Halloween in Arlington

While Arlington doesn't have set hours for trick-or-treating, it usually coincides with sunset, which is just after 6 p.m. on Friday., Oct. 31, 2025.

For a ghoulishly good time, follow these trick-or-treating tips from the Arlington County Police Department:

• See and be seen! Select bright costumes, add reflective tape and/or carry flashlights and glow sticks.
• Plan your trick-or-treat route in advance. Stick to familiar neighborhoods and well-lit streets.
  • Check out the Nextdoor app's Treat Map!
• Only visit homes with exterior lights on.
• Never send children out alone. Younger children should be with a trusted adult. Ensure older children take friends and stay together.
• Check candy before eating. Consider bringing treats from home so children don’t snack on candy before it is inspected.
• Walk on sidewalks and cross at corners, using traffic signals and/or crosswalks.
• Drivers should be extra cautious on Halloween. Slow down, anticipate heavy pedestrian traffic, and turn on your headlights earlier in the evening to spot children from greater distances.  

If you’re planning on being under alcohol’s spell this Halloween, make sure you plan a sober ride home ahead of putting spirits in your cup. To help spread the message that Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving, the Arlington County Police Department, in partnership with the Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP), is hosting a Halloween anti-drunk driving event to highlight the impact alcohol has on motor skills. This free event is open to the public and will take place on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025, at the intersection of N. Hudson Street and Wilson Boulevard, beginning at 8:00 p.m.

• The Washington Regional Alcohol Program's 2025 Halloween SoberRide® program is offering FREE rides home (up to $15), in partnership with Lyft, from 4:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 31, and on Saturday, Nov. 1.
• Arlington Transit Buses will be offering FREE bus rides from 6:00 p.m. on Oct. 31, to approximately 1:00 a.m. on Nov. 1. Check bus routes and schedules on their website.

Remember that it is never okay to drink and drive. Even after just one alcoholic drink, make the smart choice — designate a sober driver, or plan ahead to use public transportation or a ride service to get home safely.

When it's all said and done, don't let those gourds go to waste -- pumpkins can be put in the green curbside cart with yard waste and food scraps for weekly collection/composting. 

Arlington County's award-winning residential food scrap collection bolsters sustainability by diverting biodegradable waste from incineration to composting. Click here to request a green curbside cart. 

You can also drop them at one of 24 On-Street food collection bins. Visit the County's Waste Management site here to find the nearest public drop off bin.

Downloadable PDF: Recycling, Food Scraps and HHM Drop-Off Sites Map