Stamp & Scream at the National Postal Museum

Halloween Morning at the Postal Museum

If you want a Halloween plan that's indoors, free and over before trick-or-treating starts, this is a good one. The National Postal Museum's Stamp & Scream runs Saturday, October 31, from 11 to 3, right next to Union Station, and you don't need to register.

DC Public Library does story times at 12 and 2, with sign language interpretation, and there's a costume parade through the museum at 1. Around that there are Halloween crafts, the library's Book Bike and a Wizard of Oz craft table from the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Kids who like small details can spend a long time at the stamp displays, so it's also a decent rainy-day backup.

One rule to know before you pick the costume: faces have to stay visible. That means no masks, no face coverings and no fake weapons, so the superhero mask and the plastic sword stay home this time. If the costume needs a mask, face paint is a good swap.

Parent Tips 💡

• ✓Keep faces visible. No masks, face coverings or toy weapons. Face paint works if the costume needs a mask.
• ✓Plan around the 1pm parade. It's the moment kids will want to be in costume and ready.
• ✓Pick a story time. There are two, at 12 and 2, both with sign language interpretation.
• ✓Come by Metro. Union Station is next door.
• ✓Make it a museum day. The American Indian Museum celebrates Día de los Muertos the same day, a short ride away.

Questions Parents Ask

When is Stamp & Scream at the National Postal Museum?

Saturday, October 31, 2026, from 11am to 3pm.

Is Stamp & Scream free?

Yes. It's free and you don't need to register.

Can kids wear masks?

No. Faces have to stay visible, so masks, face coverings and fake weapons aren't allowed.

What time is the costume parade?

The costume parade through the museum is at 1pm. DC Public Library story times are at 12 and 2.