Mount Scary in Mount Airy

Mount Scary

Mount Airy turns Halloween into a full week. Mount Scary runs October 23 to 30, and almost every piece of it is free. The week starts with a family movie night (Hotel Transylvania, 7pm at Watkins Park on the 23rd) and ends with storytime and trick-or-treating at Town Hall on the 30th at 10am. In between you get a spooky trail, a pet costume contest, pumpkin coloring and a decorating contest for houses and businesses.

The big night for most families is Saturday the 24th. At 6pm the Spooky Trail and costume contest kick off at the Railyard and Watkins Park, along with the Haunted CaBOOse. It's a small-town event, so expect a neighbors-and-strollers crowd rather than a big production. You can pick one or two pieces that fit your kid's bedtime. Nobody needs to do the whole week. The ghost tours are a separate thing run by the Historical Society, so check the details and the age fit before you book.

Parent Tips 💡

• ✓Pick your night. The 24th is the busiest and has the most going on. A weeknight like the 29th (pumpkin coloring) or the 27th (pets) is easier with a toddler.
• ✓Bring a flashlight for the trail. The Spooky Trail starts at 6pm, and it is dark by the end of October. A small flashlight or glow stick helps little ones feel in charge.
• ✓Check the ghost tour age fit. Those tours start at 5pm and 7pm on select dates, run about 90 minutes and cover a mile. The Historical Society sells the tickets, and the dates near this week are Oct 24 and Oct 31.
• ✓The trivia and decorating contest are online. Those two run on the Mount Airy Facebook page, so they are a good rainy-day add-on.
• ✓Questions go to the parks office. The town lists Parks Manager Nancy Hernandez at nhernandez@mountairymd.gov for anything not on the schedule.