Hanover Avenue: A Halloween Destination

Written by: Jo Ann Breaux

I remember my college days living in the Fan District and loving the immense walkability, especially the convenience and closeness of friends. Friends with huge shotgun style homes-the better to party in. The Fan holds many dear memories for me, some a little blurred, but most with very specific locations-Hanover Avenue being one of them.

As we walked along the Avenues, I saw some minimal decorations for Halloween. There were a few hanging ghosts, maybe some Halloween lanterns here and there. We had heard that Hanover was the spot to be on Halloween, but I was an angsty, gothy Halloween snob. These were the years that I thought dressing up was a task well suited for the minor leagues. As we turned the corner around the 1400 block of Hanover, I saw nothing out of the ordinary, but as the 1600 block became visible so did a Halloween feast I had not been prepared for. I remember scanning the street as little ghosts and pumpkins surrounded me, but also noticing the incredible home decorations. This wasn’t your usual ‘here’s some plastic gravestones in the yard and we put up some hanging ghosts to make it oh so scary’ decorations. Some homes were decorated in fully themed regalia. I had indeed found where Halloween lived and Hanover Avenue was it. Everyone was in costume, from meticulous Star Wars donning adults to sweet lil Power Rangers to massacred Barneys to punny fun (there’s always a Cereal Killer in the mix). And, just walking down the Avenue to see how neighbors went all out for the holiday and made great efforts to stay in character, brought joy to my dark little heart.

This enchanting display kept me coming back, year after year. Little did I know this tradition had been going on since the 1970s! What started as one block of pumpkins and hay has transformed into a Halloween extravaganza for the masses with the 1900 block to now into the 2000s as it’s trek. It has been regarded as one of the best trick or treating spots in the nation according to the Wall Street Journal in 2016 with some residents spending hundreds of dollars in treats. Every year gets better and better and before Covid, it would welcome anywhere between 10,000 to 20,000 visitors. That’s a lot of treats!

So, whether young or old, make your way to the Fan this year and indulge yourself in a festival of delights. Check out how the neighbors try to one up themselves in Halloween decor, and don’t forget to catch one of RVA’s best parades. If you happen to be a Hanover Avenue resident, we would love to share some photos of your home this year.

Halloween on Hanover

Ocotber 31st
1900 block of Hanover Avenue in the Fan (closed off to traffic)
Starts at 5pm and ends at 9pm
Get there early to get the most of it!