The Del Ray Halloween Parade returns on October 24th. (Photos by Will Niccolls)
By Maureen Schweers
Alexandria, VA – With the highly anticipated return of Del Ray’s Halloween Parade – and a host of long-standing community traditions surrounding the parade – Halloween is Del Ray’s biggest holiday. Here are five ways to celebrate safely:
1. The Del Ray Halloween Parade: The main event – the 25th annual Del Ray Halloween Parade – takes place on Sunday, October 24th at 2pm along Mount Vernon Avenue. To keep our ghosts and goblins at a distance and keep them moving safely, there are different starting points. For full details and free registration, visit visitdelray.com/halloween. Thank you to the Del Ray Business Association, the Jen Walker Team, Your Dogs Best Friends, and Bobi & Ellen, Homes of Alexandria for sponsoring this event! Please note: To protect children under 12 years of age who are not yet eligible for vaccination, face masks are required for the parade.
2. Show your creativity: The lavish submissions to the annual Del Ray Halloween Parade stroller competition compete with the creativity and design of parade wagons – and are often a family, block, or even company-wide effort. And in an area where pets are part of the family, Halloween in Del Ray wouldn’t be without a dog costume contest. Both competitions are rated online; Submit your photos to visitdelray.com/halloween by Friday October 29th. The winners will be announced on @visitdelray’s social media channels on Halloween. You don’t have to be in the parade to win!
3. Immerse yourself in the mind: For over 30 years, local residents and businesses have done everything possible to decorate Halloween and compete for the bragging rights for the best decorated home and business. Get in the Halloween mood by visiting the top ten house nominees. The card will be available at visitdelray.com/halloween the week before the parade. Note: Nominations for the Best Decorated House Contest must be received by Sunday, October 17th, 12:00 noon. Full details on how to participate are available at visitdelray.com/halloween.
4. Give something back: Help every child in our community have a happy Halloween. The Del Ray Business Association traditionally collects used Halloween costumes and runs a free costume shop for children. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, DRBA will work directly with local nonprofits that serve children and enable community members to purchase a costume for a specific child. To donate, visit visitdelray.com/halloween. We hope our free children’s costume shop returns in 2022. A collection box for carefully used costumes for next year will be set up on November 1st in Pat Miller Neighborhood Square.
5: Halloween Scavenger Hunt Down the Avenue: Stroll Mount Vernon Avenue (in costume or not!) And find Halloween-themed in Del Ray’s murals and decorated shops. Guides will be available from October 22nd in Pat Miller Neighborhood Square and online at visitdelray.com/halloween. Four winners (chosen randomly from all entries) will receive a $ 50 gift card to their favorite Del Ray restaurant or retailer.
For full details about Halloween in Del Ray – including how to pre-register for free for the parade and how to enter the Best Decorated House Contests or the Stroller and Pet Costume Contest – please visit visitdelray.com/halloween.
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