Around Town

Previous Image 1/33 Next Image

(Updated 6:15 p.m.) The residents of N. Jackson Street in Ashton Heights have gone all out again this Halloween but they’re not the only ones.

ARLnow also toured other parts of Arlington to size up the competition, and the surrounding neighborhoods did not disappoint.

With the help of social media and some good old-fashioned investigative reporting, we uncovered hidden gems across the county, from Rock Spring to Fairlington and from Lyon Village to Barcroft.

Over in Rock Spring, a home on N. Harrison Street has laid to rest the various “eras” of Taylor Swift’s musical career with a graveyard full of witty references to her song lyrics and albums.

In Barcroft, a home on 4th Street S. turned its lawn into a Girl Scouts-gone-wild nightmare. One scout practices her axe-throwing skills on a comrade, while various monsters enjoy a smorgasbord that goes well beyond cookies.

If you subscribe to the “go big or go home” philosophy, there are two houses in South Arlington you’ll want to see this weekend. One, along Army Navy Drive in Aurora Highlands, showcases larger-than-life skeletons and other jumbo-sized spooky figurines.

Not far away in Fairlington, another home on S. Stafford Street boasts a truly mammoth haunted house display that fills the entire front yard.

For those who prefer their scares more historical, a home on S. Garfield Street just south of Arlington Blvd might be more your speed. Passersby who look closely will see tombstones referencing famous historical events and figures, including victims of the Salem Witch Trials and Edgar Allan Poe.

Homeowners Ken Nagle and Kara Laake said their favorite part of the display are the tombstones that refer to the Great New England Vampire Panic of the 17th and 18th centuries.

“We found out about it a number of years back when we were up in New England. Basically… what would happen is one family member would get tuberculosis and die. Then the rest of the family would get it, and people thought that the dead family member was coming back as a vampire and feeding off of them,” Nagle said.

One tombstone even features the name Mercy Brown, one of the best-documented cases of a body being exhumed over suspicions of vampirism.

“They dug her up, pulled out her heart, burned it, made a drink from it, and had her brother drink it,” Nagle added. “And this wasn’t some medieval Europe event; it happened in the [1890s] in Rhode Island.”

It’s less than a week until Halloween and rookie Arlingtonians might be wondering: when do the kids around here go trick-or-treating?

Thanks to our industry’s never-ending quest to earn the favor of the search engine gods, such that we can collect digital half-pennies for your visit and hopefully get you to stick around for more substantive local news, ARLnow has your answer.

Unlike some local jurisdictions in other parts of the country, Arlington does not designate an official day and time for trick-or-treating. Instead, the annual, costumed candy-gathering spree traditionally takes place on Halloween — Tuesday, Oct. 31 — and starts shortly before sunset. That’s typically around 6 p.m., though some youngsters and parents head out earlier than that.

The door knocking usually ends by 8 p.m., though some stragglers may remain out later.

This year, Halloween is taking place on a weekday, so trick-or-treaters and evening rush hour traffic will mix on local roads. Arlington County urges caution for anyone out Halloween night.

Below are some Halloween tips for trick-or-treaters and drivers, from an Arlington County press release.

As Arlington’s younger population takes to the streets, keep in mind these trick-or-treating tips from our friends at the Arlington County Police Department:

• See and be seen! Select bright costumes, add reflective tape and/or carry flashlights and glow sticks.
• Plan your trick-or-treat route in advance. Stick to familiar neighborhoods and well-lit streets. For those on the Nextdoor app, check out its annual Treat Map, which allows people to share how they will be celebrating Halloween – whether it’s decorating one’s home or taking part in the neighborhood trick-or-treating by giving out candy.
• Only visit homes with exterior lights on.
• Never send children out alone. Younger children should be with a trusted adult. Ensure older children take friends and stay together.
• Check candy before eating. Consider bringing treats from home so children don’t snack on candy before it is inspected.
• Walk on sidewalks and cross at corners, using traffic signals and/or crosswalks.
• Drivers should be extra cautious on Halloween. Slow down, anticipate heavy pedestrian traffic, and turn on your headlights earlier in the evening to spot children from greater distances.

October is National Pedestrian Safety Month. Remember to stop for pedestrians, maintain safe distance from cyclists on roadways, and follow all speed limits. Learn more about the County’s Vision Zero Action Plan.

Looking for other Halloween-themed fun around town? In addition to checking out some of the extensive decorations on local homes, there are plenty of family-friendly, dog-friendly and drag-friendly events to choose from. And, if you’re planning to drink this weekend, you can get a free Lyft ride home Saturday night.