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The Best Neighborhoods For Halloween Spirit In the DMV

Posted on October 24, 2023   |   Updated on September 30, 2025
Kaela Cote-Stemmermann

Kaela Cote-Stemmermann

pole dancing skeleton.

A rager on 11th St. NW Tag yourself, I’m the pole dancing skeleton. (Madison R./City Cast DC reader)

Every neighborhood has THAT house (it usually involves a 12-foot skeleton and a very proud dad). But in some D.C. neighborhoods, ALL the houses get into the spirit, competing for the scariest, most outlandish setup. Whether you're trick-or-treating or just there for inspo, these spots are sure to impress.

Capitol Hill:

The obvious choice, Capitol Hill kills it every year with decor from giant pumpkins to full-on graveyards. Plus, every year The Hill Is Home makes a mega map of every house that is displaying haunted decor (which you can contribute to here) so you can easily find the best houses.

Embassy Row:

Walk from the observatory all the way to Dupont Circle stopping at the embassies along the way, many of which breakout crazy decor throughout the month of October.

Old Town Alexandria: 

Start off with the candle-lit ghost tour to set the scene. Then, walk down Prince Street for some seriously elaborate displays. Last year, an entire street covered its brick facade with webs and enormous spiders. It begs the question, where do they keep this stuff the other 335 days a year?

Georgetown's all-out decorations.

Georgetown's all-out decorations. (Joe Flood/Flickr)

Trinidad:

Reader Chelsea G. says that on Neal St., between Montello and West Virginia Ave., “there is a house that has a walk-through tunnel. There’s fog, noises, and multiple things that pop out. It’s truly a mini haunted house.”  

Bethesda:

The houses are farther apart but it’s just fun to drive around and see people's full house light-up displays. I even saw a yard with three giant Costco skeletons on it (I know, unhinged).

Georgetown:

Georgetown is literally haunted (we fact-checked), so it’s only natural that the scariest Halloween decorations all end up there. Just avoid going on Halloween night itself: swarms of sugar-high children quickly turn it into a nightmare on M Street.

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