While any age over 21 is decidedly too old for trick-or-treating, it’s not too late to don your spookiest costume and go door-to-door for treats — the tradition has just graduated from asking your neighbors for candy to hitting up all the best bars in the area for drinks. This Halloween weekend, these five bar crawls will provide a prime opportunity for some grown-up holiday fun, with drink specials, live music, and costume contests in some of the best bars in the area. Whichever crawl you choose, be sure to have a plan for transportation: Have a designated driver, make a plan to take public transportation, or use ride-share services like Uber and Lyft.
Trick or Drink
October 28, 29, & October 31; times vary; $20-$25
This DC crawl takes place over three days, so you don’t have to choose just one day to celebrate. Start the day off at the registration spot, Sudhouse DC, where you can pick up your wristband and a map of all the participating locations. Get the party started with Sudhouse’s special-rate beers, cocktails, and food. The wristband will get you entry to any of the five participating bars with no cover fee, and drink specials like a $7 whiskey apple cocktail at Nellie’s Sports Bar.
Participating bars: Sudhouse DC, Bar Pilar, Café Saint-Ex, Elements, Nellie’s Sports Bar
DC Halloween Crawl
Saturday, October 29; 1-9 p.m.; $35-$40
The official DC Halloween crawl will take over Dupont on Saturday. There’s not shortage of stops along the crawl, with at least 15 bars on the roster. In addition to the drink deals your ticket will get you — $3 Bud Lights, $3 rail drinks, and $4 “haunted” shots — participants also get to take home a souvenir mug and take part in the costume contest.
Participating bars: The Exchange, Abigail, Bravo Bravo, Saint Yves, Recessions, Eden, 1831, Ozio, Phantom DC, Café Citron, The Bottom Line, Tokyo Pearl, The Madhatter, Sign of the Whale, Blue Moon
Nightmare on M Street
Saturday, October 29; 2-9 p.m.; $15-$30
Nightmare on M Street is a long-standing DC tradition, now celebrating its 24th annual crawl around Dupont Circle. Fifteen bars are participating, including Decades, The Admiral, and City Tap House. Expect all-day food and drink specials, raffles and giveaways, a huge costume contest, and a free souvenir mug to take home when you’re done.
Participating bars: Decades, Public Bar Live, Mayflower Club, Zebbie’s Garden, Twelve after Twelve, The Admiral, Rewind, Rose Bar + Rooftop, City Tap House Dupont, Blackfinn, Living Room, Barcode, Sachi, Koi, Sound Check
Alexandria Bar Crawl
Saturday, October 29; 3 p.m.-midnight; $15-$20
Check in at the Light Horse to claim your lanyard and entry pass, then check out the five participating bars at your own pace. A professional photographer will be there during check-in to capture all the costumes, and each outfit will be entered in the costume contest to win a $1,000 prize. Once you’ve hit all the bars, if you’re still not ready to head home, you can make your way to Chadwick’s for an afterparty from 10 p.m.-midnight.
Participating bars: Bugsy’s Pizza Restaurant and Sports Bar, Chadwick’s, Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub, Union Street Public House, Vola’s Dockside Grill and Hi-Tide Lounge
Clarendon Halloween Block Party
Saturday, October 29; 4-11 p.m.; $10-$15
This crawl in Clarendon provides priority entry to some of the best bars in Arlington, with special deals, costume contests, prizes and raffles, and live music or DJs. Drinks will be $4 for beer, $5 for shots, and $6 for rail drinks, and Disco Pizza and B Burger will have specials on food. The must-see spot is Ballroom Underground, a one-weekend-only pop-up event that will feature local house music DJs in the basement of the Clarendon Ballroom.
Participating bars: Clarendon Ballroom, Ballroom Underground, B Live, The Lot, Pamplona
Feature image, VadimGuzhva/stock.adobe.com
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