Ghost Tours, Parade, Bar Crawls, Other Halloween Frights In Alexandria

ALEXANDRIA, VA — There are plenty of places around Alexandria to experience all the Halloween frights. Our scary guide includes everything from a Halloween parade and family events to bar crawls and spooky tours, some better experienced for adults and others suitable for children.

Here’s what’s going on leading up to Halloween (the 31st is on a Tuesday, so plan accordingly):

• Alexandria Colonial Tours' Ghost and Graveyard Tour: Wednesdays through Sundays in September at 7:30 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30, 8:30 and 9 p.m.; nightly in October at 7:30 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30, 8:30 and 9 p.m.
• Del Ray Artisans HalloWEIRD Art Market: Sunday, Oct. 15, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Halloween Storytime: Wednesday, Oct. 25, 11 a.m.
• Boo-Fest: Friday, Oct. 27, 6:30 p.m.
• HalloTeen Night: Friday, Oct. 27, 7:30 p.m.
• Halloween Bar Crawl, Friday, Oct. 27 and Saturday, Oct. 28
• Family October Fest at Patrick Henry Rec Center: Friday, Oct. 27, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
• Mystery of Carlyle’s Mummy: Friday, Oct. 27, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Old Town Family Trick or Treat: Saturday, Oct. 28, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Family Costume Ball: Saturday, Oct. 28, 5 p.m.
• 3rd Annual Carlyle Halloween Stampede: Saturday, Oct. 28, 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
• Halloween Costume Contest & All Day Bar Crawl Nightmare on King Street: Saturday, Oct. 28, 4 p.m. to 12 a.m.
• Tall Ship Providence Presents the Halloween Howl: Saturday, Oct. 28, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Lights Out - Halloween Party at the Cemetery: Saturday, Oct. 28, 7 p.m .to 9:30 p.m.
• HallowQueen Drag Brunch at King & Rye: Saturday, Oct. 28, 11 a.m.
• Tall Ship Providence Presents “Ghost Ship Providence”: Saturday, Oct. 28, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
• Del Ray Halloween Parade: Sunday, Oct. 29, 2 p.m.
• Old Town Doggie Trick or Treat: Sunday, Oct. 29, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
• A Horrifying Halloween History Ghost Tour of Old Town, Alexandria: Tuesday, Oct. 31, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
• 12th Annual Halloween "BOO"cycle Ride: Tuesday, Oct. 31, 5:15 p.m.

Experts say some of us are hard-wired to enjoy the full-body experience of being scared, as long as we know we’re in no real danger. Adrenal glands go into overdrive when we’re frightened, triggering a rush of dopamine and endorphins, the “pleasure” hormones.

That’s different from the “bad fear” triggered in dangerous situations, according to Cleveland Clinic psychologist Chivonna Childs.

“There’s also a good side to fear, and that’s what scary movies, true crime and haunted houses tap into,” Childs wrote on a Cleveland Clinic blog. “We understand that there’s an end to those experiences, that the bear’s not gonna get us. We know that going through a haunted house is just for fun, that it’s only people in costumes.

“But it still rings those bells for adrenaline, endorphins and dopamine. You experience the euphoria because you know you’re safe.