The Must See Halloween Events in the DC Metro Area

This article is an update version of the article I wrote last year. Halloween is only a month away. I noticed some places are getting ready for their Halloween sales. That means kids and adults will dress up in the wildest costumes. However, plenty of events in the DC metro area are preparing for Halloween, and you don't need to spend money on an outfit to enjoy this occasion. For those who are looking for something more than another horror flick marathon or bar hop, here are some Halloween events you can check in the DC Metro region.

Freight Fest at Six Flags: Every October, Six Flags in Largo, MD holds one of the Washington, DC Area's largest Halloween Celebrations. It has spooky rides and cool entertainment for kids and adults. The event takes place Friday night, Saturday and Sunday from October 6 through October 28, 2007. Operating hours are: Friday: 5-10 p. m., Saturdays and Sundays: 12 noon - 10 p. m.

Boo At The Zoo: We all the National Zoo in Washington, DC is home to some wild animals. However, it also brings out creatures that go bump in the night as well. From October 26-28, Boo at the Zoo is a safe and fun way for families with children ages two to 12 to enjoy the fall holiday. This event will have the traditional spiders, owls, and other animals on hand every day. Plus the Zoo's traffic-free walkways and many animal houses will make trick-or-treating a kid-friendly activity. In addition, you can check out the new Asia Trail. Tickets are $13 FONZ members (limit of six tickets per order), $23 for non FONZ members, and kids under two are free.

Bennett's Curse: Entering its 7^th year, Bennett's Curse has quickly established itself as Maryland's "must see" Halloween event. It tells the story of rise and fall of Castle Bennett. This year's attraction in the House of Vampyres includes Dominion of Darkness and Sanctuary of Insanity. Bennett's Curse takes place on the Weekends starting September 28 through October 31. It's located in Arundel Mills Mall on 7000 Arundel Mills Circle in Hanover, MD. Tickets are $15 (either Insanity or Vampyres/Darkness) or $20 for all 3 attractions.

Markoff Forest: It's back for its 15^th year. It was started by the Markoff Brothers in 1993, and it has become one of the hottest Halloween destinations in the state of Maryland. Among the featured activities at the Haunted Forest include: Haunted Hayrides, Spider Walk, Bat Fight, Death Jump and the Haunted Bus. The forest is on 19120 Martinsburg Road in Dickerson, MD. It opens from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on weeknights and 6 p.m. to 10: 30 p.m. on weekends until Halloween. Ticket prices range from $15-$25 depending on when you attend this show.

The Ghost Story Tour of Washington: DC has its share of haunted house, ghost stories and other pieces of history you find in your history class. The Ghost Story Tour of Washington will lead you through Washington's most haunted locale, Lafayette Square Park, with an entertaining interactive production featuring the specters rumored to haunt it. Walk with your ghostly guide, hear stories, meet spirits, and take home a sweet treat!

The Haunted Train Rides Again:The Wheaton Regional Park Miniature Train and Carousel is your destination for Halloween fun. Get ready to hop aboard on one of the spookiest rides you and your family will ever experience. This attraction runs from October 12^th to October 30^th, Thursday through Sunday nights from 6 to 9pm.

Olney Boys & Girls Community Sports Association Field of Screams: The scariest Halloween fun around! Be prepared to experience lots of new thrills and chills as you take a 30-minute walk through the haunted forest. Watch out for the Crazed Woodsman; enter the Ransacked Security Office if you dare! Caution - Zombies and other demented creatures abound! In addition, there's a kiddies playground and make a smores section. It happens on weekends from October 5-31^st. It's $10 for adults and $5 for kids.

Halloween Haunted House Workshop: Wanted to create a Halloween that people won't forget? Head over to the National Building Museum for their Haunted House Workshop on October 20^th. Families are invited to create a spooky haunted house to place in a window at home for Halloween. Construct a house or barn with wood and cardboard, and then adorn it with miniature ghosts, monsters, and jack-o'-lanterns. Tantalizing treats and moody music provided! The price is $11 per house for Museum members; $16 for nonmembers. It's recommended for children age 5 and up. Prepaid registration required by October 18 at family@nbm.org or 202.272.2448, ext. 3413.

Discovery Theater - Pumpkin Party & Parade: The Discovery Theater is holding there Pumpkin Day and Parade. It's for Halloween spooks and kooks. Come in costume (or not) to enjoy Nicolo Whimsey's fun interactive show; a parade for the whole audience, and a sweet treat to celebrate goblins on the move. Grown-ups, you don't want to forget your cameras.

National Building Museum Ghost Tour: The National Building Museum has been dedicated to exploring and celebrating architecture, design, engineering, construction, and urban planning since 1985. However, the building where the museum is located in may have a haunted past. This Halloween event guides you to the building's past. Who are the irritable rider on horseback and the footless figure? Why are there mysterious faces swirling in the 75-foot Corinthian columns? And, why do these ghosts (and more!) call the National Building Museum their home? These are questions and more will be answered in this 1 hour behind the scene tour. Tours offered from 8:00 - 9:00 pm on 10/6, 10/11, 10/18, 10/29, 10/31 & 11/4. The price is $12 Museum members and $14 nonmembers.

NSO Family Concert: Spooky Sounds and Scary Tales at The Kennedy Center:

The Kennedy Center celebrates Halloween with a "spirited" concert event on October 28^th. NSO Associate Conductor Emil de Cou and the NSO will be wearing their own trick-or-treat outfits as they perform Saint-Saëns's Danse Macabre, Mussorgsky's Night on Bald Mountain, Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries, Stravinsky's Firebird Suite, Mozart's "Queen of the Night" aria from The Magic Flute, and selections from such movies as The Wizard of Oz and E.T., the Extra-Terrestrial. It's guaranteed to be a ghoulish good time! Before the show, there's a musical instrument "Petting Zoo" a chance for the kids to get up close with the instruments they'll see played on the stage. After the show, Kids can ask the artist questions and listen to interesting stories about the music.