RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — With Halloween approaching, Virginians have plenty of opportunities to get into the spooky spirit. From trick-or-treating events to Halloween decorating contests to a zombie run, there are tons of ways to celebrate.
The following is a list of festive events across Central Virginia in October:
‘Skull School’ at Pocahontas State Park
This educational event will be hosted at the park — located at 10301 State Park Rd. in Chesterfield — from 2 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14.
Guests will learn how to identify animal skulls based on their characteristics. The program will include hands-on practice with several different animal species.
Smoketree 5K Zombie Fun Run
The 5K race will be hosted on Saturday, Oct. 14 and features spooky fun along the way, beginning and ending at Smoketree Pool in north Chesterfield. The run will begin at 6:45 p.m. and last until 8:15 p.m.
There will also be a one-mile family Family Fun Walk for all ages. The walk will begin at 5:30 p.m. and conclude at 6:30 p.m. There will also be an afterparty lasting until 10 p.m.
Participants are encouraged to dress up in costume — although persons 16 and older will be prohibited from wearing Halloween masks.
The Zombie Fun Run will feature several undead volunteers who will roam the course but will not touch the participants.
Great Pumpkin Fest at Kings Dominion
This event series will begin on Saturday, Oct. 14 and will be hosted from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Additional dates will be: Sunday, Oct. 15, Saturday, Oct. 21 and Saturday, Oct. 28.
Guests will enjoy pumpkin painting, hay mazes, games and live entertainment. These events will be scare-free, according to organizers.
‘Ominous Osteology’ at Pocahontas State Park
This ‘Ominous Osteology’ educational event will be hosted from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 15 as part of a series of Spooky Sundays.
Spooky Plants Tour at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden
Guests can peruse the spookiest plants that Lewis Ginter has to offer on Thursday, Oct. 19 from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Halloween Movie Nights at Starr Hill Beer Hall and Rooftop
Starr Hill will host free showings of movies ranging from ‘Scream,’ to ‘The Shining,’ and more, beginning Thursday, Oct. 19. at 6 p.m.
Guests can enjoy a beer and a snack all while watching a spooky movie on the big screen.
Other dates include Thursday, Oct.12 at 7 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 26 at 7 p.m. and Tuesday, October 31 at 4 p.m.
‘Wicked Web Weavers’ at Pocahontas State Park
The ‘Wicked Web Weavers’ event will be hosted from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 22 as part of a series of Spooky Sundays.
Eerie Canal Tours on the Kanawha Canal
The hauntingly narrated 20-minute-long canal boat tours will take place nightly from Friday, Oct. 27 through Sunday, Oct. 29.
Tours will be offered every half hour from 5 to 9 p.m., with the last boat departing the dock at the Canal Walk Turning Basin — 139 Virginia Street — at 8:30 p.m.
Squirrel-O-Ween at The Diamond
Squirrel-O-Ween will be hosted on Friday, Oct. 27, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at The Diamond in Richmond with the Richmond Flying Squirrels.
Children who attend will have the opportunity to trick-or-treat for free through the stadium. There will also be hayrides around the stadium’s warning track and Halloween costume contests.
Guests can enjoy a doughnut eating contest for children under the age of 13 at 6:30 p.m. and a pie eating contest for adults at 7:30 p.m.
Halloween 10-mile and 5k run/walk at the Capital Trail
The fifth annual Rocketts Landing Capital Trail 10-mile and 5 kilometer run/walk will be held in Richmond on Saturday, Oct. 28.
Participants are encouraged to dress up, as the run features a costume contest with prizes for the best adult, child, and family/group costumes.
Registration is $42 for the 10 mile run/walk and $37 for the 5 kilometer run/walk and includes an event shirt, course support, furnished rest stops and a celebratory beverage ticket at Stone Brewing Tap Room.
Anyone looking to run or walk at the event can visit the registration page here.
‘Bewitching Bats’ at Pocahontas State Park
This educational event will be hosted from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 29 as part of a series of Spooky Sundays.
Rock and Roll Playhouse’s Halloween Spooktacular
Hosted at the Canal Club, the doors will open for this family-friendly musical event at 11 a.m. and the show will begin at noon on Sunday, Oct. 29.
The concert will feature games, movement and stories for the kids!
Anyone looking to purchase tickets to the concert can do so at the Canal Club’s website.
Hopewell Halloween house decorating contest
Participants in the Hopewell Halloween house decorating contest had to decorate their home and register before Oct. 8, organizers said.
After inspection, homes that are approved to participate will be included on the official Haunted Homes Driving Tour map. Organizers said the tour will be advertised from Oct. 11 until October 31, from 5 to 9 p.m. each night.
Ashland Halloween 2023
Ashland Halloween will feature a number of events held by local businesses from Friday, Oct. 27, to Tuesday, Oct. 31. According to the Downtown Ashland Association, over 20 events have been added to the calendar with more expected on the way.
On Tuesday, Oct. 31, families will be able to use an online trick-or-treat map to find which households will be participating.
Fort Gregg-Adams Halloween Trick or Treat night
The trick-or-treating will span from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31 in the housing areas.
The activity is open to on-post residents, Department of Defense ID cardholders and their guests.
Anyone who would like to participate are asked to keep their porch lights on as long as they are handing out candy.
