short time. The Halloween parade that typically takes place each year is also a big draw for many families.

6. Bethesda Overlook — Bethesda

The candy is just a bonus when you trick-or-treat at Bethesda Overlook. Families flock to this condominium complex to see spooky inflatables, light shows, dancing witches, and more creepy Halloween decorations.

7. Fells Point — Baltimore

This historic neighborhood, which celebrates Baltimore's British nautical roots, is full of decorated homes that welcome trick-or-treaters. Restaurants and stores typically hand out candy as well. To find the festivities, head to the place where Fleet Street, Eastern Avenue, Aliceanna Street, and Thames Street meet.

8. Kentlands — Gaithersburg

Kentlands really does it up on Halloween, with houses decorated with spooky lights, gravestones, skeletons, and other creepy decorations. But don't be scared—the residents welcome trick-or-treaters with smiles and plenty of candy!

9. Kensington

Fewer people love Halloween—and handing out candy—more than those who live along Perry Avenue off of University Boulevard in Kensington. Revelers ranging from babies to grown-ups get dressed up in all manner of costumes and flock to this neighborhood to enjoy ghoulish decorations and lots of sweet treats.

RELATED: Best Halloween Events in DC for Kids and Families

Soak in the spookiness of Capitol Hill on Halloween. Photo by Mike Maguire, Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Best Neighborhoods to Trick-or-Treat on Halloween in DC

10. Capitol Hill and East Capitol Street

Halloween is such a big deal in Capitol Hill that folks who live there and on East Capitol Street plan for thousands of trick-or-treaters each year. The decorations are elaborate, the owners are dressed up, and full-size candy bars abound. With the rowhouses all connected, be sure your kiddo brings a giant treat bag!

11. Chevy Chase

This historic neighborhood in northwest DC is great for trick-or-treating, especially on Rittenhouse Street NW between Broad Branch Road and Utah Avenue. All of the houses are extravagantly decorated and the homeowners love to hand out candy. The stores on Connecticut Avenue usually pass out treats as well.

RELATED: Best Pumpkin Patches Near DC for Picking the Perfect Pumpkin

Residences in Georgetown show plenty of Halloween spirit. Photo courtesy of Amaury Laporte, Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

12. Georgetown

Thousands of revelers flock to Georgetown on Halloween, where you're bound to see lots of crazy costumes on M Street. But for trick-or-treaters, the narrow side streets between M Street and Wisconsin Avenue are where the candy jackpot lies.

13. Brookland

Lots of houses in Brookland do it up for Halloween, which is why the neighborhood tends to attract many trick-or-treaters. Be sure to visit the rowhouse at 915 Hamlin Street NE, which in past years has featured a Stephen King's IT theme (complete with dozens of creepy clowns) and a haunted walk-through cornfield. Homes along Franklin Street near Langdon Park also will not disappoint.

Lead photo courtesy of KOMU News via Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)