Newport News This Week
Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, but events for the holiday are spread out over two weekends. This guide has trunk-or-treats, a not-scary night at the Living Museum, Family Frights at Jamestown, and Howl-O-Scream for those who want to be scared.
In this guideFor little kids • Trunk-or-treats • For grown-ups
Here's all of it from Oct 22 to Halloween night, sorted by who it's for: little kids, trunk-or-treats, and grown-ups. Each one comes with the day, the time and where to park.
Oct 23–25 is the busy one for families: Night of the Living Museum, Family Frights, Paws at the River in Yorktown, and two Williamsburg trunk-or-treats on Sunday.
Friday, Oct 30 is trunk-or-treat night in Newport News. Saturday, Oct 31 belongs to trick-or-treating, then the costume parties for the grown-ups.
01 ★
Fri–Sat, Oct 23–24 and Fri, Oct 30 · 5:30 – 8:30 PM
Virginia Living Museum, Newport News
A "family-friendly, non-scary Halloween night," which makes it a safe bet for preschoolers. The same weekend it also runs Bug-tacular (Oct 24–25, 11 AM – 3 PM) for daytime bug fans.
02 ★
Fri–Sat, Oct 23–24 · 6 – 9 PM
Jamestown Settlement
Trick-or-treating, storytelling, crafts, face painting, and haunted houses and spooky ships. This one is "fun, not too scary." Every group needs at least one adult. Tickets are sold ahead and can't be refunded, so check the forecast before you buy.
03 ★
Saturdays & Sundays through Nov 1 · 10 AM – 5 PM
Busch Gardens Williamsburg
The daytime, kids-9-and-under side of Busch Gardens' Halloween: costumes welcome, trick-or-treating through the Wild Reserve, and Sesame Street shows. It's included with park admission, so if you have a pass, it's a free morning.
04 ★
Saturday, Oct 24 · 9 AM – 3 PM
Riverwalk Landing, Yorktown
Trick-or-treating along the Yorktown waterfront with a pet costume parade at 1 PM. Bring your dog in costume too!
05 ★
Thursday, Oct 22 · 6 – 8 PM (sensory-friendly hour 5 – 6)
James City County Law Enforcement Center, 4600 Opportunity Way
Trick-or-treating hosted by the James City County Police. They also have an early sensory-friendly hour. A real help if your kid doesn't do crowds and noise.
06 ★
Sunday, Oct 25 · 2 – 4 PM
4871 Longhill Rd, Williamsburg
A free afternoon trunk-or-treat, which is easy to fit in before dinner.
08 ★
Tuesday, Oct 27 · 5:30 – 7 PM
William & Mary fraternity houses, across from Kaplan Arena
W&M's fraternity and sorority houses hand out candy to local kids. Park in the Kaplan Arena lot at 650 Ukrop Way. It's free, and on a school night, so it's done by 7.
09 ★
Friday, Oct 30 · 5:30 – 8:30 PM
5889 Jefferson Ave, Newport News
Decorated trunks, games and food, with cash prizes for the best-decorated trunks if you want to sign up and compete.
10 ★
Friday, Oct 30 · Chili 5:30 PM, trunk-or-treat about 6
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 902 Denbigh Blvd, Newport News
Trunk-or-treating plus a chili cook-off, so dinner is handled. Chili cook-off starts at 5:30, trunk-or-treating around 6 or 6:15.
11 ★
Friday, Oct 30 · 6 – 11 PM
An Achievable Dream Tennis Center, 1300 Ivy Ave, Newport News
The city's Friday night basketball program with a haunted court, games, free food and candy. Costumes are fine, but no masks. Register ahead. It's a good one for older kids and teens who've aged out of trick-or-treating.
12 ★
Select nights through Nov 1 · 6 PM to close
Busch Gardens Williamsburg
The real scares: haunted houses and scare zones. Careful, this one is not for children. It's included with park admission and memberships, and re-entry stops at 8 PM.
Newport News This Week is one short email a week about what's going on around here. The next big one is the holiday lights.
Read this week's issueDates come from each organizer's own listing. Plans change, so check the link before you head out.
Fourteen events from Oct 22 to Halloween night, with the day, time and place for each.
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