News

City postpones Lee Street repaving to preserve Halloween tradition

By James Cullum
Beetlejuice and Lydia at Halloween on Lee Street in Old Town, Oct. 31, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Halloween will not be interrupted by repaving on S. Lee Street in Old Town.

Residents of Lee Street received a letter from the city today (Oct. 23) advising that all of S. Lee Street would be repaved from Oct. 28 to Nov. 3. Despite a plan for work crews to wrap up daily by 3 p.m., the repaving work would have coincided with the annual Halloween celebration on the roadway, which is attended by thousands of people every year. Now, the city has confirmed to ALXnow that the repaving will be rescheduled to the following week.

“The paving team has postponed work on S. Lee Street to the following week, so there will be no impact on the Halloween tradition,” the city said in an email to ALXnow. “The posted signs will be updated ASAP.”

This letter from the city was sent to residents of S. Lee Street in Old Town, Oct. 23, 2025 (courtesy image)

Last year, S. Lee Street resident Brenda Gianiny spent more than $1,000 on candy.

“This street does so well because, as Washingtonians, we’re all super divided politically, but everyone loves Halloween,” Gianiny said. “It’s for the kids. It’s just about having a good time.”

Halloween on Lee Street in Old Town, Oct. 31, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

About the Author

  • Reporter James Cullum has spent nearly 20 years covering Northern Virginia. He began working with ALXnow in 2020, and has covered every story under the sun for the publication, from investigative stories to features and photo galleries. His work includes coverage of national and international situations, as well as from the White House, Capitol, Pentagon, Supreme Court and State Department. He's covered protests and riots throughout the U.S. (including the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol), in addition to earthquake-ridden Haiti, Western Sahara in North Africa and war-torn South Sudan. He has photographed presidents and other world leaders, celebrities and famous musicians, and excels under pressure.