Halloween is closing in, and this weekend in Old Town Alexandria is leaning all the way into the season — with a neighborhood-wide sticker crawl, ghost tours winding through brick-lined streets, the Saturday farmers' market in full autumn swing, and King Street dressed in its October best. Whether you're out Friday evening or catching a lazy Sunday brunch, there's enough going on to fill all three days. Missed last weekend? Catch up with our October 9–11 roundup, or browse the full Old Town Alexandria events calendar if you're planning further ahead.
Friday
The Old Town Sticker Treat Halloween Sticker Crawl kicks off Friday, October 16, and runs through Sunday, October 18 — so the whole weekend is your playground. Participating shops and businesses along King Street and the surrounding blocks hand out Halloween stickers to kids and adults alike, turning a stroll through Old Town into a festive scavenger hunt. Pick up a map at a participating business and work your way through the neighborhood at your own pace. Hours vary by shop, so check in with individual retailers; most storefronts keep their usual business hours. (Source: Visit Alexandria VA on Facebook.)
Friday evening is also prime time for a ghost tour. Old Town's colonial past — with its 18th-century taverns, cobblestone alleys, and waterfront warehouses — makes it one of the most atmospheric spots in the region for a lantern-lit walk. Several local tour operators run evening ghost and history tours on weekends throughout October; confirm current availability and departure times directly with the operator before you go, as schedules shift week to week.
Saturday
Start Saturday morning at the Old Town Farmers' Market, which has temporarily relocated to the 100 block of North Royal Street and Tavern Square courtyard while City Hall and Market Square undergo renovation (work expected to last two to three years). The market runs Saturdays, 7 a.m. to noon, year-round — rain or shine. In mid-October you'll find peak-season apple varieties, winter squash, root vegetables, local honey, baked goods, and cut flowers alongside the usual meat, cheese, and prepared-food vendors. Arrive early for the best selection.
After the market, the Sticker Treat Halloween Sticker Crawl continues all day Saturday, making it easy to combine shopping, sticker collecting, and a coffee stop into one unhurried morning on King Street. Things to do in Old Town Alexandria are always densest on Saturdays, and a mid-October Saturday is no exception.
Saturday evening brings another strong window for ghost tours, and the cool October air makes the experience all the more atmospheric. If you'd rather keep it indoors, King Street's bars and restaurants are in full seasonal mode — think warm lighting, harvest cocktails, and patio heaters along the sidewalk.
Sunday
Sunday is the final day of the Sticker Treat Halloween Sticker Crawl (October 18), so if you haven't worked through the full map yet, this is your last chance. Shops typically open mid-morning; confirm hours with individual businesses.
Sunday afternoons on the waterfront are worth the walk any week in October. The Potomac Riverfront — roughly 17 blocks from King and Washington Streets — is alive with joggers, cyclists, and weekend strollers even as the temperature drops. Grab a bench at Waterfront Park and watch the river traffic, or walk south along the riverfront path toward Jones Point. The light on the water in mid-October is genuinely hard to beat.
The Torpedo Factory Art Center is open Sunday and makes a natural endpoint on the way back from the waterfront. More than 150 working artists keep studios here, and the galleries are free to browse. Confirm current hours on the Torpedo Factory's website before you go.
Free things to do this weekend in Old Town Alexandria
- Sticker Treat Halloween Sticker Crawl — Free, October 16–18, participating businesses throughout Old Town.
- Old Town Waterfront — Waterfront Park and the riverfront path are open every day. About 17 blocks from King and Washington Streets; free and always worth it in October.
- Torpedo Factory Art Center — Free to enter; home to working artists' studios and rotating gallery exhibitions. Confirm hours before visiting.
- Window shopping on King Street — King Street's independent boutiques, galleries, and antique shops make for a genuinely enjoyable browse even without buying anything. The Halloween decorations in shop windows this weekend add to the atmosphere.
- Christ Church Alexandria — The 1773 Anglican church on Cameron Street is a landmark of the colonial city and is open to visitors during posted hours. Admission is free.
On a rainy day
October weather is unpredictable, and a wet Saturday morning in Old Town is no reason to stay home. The Torpedo Factory Art Center on the waterfront is one of the best covered destinations in the city — the building is large, the studios are engrossing, and you could easily spend two hours wandering. Check torpedo factory hours before heading out.
The Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum on South Fairfax Street is one of Old Town's most underrated indoor attractions — a preserved 19th-century pharmacy with original bottles, equipment, and records. Admission is charged; confirm hours and ticket prices with the museum directly.
The Alexandria Black History Museum on North Alfred Street documents the African American experience in Alexandria from the colonial era forward. It is free to enter and open Wednesday through Saturday (confirm current hours on the city's website). On a rainy afternoon it rewards a long, unhurried visit.
If the rain is light, the Sticker Treat Crawl is still entirely doable — ducking in and out of warm shops is a pleasant way to spend a drizzly hour, and the costumed window displays give you plenty to look at between stops.
Where to eat
Old Town has one of the most concentrated stretches of good restaurants in the DC area, and October weekends fill tables quickly — especially on Friday and Saturday evenings. Make reservations where you can. Our full Old Town Alexandria dining guide covers everything from waterfront seafood to cozy tavern fare, organized by cuisine and occasion, and is the best place to start if you don't already have somewhere in mind.
A few practical notes for this weekend: brunch spots on Sunday fill up by 10 a.m., particularly those with outdoor heaters on King Street. If you're eating after a ghost tour Friday or Saturday night, call ahead — kitchens in Old Town typically close between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. on weekends. Several spots along the waterfront are well positioned for a post-sticker-crawl lunch on Saturday or Sunday afternoon.
Getting there and parking
The King Street–Old Town Metro station (Blue and Yellow lines) is about 12 blocks from King and Washington Streets — roughly a mile. The free King Street Trolley runs between the Metro station and City Hall/Market Square and is a convenient option for reaching the heart of King Street; note that the trolley does not continue to the waterfront, so plan to walk from Market Square to the river (about 8 additional blocks). If you're driving, our Old Town Alexandria parking guide covers every garage and metered zone in the neighborhood, with notes on weekend rates and the spots closest to the waterfront and King Street. Weekend parking in the public garages is generally more available after 10 a.m. once the morning farmers' market rush has cleared.
However you arrive, Old Town Alexandria is a walkable neighborhood by design — once you're in, you can reach the farmers' market, King Street shops, the Torpedo Factory, and the waterfront entirely on foot. Comfortable shoes are the only essential gear for a weekend like this one. For more ideas beyond this weekend, visit our things to do guide any time.