Parade, Decorating Contest, Scavenger Hunt: Halloween Festivities Creep Up On Del Ray

ALEXANDRIA, VA — There are always plenty of ways to bring the thrills and chills to Del Ray during the Halloween season, and this year is no exception.

Del Ray has numerous Halloween festivities in the works this year. So mark your calendars for these can't miss events. All of them lead up to the Del Ray Halloween Parade, the family-friendly highlight of the season.

One thing you can do now is nominate your house for the Del Ray Business Association's Best Decorated Halloween House contest. The deadline for nominations is 12 p.m. on Oct. 22. Feel free to submit your home for Patch's Northern Virginia Halloween display guide as well.

Before more spooky festivities get underway, check out Art on the Avenue, one of Del Ray's largest events of the year. This year's event on Saturday, Oct. 7 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. will have artist vendors, music, food, children's activities, a pie-baking contest and more.

Here's a list of upcoming events to keep an eye out for. Stay tuned for more information from the Del Ray Business Association closer to the events. Let us know if we can add other Halloween events to this guide by sending an email to delray@patch.com.

Throughout the season: Nightmare on the Avenue themed pop-up bar at 2312 Mount Vernon Avenue

Sunday, Oct. 15: Del Ray Artisans HalloWEIRD Art Market in Colasanto Park, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Oct. 17 to Nov. 1: Scavenger hunt of hand-painted Halloween windows along Mount Vernon Avenue. Details to be announced.

Saturday, Oct. 21: Cinema Del Ray's Hocus Pocus 2 at Mount Vernon Rec Center fields

Up to Sunday, Oct. 22: Nomination deadline for Best Decorated Halloween House contest at 12 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 28: Boos & Brews Bar Crawl, 7 p.m. Details to be announced.

Sunday, Oct. 29: Del Ray Halloween Parade with Pet Costume Contest and Stroller Competition, 2 p.m.