October 2026 in Prince William County: Pumpkin Parties, Ghost Stories and Mini Golf

The short version: Prince William County’s October calendar offers several ways to celebrate fall without planning a full weekend away. Here are six upcoming options, with official links so you can choose by age, timing and whether registration is needed.

Checked October 3, 2026. Cover image: Prince William County Parks & Recreation’s October guide; seasonal promotional photo, not a photograph of a specific listed event.

Six dates to put on your calendar

• October 15: History over a drink. Water’s End Brewery in Lake Ridge hosts Take a Sip of History, 6:30–8 p.m. Free; ages 21+. Expect local legends and folklore. County details.
• October 23: A morning for younger children. Great Pumpkin Party runs 10:30 a.m.–noon at Sharron Baucom Dale City Recreation Center. Ages 2–8; register each child. The booking page lists $20 and a 48-hour registration cutoff. Check registration.
• October 23: An outdoor screening in Brentsville. The free Ghost Hunters showing runs 7–8 p.m. at 12239 Bristow Road. No screening tickets are required; bring a blanket. The separate ghost tour requires advance tickets. Screening and tour information.
• October 24: Pumpkin carving in Woodbridge. Veterans Memorial Park hosts the activity from 10 a.m.–noon. The booking page lists $15 for one pumpkin and a 48-hour registration cutoff. Check registration and participant details.
• October 29: Free Trunk or Treat. Chinn Aquatics & Fitness Center, 13025 Chinn Park Drive, hosts the event from 4–6 p.m. The event listing specifies ages six months–12 years. Official event page.
• October 29–31: Haunted mini golf. Locust Shade Park’s course is scheduled for 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m. each day, weather permitting. Check course information and current pricing.

Why it matters

These outings can also help you explore a part of the county you have not spent much time in. Pair one activity with a drive through nearby streets, a grocery stop or a meal. That gives you a more useful picture of everyday life than a quick house showing alone.

Before you go

The county’s September 28 October guide is the starting point. Booking pages showed registration controls when checked; that is not a guarantee of remaining spaces. Confirm availability, weather arrangements and any accessibility needs with the venue before leaving.

Five quick FAQs

Which options are free?

The brewery history program, outdoor screening and Chinn Trunk or Treat are listed as free. Age limits differ, so choose the event as well as the price.

Can we arrive without reserving?

The screening explicitly requires no tickets. For registered activities, complete the official booking first; a place on this guide does not reserve a spot.

Does the free screening include the ghost tour?

No. They are separate activities. Follow the screening page’s tour link if you want both.

Is this a guide to every October event?

No. It is a selected list of upcoming county offerings, not a complete calendar of private attractions or neighborhood celebrations.

How should we plan around an outdoor event?

Check the venue’s latest update before driving, keep a backup indoor plan and bring the items the organizer recommends. Avoid assuming a listed time means a weather cancellation cannot happen.

Explore the area with Chris

For a different look at local events, watch Chris’s earlier Prince William County Fair visit. This is an archival fair video, not footage of the October 2026 activities above.

Watch Chris’s video on YouTube

Planning your next move?

Want to live closer to the parks and activities you actually use? Tell us your budget, preferred part of the county and timing, and we can help you compare neighborhoods. Contact the Chris Colgan Team or start with your home value.

About Chris Colgan

Chris has more than two decades of real estate experience and leads the Chris Colgan Team at Real Broker, LLC, powered by PLACE. His team helps Northern Virginia buyers and sellers compare neighborhoods, evaluate homes and plan their next move. His local videos put everyday life alongside the real estate conversation.

Chris Colgan
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