Halloween weekend in Alexandria brings spooky festivities aplenty this year, with haunted parties, dog-friendly celebrations, bar crawls and more.
Discover all that’s happening in your community this weekend (Oct. 31-Nov. 2), from events and entertainment to live music.
A Taco Bell Cantina on King Street will be the starting point and finish line for hundreds of runners competing in a “Taco Bell DC 50K” race next month.
Described as “the ultimate mix of endurance and spice,” the unlicensed event takes runners through a course of eight Taco Bell restaurants across Alexandria, Arlington and D.C., where they must eat at least one menu item per stop — Baja Blasts not included.
Before the pandemic, I ran a Reddit forum that brought people together for local happy hours. It became a great outlet for an in-person social life: you could get out, get to know people nearby, and have a familiar group to spend time with. I enjoyed being the person who helped make that happen.
Getting people together became harder after the pandemic. Friends moved away, had kids, or settled into different routines, and organizing a night out took more effort. I still wanted that camaraderie, but having people to invite didn’t necessarily mean we could get something on the calendar.
I’m in my late 30s and live in Old Town. About a year ago, I joined Choros, a local membership community that helps guys build friendships through small-group activities. Since then, I’ve been to close to 50 hangouts, and it’s given me a regular group of guys to do things with around Alexandria and beyond.
I host board game nights and help host a monthly happy hour at the Commodore in Old Town. I’ve done escape rooms on King Street, trivia, food festivals in Del Ray, movie discussions, and Dungeons & Dragons (which can be especially tricky to get going as an adult with a busy schedule). Having that variety means I can find something that fits my mood and schedule, and there are usually familiar faces when I get there.
One of my favorite things, though, is getting on my bike, picking a destination, and making a day of it. Through Choros, I’ve found a consistent crew to ride with almost every month. That’s the kind of thing I wanted more of: people who enjoy the same stuff and make time to get out and do it together.
I still like hosting and bringing people together. What makes Choros useful is having a community to draw from, so every plan doesn’t depend on the same few friends being available. Other guys suggest and host things too, which gives me plenty of opportunities to join something without organizing it myself.
Over time, seeing the same guys at different activities builds familiarity. You have conversations to pick back up and another reason to make plans together. That’s how it’s become a circle of friends for me.
If you’re in Alexandria, check out Choros and come to one of our monthly happy hours at the Commodore. I’d be happy to meet a few more neighbors, whether you’re into board games, bike rides, or just getting out for a drink. There’s plenty happening here, along with activities throughout the rest of the D.C. area.
On This Day in Alexandria: Museum Hiring — “On October 31, 1850, the Alexandria Council passed a resolution requiring trustees of the Alexandria Museum to hire a ‘suitable person for preservation and exhibition.’ The museum was located in City Hall, which was destroyed by fire in 1871. [Historic Alexandria]
Happy Halloween! — “The city does not set an official trick-or-treating time. Residents and motorists should expect kids and families traversing the neighborhoods throughout Friday evening.” [ALXnow]
Good Thursday evening, Alexandria. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.
The following articles were published earlier today — Oct 30, 2025.
Here are today’s most-read articles:
Here is what’s going on Friday in Alexandria, from our event calendar.
Expect sunny skies and a high near 59, accompanied by a breezy west wind blowing at 15 to 20 mph and gusting up to 38 mph. For Friday night, the sky will be mostly clear with temperatures dropping to around 42. The west wind will remain persistent, blowing at 8 to 11 mph and gusting as high as 24 mph. See more from Weather.gov.
“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”
– Wayne Gretzky
Thanks for reading!
Spend the evening with Washington Spirit alum and former USWNT player Joanna Lohman, a true DMV women’s soccer legend.
This is your chance to meet Joanna in person, hear the stories behind the career, the competition, and The Amazing Race, and experience the kind of sports moment you’ll still be talking about long after the night is over.
Democrat Abigail Spanberger holds a 10-point lead over Republican Winsome Earle-Sears in Virginia’s gubernatorial race, according to a new Roanoke College poll released Thursday, as early voting surges across the commonwealth with just days remaining before Election Day.
The survey shows Spanberger, a former U.S. representative, leading 51% to 41% among likely voters, with just 4% undecided. The poll of 1,041 likely voters, conducted Oct. 22-27, has a margin of error of 4.05 percentage points. Spanberger’s advantage represents a 3-point increase from the college’s August poll, according to the Virginia Mercury.
Virginia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger appeared in a “Latinos for Spanberger” rally today (Thursday) in Alexandria.
Spanberger spoke at a packed event at Los Tios (2615 Mount Vernon Avenue) in Del Ray, flanked by Latino legislators Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Del. Alfonso Lopez D-Virginia House District 3), and City Council Member Canek Aguirre. Spanberger has a 10-digit lead against her opponent, Lieutenant Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, according to a recent Roanoke College poll.
The Alexandria Police Department has a few tips for families to have a safe Halloween tomorrow (Friday).
Trick-or-treaters should wear light-colored or reflective costumes and carry flashlights or glow sticks for visibility, the department recommended. Families can also add contact cards inside their kids’ costumes in case they are separated, according to an APD flier distributed on social media this week.
Emmy and Grammy Award-winning filmmaker Ken Burns unveiled his latest documentary series, “The American Revolution,” at George Washington’s Mount Vernon estate on Wednesday.
The filmmaker spoke in a panel discussion before sharing an outdoor preview of the new six-part series, which features George Washington and his pivotal role in winning the Revolutionary War. Episodes will air on PBS at 8 p.m. nightly from November 16 to 21.
An annual walking tour with Old Town North’s Urban Design Advisory Committee this month will highlight several new developments in the area.
During the walk on Wednesday, Nov. 12, city staff will provide participants with information on the mixed-use development project at Robinson Terminal North, redevelopment of the Montgomery Center and the Ladrey Apartments, among other developments.
