Photo by Will Niccolls courtesy of Visit Alexandria
Del Ray Halloween Parade
One of Del Ray’s favorite traditions, the 29th Annual Del Ray Halloween Parade, takes place on Sunday, Oct. 26 at 2 p.m. along Mount Vernon Avenue, beginning at E. Bellefonte Avenue. Children, pets, and decorated strollers are invited to march and show off their costumes! This parade ends with live music and an award presentation at the Mount Vernon Rec Center field. This hometown favorite, named one of the 10 best Halloween parades in the country by USA Today, is a must-see!
BEST DECORATED HOUSE & BUSINESS CONTESTS: For over 30 years, local residents and businesses have gone all out decorating for Halloween, competing for bragging rights for best decorated house and business. A map of the finalists will be available the week before Halloween. Thank you to The Jen Walker Team for sponsoring this favorite tradition!
HALLOWEEN PARADE STROLLER/GROUP CONTEST: Registration for the Stroller/Group Contest will be done prior to the parade start. Stroller registration takes place starting at 1 p.m. at the corner of Mt. Vernon and E. Howell Avenues; look for signage. All strollers must be registered by 1:30 p.m.; strollers will then line up on Howell to be judged prior to the parade. There is no fee to register. Stroller Competition Categories: Creative, Humorous, Best Group or Family, Less is More, and Overall. Thank you to Daniela Spigai & Jordan Beck, Advisory at Compass for sponsoring this spirited competition!
HALLOWEEN PARADE PET COSTUME CONTEST: Registration for the Pet Costume Contest will be done prior to the parade start. Pet entries must be registered by 1:30 p.m. at the corner of Mt. Vernon and E. Howell Avenues; look for signage. Pets will be judged immediately at the end of the parade route. There is no fee to register. Pet Costume Categories: Creative, Team, How Could You Do This To Me?, and Vola Lawson Best of Show. Special thanks to Your Dog’s Best Friends/The Dog Store for sponsoring this pawsome contest!
HALLOWEEN SCAVENGER HUNT: Walk the Avenue (in costume or not!) and find Halloween-themed items in Del Ray’s decorated businesses and hand-painted windows; five winners (randomly selected from all entries) will receive a $50 gift card to their favorite Del Ray business. Stay tuned for more details!
DONATE A COSTUME FOR LOCAL CHILDREN IN NEED: Every year, the Del Ray Business Association works with local non-profits to ensure that all neighborhood children have a Halloween costume. Click here to donate a costume selected by children at the Alexandria Boys & Girls Club, Community Lodgings, and the Alexandria Domestic Violence Safehouse.
HELP MAKE THE HALLOWEEN PARADE HAPPEN: Volunteers are an important piece of this great Del Ray tradition, helping set-up, guide the parade, and help with clean up. Click here to volunteer!
MORE HALLOWEEN FUN THROUGHOUT THE SEASON with our local businesses and non-profits:
- Nightmare on the Avenue Halloween pop-up bar, now through Nov. 2 at 2312 Mount Vernon Avenue; click here for hours and more information
- Bar Wicked Halloween pop-up bar above Del Ray Pizzzeria at 2218 Mount Vernon Avenue; click here for hours and more information
- Tales of Terror — two days of ghostly tours, eerie thrills, and haunted history presented by the Friends of Duncan Library and Del Ray Citizens Association, Oct. 24-25, at Duncan Library, 2501 Commonwealth Ave.; click here for tickets
- Del Ray’s Night of Dreadful Delights, Saturday, Oct. 25 starting at 7 p.m. at select Del Ray restaurants, more details to come!
- Pork Barrel BBQ Halloween Parade Kids Zone, Sunday, Oct. 26 from 12 p.m.-5 p.m. behind Pork Barrell BBQ at 2312 Mount Vernon Ave.
- Haunted House, Thursday, Friday, Oct. 31, 7-9 p.m., The Company of Books, 2200 Mount Vernon Ave.
This Halloween fun would not be possible without the support of small business sponsors.Be sure to thank them!
