The following is a list of fall and Halloween events coming up in the area. To list events in the calendar, call Lea Mae Rice at 703-917-6459 or e-mail lrice@connectionnewspapers.com.
Mason Neck State Park hosts an "Old-Fashioned Harvest Festival" Saturday, Oct. 21 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m., at the park, 7301 High Point Road, Lorton. Features arts and crafts, pumpkin painting and old-time skills demonstrations such as butter churning. Children can enjoy hay rides and classic games such as three-legged races, egg tosses and more. Performers include the Skystone Bluegrass Band, Voices USA! a capella singers and instrumental musician Timothy Seaman. Food served by the local Lions Club. Free, $4 parking fee. For more, call 703-339-2384.
Every year, Heather Cooper of Fairfax Station presents the Halloween Haunted Path and Parable at her home, attracting hundreds of locals to the completely home-grown, Halloween-themed theater production with a parable thrown in. This year's play, "Belly of the Whale," is sure to provide viewers with spooky entertainment as well as ethical and moral lessons. The celebration begins 6 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 22 at 6601Rutledge Drive, Fairfax Station. For more, call 571-238-7691.
Make a creepy creature mobile just in time for Halloween Sunday, Oct. 22 from 1-2:30 p.m. at the Hidden Pond Nature Center, 8511 Greeley Blvd., Springfield. Materials provided to help children design their own bats, ghosts and cats for the mobile. Parents must accompany children. Reservations required. $5 per mobile. 703-451-9588.
Take a spooky train ride through an eerie forest and Witches' Junction to a pumpkin patch where you just might see a pumpkin come alive. Burke Lake park offers the Ghost Train Ride Saturdays and Sundays Oct. 21-22 and 28-29 from 11 a.m.-5:45 p.m. at the park, 7315 Ox Road in Fairfax Station. Geared for children 10 and under, who are encouraged to wear costumes. $4, free for children age 2 and under. For an additional $1.25, children may take a spin on the park’s carousel. 703-323-6600.
In Springfield, the annual Halloween "Trick-or-Treat Parade" is Saturday, Oct. 28 at 10:30 a.m. at the Springfield Plaza shopping center, at the intersection of Old Keene Mill Road and Commerce Street in Springfield. Registration starts at 10 a.m. in the Springfield Plaza courtyard on Commerce Street next to Dollar King. Families can register to win one of five $100 shopping spree drawings. Winners must be present. Rain or shine. Contact Kelly L. Hesaltine at 571-382-1283 or khesaltine@rappaportco.com.
What happens after dark in the park? At Hidden Pond Nature Center's Haunted Pond Friday, Oct. 27 from 7:30-9:30 p.m., children sit around the campfire and hear eerie stories about the area. Participants can tread the surrounding forest in search of owls, fox, deer and more. At the center, 8511 Greeley Blvd., Springfield. S’mores included. For ages 6 and up. Canceled if rain. $4. Reservations required, call 703-451-9588.
At Lake Accotink Park's Halloween Goblin Golf on Saturday, Oct. 28, adults and children of all ages can dare to venture onto the haunted golf course 6-9 p.m. to play a round of golf with glow in the dark golf balls, ride the festively decorated carousel surrounded by spooky music, and tell scary stories over hot chocolate around a lakeside bonfire. Rain or shine. $6/person. 703-569-0285.
Annandale High School orchestra presents the spookiest concert of the season — the Masquerade Pops Concert — Thursday, Oct. 26 at 7 p.m. A fog machine, orange-and-black balloons, costumed musicians and a children’s Halloween parade make this a concert not to miss. Free. Annandale High School is located at 4700 Medford Drive in Annandale. For more information on the concert, call 703-642-4300.
Dogs can get in on the haunting fun of the holiday at Lake Accotink's “Howloween” dog talent show, costume contest and boneyard hunt Saturday, Oct. 28 from 2-4 p.m. and canine cruise Sunday, Oct. 29 at 4 p.m. Both pooch-friendly events are at Lake Accotink Park, 7500 Accotink Park Road, Springfield. Start practicing those pet tricks and trying on those coordinating outfits. The talent contest is followed by a walk through the "boneyard" to sniff out treats. For both events, all dogs must be leashed and friendly toward other dogs, children and people of all ages. $5 per dog for Saturday. $5/adults and $4/children ages 8-15 for Sunday, one dog per adult. Reservations required for Sunday, call 703-569-0285.
Dig around for that perfect pumpkin at Messiah United Methodist Church's Pumpkin Patch, offered every day from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. through Oct. 31 at the church, 6215 Rolling Road, Springfield. The Pumpkin Patch, reprised after a successful first year, supports the youth group's England Mission Exchange. Pumpkins, corn stalks and gourds are for sale. Children and families can also enjoy a movie night Oct. 27 with activities at 5 p.m., dinner at 6 p.m. and Halloween classic cartoons at 6:30 p.m. For more, call 703-569-9862 or visit www.messiahumc.org.
Trick-or-treating not your bag? Celebrate Halloween rock-n-roll style at Jaxx with Fireball Ministry, Artimus Pyledriver and others Tuesday, Oct. 31 at 7 p.m., at Jaxx Night Club, 6355 Rolling Road, Springfield. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. $10 in advance, $12 at the door. Definitely cooler than throwing pumpkins at the neighbors. Call 703-569-5940 for more.