Stephanie Spear 
Halloween is just around the corner, but the fun isn’t just for kids. Several Northern Virginia bars have transformed themselves into destinations for the holiday. The themes range from a light touch on the holiday to downright terrifying, but all of the bars have creative cocktails and food items in honor of spooky season. Read on for more about where to find pop-up Halloween bars in Northern Virginia.
The Boo Bar at Makers Union | 1811 Library Street, Reston
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Something scary is happening right in Reston Town Center. It’s the Boo Bar at Maker’s Union – a pop-up bar all about Halloween. The pop-up will run from October 9th to November 1st.
Honor Brewing Company | 42604 Trade West Drive, Sterling + 11250 James Swart Circle, Fairfax
Both the Fairfax + Sterling locations of Honor Brewing are decked out for Halloween. The Halloween cocktail menu features a variety of specialty drinks with playful garnishes and presentation, including limited collectible Halloween glassware. The glassware is available throughout the month while supplies last, giving guests something fun to collect if they visit more than once. Beyond the themed drinks, Honor Brewing has a packed October lineup with a costume contest, Trunk or Treat, family-friendly Halloween movie nights, live music, First Friday festivities, + its Anniversary Fallfest featuring local vendors, axe throwing, a petting zoo, food, beer, cocktails, + more. The Halloween pop-up, specialty cocktails, décor, + collectible glassware will be available throughout October while supplies last.
Read more: The Fairfax Girl Exclusive: Inside Old Town Alexandria’s New Horror + Sci-Fi Bookstore
The Haunting | Sense of Thai, 20413 Exchange Street, Ashburn + Tiki Thai, 12100 Sunset Hills Road Ste 107, Reston
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The Haunting is created by the same team behind the Miracle pop-ups at Christmastime. This season, the focus is on the creepier side of life, with drinks like the Widow’s Whisper + the Tangled Web available in collectible glassware. The Haunting will run from October 1st to October 31st at both locations.
Nightmare on the Avenue | 2312 Mt Vernon Avenue, Alexandria
The Del Ray pop-up bar might be best known for its rotating themes, which in the past have included the Taylor Swift fandom, 1980’s Miami, and plants. The bar goes all out for Halloween and Christmas, however. This year’s theme is the Del Ray Asylum, a fictional amalgamation of several classic horror stories. There are themed cocktails and mocktails, plus a food menu that is both appetizing and disgusting at the same time. Think: mozzarella sticks rebranded as dead man’s fingers; chicken wings are dressed up as vammpire bat wings; and scream beans are fried green beans served with remoulade sauce.
One of our favorite parts of this experience is that young people under 21 are welcome until 8PM, which means the teens and tweens who would go crazy for this sort of thing can enjoy it. All guests under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. The Del Ray Asylum is open Tuesday + Wednesday from 5PM – 10PM; Thursday + Friday from 5PM to 12AM; Saturday 2PM to 12AM; and Sunday 2PM to 10PM.
See more: 15+ Indoor Playgrounds + Play Spaces for Kids in Northern Virginia
Royally Spooked Halloween Pop-Up at the Royal Restaurant | 730 North Saint Asaph Street, Alexandria
Creature from the Cove. Image credit: Cultivate Hospitality
Old Town Alexandria’s longtime Royal Restaurant is getting into the Halloween spirit with its Royally Spooked Halloween Pop-Up, happening daily throughout October. The restaurant’s patio will feature spooky seasonal cocktails like the Dead Man’s Colada, Final Girl, + The Séance, along with zero-proof options. Halloween-themed bites include Spider Dip with black bean hummus, Charcoal Sliders served on black biscuits, + Vampire Cupcakes with raspberry “blood.” The pop-up runs October 1st through October 31st from 3PM to close.
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